It's All in the Mind: Inside The Beatles' Yellow Submarine Volume 2 -- a book review

 

I have been on a Yellow Submarine kick lately.  I have been collecting quite a bit of vintage YS memorabilia and watching the film.   So I finally got around to buying the book It's All in the Mind:  Inside the Beatles, Yellow Submarine volume 2  by Dr.  Robert R. Hieronimus and Laura Cortner over my holiday break from work. 

Volume 1 of the book was published back in 2002, and I remember reading it and thinking it was really good.   I should have read that book again before I started because they refer back to the first book many times.  So my first recommendation is to read the first book before the second one.  

The first chapter of the book was really strange.   The authors were trying to make some deep connections between the Yellow Submarine and the Egyptian pyramids or something.  I didn't get it at all and was concerned that the entire book would be like that. However, let me assure you that after that initial section, the rest of the book is excellent.

I did not realize that before the 1968 movie, the Yellow Submarine was used as a symbol of peace all around the United States, and there was even a Church of the Yellow Submarine.  

Most of the book recounts the behind-the-scenes stories of the unnamed animators (because their names weren't in the credits), ink and paint girls, and artists involved in making the film.    While there is very little information about The Beatles themselves, I found the stories of these young men and women working in swinging London in 1967-1968 to be a lot of fun.   Their stories also gave me some new insights into how the animation process of Yellow Submarine was innovative and different from other animated films at the same time.  I really enjoyed the colored photographs throughout the book of those working on the film in 1968. In a time when people did not carry cameras around with them, the snapshots of the employees working on Yellow Submarine were absolute treasures. 

To be interested in this book, you will need to have a real interest in animation or a love of the Yellow Submarine film.   This is a true deep dive into the movie and has many interesting stories on how the film was made.   We all know that The Beatles themselves had very little to do with the Yellow Submarine, so it shouldn't be a shock that they are just bit players in this book.  

It was a very delightful read for me, and I recommend it to those who want to know more about this great film. 

https://amzn.to/3T02vTH

* I make a small percentage of money for each purchase using this affiliate link.  The money from the purchase of Amazon books is what is used to keep the site running.  Thank you for your support.   

Lennon, the Mobster and the lawyer - a book review

 

January 22, 1976 - having lunch at Sloppy Louie's seafood restaurant with Howard Roy, Harold Seider, Yoko, and Jay Bergen (author of this book). Photo By Bob Gruen.



 

It is Wednesday Review!  And tonight's review is a book I bought directly from one of John Lennon's lawyers, Jay Bergen, at the Fest for Beatle Fans this past August.   ,

I am always on the lookout for what I deem the "best Beatles book of the year," and Lennon, The Mobster and the Lawyer might be that book.   It tells the story behind John's lawsuit in 1976 with Morris Levy over Levy's "Roots" albums vs. John's Rock n Roll album. 

If you are a John Lennon fan, then I am sure you are familiar with the story.  John had recorded what was to be his "Rock n Roll" album in part because he owed Morris Levy three songs from the catalog of music he owned as an agreement made due to John's song "Come Together" sounding too similar to "You Can't Catch Me."    This wasn't a punishment for John because he loved to sing 1950s rock n roll and wanted to make an oldies album.  

He started making the album in L.A. with Phil Spector, and then Phil ran off with the tapes, and John didn't know where they were.  So he recorded and put out the "Walls and Bridges" album, and the "Rock n Roll" tapes returned to him.   John listened to them and realized that some of the tracks were bad.   Lots of drunk/high musicians all performing in different keys.   Some of the tracks were alright and just needed the typical cleaning up, but others needed to be re-recorded or removed altogether.  Morris Levy was pestering John about wanting to hear the tapes he had made with Spector.  He would not drop it, and John being who he was, finally gave in and handed the tapes over to Levy.   These were not rough tapes and were not meant for public listening.   Well, Levy took those and made his own John Lennon album, Roots, and sold it on TV through one of those cheesy commercials (Hear John Lennon sing all of the old rock n roll hits including  Peggy Sue, Angel Baby....but wait, there, is more!  Hear, him sing You Can't Catch Me and many more if you just call now!)   He slapped a terrible photo of John from the 1968 Rock n Roll Circus on the cover, and as you can guess, John fans were calling the number and ordering the album.  I mean -- wouldn't you?   If a brand new John Lennon album came out and the only way you could get it was through the telephone, I am sure you would have ordered it too.  I don't think at that time I would have really thought about what record company was putting it out.  I just would want to hear the music. 

There was a lot of confusion with the fans, and John had to rush and get the REAL Rock n Roll album released.   Obviously, what Levy did was completely illegal.  You can't just take tapes that someone gives you and make an album from that and sell them on TV without the record company and the artist's permission.   John didn't work like that.  He was into putting together the whole album package, and the Roots album was an embarrassment to him. 

That is where this book picks up.   The legal case against Morris Levy and told by his lawyer in the case, Jay Bergen.    And while I have always known the outcome of the case (spoiler alert -  John totally wins!), I did not know the ins and out because Bergan had never really told the story before. 

The book is SO much more than just the story of this case.   Bergan uses the actual court transcripts to tell the story, and you get to read John's exact words where he tells the judge precisely how he makes an album.   I don't know any other place where you get to learn from John the process he used to produce albums and how much he put into each project.   He also explains why he chose each song on the Rock n Roll album.   They weren't just random 1950's rock n roll numbers that he liked, but he put some profound thought into recording the songs on that album and told the judge his reasoning.   His reason for including Bony Maronie put a lump in my throat.   Rock n Roll has always been one of my favorite John albums, so this really was cool.   He also talks about his ideas for promoting the album, including what would have been a fun commercial that included Ringo and Harry.  He couldn't make the commercial or do most of the promoting that he wanted to do because of Roots and having to rush to get the real album produced.  

The chapters of the book are short, and the story moves quickly.   It isn't bogged down with legal jargon and is a fun book to read.  

I only had a couple of issues with the book, and neither one was a huge deal.  The first was when Bergan tells the story without quoting from the transcript, such as when he is meeting with John in the Dakota or having lunch with John and Yoko at Sloppy Louie's, he quotes what John and others said.  Does he really remember the exact words of the conversations they were having 40-something years ago?   I wasn't sure if he had kept a journal and written down exactly what John said or if he was going by memory, recalling the conversation, and guessing the exact wording.   Again --  not a huge deal, but something that stood out. 

Julian, Morris, and Adam outside of the Emporium on Main Street U.S.A. at Walt Disney World 1974

The other thing is something that Bergen might not have quite known the answer to himself.   If John disliked Morris Levy so much, why did he, May, Julian, Morris, and Morris's son, Adam, all go to Disney World together at the end of 1974?   Was it just because they both had sons the same age?   The book explained that John refused to talk "business" with Levy during the trip, but I still don't understand why John would want to go on a trip with him in the first place.   Really, all I can think is that he must have wanted Julian to have someone his own age to hang around while in Florida.  Because of that trip, I was under the impression that they were all really good friends until Morris did the Roots thing, and then the friendship ended, but they were never friends.   I just find it confusing. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who considers themselves a fan of John Lennon and his music.  You don't just learn about an interesting court case where John was the star witness.  You also get to learn about how John made his albums, his thought process, and what a great guy he was.  You don't want to miss out on this great book!

https://amzn.to/3wA2HkP

Shades of Life (Part 1) - A Book Review

 

Tonight I am going to review the next book in Jude Southerland Kessler's John Lennon Series, Shades of Life (part 1).    This book follows John Lennon's life in 1965 from January until he left for the North American Tour in August.   

If you have read Jude's previous books, then you will want to read this one as well.  However, if you have never read her previous books, then you might be a little confused if you just picked up this one as your first read.  Jude's style of narrative writing takes a little getting used to so I would advise going back to the first book before continuing in the story. 

If you are expecting to read the nitty-gritty details of John's sex life and drug usage in 1965, you will not find it in this book.   Yes, some of these things are touched upon (especially John's first LSD experience), but it is not written as a romance novel.   Really, I think of this book as John's life as told through Cynthia's eyes.   You feel a lot of sympathy for Cynthia while reading this volume as you see the marriage of John and Cyn crumble, and John slips into depression. 

I enjoyed reading the stories that took place during the making of Help (a few that were found on this very site!) and some of the European tour.    Jude always has an interesting point of view of John's life, and after I read one of her books, I feel like I understand John just a tad bit more.   

Again, if you have read the other 4 books in this series, I would recommend the 5th.   I have included the Amazon link for the Kindle version of the book (because her books are sooooo heavy to carry around!)

https://amzn.to/48CGDmZ

The Beatles Archive - a Book Review

 

This photo is on the cover of the book 

To be honest, I have mixed feelings about the book  The Beatles Archive by Ray Connolly is full of short Beatles articles and interviews written and conducted by journalist Ray Connolly beginning in 1967 up until modern day.  Connolly was on good terms with three of the Beatles (George didn't trust him), especially John.   The stories are in chronological order, so the things at the beginning of the book are the most interesting.  I especially enjoyed the interviews because they were word-for-word transcripts of the interviews because it isn't too often that you get to read new interviews with John Lennon. 

Parts of the book I just didn't like.   No surprise, but I had to skip over the articles about John's murder and his killer.  There are some days when I can read about that stuff, but right now is not that time, and I just couldn't handle reading it.   Other more modern-day articles I honestly found to be boring.    I know that I am not really into a book when it goes several days in a row and I haven't read the book.   

There is a nice article about Mal Evans in this book that was written based on an interview Connolly did with Mal's widow, Lil.   I don't recall anyone speaking to her about her thoughts or memories before.   There are also articles based on interviews with Cyn and Pete.   As time goes on, and we lose more and more key figures in the Beatles' story, these stories will become very valuable in telling the history correctly. 

I can't necessarily recommend this book but at the same time, I can't say that it was a bad book.   I guess it just wasn't a good fit for me.  Perhaps you will pick it up and enjoy it.   

https://amzn.to/3wIMKZx

The Lost Weekend: A Love Story -- a movie review

 

This past weekend I watched the new documentary "The Lost Weekend:  A Love Story."   This film told the story of May Pang and her 18-month relationship with John Lennon in 1973 & 1974.

This documentary was extremely well made.   It frequently used line-drawing animation to get the story told and I found it to be extremely effective.   There were some very good interviews with not just May Pang herself but also with Julian, Chris O'Dell, and several others that were there.    The story was told not just through these modern-day interviews but with archive footage from the 70s and archive talk show footage of May from the 1980s.     The variety of interviews really helped keep the story moving.

My absolute favorite part was all of the previously unseen photographs and home movie footage in the documentary.    Just when you think that the majority of "Lost Weekend" photos have been seen (especially thanks to May's Instamatic Karma book) - this film is released, and there are so many more!  There is some home movie footage that belonged to Julian that shows John, May, and Jules on a boat and swimming, which is just precious. 

If you have read May's book, Loving John, then you know everything that is told in this film.   There is nothing new or unknown that is told.    However, May's book was written in the 1980s and not very many modern John fans have read it, so the stories very well could be new for some.   I actually found it refreshing that May's story has not changed over the years.    Often, when someone re-tells their story, things get embellished or changed around, but this was not the case when it comes to May.   

Of course, the film is May's story.   It is not John's, and it is not Yoko's.  This is May's memories and her point of view.   Some might find it all to be a bit controversial because May's version of the story is not the same as Yoko's or even John's.     May and the Lost Weekend often gets glossed over or removed when learning about John's life, so it is good for May to continue to tell what happened from her point of view because the official Lennon estate will not tell it.  

My only complaint would be that the placement of some of the photos was not historically correct.  For example, in talking about John and Ringo in 1974, a photo of them at the Copa Cabana Club in 1976 was shown.   Little things that happened from time to time, but that is just me being my usual nit-picky self about dates of photographs and isn't a reason to not watch the film or anything. 

    Even if you have read the book, it is worth watching The Lost Weekend:  A Love Story because of the interviews and the rare photos.     

https://amzn.to/49SH39P

Got Back Tour - An honest Paul McCartney concert review

 

This past Saturday (May 28, 2022) I saw Paul McCartney perform at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.    I flew to Orlando from my home in the St. Louis area because I wanted to see this tour.  It was literally a dream come true to see Paul again in concert.  All during the lockdown in 2020,  I was super focused on the fact that I wasn't able to go any Beatles events -- especially seeing Paul McCartney live.   I questioned if 2019 was really going to be my last concert and I didn't want that.    I am beyond happy that I had a chance to see him again and can accept that it could be the last time. 

Here are my honest thoughts about the concert 

Thought #1 -  A Paul McCartney concert is actually not really about just hearing Paul McCartney sing his hits.   It is about the experience.

I am sure I have written about this before.   People who just go to hear Paul McCartney perform songs are missing out on the true experience.    The atmosphere is worth taking in.   It is fun to watch the fans arrive and see the t-shirts and outfits everyone chose to wear.   It is amazing to meet up with friends that you may have only spoken to over social media.   The excitement of listening to DJ Chris play the Paul songs and then seeing the screen show can't be beat.    I really advise you to take the entire day for Paul.  Traffic at these events have been a nightmare and some ticket holders have missed the entire concert because of traffic.   Take this advice:  arrive before 4:00pm.  

Thought #2 -  The limo watch is very stressful but worth it.

Sometimes the limo watch to see Paul arrive is easy and other times it is like the one in Orlando and it is stressful.   No one knew where Paul was going to enter.   Many fans were sent on a wild chase around the stadium in the search for Paul.   Here is my advice on the limo watch:  if someone (ANYONE) tell you that Paul is already inside of the stadium, do not believe it and keep waiting.    If you are able to see Paul arrive -- it is SO worth it!   There was a very small group of us and Paul saw me in my Minnie Mouse ears with a British flag on it and smiled right at me!  

Thought #3 -   The handicapped section isn't the best seats in the house.

Due to my mom needing a motorized scooter due to long Covid, we had to get seats in the handicapped section of the Stadium.   I purchased the best seats we could get on the field.    While I knew we wouldn't be up in the very front, I thought we'd get the seat that I chose on the Ticketmaster site.   Now I am not sure if this is standard or just in Orlando.  When we arrived the handicapped section was "first come-first serve."   The seats weren't numbers and so we had to sit wherever we could fit.   I had picked seats that were closer to the stage than where we ended up.   That wasn't a huge deal, but some people who got there right as the concert was starting, could not squeeze into a spot and I am not sure what they did. 

Thought #4 -  Paul doesn't sing as well as he once did -- but it still isn't bad.

There has been a lot of talk each year about how Paul's voice doesn't sound very good anymore.   And to a certain extent that is true.   Songs such as "Can't Buy Me Love" and "Maybe I'm Amazed" were ones where Paul couldn't sing the higher notes or hold notes out as long.   However -- he is almost 80 years old and is on a big tour.   So what if he can't sing as strong has he one could?   He still sounds good and there is no doubt that it is Paul singing.   He sounds just like Paul McCartney!   I am thankful for the band for helping Paul out in the singing because they can fill in some of those high notes that he just isn't capable of singing anymore. 

Thought #5 -  The setlist  hasn't changed very much and that is fine! (the jokes are getting old though)

Paul sang basically the same songs he has sang in concert over the past 10 years (maybe more).   And you know what?   I love it!    It dawned on me that Paul must have a reason for singing these songs.  Either it is because that is what fans (casual and hardcore) want to hear or maybe because HE wants to sing those songs.     I was happy to hear "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" because I don't recall hearing that one before.   And the "I've Got a Feeling" with the "Get Back" film of John singing his part while live Paul sang his was really amazing.     While the same songs didn't bother me -- the same jokes made me roll my eyes.   The whole "Sign my butt" joke is OLD and was never funny.   Taking off his jacket and saying "this is the only wardrobe change for the evening...haha," has been overdone.    Paul is such a Dad with his Dad jokes.    Paul needs someone to write some new material for him.     

One interesting observation  -  "My Valentine" used to be the song where people left for their beer and bathroom break.   During this song, Paul shows the video with Johnny Depp doing sign language to it and playing the guitar.   He has shown this same video literally for 10 years during his shows.   Now since the Johnny Depp trial, people have been staying for the song and cheer whenever Johnny is on the screen.    I've seen people online say how bold it is for Paul to take such a strong stand in favor of Johnny Depp and I want to say, "People -- this is the same video he has shown for years.  It is on Youtube.  You just didn't notice because you left to get beer."   

Go see Paul on the Got Back Tour --  It is a night you won't forget. 

*All photos taken by Sara Schmidt 

A Women's History of The Beatles - A Book Review

 

Kit, Allison, Susan, Erika, and me (Sara) at The Fest for Beatle Fans in New Jersey 2017

In early 2019, I was contacted by a woman in Australia who was writing something about female Beatles fans.  She wanted to ask me a few questions about my experiences as a female Beatles fan who runs a popular Beatles site online, how I became a fan, and my experiences as a Beatles fan.   I wasn't quite sure what the unknown lady was doing -- was it a book?  A college project?   I didn't know --- but I am always happy to help out, and I answered her questions.   Shortly after this interview, my significant other unexpectedly passed away, and I totally forgot about this interview. 

The things I said now appear in print in the book I am reviewing tonight, A Women's History of The Beatles by Christine Feldman-Barrett.   Thankfully, Christine did show me the quotes from the interview prior to the publication of the book, and everything I said was true and sounded exactly like me.  It is just so bizarre to me that I have no memory of answering the questions.    

This book was extremely interesting, and the topic of women and The Beatles is something no one has ever really written about before.  It examines the history of women that influenced The Beatles and how The Beatles have influenced women.   I especially enjoyed reading about the girls from the early years of The Beatles -- the fans from the Cavern Club,  the female family members of John, Paul, George, and Ringo, and the girl groups that influenced The Beatles musically.  The book also goes into the wives and partners of The Beatles and how Cynthia and Maureen fit into that stereotype of a Northern England wife.   Jane and Pattie were working women, and that was an issue for both Paul and George.   Then Yoko and Linda came, and they directly influenced John and Paul's music and the way both of them lived their lives. 

Christine talked to ladies who are first-generation, second-generation, and third-generation fans. They tell their stories about how they became Beatles fans and how The Beatles have shaped who they are today.   It is interesting to see how The Beatles have shaped so many women's careers, music, and lives.  I found it really interesting that while there are obvious differences between first-generation fans and third-generation fans -  there are a lot more similarities.   The Beatles' music is universal no matter what year it is or where the women live. 

This book is a little more academic than what I usually read, and I will admit that I had to go back and re-read some things to comprehend what I had read.   This is one of those books that you need to spend time reading and not just read on the go.    

https://amzn.to/3IhXvER

The virtual Fest for Beatles Fans -- was it worth it?

 

My mom, Coral, and I at the virtual Fest For Beatles Fans

This past weekend was the Fest for Beatle Fans (known far and wide as "Beatlefest").   This was the first Fest held in person since 2019.  I thought about going to the Fest in New Jersey in person, but there weren't any rooms available.   So I decided to give the virtual ticket a try.   For the first time ever, they were doing what we in education call the "hybrid method."    It is both live in-person and online through Zoom. 

If I am honest, I didn't have very high hopes for the virtual Beatlefest.   I figured there would be a lot of technical problems and confusion, and some of it would be boring due to dead airtime.   And I am very happy to say that I was wrong!

My mom and I always attend the Fest together and so we decided to have our own Fest at my new condo.  My mom spent the weekend with me and we wore our Beatles t-shirts.   We rearranged the room, ordered food, and as usual, went into the event with the attitude that we would have a good time. 

There were two Zoom rooms available to watch.  The first one was the Main Stage Zoom.  This was the one that showed all of the concerts and interviews with the main guests.   The other Zoom was the interactive room.   This room had a variety of things going on.   I enjoyed the "virtual hub."  Roland was the guy in charge of grabbing various guests and interviewing them on the fly for us virtual fest-goers.  Roland was amazing at interviewing and keeping things alive and positive.  The virtual hub also showed some live recordings of different Beatles-themed podcasts.   At the times when the virtual hub was not going on, the camera would switch over to the room where they had panel discussions. 

The highlight of the entire event was the Zoom discussion between Peter Jackson and Michael Lindsay-Hogg.   This is the one area where I feel that those of us with the virtual ticket got the best part of the deal.   We were able to watch this amazing discussion without the instruments from the bands or that annoying tall guy in the front row blocking part of our view.  It was quiet and you could actually hear and concentrate on what was being said.  Having watched films at Beatlefest in person in the past, I know seeing and hearing can be a challenge at times.   This discussion was amazing to say the least.  

There was a lot of disappointment with the virtual attendees because Mark Lewisohn was listed as being a special guest and we were led to believe that we would be able to hear his two presentations on The Beatles in India.   Unfortunately, due to copyright material being shown, we were unable to see these presentations.   This was not known until we logged into the Main Stage Zoom to watch it and saw random fans jamming to Beatles songs.   And while I do agree, that Mark should not have been listed as a guest on the virtual ticket originally, I do believe that he made up for it.   Mark Lewisohn took the time to go to the virtual hub and spend a good amount of time answering questions directly from the hundreds of fans that were there.   So while we couldn't see the presentations, we did get a private Q & A that those in person missed out on. 

Roland interviews Mark Lewisohn in the virtual hub 

Another virtual event that in-person attendees missed out on was the interview via Zoom with Michael Lindsay Hogg.  That was not something that was publicized at all and I am so glad that we stumbled into the interactive zoom room and saw most of it. 

The music over the weekend was also really great.  I especially enjoyed the band, The Black Ties.  They performed on Friday night and sang songs The Beatles covered during the  Cavern/Hamburg days.  Laurance Juber (from the later years of Wings) as always did a wonderful set, Don from the Cyrkle's interview was so great!  And I was happy to hear him perform a few songs on Sunday night.   I have not always been a big fan of the Beatlefest house band, Liverpool -- but I really enjoyed the final Sunday night concert. 

Don (with the cap on his head) sings "Red Rubber Ball."

The one thing that I thought I would miss out on the most by having a virtual ticket and not being in person was the connection with other Beatles fans.   And while I really did miss seeing all my Beatles friends in person (especially when I was seeing them on my screen), I also enjoyed chatting in the Zoom chat with some new Beatles friends.   A big shout out to Edward, Ruthie, Nancy, Chris, George, and Annette!   It was great to make new Beatles friends!   

If I was asked for any improvements, I would say that three Zoom links needed to be provided instead of the two.   One for the Main Stage, one for the interactive room, and another in the room where the panel discussions are held.   I missed out on a lot of great discussions because they were not showing that room.    I also think there needs to be a virtual schedule that is different than the regular schedule. Not knowing what they were going to show next, made it difficult to decide what to watch. 

I also recommend that people attend The Fest for Beatles Fans and if you can go in person that is the way to go.  However -- I now will recommend that you get a virtual ticket if you cannot go in person.  It is well worth the money spent PLUS you get a week to watch it all over again and catch the things you missed. 

www.thefest.com  

Lifted - A Book Review

 Ringo Starr has released a new book called "Lifted."   The book is full of Beatles era photos.  Most of these photos (according to Ringo himself) were ones that he found online over the past few years.  I can't help but wonder if Ringo ever came to this site and found photos of himself and his friends and was inspired to include some of those photos in this book.   There are some of the photos I am certain I have posted on here in the past.  

Anyhow -- the photos are mostly ones that aren't rare or unseen.  There are a few photos (maybe 4) that I had never seen from John and Ringo's trip to Tobago in 1966.  

Ringo has witty and funny things to say about each photo.   Nothing earth-shattering or newsworthy.    However, the things Ringo writes will make you chuckle and smile.   

Lifted is a very quick book to read and it is a light-hearted book which I think is needed right now because so many heavy things are going on.    

Is it a must-have Beatles book?   No -- it doesn't give any new insight into the Beatles at all.   Is it a should - have Beatles book?  Of course!   It is one of the few books that is about The Beatles and written by one of the Beatles!   Plus if you purchase this book, all of the proceeds go to Ringo and Barb's Lotus Foundation charity.   

You can only get this book from Julian's Auctions catalog.  They are selling fast -- so don't wait if you want to buy one. 

https://juliensauctions.com/ShopCatalogs

Get Back at the IMAX - Film review

 

This past Saturday I was was fortunate to be able to go to an IMAX theater in St. Louis that was showing The Beatles Get Back Rooftop Concert. 

First I have to say how great it felt to be back at a Beatles event with other fans for the first time in over 2 years.    Since I had Covid for the 2nd time this past August, I have been extremely careful about being around large groups of people, but the IMAX theater is big and had very large seats that kept you from being too close to a stranger. 

What I saw on the big IMAX screen was the exact same thing that was shown during Part 3 of the Get Back documentary on Disney +.     Literally -- it was the exact same thing.    Well -- at the beginning they showed the introduction from Part 1.   I was a little disappointed by the introduction.   It seemed to have been thrown together quickly after the fact.    

That isn't to say that the Get Back Rooftop at the IMAX wasn't worth going to.   It was great.  Every time I have watched "Get Back" I notice or hear something different.    The sound in this theater was so great, it was almost like hearing the classic Beatles songs performed on the rooftop again for the first time.   

Would it have been nice to have seen the Rooftop Concert without the footage of the people on the ground being interviewed in the midst of the music?   Sure.   However -- I was more than happy to be able to watch the amazing footage Peter Jackson put together on a large screen.    I do like hearing the interviews with the people on the street, but I would still like to hear the full concert uninterrupted.  

If this comes back to an IMAX theater again, it is well worth the money to see it.   If you haven't seen "Get Back" on Disney +, you really need to OR you will need to buy the Blu-Ray when it eventually comes out.    The Rooftop concert is such an important part of The Beatles that no fan should miss out on watching it as much as possible. 

Do You Promise Not to Tell? - a Book Review

George and Pat (copyright Pat Mancuso)

 

Pat Mancuso's new book, Do You Promise Not to Tell - The Final Story of the Official George Harrison Fan Club, is the revised version of her previous book, Do You Want to Know a Secret.

Just like in her previous book, Pat tells the story of how she started the Official George Harrison Fan Club in 1964.    Pat put an ad in one of the Teen magazines about her club and it really started to take off.  Pat's Club for George grew to become one of the best Beatles fan clubs in the United States.   She had a very well-written newsletter and was in direct contact with the Harrison family.    Due to all of this, she was able to meet George at his home in 1968 and talk with him on the front steps of Kinfauns for quite a while.  She also saw the other Beatles during that time while they were working at EMI on the White Album.   She did the same thing the next year but wasn't able to talk to George for as long.   As the story goes, in early 1972, George got ahold of one of her newsletters and was angry about something that was included.   He demanded an end to all Beatles fan clubs immediately. Pat was devastated, to say the least, and this event with George shaped her outlook and feelings for years to come. 

After the chapters about the George Harrison Fan Club, the book goes into the story of the child the club sponsored from Thailand and how Pat helped her come and live in the United States.   There is also a big chapter about the Peter and Gordon Reunion tours of the 2000s, and Pat became friends with her long-time crush, Peter Asher.   Any fan of Peter and Gordon will find that chapter to be really fun to read.   

The book ends with Pat coming to terms with what happened with George.  She was finally able to accept that it was not her fault that the Beatles fan clubs ended.  You will have to read the book for yourself to discover that part of the "secret."

For me, the real treasure in the book is the three trip diaries that are reproduced.   These diaries are from 1968, 1969, and 1971.  They are the unedited day-by-day accounts of what happened during Pat's three trips to London while she was president of the Fan Club.  It is really interesting to be able to read accounts of meeting or seeing The Beatles in "real-time" and not by memories years later.   These diaries are really interesting.  

Some readers might find some of the later chapters in this book to be a bit dry, but this book is well worth reading because there was only one person who was the president of the Official George Harrison Fan Club, and her story is really amazing.  (Plus -- I wrote the forward to this book!)

https://amzn.to/3Ie79sa

Little Wing - The Jimmy McCulloch Story : A Book Review

 

I have enjoyed the music of Wings for about 20 years, but I admittedly know very little about the members of the group.   One member especially was a mystery to me, guitarist Jimmy McCulloch.  There were always so many rumors surrounding Jimmy's life and death.  I never knew what was true when it came to this lead guitarist. 

Thankfully Paul Salley spent years researching Jimmy's life and interviewing important people that knew him and wrote the book Little Wing The Jimmy McCulloch Story.

This biography tells the full story of Jimmy's 26 years on earth.   He started playing the guitar at the age of 11.   From that point on, this Scottish kid was never without a band to play with.   Seriously -- I had no idea that Jimmy McCulloch played and toured with just so many groups!   I don't think he ever had a day of his life where he just chilled at home and wasn't in a studio, on the road, or in a rehearsal with a group.   When he was just 16, he was in Thunderclap Newman and quickly had a #1 hit single called "Something in the Air." (I had never heard of this song, so I looked it up on YouTube, and it was really good).

By November 1973, Jimmy began recording some songs with Paul and Linda McCartney.   This led to him being asked to join Wings.     It is pretty much accepted that the years Jimmy McCulloch was in Wings were the most successful and "best" years of the group.   They toured the world between 1975-76.   Jimmy had a great stage presence and was well-accepted.  He even had a couple of his own songs on Wings albums.   One new bit of information that I learned about Wings is that Jimmy actually played on  "Mull of Kintyre."  Because he is not seen in the video for the song, I assumed he was not on the song.  However, this book dispels this misunderstanding and gives the reason why. 

After Wings, Jimmy went on to perform, record, and tour with a few other groups until his unfortunate death in 1979 at the age of 26. 

What I really loved about this book is the large number of photos, newspaper articles, and other handwritten items that go along with the text.   It all really enhanced the story of Jimmy's life.  The rumors surrounding Jimmy's "bad" behavior, including his arrest in Tennessee, were explained.   I feel like I now have a much better understanding behind Jimmy's behavior and issues that caused him to behave this way from time to time.    The circumstances behind Jimmy leaving (getting fired?) from Wings is still sketchy, but the story from Jimmy's brother seems most likely with maybe a few things that other people said as well.   

Probably one of the most shocking stories I read was in Detroit during the 1976 Wings over America tour, Jimmy walked off the stage and did not return.   Paul McCartney was not happy about the entire thing and actually hit Jimmy.   You will have to read this story for yourself.  

The only thing I wish this book had was more information about the Wings touring years.  However, this really isn't this book's issue.  What is really needed is an entire book about Wings tours.  But I would have liked a few more pages about the Wings tours and stories from Jimmy's fans who would wait at the stage door to meet him.   

Overall Little Wing was a well-researched and well-written book.   Anyone who considers themselves to be a Wings fan must read this book to learn more about the amazing guitarist Jimmy McCulloch. 

https://amzn.to/3uQiziC

Paul McCartney: The Lyrics - a book review

 

Paul McCartney is never going to write his autobiography.   However, he has given us his authorized biography, Many Years From Now by Barry Miles, and now we have The Lyrics.     In this pair of books, Paul goes through most of his hit (and many non-hit) songs and explains his thoughts behind writing them while telling a bit of his own personal history along the way.     The book is organized alphabetically by song instead of chronologically.   So you could easily read a song written in the 1950s, and then the next song be written within the past five years.   I am accustomed to reading through the history of Paul McCartney in order, and it was a different look at his life and his music to go in alphabetically. 

Paul obviously did not "write" the book in alphabetical order.   He repeats some of the same stories throughout both volumes.   I think we read about Paul meeting John for the first time 3 times.   

Most of the stories told here are well-known and well-loved by those of us who have followed Paul's career during the past 60 years.  It is nice to have them all together in one place.   There are also a lot of little nuggets of information to discover.   I learned that Paul sees the days of the week as different colors.  I also learned that when he writes or sings a song, he sort of feels like he channeling a particular performer, such as Little Richard or Fred Astaire.    So he doesn't feel as if it is Paul McCartney performing, but this other person.   He got a lot of inspiration for lyrics or names in his songs from such a wide variety of places:  old songs from his childhood, plays he has seen, Greek mythology, artwork he has seen, etc etc.   The majority of his work is the influence of his mother and father.  

Paul really holds John in high esteem.   He obviously was very hurt when John asked for a "divorce" from the Beatles.  He was especially hurt because John seemed to have been so happy when he asked for the divorce.   One thing I didn't know was that they met together in 1972 and in-person decided to stop fighting with one another.    After that, John and Paul remained friends until John died.  Since John has died, Paul still thinks about him whenever he is writing songs and wonders, "What will John think of that line..."    I found all of the things he had to say about his relationship with John to be very fascinating.  

Paul made plenty of mistakes in the book.   It isn't a history book.  It is based on Paul's memory of the songs he wrote and the life he lived as of the year 2020.   One of the biggest errors he made was saying that after John asked for a divorce from The Beatles, he and John got together and recorded "The Ballad of John and Yoko."   We all know that was NOT how it happened.   Will anyone ever have the courage to correct him?  I don't think so.    He also made a statement about how the Beatles all decided to stop touring AFTER the concert at Candlestick Park.   He used to claim that it was after the St. Louis show, and in my book I discovered that it really happened on August 20, 1966, in Cincinnati after leaving the stadium after sitting around for hours for the concert to be postponed to the next day due to rain.   Regardless -- it was NOT after Candlestick.   I know in Paul's mind it doesn't really matter, but to Beatles history, it is sort of a big deal.   

What was the biggest surprise?   Paul REALLY does say "polygon" in "Hi Hi Hi."   I swore he said "body gun" and just claimed to say "polygon" to cover up the more racy lyrics.   But Paul talks about this misunderstanding and how it was really polygon all along.  Then you see the original hand-written lyrics, and sure enough -- it is polygon!    

That reminds me -- the photographs and other items in this book are amazing!  

Overall I wasn't super knocked out with The Lyrics.   A lot of the same old stories that we've heard Paul tell during interviews and concerts.   Yet it is an extremely important book for Beatles fans. 

This is one of those books that is now part of "The Beatles book canon" along with the Anthology, Mark Lewisohn's books, Hunter Davies book and a handful of others.   If you didn't buy one for yourself or get one for Christmas, you do not want to miss out.

https://amzn.to/3wD9CtF

The Beatles Get Back - A Book Review

 

Like many of you, I bought the Get Back book this past week.   I got the Target version of the book, which came with four exclusive Lobby cards (one of each Beatle).  However, I did not open the envelope that is attached to the back of the book that holds the cards because I didn't want to break the Apple sticker that holds them into the envelope.  

After reading the Get Back book, I came to the conclusion that this is one of the most important books about the Beatles that fans should own.   This book, Hunter Davies book and the Beatles Anthology book are the only authorized accounts of the band that have been published.   

The book is full of beautiful photographs taken during the sessions for what would become the Let it Be and Get Back films in January 1969.   All photographs were taken by Ethan Russell, Linda Eastman, or Terence Spencer.  The other photos are frames from the original footage shot for the film.   The dates of these photos are given, which is something that makes me very happy and will help me a lot in sorting my Beatles photos.  

The text itself is the word-by-word transcription of the Nagra reels.  If you have heard the bootlegs of the Get Back sessions, then you will be very familiar with the discussions  found in this book.   Seeing the words in print, cleared up some areas of the tapes that I didn't understand or misheard.   For words that were used that would have been known for those in the conversation at that time, there is a small explanation in parentheses.   This has helped clear up so many things for me. 

A few things that I noticed:  Paul would not drop the conversation about performing in front of an audience.  This topic comes up over and over and over.   Paul and Ringo were annoyed with Yoko being around all the time, but it wasn't a huge deal to them.   They didn't want to upset John and decided to not bring it up and just accept that she was always going to be with John.   I loved the comment Paul said (paraphrase), "I don't want people in 50 years saying that The Beatles broke up because Yoko sat on an amp."   And that is exactly what people today say!    

The Beatles made a lot of jokes and laughed a lot.  Some of their jokes were Beatles jokes that fans today still make.   They also liked to read about themselves in the newspapers every day and laughed about how wrong the news seemed to always be.   They also argued quite a bit, but the arguments never were ugly.  There was never any name-calling or cheap shots.    Something happened between George and Paul during the recording session for Hey Jude that Paul did not want to happen again.  

If you weren't sure if you should buy the Get Back book -- let me tell me that you do!  This book is really going to be amazing once the film is out next month.    We have heard the words spoken and have now read them -- but to see the expressions on their faces while they are saying it is going to bring the entire story together.   You are going to want to have this book before you watch the new film because I am sure you will want to go back and refer back to it to check some of the conversations that aren't clear.   

https://amzn.to/3UWmlS7

My Ticket To Ride - A Book Review

I just finished a really great book called My Ticket to Ride by Janice Mitchell.   This is the true story of a girl named Janice and her adventures in London in the autumn of 1964.

Janice had a pretty rough childhood in Cleveland, Ohio.  Her parents left her, and she lived with a difficult aunt.   Things in Janice's life got better in December 1963 when she first heard The Beatles on the radio.   Like so many other girls, the Beatles and their music made a huge impact on her, and she automatically became a fan.   Beatles became her life -- she listened to their music, read the magazines, and, of course, watched them on the Ed Sullivan Show. 

Janice talks her best Beatle buddy, Marti, into leaving their troublesome lives in Cleveland and traveling to London to start a new life.   A life where they could meet The Beatles, go to the clubs in Soho, and work for Brian Epstein.     So the day after they went to the Beatles concert in Cleveland, the two 16-year-olds left with their new passports and Marti's college fund money and flew to London without telling their guardians. 

The story of two Beatle-crazed American teenagers in 1964 London was so interesting!   Janice Mitchell is a very good writer and by reading about her adventure, you are transferred to a much more innocent time in what was the beginning days of "Swinging London."    The girls go to all of the top clubs in Soho, including the Marquee, the 2i's, the Flamingo, and others that you have heard about.  They hitchhike to Liverpool and meet some very kind boys along the way who helped their adventures. 

I really loved this story.   Janice and Marti actually did something that every teenage girl wanted to do in the 1960s.   Sadly, they did not get to meet the Beatles, but they sure had a fun time trying!  I was stuck at what an innocent time it was.   Janice had such little life experience, and yet no one took advantage of her naiveté, and the boys were such gentlemen.   

Beatle fans of all generations will enjoy this coming-of-age story.  It is one that was an easy read and was a lot of fun.  I highly recommend it! 

 https://amzn.to/48AyteS
 

McCartney 3, 2, 1 - A Review

 

Due to going on vacation, getting Covid and the start of the school year, I am a little late to the game to watch McCartney 3,2,1 on Hulu (If you are in the U.K, it is on Disney+).   However -- I did (finally) get to watch it and thought I'd let you all know what I thought. 

In case you haven't heard about it, McCartney 3, 2, 1 is a 6 part series of interviews with Paul and Rick Ruben.   Paul and Rick talk about songs that Paul has written and/or recorded over the years, with the main focus on Beatles songs (some Wings songs are also talked about).   Paul and Rick also isolate certain parts of the songs and listen to the bass line or vocal line in a variety of Beatles songs. 

This will be known as one of Paul's best interviews.  He only talks about the music and goes into details like he has never done before.   Paul comes across as very relaxed and really seems to enjoy the opportunity to talk about his music.  Some of the information is old-hat for those of us that have been McCartney fans for a long time.   We know that Ringo came up with the name "Tomorrow Never Knows." We know that Paul came up with the song "Yesterday" during a dream (shockingly he does NOT mention scrambled eggs in this interview!).    There are some nuggets of unheard stories.  I especially like how there were segments that specifically about John, George, Ringo and George Martin.  

It was also great to hear Paul's bass isolated in many songs.   Paul is a great bass player and it is often overlooked how innovative he could be on the bass.   

My biggest dislike about the docuseries is that it used a LOT of colored photographs.   The interview itself was in black and white, which I thought worked well.   But the colorization of Beatles photographs made the whole thing look bad to me.   I also got a little annoyed with Rick Rubin telling Paul how great his music is all the time.   Although I really can't blame him because I might have been the same way.   I also think he "played dumb" a little bit to boost Paul to talk more.   Do we really believe that this producer did not know what a Moog synthesizer is?

As of right now, this interview is only available through streaming and there isn't a release on DVD or Blueray announced.  I hope we are able to save this interview for the archives and take it off streaming because it is one you will need to watch several times to catch all of the information.  This is one Beatles historians will be referring back to for years to come. 

Linda McCartney's Family Kitchen - A Book Review

 

It is well known that the McCartney family are all vegetarians and that they are serious about food.   Linda McCartney is now seen as a pioneer in veggie cooking and wrote several cookbooks during her lifetime. 

It was a logical progression in 2021 to re-release Linda's cookbooks for a modern audience.  That is why the book  Linda McCartney's Family Kitchen was published.   Vegetarian and vegan recipes are much more common today than they were in the 1990s, and the ingredients needed to make the foods are easier to find than they used to be. 

The categories for the recipes in this book are breakfast and brunch, soups and salads, on-the-go, quick and easy meals, weekend feasts, sides and snacks, baking, puddings, and sweet treats.  It is interesting to think that these are some of the dishes that Linda would make for her family.  Some of the most interesting dishes are cinnamon rolls, American-style pancakes, chef's salad, guacamole, barbecue sausage, and vegetable skewers, lasagne, baked macaroni cheese, pizza, chili non-carne, and lemon drizzle cake. 

Also included in the book are some family photos of Linda, Paul, Stella, and Mary.  These are all snapshots and lovely photos.   None of them stood out to me as "new" photos, but there might be a few.  Paul wrote an introduction telling the well-known story about how he and Linda decided to become vegetarians.  Before each recipe is a short paragraph that tells a little story of a memory or story about that recipe.  

It is a very nice cookbook with a variety of recipes.  I am not a vegetarian, and there are still many recipes that I would not mind trying.   I would have enjoyed there being more photos and family stories about sharing meals together.   Make it a little less than just a cookbook but also a book about the McCartney family and their memories of Linda.   I found it strange that there was no mention of Heather or James in this book.  I understand that they might want privacy and were not involved in making the book, but not even mentioning them or having them in an old family photo seemed strange to me as a fan, especially since the book is called Linda's FAMILY kitchen.   

If you are a vegetarian and/or vegan, this is a great book for a Beatles fan for you to have on your shelf.  If you are a huge fan of the McCartney family, then go ahead and pick up this book.   If you do not fall into either one of these categories, then you can pass on this one.  

*I know there has been a discussion going on about the motives behind the publication of this book.  I personally do not see a problem with it.  I don't think Paul had a lot to do with the publication of the book, but  did include his name to help sell more books.   But I do think his motives are to keep Linda's memory alive.  However, you can feel however you want about this book. 

https://amzn.to/3SZalgj