Year: 2023

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The Beatles in New Zealand

The Beatles in New Zealand
The Beatles in New Zealand

The Beatles in New Zealand – Rare Ross Penman New Zealand Beatles Discographies

The authority recognized in New Zealand as one of the most knowledgeable people regarding Beatles releases issued in that country, is Ross Penman. Ross issued three books that are now out of print and well sought after. I was able to obtain this trilogy of books from noted book author and collector, Samuel Coomans. Samuel has worked on a multitude of book projects with Dutch author and Dutch Beatles museum curator, Azing Moltmaker.

New Zealand Beatles Disks

The Penman books were independently produced by Mr. Penman and because of his wealth of knowledge of the New Zealand Beatles disks subject matter and the limited availability of his independently published books, many collectors of Beatles vinyl try very hard to track these books down.

However, I must be honest about discographies in general. Of all the Beatle books in my collection, discographies are the books that I have the least interest in and it has to do with the timing issue. You can produce a superb discography and as soon as a new release is issued, the book is out-of-date and then requires a revised edition or a supplement to keep things current.

The photo of the three books shown above was taken by Samuel Coomans who I acquired the books from. I extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to Samuel to allow me to purchase them and I recommend that you check out the many Beatles discographies that both he and Azing Moltmaker have produced over the years. You will be amazed at how many books they have done on the subject.

The main collecting pleasure that I received from acquiring these books was the sheer difficulty in being able to find them as a Beatles collector. It is filling the completist need first and the content need being secondary in this circumstance. That notion may be difficult to grasp for some Beatles aficionados. 

Buzz

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Nowhere Man The Beatles

Nowhere Man by The Beatles
Nowhere Man by The Beatles

Exactly 3 years ago today I decided I needed to do something to help my family and friends cope with the debilitating stress of the Covid pandemic. So, I turned to my beloved Beatles to provide a daily uplift, a brief vacation from the worry and uncertainty that came with Covid, by sending a song, its back story, and some words of encouragement to persevere. It became a thing – I kept doing it daily for most of the rest of 2020 until I had run through every Beatles song that I could find. Along the way, I also received significant encouragement to transform the daily messages into a book.

When We Find Ourselves in Times of Trouble

The ebook, now available at www.amazon.com, is called When We Find Ourselves in Times of Trouble: The Beatles (All their songs with encouraging words for challenging times). Truth be told, I hope you’ll consider buying it, and encourage friends and loved ones to buy it, too [As George Harrison said about “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” when Lennon and McCartney weren’t paying any attention to it, “I knew the song was pretty good.”]. The book is pretty good, too, but if you would rather patiently wait to hear and read about all the songs, they will appear daily on my Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/tim.hatfield.3914], starting now. We still need hope and encouragement, right? I think the Beatles can help, and I wish you and yours well.

Love, love, love, Tim Hatfield

“Nowhere Man” from Rubber Soul

Rubber Soul – Nowhere Man

John Lennon wrote this song when he was struggling, as was Paul McCartney, to write new material for the album that eventually became Rubber Soul.

Lennon was working at home in Weybridge, feeling isolated and unproductive. In his biography All We are Saying, David Sheff quoted Lennon’s recollection of that time:

I’d spent five hours that morning trying to write a song that was meaningful and good and I finally gave up and lay down. Then “Nowhere Man” came, words and music, the whole damn thing, as I lay down.

So, at least at that moment, it was Lennon himself who was going nowhere, doing nothing. But something beautiful came of it, indeed. In the studio in October 1965, John, Paul, and George began with the harmonious a cappella introduction, John double-tracked his lead vocal, and the group pestered the recording engineers to make the guitar sound as trebly as they could. Add to that George and John’s tandem guitar solo, followed by the one perfect little note that sounded like a bell, and you have the makings of a beautiful song. It remained in the Beatles’ on-stage repertoire, too, all the way to their last concert performance in San Francisco’s Candlestick Park in late August of 1966.

There must be moments while enduring the uncertainties of the hard times in our lives that we all feel like we, too, have been stopped in our tracks. It’s up to us to persevere, though, until we ourselves or someone else lends us a hand.

Tim Hatfield

When We Find Ourselves in Times of Trouble: The Beatles: All Their Songs with Encouraging Words for Challenging Times

When We Find Ourselves in Times of Trouble: The Beatles: All Their Songs with Encouraging Words for Challenging Times

KINDLE (OR DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP TO READ ON YOUR LAPTOP)

This book addresses all the songs of the Beatles, from their earliest demos to Abbey Road, in a conversational, accessible format. Special attention is devoted to the band’s creative process and its influence on and synergistic relationship with the culture at large. The book’s genesis was the author’s hope that a daily Beatles song could provide a brief respite from the significant stress and uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and beyond that, from the challenges of any personally difficult time – our times of trouble.

£3.60
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Daddy, Come Home – Alf Lennon

Daddy, Come Home - The Alf Lennon Story
Daddy, Come Home – The Alf Lennon Story

Alf Lennon

A good book written by John’s dad, Alf Lennon’s 2nd wife, Pauline Lennon. In this book, Pauline tries to give Freddie’s side of the story. I know John’s sisters would probably vehemently disagree with Freddie’s perspectives but it can be argued that every coin in life has two sides and that one side of the coin usually shines a bit brighter. We as observers, can only listen to the sides being presented.

Alf and Pauline Lennon
Alf Lennon and wife Pauline

Personally, I enjoyed this account and what it highlighted for me is that John was so scarred by his own childhood experiences, that he seemed to be destined to repeat them with his own firstborn, Julian. Julian carried his own resentments for his dad for a good portion of his own life and only now seems to understand the complexities of this situation.

The book signed by Pauline
The book signed by Pauline

Pauline signed this copy of the book and signed books by her are rare. This copy which I acquired from a UK collector is the only one I have ever seen. Several years after Freddie passed away, she reportedly remarried. During her marriage to Freddie, she gave birth to two sons, David and Robin Lennon who supposedly live near Brighton, England in relative obscurity, never talking to the press about their very famous brother. Would love to see an enterprising reporter contact the two brothers to see why they are both reticent to talk about their half-brother. Perhaps, they simply prefer to live their lives under the security of privacy.

Have you read this book? Do you believe the version that Alf Lennon tells? Let me know in the comments below.

Buzz

Other Books About John Lennon

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The Beatles – Hidden in The Records?

What Goes On?
What Goes On?

What is Hidden in The Grooves of The Beatles Records?

A fabulous book about The Beatles, What Goes On (above), compiled by author Mike Brown. The book is now out of print due to the publisher discontinuing their book print facilities.  but you can access much of the information at the What Goes On Website

The book is an outstanding record of Beatles recording oddities that appeared on their officially sanctioned recordings over the years. Mistakes, clicks, hidden comments on the recordings, etc. This book is a fascinating collection of obscure Beatles recording information. Highly recommended if you see a copy being offered somewhere, that you attempt to purchase one. You will not be disappointed.

Mike Brown was involved in another excellent independently produced book entitled:

HEARING AIDS TO THE BEATLES VOLUME I: A MUSICIAN’S By Jeffrey Aarons & Mike Brown

Hearing Aids to The Beatles Volume 1
Hearing Aids to The Beatles Volume 1

This book takes more of a musician’s perspective of The Beatles recordings in detailing with such issues as who did the vocals on specific recordings, if they were single or double-tracked, the number of harmonies, how many overdubs, how many instruments were used and who played on them. This particular volume deals with the 1962-66 recording period. Published independently by Jeffrey Aarons in 2015.

Buzz

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The Fifth Beatle? Yes, By George?

All You Need Is Beatles
All You Need Is Beatles

George Martin

Is George Martin the Fifth Beatle? A rare concert program from 1998 in Australia where Sir George Martin conducted an orchestra featuring some of his favorite Beatles songs that he had produced in the decade of the 60s. George’s contributions to the Beatles recorded legacy are both legendary and immense. If anyone deserves the moniker of “The Fifth Beatle”, my vote goes to Mr. Martin!

All You Need Is Beatles
All You Need Is Beatles

The Beatles Recording Sessions

When I acquired this signed Mark Lewisohn Beatles Recording Sessions book I came up with two treasures, the excellent book by Mark and the signature of Beatles producer, George Martin, who helped to create and produce all those golden nuggets contained within the book.

The Beatles Recording Sessions
The Beatles Recording Sessions
George Martin's Autograph
George Martin’s Autograph

The Fifth Beatle?

Who do you think is the Fifth Beatle? Do you agree it is George Martin? Who gets your vote?

Buzz

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All You Need Is Love

All You Need Is Love
All You Need Is Love

All You Need Is Love – The Beatles Dress Rehearsal

Thoroughly love this title offering the details of the historic “All You Need is Love” satellite performance for the Our World program which was seen by an estimated 400 million people in 1967. Written by noted author, Steve Turner who has written several excellent books about the Beatles, it features the magnificent photos of David Magnus.

Dave Magnus signed page
Dave Magnus signed page

David was so kind in signing this copy and graciously added the date he shot the photos for the book, which featured the Beatles rehearsing for their historic performance.

Buzz