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MALAPROPISM -“A HARD DAY’S NIGHT” – THANKS RINGO!!!

John Lennon gave Ringo credit for contributing the title A Hard Day’s Night for the Beatles first movie even though some fans have found a reference to the phrase in John’s first book. In either case, one can imagine Ringo saying something like that very casually, as an off-the-cuff response in a conversation with someone. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you one of my favorite items from my Beatles-related autograph collection.

Autographs from A Hard Day’s Night

This set of autographs is from the Beatles film “A Hard Day’s Night.” A few years ago I purchased this wonderful collection of photos in a scrapbook accumulated by a New Jersey Beatles collector of many of the signatures of the supporting actors and actresses appearing in the Beatles first film which many consider to be a cinematic landmark.

Autographs from Help!, Magical Mystery Tour and Yellow Submarine

What made this collection of signatures so special to me is acquiring the collection of cast autographs in a single setting and at what I considered to be a bargain price. In a couple of additional posts, I will show you the signatures from the movies “Help”, “Magical Mystery Tour and a few from “Yellow Submarine” which includes some of the actors who did a few of the Beatles voices. These signatures were also acquired in the same purchase from the NJ collector mentioned above. Hope you enjoy this journey down memory lane.

A Hard Day's Night Film Poster
A Hard Day’s Night Film Poster

Richard Lester

Richard Lester Liebman is a retired American film director who directed the first two Beatles films and also directed the anti-war film that John Lennon starred in with Michael Crawford called “How I Won The War.”

Richard Lester Autograph
Richard Lester Autograph

Vittorio Giorgio Andre “Victor” Spinetti was a Welsh actor who passed away in 2012. He has the distinction of appearing in three Beatles films, “A Hard Day’s Night”, “Help”, and “Magical Mystery Tour.” He was also heavily involved in bringing John’s book “In His Own Write” to the British Stage as a play with the cooperation of the legendary Laurence Olivier!

Victor Spinetti
Victor Spinetti

John Francis Junkinwho passed away in 2006, was an English actor and scriptwriter who had a long career in radio, television and film.

John Junkin
John Junkin

Henry Wilfrid Brambell, was an Irish television and film actor who played Paul’s grandfather in the film. Brambell was also to star in the hit UK television series “Steptoe and Son”, which was to inspire the hit US television show, “Sanford and Son.” Wilfrid passed away in 1985.

Wilfred Brambell
Wilfred Brambell

Derek Robert Nimmo was an English character actor, producer and author who passed away in 1999.

Derek Nimmo
Derek Nimmo

Deryck Bower Guyler  was an English actor who passed away in 1999.

Deryck Guyler
Deryck Guyler

Norman Rossington was an English actor who passed away in 1999.

Norman Rossington
Norman Rossington

Anne Veronica Maria Quayleknown professionally as Anna Quayle, was an English actress who passed away in 2019.

Anna Quayle
Anna Quayle

Richard Vernon was an English actor who specialized playing aristocratic roles. He passed away in 1997.

Richard Vernon
Richard Vernon

Lionel Blair, born Henry Lionel Ogus, passed away in 2021 was a Canadian-born British actor and choreographer.

Lionel Blair
Lionel Blair

Kenneth William Michael Haigh was an English actor who passed away in 2018.

Kenneth Haigh
Kenneth Haigh

This photo in particular makes me feel the pangs of getting older. The actor who played this young boy, David Janson, is now in his 70’s.

David Janson is an English actor and theatre director: The segment he performed with Ringo in the film was unquestionably, my favorite scene!

David Janson
David Janson

John Bluthal, Isaac Bluthal passed away in 2018. He] was a Polish-born Australian actor and comedian:

John Bluthal
John Bluthal

Robin Ray was an English broadcaster, actor, and musician. He passed away in 1998.

Robin Ray
Robin Ray

This photo was from a deleted scene in the film. Features Isla Blair

Isla Blair Glover is a British actress:

Isla Blair
Isla Blair

Bridget Armstrong is a New Zealand actress:

Bridget Armstrong
Bridget Armstrong

Actress Prudence Bury:

Prudence Bury
Prudence Bury

Julian Holloway is a British actor.

Julian Holloway
Julian Holloway

Susan Hampshire, Lady Kulukundis, an English actress:

Susan Hampshire
Susan Hampshire

Actress Clare Kelly was an English actress who worked primarily in television. She passed away in 2001

Clare Kelly
Clare Kelly

Character Actress Marianne Stone who passed away in 2009

Marianne Stone
Marianne Stone

British Actress Carole Joan White passed away in 1991:

Carol White
Carol White

Geraldine Sherman, known as Dena Hammerstein, is a British actress and writer, and theatre producer.

Geraldine Sherman
Geraldine Sherman

David Muir Langton, British actor who passed away in 1994:

David Langton
David Langton

A young boy who was also to experience fame, musician Phil Collins was in the audience:

Phil Collins
Phil Collins

Actress Margaret Ann Nolan who passed away in 2020:

Margaret Nolan
Margaret Nolan

The signature of the screenplay writer Alun Owen who passed away in 1994, and a little background information that came with the autograph:

Alun Owen
Alun Owen

Actress and former model Tessa Charlotte Rampling:

Charlotte Rampling
Charlotte Rampling

What a collection! Hope you enjoyed it.

Buzz

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JIMMY MCCULLOCH – THE LITTLE WING WITH THE BIG AXE!!!

Recently purchased this cover story of the late former Wings guitarist Jimmy McCulloch on Ebay! I love finding cover stories of some of the stellar musicians who played with the solo Beatles over the years. Certainly Jimmy McCulloch was one of the best of those musicians!

Jimmy McCulloch of Wings
Jimmy McCulloch of Wings

Jimmy played guitar on this classic recording of Thunderclap Newman as a very young man. Pete Townsend of the Who was heavily involved in the production of this great song!

Something In The Air – YouTube

That is certainly not the main part of this story…

Jimmy McCulloch Biography

I remember when the author of this wonderful book, Paul Salley, contacted me on my former Facebook page to tell me of the forthcoming publication of his Jimmy McCulloch biography. Jimmy was a very talented man who died much too young. For those who are interested in a copy of this book which also deals significantly with Jimmy’s involvement with being a prominent member of Paul McCartney’s Wings, the title is available on the Amazon link provided below.

I was fortunate that Paul informed me that he knew I liked to purchase limited and signed editions of these type of books. He created a special signed book-plate edition of the book consisting of 100 copies. He was very kind to me to allow me to purchase the last numbered copy of the signed edition. His hard work and dedication was well worth the time needed to create this wonderful book.

The book is loaded with previously unknown information and detail about a guitarist whose name can be safely coupled with the word “prodigy.”

I enjoyed this book very much and I am confident that you will as well!

Look at some of the praise offered about Jimmy on the back cover of Paul’s book. (shown below)

The book was edited by Wings fan Mark Cunningham and here is the cover:

Little Wing - The Jimmy McCulloch Story
Little Wing – The Jimmy McCulloch Story

The Amazon link to Paul Salley’s book:

Little Wing: The Jimmy McCulloch Story: Salley, Paul, Cunningham, Mark: 9780578916491: Amazon.com: Books

The back cover of the book:

How much did you know about Jimmy McCulloch? How do you rate him?

Buzz

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ALAN ALDRIDGE AND THE BEATLES ILLUSTRATED LYRICS

Bought this wonderful limited edition and signed book of The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics back in 2017 from Waterstones Bookstore in the UK. Unfortunately that was also the year that graphic artist/illustrator Alan Aldridge passed away.

Alan not only had a unique artistic vision as it applied to the Beatles. His illustrations of Beatles songs sparked many spirited conversations concerning his interpretations of the songs. Aldridge also had a very distinctive signature when he signed his books as you will see below. He had an association with John Lennon, giving John a print of his illustrated lyric of John’s song “Dr. Robert”, and also designing a John Lennon ‘Superman’ book cover!

The signed edition portrayed below was limited to 1,500 copies!

The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics
The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics

The back cover of the book

The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics
The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics

The signature page

Signed Page
Signed Page

A note from Alan:

John Lennon as Superman

Aldridge also did a reprinted cover image for one of John Lennon’s books. He portrayed Lennon as Superman, but was forced to change the ‘S’ to avoid copyright problems. I believe Alan also took the photo of the front cover of the book.

The Penguin John Lennon
The Penguin John Lennon

Volumes 1 and 2 of Aldridge’s successful hardcovers from 1969 and 1971. Published by Delacorte

Volume One and Two of The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics
Volumes One and Two of The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics

Another distinctive example of Aldridge’s unique signature:

Do you have these books? What do you think of his illustrations? Has he captured the lyrics? Let me know in the comments.

Buzz

Some more books on The Beatles and Music

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The Apple Jigsaw of Rare Beatles Recordings in Mono

Mono Mixes of Let It Be and Abbey Road
Mono Mixes of Let It Be and Abbey Road
Mono Mixes of Let It Be and Abbey Road
Mono Mixes of Let It Be and Abbey Road

Rare Beatles Recordings in Mono

This gives us all concrete proof that rare Beatles recordings in Mono mixes were done, mixed and produced for Abbey Road and the Let It Be albums. Although these mixes have never been officially released, here are my personal CD copies of both of those mixes and the EMI Tape boxes used to house them in. The labels are shown here for those stored recordings, and as per their contract situation prevailing at the time they were seeded to Parlophone Records. The recordings actually are excellent as well!!  Should be available to purchase, I 100% believe.

Badfinger

Badfinger in Concert
Badfinger in Concert
Badfinger in Concert
Badfinger in Concert

This CD came direct to me from a contact at the BBC. This is straight from their archives and is a copy of a live concert programme for Badfinger. Recorded and Broadcast from Wales in 1972. It is an extremely good concert with only possibly two songs that might need some editing or enhanced production. Badfinger was indeed a well-knitted and tight band, and this is one of the few excellent recordings of them in concert. It would have made an excellent live album !! It might have given the band a big push!! 

Balls

Fight For My Country by Balls
Fight For My Country by Balls

This is another rare to find, and well-lost Apple Studios demo recording. The artist is Balls, and the song is titled Fight For My Country. Its a good progressive slab of rock, quite well played, and it is well produced in Mono. Again there is no details of personnel of the Band, and finding them is very difficult, or perhaps nigh on impossible. Another one from that under the Floor No 3 Savile Row Vault.

Paul McCartney The White Album Interview

Paul and John Interviews
Paul and John Interviews

John Lennon Abbey Road Interview

Paul and John Interviews
Paul and John Interviews

These are really the Pieces de Resistance of this little bunch. The ideals of Apple were to promote the product as works and pieces of art, for that is what they most certainly were. It was EMI etc that counted the money that was to be coming in from each well-made product! 

The Beatles at this time undertook a lot of promotion in order to fulfill that Operational Mendi of giving the artist a better deal. They were also doing this to their own products, and we have two fine examples here. The first one is an interview by Paul to promote the White Album released in November 1968. He gave an exclusive interview to Radio Luxemburg Host/ DJ Tony Macarthur, with sponsorship from the Daily Express. The discussion is very open and he concentrated on his tracks but gave a lot of mention to John’s Goodnight.

The second one is John accompanied by Yoko giving a discussion on Abbey Road just after the album was released, and again the discussion was very warm and open, with no hints of the problems at Apple which were bubbling away. Both interviews are given in full, but the tracks have been cleaned to provide pure listening pleasure, and they most certainly do just that. John also mentions the version of Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight from the album covered by Trash, Apple 17, and that single is also contained here, which is a very rare occurrence. The cases and labels are complete and unaltered, as per the originals, and they make a wonderful extra to these albums. 

One wonders why they could not have been included in the re-boxed sets. They would have made an excellent addition or side dish as Paul likes to call odd examples. If anyone is listening, I have my copies stored safely away

This is a great little set of demos and extras from Apple Records at No 3 Savile Row, and there is still more to have, all in good time too!!

Nigel Pearce

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