Month: October 2024

Tribute Concert to The Beatles

Legendary session guitarist David Spinozza has assembled a 17-piece band for a special tribute concert to the Beatles, done big-band style!  Fans of the Fab Four are aware of his playing on several of the Beatles’ solo albums (McCartney’s “Ram,” Lennon’s “Mind Games,” and Ringo’s “Ringo the 4th.”) Spinozza’s resume beyond this is so impressive, lending his guitar skills to the likes of Paul Simon, Dr. John, James Taylor, Don McLean, and Billy Joel among others.

Spin The Beatles Big Band

David will be the conductor for “Spin The Beatles Big Band” at New York’s The Cutting Room, 44 E. 32nd. St on Nov. 17 at 4pm (et.)

Joining him in the band is session keyboardist Kenny Ascher, who worked with David on the “Mind Games” album. Kenny is also known for writing songs with the great Paul Williams, including the soundtrack for “The Muppet Movie.”

 The Beatles catalogue has been so endurable that the songs have lent themselves to arrangements in every musical genre.  Both David and Kenny are extremely versatile in their playing and for their love of jazz.  This can only be a knockout show!

Get Your Tickets

The Cutting Room Website:  https://thecuttingroomnyc.com/

The Cutting Room Buy Tickets for this Event: https://wl.seetickets.us/event/spin-the-beatles-big-band/623092?afflky=TheCuttingRoom

The Cutting Room Phone Number: (212) 691-1900

Buzz Bezzini

THE BEATLES

The Beatles – The Fab Four

£4.00 – £30.00

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Occasionally on this blog we will present certain posts that form a type of Beatles collector’s potpourri about John, Paul, George & Ringo – and more. These will generally be longer posts that will deal with Beatles-related print material that are not limited to just books or magazines. If variety is the true spice of life, then the intention of the John Paul George & Ringo HODGEPODGE section of this blog will have served its purpose…

Hope you will enjoy this new addition to the blog!

The first item – “Cat’s Eyes” by Robin Millar.

In 1974, Robin Millar went into Apple Studios to record his first LP. The album was produced by his brother-in-law, Mick Taylor, lead guitarist for the Rolling Stones, who had just left the band. Robin was backed by such artists as keyboard player Billy Preston and sax player, Bobby Keyes. Nicky Hopkins was also featured on the LP. Mick Taylor also played guitar on the album

Unfortunately, this LP never saw the light of day because of a various set of unusual circumstances going on at Apple, until Apcor Books, a Netherlands-based company, that has produced the fabulous A is for Apple book series, issued the LP in a limited edition of 300 copies. This is the last numbered copy, copy #300! Great work Apcor to secure Robin’s permission to release this LP. Robin was later to find a great musical niche in producing many hit records in the UK.

Special thanks to such individuals as Ed Dieckmann, Axel Korinth for their efforts in bringing this release about and for Ronnie Dannelley’s artwork for the LP. Arno Guzek, Beatles scholar, is also thanked on the LP credits. The full credit listing is provided in the LP’s interior which is featured in a photograph below…

ROBIN MILLAR – CAT’S EYES – YouTube

‘The Robin Millar Story’- Interview by Iain McNay – YouTube

The back cover of the LP:

Apple boxes for the recordings:

Details of the recording of the LP as well as the album credits at the bottom of this photo:

UNCLE MILTIE AND THE BEATLES – Milton Berle

Through the years I have been astonished how many celebrities have latched onto the Beatles phenomenon at some point in their career. Not many had successful commercial outcomes of attempting to capitalize on the immense popularity of the band, but it was often amusing to witness the outcomes. Here, well-known vaudevillian and early TV pioneer and comic, Milton Berle, made an attempt to cover the Beatles single of Yellow Submarine.

Milton Berle Yellow Submarine – YouTube

The picture sleeve of the 45:

Brute Force

Stephen Friedland, aka Brute Force, receives the recognition of having performed on one of the rarest Apple 45’s in existence. In a record that both George Harrison and John Lennon wanted to issue The King of Fuh as an Apple 45 release. Realizing the potential controversy of printing many copies for the public and fearing the controversy because of a potential lack of airplay, many copies were not able to reach the public. A photo of Apple 8 is shown below. Nigel Pearce, one of the members of this blog has a copy of the rare Apple record in his collection. Directly below is a relatively recent Brute Force -Stephen Friedland release that Apcor was able to release. Brute Force signed the backside of the Apcor 8 release. Stephen has a unique sense of humor or humour (for those who reside in the UK).

A photo of one of the rarest Apple 45’s:

Bert Kaempfert

The producer of the Beatles first professional recordings, made in Germany, named Bert Kaempfert. Bert produced such songs as My Bonnie, Cry for a Shadow, and “Ain’t She Sweet.” Kaempfert arranged for the Beatles to backup singer Tony Sheridan on the German recordings. I acquired the LP shown below due to the fact that Kaempfert signed this copy under his picture in the upper left of the LP cover

Back Cover of the LP:

Harry Nilsson and John Lennon

Collecting quad recordings poses a difficult dilemma. Quad equipment is not available on a mass scale to be able to play the recordings. I used to own a Sansui quad receiver which was able to play quadrophonic recordings. This LP featuring Harry Nilsson and produced by John Lennon is noticeably different and better than the mass-released edition. You hear so many instruments that you could not enjoy in the mass release of the LP. An example of what I am referring to is the quad mix of “Many Rivers to Cross.” The strings are pronounced and to the forefront of the mix. You can hear where John got his inspiration for #9 Dream in the string arrangement by Ken Ascher. John and Harry also loved to put hidden messages to the fan base on some of the LP covers. This album, at the bottom of the front cover, has a wooden block with the letter D written on it. This is followed by a rug, which is followed by another block with the letter S. So, this was their message hidden on the cover. They were in effect spelling out the word drugs.

The back cover of the LP featuring the song titles, the musicians and the credits:

Badfinger

Apple has produced a few LPs containing Badfinger rarities but this particular release features some of their Warner Bros. rarities. Produced by Chris Thomas, who also was to produce several tracks on the Beatles “White album” though he never officially received a producer credit for those numbers. For those he was listed as an engineer of the tracks.

Back Cover featuring the track listing and the album credits:

Dhani Harrison

Dhani Harrison, George’s son has written the score for several films. These types of recordings have a tendency to be more obscure and not as well known to the general public. Paul Hicks has also been involved with engineering some of the box set releases of Beatles recordings.

Here is the soundtrack music for Seattle Road written by Dhani Harrison and Paul Hicks!

Front Cover:

Back Cover:

Claypool Lennon Delirium

Record Day release by the Claypool Lennon Delirium featuring music originally performed by Pink Floyd, King Crimson, The Who and The FlowerTravellin’ Band. The Claypool Lennon Delirium features Les Claypool and Sean Lennon.

Back Cover of the EP:

The late Terry Doran, close Beatles friend and associate, signed Jack Hollingshead to Apple in 1968. These songs were published by Apple, but the recordings were never issued by Apple and Jack left the label. The people at Apcor were able to gain permission to issue this special limited edition recording of Jack’s Apple demos. This is copy #300 of this special set of recordings. Once again special thanks go out to Ed Dieckmann, Axel Korinth and artwork designer, Ronnie Dannelley.

The Complete Apple Demos

Back Cover of the Demos:

Jimmie Nicol

One of the rarest LP recordings featuring the 13-day drummer of the Beatles in 1964, named Jimmie Nicol. LP released in Mexico in 1967. It took me a long time to find a copy of this record until I found one on the Discogs record search service!

Back Cover of the LP:

The Complete Apple Demos

Copy #100 of 100 signed copies issued of the signed version of Apple demos signed by Jimmer Glynn. Details of these recordings are provided on the back cover of the LP. Special thanks are extended to Ed Dieckmann, Axel Korinth, Ronnie Dannelley, and all the people mentioned on the back cover of the LP.

Listing this item because of the nice signatures on the cover. Features backup musician’s drummer Alan White, drummer, Jim Keltner, and bass player Klaus Voormann. Would love to one day locate an Imagine LP signed by everyone who played on the LP. That would probably be out of my budget though.

Imagine Alan White, Jim Keltner and Klaus Voormann

The listing of the credits of who played on the Imagine LP:

Jimmie Nicol

A rare, signed LP produced by the Netherlands based Beatles Unlimited magazine. The album was signed by none other than Jimmie Nicol, the Beatles drummer who subbed for Ringo back in 1964 when Ringo was ill. Jimmie had made a rare appearance at a Beatles-related Beatles Unlimited sponsored gathering which I believe occurred in 1984.

The back cover of the LP:

The Many Faces of John Lennon

I love this book because it was published both in English and in German and features a collection of Beatles photos taken by many notable and famous photographers. Having these many different photos of John taken by these prominent photographers in a single volume was a great purchase. The publisher and the publication information are provided prior to the back cover of the book. It is worthwhile to seek this book out for your collections:

Book Publication information:

Back Cover of the Book:

Jim Price

As many are aware I also love collecting the signatures of other musicians who have played with the solo Beatles

Just acquired a Jim Price LP autographed by Price. Ringo plays on the LP. It appears as though Klaus Voormann is also on the album. Price performed on Walls and Bridges, All Things Must Pass, The Concert for Bangla Desh, he was in the supergroup that played at the Christmas John and Yoko Lyceum concert benefit in 1969. At this site. Price is the musician at the top left in the last row of musicians in the phot of the link below:

‘Beatles this’ and ‘Beatles that’ • On 15 Dec 1969, John Lennon & Yoko Ono’s Plastic… (tumblr.com)

Price has also performed with the Rolling Stones on a couple of their tours in the early 70’s. Price was a friend of the late sax player Bobby Keyes

Jim Price was well noted for both his trumpet and trombone skills! Price also has worked as a record producer.

Special thanks are extended to the author of the excellent Beatles Undercover books who featured a photo of this signed LP in one of the books of his fabulous book trilogy which are available on Amazon, eBay, and other book search services:

Hugh McCracken

To end this first JPGR Hodgepodge Post, I have chosen this 45 record. Written by the late guitarist who was a well-respected session musician who played on Paul McCartney’s Ram LP, John Lennon’s and Yoko Ono’s Christmas classic, Happy Xmas, John and Yoko’s Double Fantasy LP and the Milk and Honey LP as well. When I purchased the 45 below, I was not aware that Hugh McCracken was also a songwriter. These songs were written in the mid 60’s. I have a particular fondness for the title of his B-side for obviously selfish reasons! LOL!

Hugh McCracken With The Funatics – You Blow My Mind. (youtube.com)

Hugh McCracken Buzz in my head – YouTube

Do you have a favorite Beatles-related print collectible that may not be well known by the general public but that you personally treasure? If so, we would love to hear your story about the item, where you were able to find it and what triggered your decision to purchase, buy, or acquire it!

Buzz