Fan Recollection books about The Beatles and the ’60s, a specific time frame or era, have a very specialized audience. Some people love this type of book for the memories it stirs up in their own lives. For me, they serve a deeper sociological purpose. They demonstrate the shared sense of community that a mass audience once had when the communication outlets were fewer and far between.

With the advent of the internet and social media and the information that often comes to us inaccurately because of so many different sources with their own agendas and without a proper context, it is becoming increasingly difficult to judge what the “truth is” anymore.

Nostalgia

That is why nostalgia is so appealing to many of us as we get older. We often have the tendency to downplay the bad times or memories that may be associated with our growing up and we believe very strongly in the notion of the “Good Old Days” as a result stressing what made us happy when we were younger.

I personally enjoy books like the following title from Marti Edwards and Joe Carroccio. It was an enjoyable tale of a young lady who at the tender age of 16 sought to meet The Beatles. It is nice to read a book that deals with the sense of community people who hold a common interest can exhibit rather than the era the world seems to be living in now!

These types of books usually do not make a big impact in the marketplace because of the specialized interest inherent in a recollection book, but to me, they serve as important time capsules like newspaper clippings to preserve the events of long ago, long after the main characters of the story are no longer here to share those memories with the current generation… Thank you Marti for sharing your memories with us!

The Beatles and the Baby Boomers

Back Cover of the book:

Marti Edward’s inscription in my copy of the book:

Buzz

As a Beatles book collector, I have always had a mixed set of opinions about Beatles price guide books! I believe they serve a valuable function in being able to set a monetary value of a particular Beatles record or Beatles-related collectible. However, the drawback to that scenario is that prices for items can vary drastically over a relatively short period of time. Even great artists can have lapses of time when either the economy is bad or the interest in a particular artist has diminished for a particular time frame.

Sometimes the release of a new product by the artist can serve the function of reinstating a higher demand and interest in the artist, increasing the demand for their product, thus having a result of increasing demand and prices for their older and harder to find rarities or releases. The Beatles are often cited as exceptions to several of the incidents I have described above, but it serves as a cautionary note for people looking to sell their collectibles in order to find the most general current value of their collectible.

The Beatles and Baseball

Price guides with mega-artists like the Beatles and Michael Jackson, or with baseball legends are often linked to the time frame in which they are released as the value of their collectibles seem to consistently increase in value even in tough economic times, sometimes having a radical increase. A similar problem exists with the release of record discographies. If you buy one and then a new product by the artist is released, the discography becomes immediately outdated and in need of a revised edition. All the mentions above are to make sure that you attempt to ascertain the current value of the item at the time you are selling it.

What is the condition of the item? What is the demand for the item? If 50 people are looking for an item that 500 other people wish to buy, that may certainly increase what you may be able to receive for the item and what the buyer may ultimately pay for it. (the law of supply and demand). Ultimately, Beatles pricing on both the buying and selling end of things is subjective as value in any item has many determinations. For example, for completists, if they are missing a single issue in a numbered series of magazines, collectors may pay extra for that issue in order to complete their set.

You can state that something is worth any price you can set as a seller, but it is only worth that price if the buyer is willing to pay that amount for it. Price guides do serve a healthy function as providing a basic general framework for those trying to establish a concrete figure as to what an item or what their collections may be worth.

I have seen and purchased many Beatles price guides over the years and the following book is unquestionably one of the best. Perry Cox is one of the best analysts as to what Beatles-related items are worth and what they can command in the marketplace. You will find this slip-cased version of this book to be a very worthwhile addition to your Beatles book library. Co-authored by Beatles authority, Frank Daniels, with a foreword by prominent Beatles author, Bruce Spizer! This is a later edition of the book.

Price Guide for The Beatles American Records

This is a slip-cased 6th edition. It covers listing and values for group and solo records tapes and cd’s from 1962 to 2007. It is also a special edition of the book as this is a limited version of only 200 signed slip-cased copies. Published in 2007 by 498 Productions, LLC, the same company that publishes the many great Bruce Spizer Beatles books! Would love to see an update of this book to reflect the value of these records currently as we head to the decade of the 2030’s!

The front cover of the book:

The back cover of the book:

The front cover of the slip case for the book:

The back cover of the slip case for the book:

A side view of the book in the slip case:

The signature page of this wonderful collecting price guide:

Tell Me What You Think

Would love to hear your comments about discographies and Beatles price guides in general!! Do you enjoy them, and do they help you to determine what you would like to buy and what you are willing to pay for an item?

Do you believe the sellers of Beatles collectibles have a tendency to over-value their collectibles when they are selling them? Obviously, their motive is usually to raise as much money as possible from the sale of the respective item.

Do owners of Beatles collectibles also have a tendency to over-value their collectibles, in order to somehow justify their decisions to acquire the items as an insurance policy for the future as the projected feeling is that the item’s value will continue to increase?

How do you establish the value of any Beatles collectible that you buy and what in your mind other than available financial resource concerns, makes the determination that you will buy the item you are interested in? Do you have any exceptions to that reasoning?

What motivates you to buy a high ticket or high-priced Beatles-related item?

Looking forward to your comments and observations!!!

BUZZ

The Beatles in Cuba

The Beatles when they arrived in America were not initially accepted on the island situated 90 miles away from the state of Florida, the homeland of Desi Arnaz, Cuba. Also, they were banned from the country by the Communist regime of Fidel Castro as being representative of the capitalist consumption-based society. The Beatles were never allowed in Cuba during the repressive Castro regime. As the years passed by, and the Beatles’ music was being heard by more of the population, the group began to be appreciated and respected on the island. In fact, following John Lennon’s murder a statue of Mr. Lennon was erected in one of the Cuban Parks in Havana where George Martin, the Beatles former producer visited and was photographed sitting next to the statue. (see the link below for the photograph)

Los Beatles En Cuba

Even though I do not speak Spanish, I decided I wanted this book, for a number of reasons. It demonstrated that the appeal of the Beatles reached beyond borders and yes even those with repressive regimes and this verified that there is “power in the music” that has a far greater reach than information indoctrination by dictators. Bought this book on Ebay and it was from the former collection of Hunter Davies, the official Beatles biographer. Signed by the editor and compiler Ernesto Juan Castellanos, when he mailed it to Hunter, and later when Hunter was downsizing his collection, he also signed the volume when he put it up for sale.

Front cover of the book:

Back cover of the book:

Click the link below to see the photo of George Martin at the statue of John Lennon in Havana, Cuba

George Martin sits with John Lennon bronze sculpture in Vedado district, Havana, Cuba : r/beatles

This link on the internet shows Fidel Castro at the statue’s dedication in Havana:

Cuban President Fidel Castro unveils a statue of John Lennon on the… News Photo – Getty Images

The photo of George Martin at the Lennon statue is now followed by the signature page of the book about the Beatles influence in Cuba, signed by both the compiler of the book’s information, and none other than the person he sent the book to, the Beatles official biographer Hunter Davies.

This book was in Hunter’s personal collection until he began downsizing his massive Beatles book collection.

The Beatles in Sick

In the tradition of humor (humour) magazines like Mad Magazine, there were quite a few others during Mad’s reign at the top of the humor magazine echelon. Another magazine of that ilk was called Sick and here are two Beatles-related issues for your review. I believe I purchased both of these collecting artifacts through eBay as well.

Another issue of Sick Magazine designed to take advantage of the Beatles immense popularity:

This is Part 2 of a great 2-volume work by author Jorg Pieper. “The Solo Beatles Film and TV Chronicle 1971-1980.”

Basically, it deals with the first 10 years of their solo careers until the year of John’s murder. The first volume was entitled “The Beatles Film and TV Chronicle 1961-1970” and dealt with the known existing footage of the Beatles at the time of writing. The two volumes make a very respectable catalog of what was known to exist in Beatles film and video archives at the time the volumes were written.

Pre:Fab! Colin Hanton

A wonderful book by Colin Hanton of the Quarrymen and Colin Hall, the one-time caretaker of Menlove Ave. Colin Hanton’s memories are now preserved in a new film called PRE FAB which I anxiously await the dvd release of.

Here is a brief preview:

PRE FAB! – Stars North

The signature page featuring the signatures of Colin Hanton (Quarrymen drummer and Colin Hall (former Mendips custodian)

Contents of the book are outlined:

Guitar With Wings – Laurence Juber

A special title written by former Wings guitarist Laurence Juber along with author Marshall Terrill with a Foreword by the late Denny Laine, this beautiful, limited-edition book came in a 1,000-hand numbered and signed copy edition encased in a wonderful slipcase. Features many beautiful photos of Laurence’s tenure with Wings and some of the stories that he wanted to share about that unique experience. Laurence is a guitar virtuoso and was one of the best musicians to ever have played with the several incarnations of Paul’s bands over his solo years. The book is also available in hardback as a regular edition as well. Seek it out, you will be pleased.

Front cover:

Back Cover:

The signature page and you will notice my collector’s fixation of collecting the last numbered copy of Limited-edition books that somehow have a connection that is Beatles-related.

The Juber book as featured in the beautiful slipcase.

Staffan & Beatles

FROM WIKIPEDIA’S DESCRIPTION – Staffan Olander (born 14 August 1951) is a Swedish economist and former bank director of Sparbanken Finn.  In 1973 he became champion of the TV program TiotusenkronorsQuestion (Kvitt eller dubbelt) for his knowledge of the pop group The Beatles. I purchased this book because Staffan is one of the most knowledgeable Beatles scholars in Sweden and he has many photographs of Beatles-related interest to me in this wonderful hardback book. Even though I cannot speak or understand Swedish, I thoroughly enjoyed Staffan’s collection of wonderful photos as it pertains to his interactions and Beatles-related activities over the years. A very interesting life, indeed!!!

Back Cover of the book:

Horst Fascher

Love the stories of Horst Facher in this wonderful English edition of his memories of the Beatles in the early years He not only served as a bouncer in a club that the Beatles played at in Germany, but he was also an occasional singer with the Beatles backing him on a few tracks on the Hamburg Star Club Tapes, for example. For a while the book was only available in German and then an English edition appeared and then seemed to have been quickly withdrawn possibly for edits and now it has reappeared. My signed edition of this book is packed away!

The back cover of the book:

Beatles 20 Anniversaire

A recent acquisition I bought even though it is in a foreign language. I bought it for a multitude of reasons. I also collect comic books that have a Beatles connection. This one is special to me. Though written in the French language it contains two Marvel comics about the Beatles bound together as a single volume. The first one is the Marvel Beatles biography which I also have in English, but the bound volume also contains the Marvel comic of the ill-fated and critical flop of the Robert Stigwood-produced Sgt. Pepper movie featuring the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton. It was going to be also released in English but never was due to the movie’s poor reviews. The attractive element to me was to have both of the Beatles comics together in a book format.

Front cover of the book containing the 2 comics:

The Beatles Story:

Details of the book from the eBay description of the item: It says hardback but the book actually is a softcover:

Looking for your stories about unusual Beatles-related print items in your collections? How did you come across them or find them? What was the ultimate variable that may have compelled you to purchase the unusual print item? Thanks for your input!

Buzz

Another Collection of Beatles Books at The Beatles Bookstore