The blog is designed to feature both old and new Beatles-related print material including books, magazines, posters, or correspondence with people that have a Beatles connection or association. The blog will also feature books from people that have worked with the individual members of the group during their solo careers! Looking forward to seeing you here! Looking forward to your participation and feedback on the blog!
John “Buzz” Bezzini has one of the world’s largest collections of Beatles books and he will share his thoughts and opinions on some of the more rare and unusual Beatles titles.
John taught a course in 1984 called “The Beatles in Retrospect” marking the 20th anniversary of the Beatles’ arrival in America.
John also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication.
Enjoy Buzz’s Beatles Book Blog.
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This story was just so good, that I had to pass it on: a piece of McCartney magic. Peter Hicks sent me this fascinating article written a while back by Angela Leighton Jones on behalf of Peter Hodgson about the Feb 4, 1954 issue of Country Life magazine which featured a picture of the Sussex Paul McCartney home long before he purchased it.
The story was captivating to me. The tale revolves around Peter Hodgson’s search for the magazine in question shown below and who sold him the copy that he was looking for.
I would like to thank Peter Hicks for bringing this magazine to my attention as I was also able to find a copy of the issue thanks to him. Found the magazine on the great book search service of Abe Books. Also a debt of gratitude owed to Peter Hodgson for his delightful story of this unique magazine cover and the obscure Lennon connection to the wonderful McCartney story.
This is Peter Hodgson’s story around a quest to find an original copy of a magazine that he saw on the fridge in the kitchen of Paul McCartney’s Hog Hill Recording Studios. It appears as sent to me by Peter Hicks:
“Monday the 27th of March 1995 Peter Hodgson stood in the kitchen of Hog Hill while Paul McCartney was making him a cup of tea.Amidst the excitement of playing musical instruments with one of his heroes Paul McCartney, he noticed, stuck to the fridge with a magnet a copy of the front page of an old Country Life magazine that featured the actual Windmill and house.
“Peter was intrigued but didn’t think to take a closer look to see the date of the magazine, although it was a really old edition.
“However, since that date twenty-eight years ago, all Peter had managed to find was a bad-quality scanned copy of the front cover of the said magazine which he retrieved about four years ago.
“That was until last week when he found on eBay his very own original copy of that edition of Country Life magazine edition, February 4th, 1954.
“Peter was keen to hear if the seller – a Mr. William Benzie – knew the significance of the front cover of the magazine and the fact the windmill now belonged to Paul McCartney.
“Peter was surprised when Mr. Benzie said he was unaware.Peter then handed Mr. Benzie the money for the old magazine and was really pleased with himself.Then just as Pete thought the day couldn’t get any better, Mr Benzie disclosed the fact that it was his father who had taught John Winston Lennon Geography at Quarry Bank School.His father was Gordon Jeavons Benzie a Geography teacher at Quarry Bank School.
I guess you couldn’t write it!“
WASN’T THAT AN AMAZING STORY BY MR. PETER HODGSON?? And a thank you again to Angela Leighton Jones for putting the article together.
A PHOTO OF THE MAGAZINE IN QUESTION:
Country Life Magazine
A magazine from 1954 belonging to one of John Lennon’s teachers in the 1950s featuring a picture of Hog Hill Mill which thirty years later would become the recording studio for John’s bandmate Paul. Johns’ teacher Gordon Benzie would have acquired the magazine sixty-nine years ago not knowing that he too would play a small part in the journey.
The magazine is now on display at the Liverpool Beatles Museum in Mathew Street, Liverpool.
Many people do not realize that Peter Max, the celebrated pop artist, was approached by the Beatles to be involved with the Yellow Submarine film project. John Lennon had called him directly to work on the project. However, the project would require his committing to be in Europe for a 17-month period which he was not willing to do. It was Peter Max who recommended that Heinz Edelmann take the reins.
Much of this story is provided at the Park West Gallery link shown below. The link below provides a photo of the Peter Max piano that Ringo signed for him and it also discloses/ reveals that Heinz Edelmann’s business cards identified him as the “German Peter Max.” This may help to explain why many people were convinced that Peter had been involved with Yellow Submarine’s production. Edelmann’s work on Yellow Submarine certainly had similar properties to Peter Max’s artistic style. Peter Max and The Beatles: Friends, Artists, Icons of the 1960s (parkwestgallery.com)
In 2002, New Life Magazine asked Peter Max to do the four Beatles as separate covers for their magazine. Each issue featured a pull-out poster of the issue’s respective Beatle. Finding all four of these issues is not easy and usually is expensive. Luckily, I was able to obtain a set at a very reasonable cost on eBay. Sometimes the price that you pay on eBay is being fortunate to be at the right place at the right time.
Here are the four New Life Beatles covers with the Peter Max design:
John Lennon on New Life by Peter Max
Paul McCartney on New Life by Peter Max
George Harrison on New Life by Peter Max
Ringo Starr on New Life by Peter Max
My Peter Max signature in one of the books concerning his artwork:
Peter Max Signature
The Art of Peter Max
When Ringo Starr visited Peter Max in his studio, he signed the music stand on Peter’s piano:
Ringo’s signature to Peter Max
Hope you like these covers?
Buzz
More Artwork at The Beatles Bookstore
Art & Craft
Original art and craft related to Liverpool and the Beatles
TONY PALMER’S BOOK ASSOCIATION WITH JOHN LENNON AND THE BEATLES
This was Tony Palmer’s 1970 book about the music scene in the late 1960s. It featured illustrations by Ralph Steadman who had often worked with writer, Hunter Thompson. The book featured a foreword by John Lennon and the 1970 edition featured a cover photo of John and Yoko being arraigned in the UK for the charges of marijuana possession. These charges eventually led the US government and the Nixon administration to try and deport John Lennon when he moved to the United States. Some people have speculated that it was not the conviction that the US government was worried about. Many postulate that John’s power with the youth especially during the social upheaval of the Vietnam conflict was the real reason the government tried to deport John!
Born Under a Bad Sign
Tony Palmer, Illustrations by Ralph Steadman
Published by William Kimber, London, 1970
BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN
The 126-copy limited signed edition-technically the book below is a 100-copy edition that was numbered 1-100.
Then there was a 26 copy limited lettered edition below this one:
BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN BY TONY PALMER
This is one of 26 lettered copies of the new edition signed by Palmer and Steadman with an original signed artwork by Ralph Steadman. The copy that I was able to obtain was no. “H” of 26 books “numbered” A to Z. So it is no. 8 of 26 books issued in this very limited edition
Publication: [London / Maidstone], Lexington, KY and Tucson, AZ: Isolde Films / Steam Press with Petro III Graphics and Sylph Publications, 2004
The book came in a slipcase:
BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN BY TONY PALMER
Tony Palmer was responsible for both an excellent book and a superb television series about the history of popular music.
Here is the book:
All You Need is Love by Tony Palmer
Tony Palmer’s classic series, The Story of Popular Music: All You Need is Love. A five DVD set which contained all 17 episodes of the fabulous TV series was issued!
The DVD set:
All You Need is Love by Tony Palmer
All You Need is Love by Tony Palmer
John Lennon and Tony Palmer were to have another connection as Palmer wrote a book called “The Trials of Oz” which John Lennon and Yoko wrote a few songs to raise money for the defendants in the OZ trial. Here is the Apple picture sleeve for those two songs. The A-side was sung by Bill Elliott, later of Splinter, and was produced by Mal Evans. The B-side , called “Do the Oz” was sung by John and Yoko. The songs did not do well commercially. The lead singer on the “God Save Us” track was to pass away in 2021.
Praise for Mr. Robert Whitaker, one of the great photographers who shot so many wonderful photos of the Beatles over the years. Robert Whitaker passed away on September 20, 2011.
Here is the link to the Wikipedia biography of Mr. Whitaker.
A few samples of his books/print material are contained in the photos below:
Robert issued a limited signed edition book of his favorite photos that he had shot of the Beatles. Only 100 copies of this softcover book were released in Europe in 2009. I was fortunate to be able to obtain a copy (copy #100) of this book at the book search service company entitled “Abe Books.”
Robert Whitaker’s Book of Beatles Photographs
Robert’s signature in the book:
Robert Whitaker’s Signature
My framed copy of the Butcher cover which Robert Whitaker took the original photograph of. This first-state stereo cover was obtained from noted Butcher cover collector and expert, Wayne Rogers! Would love to see the Whitaker Estate issue a book of all of the outtake photos from this session:
The Beatles Yesterday and Today
A collection of Robert Whitaker Beatles photos from the 1966 tour:
Inside The Beatles Final World Tour
The LIFE book containing the photos of Robert Whitaker:
Inside Beatlemania by Robert Whitaker
Here is the leather-bound edition of the book:
The Leather-Bound Special Edition
Robert was one of the photographers who was there in Japan in 1966 to witness and photograph the Beatles painting their only collective known work done with the paint brush. The painting was called “Images of A Woman” and was eventually purchased by a Japanese businessman at a significant price!
In 2024 it once again was auctioned off. At a Christie’s auction, it fetched a sum of $1.7 million!
The Only Painting to have been painted by all Four Beatles
Who is your favourite Beatles photographer? Let me know in the comments below.
Noted German collector Thorsten Knublauch and a collector named Richard Forrest who is the originator of the terrific blog at the link provided below in blue, gave me a wonderful education recently about Klaus Voormann record designs both in vinyl and on CD. Klaus of course, knew the Beatles back in Hamburg, and when the Beatles split up, he played on numerous solo recordings. Of course, he is best known as the designer of the Revolver album cover for the Beatles.
The Beatles Revolver Cover
One of the most extraordinary summaries of Klaus’s work for other artists is located here: Klaus Voormann’s Record Cover Art | recordart. This is a superb blog designed and compiled by Richard Forrest dealing with Klaus Voormann’s artwork on both vinyl and CD. This guy’s personal collection is without peer and there are so many interesting stories that accompany this blog. I am so happy that I was alerted to this site by Thorsten. I have learned so much from Richard’s link and I have become much poorer by purchasing many of the items listed at Richard’s site for my own collection!
I found the following story to be fantastic and it provided so much new information. To be better informed access the link above. Klaus Voormann drew a sketch of the group “The Eyes” on the back of the “She/Peanut Butter” single cover pictured just below. Paddy Chambers who was in the group had been a member of the legendary Liverpool band, The Big Three. Gibson Kemp who was to later marry Astrid Kirchherr, was a former drummer for The Hurricanes. John Frankland, according to the blog, was a former member of Kingsize Taylor & The Dominoes.
The Eyes – Peanut Butter
Here is the sketch that Klaus drew for The Eyes 45. Notice there are 4 people pictured, but not for long...
The Eyes on Star Club Records
This EP was released many years later and was Paddy Chambers Klaus Voormann, Gibson Kemp. The 4th person who was in the Eyes and left, John Frankland, was conveniently removed from this collection of Paddy, Klaus and Gibson’s collection of 45s. I bought a copy of this collection from the great book publisher Apcor who is responsible for the fantastic “A is for Apple” book series.
Paddy Klaus and Gibson
Achim Schultz, a German musician friend of Klaus’s, was the beneficiary of several of Klaus’s cover designs for a few CDs. Here is Achim’s George tribute:
Bye Bye George Harrison
Achim did a tribute song for John and Yoko and Klaus did the sleeve for this work as well.
Give Peace a Chance
A third Klaus contribution to Achim:
Welcome
Klaus’s unique style is certainly evident on this release by The Pleasure entitled “Travel Inside.”
The Pleasure Travel Inside
No one can miss the not too subtle comparisons to Revolver with this release by Fool’s Garden entitled “Who is Jo King?”
Fools Garden
A wonderful release of a Klaus demo recorded at George’s Friar Park entitled, “Lu La Le Lu.” This was released as a special 45 by the book company Apcor which has issued the fabulous “A is for Apple” series.
The link below was posted by someone on YouTube and features Klaus performing the song Lu La Le Lu with a band that has his son Max Voormann as a member.
Here is a Christmas single cover designed by Klaus with the photo in a different color on the two 45s. One picture was cropped by the record company and the A-side was flipped on the singles.
The Les Humphries Singers
The Les Humphries Singers
Klaus does his version of “The Thing” from the Addams Family Meets Maxwell’s Silver Hammer with this design:
Jimmy Smith by Klaus Voormann
Wet Wet Wet with 2 different cd cover designs by Klaus
Wet Wet Wet Cover 1
Wet Wet Wet Cover 2
No mistaking Klaus’s input on this design:
Albert Lee with Klaus’ Artwork
Two LP color cover variations for Klaus’s design of Gaby Moreno and Van Dyke Parks LP iSPANGLED!
Van Dyke Parks LP iSPANGLED
Van Dyke Parks LP iSPANGLED
The rarest Klaus sleeve that he produced in the very early 60’s and he handed the sleeve to John Lennon as a means of introducing himself to the band. That is where John told him to “show it to Stuart, he is the artist in the group.” The sleeve was for the Typhoon’s version of “Walk Don’t Run.” Would love to be able to find a copy of this sleeve one day.
Walk Don’t Run by Klaus
If you would like to learn more please go to the source of much of this information with the link below: It appears I have a lot more collecting to do, after all! Klaus Voormann’s Record Cover Art | recordart–
Here are the two Bee Gees LP covers designed by Klaus:
The Bee Gees cover by Klaus Voormann
The Bee Gees Idea
This is a great book by Klaus Voormann and his son Max with sketches they did of the Beatles stomping grounds in Hamburg. Copies of this signed book were available for purchase at the Voormann website Klaus Voormann – The official shop and archive
Hamburg Stomping Ground by Klaus
There was a special collector’s edition of “It Started in Hamburg” to honor Klaus’s 80th birthday and only 80 copies were issued of the book. I requested copy #80 and Klaus and Christina Voormann graciously honored my request to be able to purchase that copy!!!
Klaus Voormann – It Started in Hamburg
Thanks to Thorsten Knublauch for obtaining this inscribed German magazine for me of a Klaus magazine cover design:
Die Beatles by Klaus
Klaus did the cover design for this LP by Gary Wright. If you look at the musicians on this LP there are many familiar names from Beatles history. Hugh McCracken was a guitarist on Ram, Double Fantasy and Happy Xmas. Drummer Alan White and bass player Klaus also play on the album.
Gary Wright’s Cover
Gary Wright’s Extraction
Klaus designed the cover of this LP as well:
The Blues Band
The Genesis Revolver 50th Anniversary special edition by Klaus- I did purchase a copy of this book.
Revolver at 50
Klaus also signed a copy of this book which I purchased from his website
Four Track Stories
Richard Forrest has stated on his website that this may possibly be the rarest Klaus cover design of an obscure Jazz LP release in Germany. Richard has implied that this is the Golden Fleece for a Klaus collector to be able to find for their collection.
The Rarest Cover?
To end this post I will present Forrest’s listing of 20 Klaus-designed Pioneers of Jazz LPs and his cover design for Manfred Mann’s “As Is” album which I recently purchased on eBay. All of these designs appear on the Richard Forrest website and a great debt of gratitude is extended to him for his superb research. Also, special thanks to Thorsten Knublauch who informed me about Richard Forrest’s site. The link to his website is provided in this post.
The last pieces that will be shown in this post are the design that Klaus did for “I’m the Greatest” included in his booklet of sketches for the “Ringo” LP and a unique signature from Klaus that I recently acquired…..(see this at the end of the post)
Manfred Mann’s “As Is” LP with the Klaus-designed cover. Bought a copy of this recently on eBay.
As Is for Manfred Mann
Thanks to Alfred Ebeling who just informed me of this 2023 Klaus design of a collection of Manfred Mann hits from the Sixties!
Hits from the Sixties – Manfred Mann
The twenty covers for the Pioneers of Rock EP series:
Pioneers of Jazz
Pioneers of Jazz
Pioneers of Jazz
Pioneers of Jazz
Klaus Voormann’s “I’m The Greatest” sketch for the Ringo LP:
I’m The Greatest
Klaus’ Signature
Klaus saying goodbye to us all with this unique signature!!!
I thought a great subject for a post on the blog would be multiple covers for the same issue of a magazine that I have acquired. The Beatles in particular are the subject of a lot of these. Here we will cite a few examples
These postings indicate the obvious awareness that many publishers have that the continuing interest in the Beatles serves as a great marketing tool for the many multiple covers of the same magazine!
A rare set of Reader’s Digests Beatles Covers from Australia from Dec of 2005
My favorite set of TV Guide BEATLES covers. This is a rare set from Mexico of their equivalent of TV Guide Magazine manufactured in 1973 with the 1968 White album photos:
TV Guide Covers from Mexico
TV Guide Covers from Mexico
TV Guide Covers from Mexico
TV Guide Covers from Mexico
Four covers of TV Guide from the year 2000
TV Guide from 2000
TV Guide from 2000
TV Guide from 2000
TV Guide from 2000
The 4 individual Shea Stadium covers from 2005
The Beatles at Shea Stadium
Possibly my favorite 4 different cover collection of a single issue of a magazine issued in 4 different covers is this Richard Avedon photo set of covers of Rolling Stone issued only in Spain. The most difficult issue to find to complete this set is the Ringo issue. This set was issued in October of 2000:
The Four Beatles Covers on Rolling Stone
There are many more music magazines that have continued with this idea of generating multiple covers of a single issue. Here is an example of MOJO magazine from July of 2001. One could certainly argue it is a rip-off designed to get you to buy the same magazine four times and yet the collector would probably argue that it is nice to have the variance of having the choice of owning 4 different covers to the same magazine.
Four MOJO Beatles Covers
The final example I would like to cite here is the issues of the UK music magazine New Musical Express, more commonly known as NME, which featured all of the Beatles’ official UK LP releases as magazine covers from 2009. The rarest cover is the Magical Mystery Tour cover. Only 1000 copies were issued of MMT:
The Beatles Cover on New Musical Express
The Cover for the Magical Mystery Tour
One person’s trash is often another person’s treasure!!!
As a collector I can see and understand the arguments to the variety and choice issues but also for the rip-off reasonings and description. As a collector, however, I lean to the “variance to satisfy the collector” mentality! The end result of thinking this way is that my wallet is separated from its contents very quickly!
Do you collect magazines? And what do you think of the same magazine with different covers? A collector’s dream or a fan’s frustration?
Let me know in the comments below.
Buzz
CHECK OUT THE BOOKS ABOUT THE BEATLES IN THE BOOKSTORE
