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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A fascinating 2 book series chronicling the Beatles history and association with the record label and company that saw their explosion in the world’s largest record market of the time-the US! Without question, a must-have for your book collections!
The Beatles On Capitol Records Part 1
The Beatles On Capitol Records Part 2
The Beatles Are Coming!
An excellent book detailing the evolution and the development of the Beatles invasion and the details preceding the revolution:
The Beatles Are Coming
The Beatles On Apple Records
I love the Apple Records story and learning what the Beatles’ goals for the company were. However, the quote about the “best-laid plans of mice and men” surely applied to this story. A fabulous 2 volumes documenting the Apple label story!
The Beatles on Apple Records – Part 1The Beatles on Apple Records – Part 2
The Beatles on Parlophone
A detailed history of UK record releases by the Beatles on Parlophone!
The Beatles on Parlophone
The Beatles on Vee-Jay
A fantastic book dealing with one of the record labels the Beatles were on in America before they were signed to Capitol. Once again a fascinating story as to the details of what happened. You do not want to miss the details…
The Beatles on Vee-Jay Records
The Beatles on Swan Records
The first Beatles record that I ever bought was “She Loves You” on the Swan record label. This was another record label that the Beatles appeared on before they were locked in with the US label, Capitol. Once again another fascinating story presented by Bruce Spizer. Bruce is without peer as an investigator and this tale will amaze you!
For many years, I have dedicated myself to the pursuit of purchasing all of the Beatles-related books compiled and written by Bruce Spizer. These books are put together with a host of other very prominent Beatles experts and authors contributing to his books. Not only does one benefit from learning fabulous new information about the Beatles’ recording career, but Bruce’s research and writing skills are impeccable. Waiting for a new book from Bruce is like waiting for the next significant holiday, with all the pleasure and enjoyment that entails! Bruce’s books come in many formats. Hardcover and softcover editions, signed special collector’s boxed editions with lots of extras provided, and yes kindle editions as well are available to purchase. My favorite item to purchase of Bruce’s books are the limited-edition special collector’s editions. Limited to 500 copies, these are truly special and you will treasure them in your Beatles library forever.
Recently Bruce announced this forthcoming work is expected in the fall of 2023. The main focus of this title of Bruce’s excellent album series will be to highlight and discuss the recording of their first two UK Parlophone releases of “Please Please Me” and “With the Beatles”. Other early recording ventures of the Beatles such as the famous Decca audition, will also be discussed in this book. Looking forward to this!
The Beatles Please Please Me to With The Beatles
Want to see how comprehensive Bruce’s Beatle Book catalog is? These books are not presented in the order they were released, but it provides a good sampling of the tremendous library and literary contribution Bruce Spizer has made to the Beatles book canon.
The Beatles Rubber Soul to Revolver
Fantastic title that highlights the two albums that provided the incredible transition period that the Beatles made in their musical development. Both of these LP’s emphasized the band’s incessant need and desire to push the throttle forward to new sounds and experimentation with the creative process.
The Beatles Rubber Soul to Revolver
The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour and Yellow Submarine
This wonderful book fills in the magical gaps following the release of the Sgt. Pepper album and discusses the origins and creation of these two works as 1967 cruised into 1968.
Magical Mystery Tour and Yellow Submarine
The Beatles Finally Let It Be
Though not the last Beatles album officially recorded, it was the last album issued. Though it had a few Beatles gems in the grooves it served as a reminder to fans that the group was about to move on to their solo careers. It is hard to explain but this book’s details make me feel simultaneously happy and sad!
The Beatles Finally Let It Be
The Beatles Get Back to Abbey Road
Their last LP and what a way to go out. Served to prove that when the Beatles were all on the same page, no one could beat them and their songwriting skills. What better way for the Beatles to end their recording career by going out on top and leaving their massive audience yearning for more. Subsequent generations were also drawn to the musical mystique of the band and left those generations with a feeling of “we missed out on a very exciting period of history.”
The Beatles Get Back to Let It Be
The Beatles White Album
Looking at the Beatles in retrospect, it seems strange that an album that signaled the beginning of the disintegration of the group would also be seen as their greatest work by many. Possibly due to the diversity of musical styles exemplified by the Beatles on this LP, this book serves as a great analysis of that subject matter.
The Beatles White Album and the Launch of Apple
The Beatles and Sgt Pepper
Many people look at this LP as the apex and the zenith of the Beatles’ career. Bruce and his many author contributors do a superb job in putting the Sgt. Pepper LP into its proper historical and cultural perspective.
John’s good friend and artist Stuart Sutcliffe, was a member of the Beatles for a relatively short time, playing bass guitar until he quit the band to pursue his artistic career along with his German girlfriend Astrid. Unfortunately, Stu, who suffered from headaches for a considerable amount of time, died from a brain hemorrhage in Germany in 1962.
Another perspective of the sketch:
Stuart Sutcliffe Sketch “Hands”
I, as time progressed quickly, discovered that I could not afford a Stu Sutcliffe oil painting in collecting circles as they command very high prices and are in high demand, but I was very fortunate to be able to acquire a Stu Sutcliffe sketch of a pair of his hands from the Fest For Beatles Fans. The seller had unfortunately taken one of Sutcliffe’s notebooks and sold the sketches individually to maximize the financial return. I am against that and believe the notebook should have remained intact. However, since the damage had already been done I decided to buy the sketch to give it a permanent and safe home.
Stuart Sutcliffe – the Poet
Most people think of Stu Sutcliffe’s artistic talents but he also dabbled in poetry. This is the cover of Stu’s 1955 poetry notebook.
The Cover of Stuart’s Poetry Book
Stu Sutcliffe’s 1955 poem entitled “Lament of Spring,” which I acquired from a dear friend in Texas. Sutcliffe signed his last name near the title of the poem
“Lament of Spring” by Stuart Sutcliffe
Stuart Sutcliffe Portfolio
A Stu Sutcliffe portfolio put together by his sister, Pauline. This was a large format limited edition portfolio containing reproductions of items associated with Stu’s short tenure with the Beatles. I was able to acquire one of these portfolios from Ebay.
Stuart Sutcliffe – The Beatles Era
Below the ad for the portfolio is the certificate signed by Stu’s sister as being copy #162 of a total of the 1,000 that were made. Stu’s sister passed away several years ago.
To celebrate Yoko’s 90th, I bought a couple of Yoko-related items for my collection:
1) a rare LP collaboration between the Flaming Lips and Yoko Ono
The Flaming Lips Lp Artwork
The Coloured Vinyl
Here is the description from eBay:
The Flaming Lips/Yoko Ono/ Plastic Ono Band multi-colored vinyl 1/1400 NEW. This is a weird one. 600 pressed in glow-in-the-dark vinyl. 1400 colored vinyl pieces sold at exclusive indie record shops. The Fear Litany, Do It! and Brain Of Heaven on side A at 33rpm. Atlas Eets Christmas on side B at 45rpm.
All songs were written by Flaming Lips, Yoko Ono, and Sean Lennon. With The Fear Of Litany featuring lyrics from Frank Herberts Dune. Released in 2011 with the glow in the dark 600 pieces were sold at New Year’s Eve shows exclusively.
2). Avant Garde Magazine 9 November 1969 John Lennon Yoko Ono-this is not the controversial lithograph issue of the magazine
Avant Garde Magazine
Article on John and Yoko
Since good things come in threes:
3) A book that now resides in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame archives and has received universal acclaim-Author Madeline Bocaro.
4) Picked up this LP from 2012 which features a Yoko appearance on a John Cage experimental piece from 1961. Yoko’s first husband Toshi Ichiyanagi is on piano.
Yoko and John Cage LP
John Cage– 26’55.988″ For 2 Pianists & A String Player Piano [Pf] – David Tudor, Toshi Ichiyanagi Violin [Vn] – Kenji Kobayashi Vocals [Vo] – Yoko Ono
John Cage – Shock
Label:
EM Records – EM1107DLP, Edition Omega Point– OP-0011
Sonny Curtis of the Crickets’ novelty record about the Beatles (above) is one of many novelty Beatles records.
Part of the fun in collecting Beatles items is that there are many areas where collectors can decide to concentrate on. For example, many people love to collect Beatle novelty records or 45s. Here are a few items from my collection of novelty 45s and a brief sentence about why they hold a particular fascination for me.
Paul Is Dead Record
Jose Feliciano’s novelty record (below) about the Paul is Dead hoax. Jose uses the pseudonym
Werbley Finster
Jose Feliciano’s Record about Paul
Cher
A Beatles novelty record produced and partially written by Phil Spector and sung by none other than Cher using the name Bonnie Jo Mason.
Cher – as Bonnie Jo Mason
Two Virgins Too Far
“John, You Went Too Far This Time” by the group Rainbo featured the actress Sissy Spacek singing about her frustrations with John Lennon doing the nude album cover with Yoko called “Two Virgins,” on this Roulette 45.
Little is known that one of the original Quarrymen, Rod Davis, actually was on an official 45 “release” earlier than the Beatles were. After Rod had left the Quarrymen he played banjo on this 1961 recording. Rod was on this record by The Trad Grads.
The Flip Side of the Record
He signed the slipcase sleeve for this 45 as shown below for this Decca 45 release.
Rod Davis signed the sleeve
Buzz
Learn More About The Quarrymen
Just Like Starting Over: John Lennon and The Quarrymen
When John Lennon and his group The Quarrymen stepped onto the back of a wagon in Rosebery Street on 22nd June 1957, Charlie Roberts borrowed a camera and took a few photos of the event. It was just a group of friends having fun at a street party.
What Charlie didn’t know at the time was that he was capturing a piece of Beatles history. This was the first time that John Lennon had been photographed performing with his group. Skiffle was the new music and soon, John would meet Paul McCartney who would then introduce George Harrison to John.
