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Apart from the regular UK album releases, all of which I have and are included in the collection, these are the promo, not for sale, rare pressings and bootleg recordings. All the vinyls are in pristine condition, played once and taped. All the covers are in plastic protective sleeves and all have been stored for 3 decades in a cupboard at room temperatures.
From us to you is a red vinyl 78 sized disc which plays at 33 and a third rpm. It features the song of the same name recorded for BBC Radio broadcast on 30/3/64 which is obviously From me to you with the appropriately changed lyric. This album also features a Parlophone rehearsal session including a false harmonica start on I should have known better then another version without the harmonica to see what works as it progresses. There's also an instrumental version of 'I'm happy just to dance with you' as well as a 2nd version of 'From us to you'. Other tracks include Kansas City, Long tall sally, If I fell, Boys, I'm happy just to dance with you inncluding vocals, Things we said today and A hard days night.
At the bottom of this page I have linked 4 fantastic Beatles Bootlegs sites but you won't find this one mentioned on any of them. This contains rare out-takes from what was labelled the 'Get Back' sessions. As well as old favourites such as She said, She said and Blackbird being revisited, future songs that were to appear on Abbey Road are also sampled and rehearsed, including two versions of Mean Mr Mustard, one of which is lengthy and includes a reference to someone wearing pink pyjamas (possibly a dig at Macca if you look at the suit he's wearing on the cover?) Other working versions of songs yet to be issued are Two of us, One after 909, Don't let me down, She came in through the bathroom window, Golden Slumbers, Carry that weight and Her Majesty (featuring the final guitar chord) The pick of the bunch is possibly the title song itself 'Watching Rainbows' which is sung by John and is worthy of having appeared in its own right on the subsequent 'let it be' album and Paul lets rip on a song called Early in the morning/Hi ho Silver. Other tracks include Stand by me, Hare Krsna mantra, Too bad about sorrows, All things must pass, A fool like me, You win again and A quick one he's away. The cover pictures as those that were taken around London's dock lands and parks in 1968.
This album contains a number of studio out-takes from the Abbey Road sessions (side 1) as well as some songs recorded by Paul McCartney with Donovan Leitch, Mary Hopkins and Linda and Heather in 1968 - (side 2). The front and back cover photographs were taken at the same time as the famous Abbey Road zebra crossing snaps. Side 1 includes different 'takes' of what was later released on the Abbey Road album including Golden Slumbers (with a wayward vocal in parts), Carry that weight, Her Majesty, You never give me your money (with a lengthy jam session ending), Octopus's Garden, Maxwells Silver Hammer, Oh Darling and take 37 of Something. Side two comprises How do you do, Blackbird, The Unicorn, Lalena, Heather, Mr Wind, The Walrus and the Carpenter and Land of Gisch.
Each Christmas, the Beatles issued a flexi disc of jingles, songs, jollification and snippets especially for their fan club members. This is the rarer U.S. issue from 1970 containing all 7 discs from 1963 through to 1969. Here are the
Youngblood contains early concert recordings sourced as follows. Side 1: Too much monkey business, Hippy hippy shake, Sweet little sixteen, Devil in her heart, A shot of Rhythm and blues, Memphis, Sure to fall, Youngblood, Crying Waiting Hoping, Kansas City and I forgot to remember to forget - al lfrom late 1962 to early 1963 from a radio programme called 'Stramash'. Side 2 comprising From me to you, I saw her standing there, All my loving, Roll over Beethoven, Boys, Till there was you, She loves you, This boy, I want to hold your hand, Money and Twist and shout was taken from their Liverpool Empire appearance in 1963.
My version of this album is called 'The Beatles on stage in Japan - The 1966 Tour' but is also known as 5 nights in a judo arena and live at the BudoKhan hall. It caused uproar in an already tumultuous year for the Beatles that included Johns 'Christ' remark and the perceived snubbing of Imelda Marcos in Manilla resulting in the Beatles being given some rough treatment to say the least. The uproar in Japan was because the hall was classed as sacred and not befitting of a pop concert - hardly the Beatles fault but still. Armed guards made sure the fans didn't make any noise and sat and clapped each song politely. The unusual quietness during songs, the Beatles being used to not being able to hear themselves, shocked the Beatles into hearing how bad they'd become live. Not long after this concert, they played their last ever live concert to a paying audience at Candlestick Park, San Francisco on 29th August. The song listing is the set as performed live in the afternoon show on June 30 1966: Rock And Roll Music, She's A Woman, Day Tripper, If I Needed Someone, Baby's In Black, I Feel Fine, Yesterday, I Wanna Be Your Man,
Nowhere Man, Paperback Writer and I'm Down.
The Beatles - Both sides is in excellent mono and after an introduction includes Come and get it as recorded by Paul McCartney on all instruments as a demo for Badfinger. Something (studio out-take) Running Free (a Ringo song from his Scouse the mouse era) followed by Macca and Tracy Ulmann's tv version of That'll be the day. Next is a studio out-take of Things we said today then John & Yoko on the Mike Douglas show in 1972 singing Luck of the Irish. Honey Don't follows, sung though by John on a BBC studio rehearsal. Side one ends with George singing Lay his head, an out-take from his album Somewhere in England. Side two opens with Waterspout, a McCartney out-take. Track 2 is John & Yoko and friends with a Christmas song from Thy, Denmark in 1970. Track 3 is I want you from the Abbey Road sessions but with Paul on vocals, an interesting comparison. How do you do it, recorded on 26/11/63 at the insistance of producer George Martin was to be their 2nd single until the Beatles stood firm with Please please me. This song with its new Beatles arrangement was instead given to Gerry and the Pacemakers - both Please please me and this got to No1 so happy days all round. Next, George sings John's 'In my life' on U.S. tv in 1974. The last 3 tracks on the album are 'Because', another Abbey Road out-take, 'Child of Nature' which is a 1969 studio rehearsal of John's which he would later release in 1971 and retitled 'Jealous Guy' on his Imagine album and finally 'Too many cooks' with Mick Jagger on vocals, Ringo on drums and produced by John. It was to be an Apple single but never was.
Indian Rope Trick - The Echoes of a dream.
Opening with Mein Bonnie which is the original slow version from 1961. Track 2: I love you too purports to be Paul singing lead vocal with the Foremost in 1964 though that has been challenged. It's only love is an acoustic out-take from 1965 whilst Indian Rope Trick is a song to the Maharishi recorded in 1968 during the Beatles retreat to Rishikesk, India. Whilst there with other celebs including Mia Farrow and Beach boy Mike Love they sang a song in celebration to Mike whose birthday it was. They are clearly enjoying this upbeat song as it descends into joyous laughter. Not Guilty is a George song, originally planned to be included on the White Album but omitted due to him having his 4 song share - something he wasn't happy about as he was now writing songs to rival the big two of Lennon and McCartney. Hey Bulldog, Savoy Truffle and Fool on the hill end side one and are all unfinished early versions of the songs we came to love.
An early demo version of I am the Walrus opens side 2 followed by 3 tracks laid down in January 1969 at the Get Back sessions, these being Watching Rainbows, Mean Mr Mustard and All things must pass (another George omition from any Beatle studio release but which George released as a triple album after the break-up) Track 5 is Cheese and Onions, a very Beatlesque sound but actually by comic mimic group the Rutles. Oriental nightfish is a 1973 Wings demo featuring Linda Mc on vocals whilst the album ends with the Pirate song as sung by George in 1975 about his 'My sweet lord' lawsuit - ahh me hearties.
Shea - At last. A green vinyl collectors edition of the 1965 landmark concert at Shea Stadium. It has to be remembered that before the official release of Live at the Hollywood Bowl, this was the benchmark and all that many fans had to go on - but what a substitute. The vibrancy of the album almost takes you back in time to being in the audience.
To give an atmospheric account of the gig, look no further than
See for full details of this excellent live recording with a super de luxe cover, the front of which is an alternate view of the famous banned 'Butcher Cover' from the US album - Yesterday and Today.
Full details are of the various recordings on this offering which includes the full 8 minute version of Dig it which was cropped for the final 'Let it be' album mix.
L.S. Bumblebee is mainly made up of tracks from the infamous Get Back sessions of early 1969, the title track not even being by the Beatles. are more details.
Any fan will tell you that their first U.S. concert performance was on 11th Feb 1964 at the Washington Coliseum so not this one as advertised on the album cover as being Carnegie Hall which was the following day. However, as would be expected, the set list was the same and was Roll over Beethoven, From me to you, I saw her standing there, This Boy, All my loving, I wanna be your man, Please please me, Till there was you, She loves you, I want to hold your hand.
Around the Beatles was a t.v. programme made for broadcast on 6th May 1964. Apart from featuring the Beatles in dramatisation as Shakespearian actors, there was a set performed with a few intersting asides including a medley and a previously and yet unreleased track. Twist and Shout and Roll Over Beethoven open the set then into I wanna be your man and Long Tall Sally which were to prove live favourites for some time. Then a medley of Love me do, Please please me, From me to you, She loves you, I want to hold your hand, Can't buy me love and Shout. The latter having been made famous by the gruff voice of Lulu. Each Beatle takes turn to sing it with the tune getting a little louder now then getting a little softer now - a great finishing touch to the medley. Side two of the album is taken up with tour interviews by the Beatles as given to Ken Douglas in 1966.
Spicy Beatles songs (label number TMOQ 71076 was also marketed as Mary Jane, label number CBM 3585)
Have you heard the word was marketed supposedly as the Beatles last ever recording in 1970 which also featured the Bee Gees - it turns out not to be either of them at all. Don't let me down, Those were the days (released by Mary Hopkins) and Cottonfields (released by the Beach Boys) are 3 impromptu short versions sang by the Beatles to journalists during airport transfers. Whats yer new Mary Jane (as it's called here) is the 1967 studio out-take. Twist and Shout as sang in Sweden in 1963 follows and side one ends with a Bbc radio version of Dizzy miss Lizzy from 1964. Side two feature from a Swedish tv show called 'Drop in' broadcast on 24th Oct 1963 and includes great quality vesions of You really got a hold on me, Roll Over Beethoven, All my loving, I wanna be your man, A hard days night, Things we said today and From Us to you.
Dr. Robert contains 12 tracks, three of which are contentious. I'm only sleeping, And your bird can sing and Dr. Robert are Revolver studio out-takes whilst Mary Jane resurfaces again. The Inner light, You know my name, Blue Jay way and Penny Lane all feature, the latter with the original trumpet ending. Peace of Mind (also known as The Candle burns is a pshycodelic weird piece but alas not confirmed to be a Beatles piece) whilst L.S. Bumblebee and Have you heard the word make another appearance.
Before the official release of the Live at the BBC album, Yellow Matter Custard (also packaged as 'As sweet as you are') was one of the best bootleg albums around as everything contained within it except for 'Slow down' was unheard of unless you'd taped the original BBC recordings off the radio in the early 1960s. Tracks are: I got a woman, Glad all over, I just don't understand, Slow Down, Please don't ever change, A shot of Rhythm and blues, I'm sure to fall, Ain't nothin' shakin' but the leaves on the trees, Lonesome tears in my eyes, Everyone wants someone, I'm gonna sit right down and cry over you, Crying waiting hoping, To know her is to love her and Bound by love (also known as The Honeymoon song) and sung by Paul in the Till there was you fashion. See to see how the official release of Live at the BBC ruined bootleggers of this album for good.
It is alleged that the Beatles recorded as many as 200 songs during the bleak Twickenham film studio sessions in January 1969 which were later moved to their Saville Row Apple headquarters culminating in their famous free rooftop concert. Though many were snippets and it's not known if that is meant to be 200 different songs or many versions of the same songs, sometimes with working titles (eg. Two of us being called On our way home and Dig a pony being All I want is you)
The 'Get back sessions' on blue vinyl and the 'More Get Back sessions' on red vinyl (above) give us another smattering including Maxwells Silver Hammer, Besame Mucho, Two of us, One after 909, Shake rattle and roll, Get back, Dig a pony, Whole lotta shakin', Suzy Parker, I me mine, I've got a feeling, Paul raps and Let it be.
Supertracks Vol 2 in good mono sound features Paperback Writer and Rain as taped in England in 1966 for the Ed Sullivan show in the States. Peace of mind, as stated earlier aka The Candle Burns was reputedly found in an Apple bin in 1970 and dates from 1967 which is maybe so, but that might be where the Beatles connection ends. Take 37 of Let it be follows then Hey Jude with an accompanying interview from rehearsal sessions in 1968. Get Back is from the Let it be film soundtrack whilst the album ends with 5 songs from the 'A hard days night' film soundtrack.
This album features the songs recorded with Tony Sheridan in Hamburg (as the Beat Brothers) as well as Tony's own recording which do not feature the Beatles at all.
This new years eve 1962 gig at the Star Club on the seedy Reeperbahn in the red light district of Hamburg was honoured by the Beatles even though by now they had become a lcoal, if not British sensation. The album's release caused controversy as to the ownership of the rights as it was neither on the parlophone EMI or Apple label, the parlophone deal having expired a year earlier. Recorded by Ted King Size Taylor and supposedly unbeknownst to the Beatles, it is a raw insight into lengthy stage expectations and repertoire of the group at the time. It's easy to see how the groups first official album was recorded in just twelve hours. See for the track listings and see for further details of the session and recording.
As only 26 of the 33 songs taped at the above session appear on the black album, I came across a couple of the others on this alternative pressing.
As is commonly known. The American versions of the 'A hard days night' and 'Help' film soundtracks feature instrumental versions of some of the Beatles songs and of course, as ever, are packaged differently than their UK counterparts. As such, these albums deserve their place as being not of the norm. They of course were pressed on EMI Parlophone's U.S. label which was Capitol.
A rare American imported copy of interviews undertaken in 1964. See for more details of why, what, where and when.
David Wigg undertook interviews with all four Beatles between 1969 and 1973, some during turbulent times around the time of the break-up. He didn't hold back in his questioning and the Beatles to be fair were honest though holding on to the long held notion that to outsiders, they always held a tight knit front. John prophetically announces during one interview that he and Yoko are the worlds clowns, like Laurel and Hardy and they don't mind that because all the serious people like J.F.K. and Martin Luther king got shot - The double album, each side dedicated to each Beatle also comes complete with an inner booklet. See for further details.
In the late 1970s, picture discs were all the rage. This is the Abbey Road offering. Notice the track listing on the sleeve is in red.
Also common for a period, were coloured vinyl discs. This foreign import of Sgt Peppers lonely hearts club band is on 'marble'. The album is complete with the cut out inserts which originally came with the LP.
The very yellow Magical Mystery Tour LP (which although released in the U.S. in 1967, had to wait a further 9 years for a UK release) popped up on yellow vinyl. The booklet which appeared with the UK EP release can now be seen in its larger format. EMI was coming to the end of its deal with the Beatles in 1976, therefore a glut of releases ensued including the double compilation Love songs and Rock N' Roll albums.
Of course the White album had to materialise on white vinyl as shown here on this American Capitol release as did what were to become known at the red album (1962-1966) and the blue album (1967-1970) as shown here on my French imports.
THE DECCA AUDITIONS
On new years day 1962, The Beatles as were (including Pete Best on drums) auditioned for the Decca record label for what has now become a legendary session. Rejected by Dick Rowe in favour of the Tremeloes, he somewhat made up for it later by securing the Rolling Stones. All of the songs, except for one feature on a collection of coloured vinyl discs with picture sleeves I ammassed at various conventions and collectors fairs.
Five of these surfaced on the first anthology album that the Beatles subsequently brought out in the mid 1990s but these however still remain a rare 45rpm collection. For further details on that session, please see
As explained earlier. How do you do it was lined up by the Beatles producer George Martin as the Beatles follow up single to their debut Love me do which charted only at No.17. Recorded on 26th November 1963, it is said that the Beatles performed it at a lacklustre pace on purpose so it would be deemed not good enough. Even at that early stage in their careers, they were pushing for their own compositions to be recorded and in fact 3 of those pictured above recorded at the Decca auditions nearly 2 years ahead of How do you do it were Lennon & McCartney offerings. Gerry & the Pacemakers, another Merseybeat group in the Brian Epstein stable would take the song to No.1 instead as part of their being the first group whose first three singles all topped the charts.
This version of Revolution has the fast electrification pace of the 1968 single issue but the extra 'Don't you know it's gonna be' and 'Shoo-bee- doo-wops' of the White album slower versions lyrics. The Beatles performed the song semi-live (with live vocals performed over a pre-recorded instrumental track) in a specially produced promotional film shot by director Michael Lindsay-Hogg at the same time as the Hey Jude promotional film. The film received its world premiere in Britain on David Frost's ITV television programme, 4 September 1968. As the Beatles were singing the vocals live on the film, they elected to incorporate part of the vocal arrangement from the slower Revolution 1 version of the track. McCartney and George Harrison added the "shoo-bee-doo-wops" backing vocals unique to that version behind Lennon's lead vocal - thus making the vocals on the film performance a hybrid of the two versions of the song. On the single version, the scream at the beginnig is that of John, however as he would not be able to manage this and catch his breath on the live version, the scream is done by Paul.
These 2 singles on the Swan label contain Sie Liebt Dich (She loves you sung in German) and Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand (I want to hold your hand sung in German) - backed with that song again - How do you do it and the regular She Loves you 'B' side, I'll get you, they were issued on 21st May 1964 in the USA and on the Odean label in Germany (though neither with How do you do it as the 'B' side)
The German division of EMI (the parent of the Beatles' British record label, Parlophone Records), decided that the only way to sell Beatles records in Germany would be to re-record them in German. The Beatles found the idea stupid, but were asked by George Martin to comply, recording "Sie liebt dich" on 29 January 1964, along with a German version of "I Want to Hold Your Hand," at the Pathe Marconi Studios in Paris. Other than the earlier sessions backing Tony Sheridan it was the only time in their career that the Beatles recorded outside London. They were actually scheduled to record them 2 days earlier but didn't show up, much to George Martins annoyance. He later conceded though that they were right, they didn't need to record in German for that market but he was also glad they were not graceless and did good recordings of them.
Two singles, never officially released turned up on the Merseybeat label. These were Soldier of love coupled with Clarabella and Carol backed with Lend me your comb. These were live gig standards performed by the Beatles in their early years and used when having to fulfil BBC radio recording contracts and were sometimes performed live in the studio for radio. These 4 were recorded on the radio show 'Pop goes the Beatles' on 2nd July 1963 and which was transmitted exactly a fortnight later on 16th July. It's described by Beatle expert Mark Lewisham as without a doubt the most fascinating Beatles radio appearance ever. Although surfacing on the Live at the BBC album over 3 decades later, in this form as 45s, they remain a rare commodity.
Aint she sweet sung by John lennon during the Tony Sheridan sessions was issued on a few labels one of which in the USA was ATCO as on this imported copy. For more details see
Rare foreign imported singles in my possession include live versions of Ticket to ride/Dizzy miss Lizzy as taken directly from the Live at the Hollywood Bowl album. Also shown in the first picture above is French Odean label EP with 4 tracks from the Help album.
Ob la di Ob la da b/w Julia on the U.S. Capitol label complete with a single version of the White album sleeve.
Three French picture sleeve singles on the odean label. No reply/Baby's in black. Yesterday/The night before and Eight days a week/I'm a loser.
Three U.S. releases on the Apple label with Apple single sleeves.
Apart from my collection of every UK vinyl album release of the Beatles which encompasses their 12 studio albums from 1963 to 1970 and alater releases such as Live at the Hollywood Bowl and Rarities, I have the total 45s re-issue package from 1976 when EMI coming to the end of their final contract with the Beatles took the opportunity of making as much money as they could out of them (all over again), which was fine by me at the time. The singles collection from Love me do to Let it be were supplimented by a further couple of releases which charted, these being Yesterday/I should have known better and Back in the USSR/Twist and Shout - these all being in special picture sleeves as shown. In 1978 a further single release of songs from the Sgt Pepper album were issued where none were originally back in 1967 - something George Martin always said he regretted.
During the 60s, the Beatles also issued a number of Extended play discs known as EPs, as shown above. Although most of the tracks were available elsewhere, this is another line of collection worthy of note.
SOLO RELEASES
As well as a special edition green vinyl 'Happy xmas (war is over), there are 4 picture sleeve singles of John lennon's that I have including him and Elton John performing 'I saw her standing there' and 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds'. There is also a yellow vinyl edition of 'Seaside Woman' as recorded by Suzy and the red stripes which is in fact Mrs. Linda McCartney. A raggae feel to this song, it having been conceived during the McCartney's trip to the Caribbean.
Another selection of picture sleeved singles, this time of the Paul ilk. You won't get hold of some of these again as generally, they are easily ripped and lost during house moves etc. Some of these go back to not long after the split.
Apart from the standard issue LPs and Singles (most of which I have), these are the Ringo picture sleeves on 45. Beaucoups of blues is particularly rare as is the album I have as it's an import copy with it never having been issued here in the UK.
Standard issue solo LPs which I have are:
John: Live peace in Toronto, John lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, Some time in New York City, Mind Games, Walls and Bridges, Shaved Fish and Double Fantasy.
Paul: McCartney, Ram, Wild Life, Red rose speedway, Band on the run, Venus and Mars, Speed of sound, Wings over America, London town, Back to the egg, McCartney II, Tug of war.
George: Lent to a girlfriend circa 1979 and never returned nor replaced - bah!
Ringo: Sentimental Journey, Beaucoup of blues, Ringo, Goodnight Vienna, Rotogravure, Ringo the 4th, Bad boy.
