Stay Signed In
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
Every word on every page has been read and every photograph scrutinised and yet no one can ever claim to know everything there is to know about the most written about and photographed group on the planet. New websites pop up every week, new unseen photographs exhibited, yet another dvd of exclusive footage, another newspaper story from their past and more rarities going under the hammer at auction houses - when will it all end. Never, hopefully and yes, I suppose this is yet another one of those websites of previously unpublished memorabilia. Many of these books are now discontinued, some of them being 1960s originals and iconic in their nature with has it happened stories. I have tried to put a simple description of what each contains but some are so varied, it's an almost impossible task.
All together now lists every official and unofficial disc release from 1961 to 1975 together with all the information pertaining to that disc you could ever wish to know. Fantastic for full colour album sleeve shots.
Hunter Davies was the official biographer to the Beatles and mixed with them throughout their hectic lifestyle which gave him an insight into not just their past but stories as they happened. A must have.
Growing up with the Beatles is Ron Schaumberg's account of being a fan and enjoying new releases as they came out, giving an account not often catered for. This books come complete with the poster as shown on the cover.
The Lennon & McCartney songbook for the keyboard featuring 50 of their classics.
Mersey Beat was a newspaper created by Bill Harry which advertised the Mersey sound, promoted groups, gave their gigs details and generally reported any news for all the local fans to keep in touch with what was happening. The Beatles unsurprisingly featured a lot throughout those heady days of the early 1960s and this book containing replica pages from those times including original writing by messrs Lennon and McCartney.
Behind the Beatles songs was launched at the first ever Liverpool Beatles convention in 1977, arguably the forerunner to todays Mathew st festival. Illustrated, it contains the background to how, when, where and why many of those famous songs we've grown to love were written.
For the record offers another detailed account of the fab four's vinyl output throughout their careers and supplimented with the usual array of photographs we come to expect from any publication about them.
The Beatles unseen archives really did present yet another 'lost and suddenly unearthed' plethora of pictures for the world to see. Just who didn't photograph them might be easier to ascertain.
Paperback Writer offers a different concept to Beatlemania. Whilst all the Beatle bookshelves rely on fact, information, dates and times, this novel chronicals an alternative more spurious rise to stardom.
The Beatles an illustrated record was purchased by me from Bold Street back in 1978 when revised and new. Detailing each UK album release to date, including full page coloured album sleeves. Containing photos and information on solo happenings such as Ringo's films, Wings tour dates, JL's lost weekend and George's dark horse label, it remains as fresh as ever.
Images of the Beatles somehow manages to capture more, yes even more rarely seen photographs, some back stage, some candid, mostly great.
1960s originals which have passed into the annals of time. Purchased from stalls at Beatles conventions in the late 1970s, The Beatle book, Help and Love me do proves that the bandwagon regarding releasing written and pictorial material on the boys was as widespread as ever in those early days when there's a cash cow to be had. Obviously these books will only take you up to a certain period of the Beatles lives but they do record recent events as they happened so are fresh and first hand.
These 3 are what I would call iconic books about the Beatles.
The man who gave the Beatles away by their first manager Allan Williams recalls those manic days of the late 1950s and ealy 1960s when the group sometimes struggled to find a drummer which could sometimes turn out to have hilarious or frightening consequences. Chronicalling their Hamburg trips and the sleaze that went with it, the homecomings, the Liverpool nightclub scene, the final insult when the Beatles stopped sending his management fee home and then his statement to Brian Epstein - you can av em' I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole. Almost tantamount to what Dick Rowe at Decca records did, but Allan's made a living out of them. A must have in my 'book'.
A cellarful of noise is an obvious continuation of the previous review if you like, though this one was published first of the two. The cellar was the Cavern and the story goes that Brian Epstein was so intrigued by repeat requests for a record in his NEMS record shop that he took a lunchtime trip down there to see for himself. The rest as they say is history.
Apple to the core takes us to the other extreme of their careers. The boring business meetings, the contractual negotiations, the sometimes lousy deals and the final breakdown. If you thought it was just about having cash rain down on them - read this. They undoubtedly made more money since the split than they ever did during their 8 year recording career.
From the old to the relatively new. Whatever will they come up with next - still, it's novel. The Beatles book of lists will tell you how many songs mention the word sun, where to find all the 'Paul is dead' clues and which barbers they used throughout their careers - well ok, maybe not that one but still, you get the picture.
All you need is love is largely pictorial and deals with many previously unpublished shots of the Beatles in 1967 and particularly during the Our World live satellite broadcast of All you need is love.
The Walrus was Ringo debunks 101 largely believed 'myths' and written by two of the great music commentators, it is a good read though probably nothing new to the ardent and avid fanatic.
Nicholas Schaffer's Beatles Forever is full of information such as the Sgt Pepper cover identities and recording information which although available on the www these days, was not back in the early 1980s when this was purchased. Some great photos too that I haven't seen on the web.
Beatles - In their own words really is that. Them talking about various aspects of group life and their music - another Bold Street treasure from way back when I was compiling as much information about our city's favourite sons as I could.
The Beatles Anthology book, as thick as the bible was created by Paul, George and Ringo in the mid 1990s to go alongside their t.v. series, video package and trilogy of double cd's catalogueing themselves from the late 1950s up to their demise with much previously unreleased material. This in a way is their bible.
The Beatles hails from the 1970s and shows many images of them not reproduced in subsequent books, you know how it can be re-hashes of the same old same old. Very informative too and another of my earliest collections along the way and served me well.
Twilight of the gods is an in depth look at the musical arrangements of certain Beatles songs, detailing how innovative use was made of some of the chord structures, not tried anywhere at that point in time. If it needed clarifying any further that these were not just four talentless head shaking mop tops that were so prevalent in this era, then look no further.
The Beatles lyrics has appeared over the years with a number of different covers. In essence, it contains the lyrics to every Beatle composition, okay, maybe not Flying - but that was an instrumental but you'll get my drift.
The music was never the same may be right in its title and is a well compiled accounts of the life and time of the lads who shook the world.
The Beatles at the Beeb - 1962-1965 is a similar offering as that of Beatle expert Mark Lewisham as it offers the complete rehearsal, recording and transmission details of every Beatle appearance on BBC radio, and there's many more than you'd ever think which featured lots of then unreleased material.
Beatlemania takes us through what it was like to be close to the Beatles during that frantic time in the 1960s. Bill Harry of Mersey Beat fame was there and he knows.
These four books deal with John Lennon as an individual yet so much was he entwined with the other Beatles, that it's hard to isolate him away in the 60s decade and gladly, none of these authors pretend otherwise nor try to do so. A twist of Lennon was Cynthia's first biography/autobiography and is a paly on words as her then married surname was Twist and Lemon is replaced by Lennon for the effect. Her later book 'John', after his death was perhaps a little more scathing.
The other three books, biographies by George Tremlett and Ray Connolly all have something to offer in their own way. The almost daily diary part of Tremlett's book at the back is particularly interesting for facts.
Another four relating to John. One day at a time is an in depth look at John mainly through the last few years of Beatles ownership, then his peace bed-ins, solo gigs, forming of the Plastic Ono Band and subsequent fight to stay in the U.S. during political concerts and rallies - a great read.
The Lennon Tapes, a transcript of interviews with Andy Peebles, were undertaken in early December 1980 just days before JLs assassination, making them the last words spoken at length to the media.
Search for liberation cashes in on the vague Lennon connection to the Maharashi and Hare Krishna movement - which he'd pretty much debunked by then - but still.
Lennon Remembers is the infamous Rolling Stone interview that has been much documented but is here for those who wish to dissect for themselves.
The Paul McCartney story by George Tremlett takes the same vein as his writings on John (reviewed above). With comprehensive life stories from childhood to solo career via Beatle stardom, this too contains the diary section at the end which provides details of individual awards along his marvelous career.
Paul McCartney - In his own words is an individual take on the previosuly published and reviewed Beatles - in their own words. Talking about his life, music and what inspired certain songs, it's another with a mine of information and pictures.
George Harrison - Yesterday and Today takes you into the much more private life of the quiet Beatle. With details of what he got up to when out of the Beatles limelight, his handmade films production, dark horse record label, formula 1 racing hobby and Friar park estate management, this is a fascinating read.
These publications, some of which are of Liverpool city council origin and largely general information packs. There is a year by year account of major happenings, a tour chart and a map of the city's Beatle hot spots. Some of the books are guides to Beatle places and why they are so with lots of information.
Record Collector was a 1980s magazine dealing with rare records and memorabilia of all artists. This special edition Beatles copy tells you all you need to know about what's what and what isn't.
Tracks in Chorley is a rare records and memorabilia organisation. This is one of their catalogues which also reveals what you should be looking out for.
From 1963 until 1969 The Beatles monthly publication was issued giving up to the minute details of what the boys were up to including their latest recording details and many recent photographs. It was very popular, so what a sad day when the last issue told of how it was becoming increasingly difficult to photograph and obtain interviews with the lads now they had other interests and were on the verge of splitting up. The Beatles appreciation society decided to re-issue the mags during the late 1970s with a wrap around containing current news and Q and A sessions and so popular were they that they carried on long after the last official re-issue of the original Beatles monthly mag. The full collection is available here.
If it's Wings you're into. Learn everything there is to know about Macca from 1970+ With line-up, tour and recording details as well as more than a handful of pictures to show you the changing face of McCartney throughout the 70s.
Two of the many tours which brought Macca to the pool. The UK tour of 1979 saw him play at the Royal Court. An intimate gig where he was almost within reaching distance as we sat in the circle. He embarked on a world tour just after this though it was cut short when he was busted for drugs in Japan. Back the Egg was his latest album, Goodnight tonight one of his latest singles, another track performed was the soon to be released Wonderful Christmastime. The 1989/90 World tour programme can also be found here.
The assassination of John Lennon at the end of the first week of December 1980 sent shockwaves through the world. Refreshed from retirement and spurred on by the fact he reckoned Macca's 'Coming up' single was no worse than he could do, a tour was in the planning to accommodate his new LP offering 'Double fantasy' Mr Lennon was already in the recording studio laying down the tracks for a follow up when upon his return one night, crazed gunman Mark David Chapman opened fire from a revolver after taking a military stance outside the Dakota apartment building where the Lennon's lived. John had signed a copy of his double fantasy album just hours earlier after Chapman had shoved it under his nose. Needless to say, the tabloids, The Liverpool echo and publishing houses didn't wait around in issueing commemorative mags.
Likewise, when George lost his battle with cancer in 2001, although the clammer wasn't as great - natural causes not being as sensational it seems as being shot - The Echo provided a tribute to the lad from Wavertree.
Down the years, there's always been some reason or other for the Liverpool Echo to churn out the odd suppliment whether it be the anniversary of one of their albums, the Mathew St festival event or a homecoming. Here are the ones i've collected.
Now for the daddy of all scrapbooks. Started in the mid 1970s and compiled over a 20 year + period, included are Beatles convention tickets, Wings concert tickets, Rare postcards depicting the lads in Liverpool, the very first bubblegum card, broadsheet book serialisations, Melody makers pages, Merseybeat pages, magazine exclusives, rare pictures, handwritten song lyrics, tv and radio times cuttings, fan drawings, latest solo album reviews, newscuttings of stories as they happened and much much more. A unique 1200 page aladdins cave of nearly everything written about the Beatles that was worth reporting and it was much.
