Some of Ringo's music videos are here.

This is the final chapter: Ringo’s promotional videos. For some, the less interesting but still great to watch and collect. See also the other articles on the subject of music (or promotional) videos by Mike Carrera:

• The Beatles
• John Lennon
• Paul McCartney
• George Harrison

To date no official or bootleg label has released the ultimate Ringo video compilation, but good efforts have been made by some underground labels (not all in the best possible quality), but they're all missing many versions and videos. Some "video collection" compilations out there add clips from concerts and TV shows to fill in, but these are not actual promos.

On the official side we only have one release: "Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr" from 2007.
The problem with those videos is that the original audio of many of them were replaced by the commercial remastered versions, erasing the original mixes, and the bootleg labels have copied exactly THAT version  because of the high visual quality. Sometimes the videos also differ from the original versions and the bootleg makers or few fans haven’t noticed.

This is a humble research of all available Ringo official videos, including the alternate versions and variations, many of them uncirculated or unbootlegged to date, as well a few revelations and stories TOLD and published FOR THE FIRST TIME. Any corrections/mistake reports are so welcome.

For the spelling mistakes, I apologize, English is not my native language. Youtube links are illustrative only, not the researched sources.

Mike Carrera


1970:

Sentimental Journey 

Sentimental Journey

Directed by Neil Aspinall. Filmed at The Talk of The Town nightclub, London March 15, 1970 . First broadcast on "Frost on Sunday" March 29, 1970.

The original film audio mix features a pre-recorded live vocal performance over a mono mix for the backing track cut two days before at EMI Studio three (it’s not live directly on the video, Ringo’s vocal sometimes don’t synch and the recording at the end has applauses and more Ringo chat and on the video NOBODY is clapping!). Sadly when it was released on the official DVD “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”, this unique audio was replaced by the commercial LP/CD version. This was copied over and over on many bootleg compilations, instead of the original. The best visual quality though, is in this 2007 release.
Very odd but the remastered video version with the correct alternate audio is available on the official VEVO and EMI youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50bJ8yMJPII


 1971:

It Don’t Come Easy- Version #1 

It Don't Come Easy, Version #1.

Directed by Ringo Starr.

Although reported as "filmed" at Ringo’s Sunny Heights house in Weybridge, Surrey, a closer look reveals that contains footage from at least 3 different years, from late 1968 or early 1969, 1970 and 1971, since there are at least four different looks from Ringo over the video: scenes with beard and without, longest and shorter hair, moustache ("Candy" era) etc, plus also more home movies that could come from his other two homes (and also from Sunny Heights) from 1968 and 1969 : Brookfields, Elstead also in Surrey; and Roundhill, Highgate. Also, by 1971, Sunny Heights wasn’t even one of his properties, he and his family left that home by the end of 1968 and it was sold by 1969, so he couldn’t be filmed there in 1971.

So, we can assure that Version #1 was not "filmed" specifically to make a video (at least not in full), but consists of a compilation of  home movies and other footage from many years and was put together  in form of a video to be broadcast on Top of The Pops 22 April, 1971.

The original audio mix for Version #1 runs faster and for that reason, the video is shorter in time (only 2:46 vs 2:59 on the other two versions or the commercial version). This very same mix was duplicated (using the remastered audio) on the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr” from 2007.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDcZxEpA9XY


It Don’t Come Easy- Version #2 
It Don’t Come Easy- Version #3

Versions 2 & 3 filmed in Norway.

Directed by Michael Hurll.

Version 2  and 3 were filmed in Norway April  27, 1971 while he was taping the "Cilla in Scandinavia" TV special (broadcast 27 Nov, 1971).

WogBlog: Ringo in Norway

None of these two versions were filmed for the "Cilla" special, which included a different performance of this song backed with an orchestra (uncirculated) and also (in circulation), a rendition of "The Snowman Song" with Cilla doing all the singing (the live vocal was substituted with a different recording by Cilla, so we can’t hear Ringo’s voice).

Version #2 was broadcast on “Top of The Pops” 29 April, only two days after it was filmed, which sounds very odd, giving not so much time for editing, but the editor David Spence did a great job if in fact he only had one day to do it.

Some authors report that there were actually two tapings, one in April 27 for "Top of The Pops" and for the "Cilla" special was June 24,  which is incorrect, a closer look at the available materials shows Ringo wearing the very same outfit: coat, gloves, winter hat and sweater, too much coincidence or it was the only snow clothes he had? His beard and hair are also the same length.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvEexTomE1I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax0Z8p8ZOIQ

Ringo started filming "Blindman" in Rome June 17, and spent the next days in Italy and Spain, it’s doubtful if he would have had the time to leave the set and go to Scandinavia for one day and more important: Ringo’s length of beard is different from the available video of "Cilla" (according to those authors, filmed June 24) and the Blindman look;  authors like Bill Harry or Keith Badman (After The Breakup) say that he was in Scandinavia June 24  -while others even add "Stockholm" - shooting the Cilla Black Special doing a live version of "It Don’t Come Easy" and “singing” with Cilla and a puppet fox  "The Snowman Song", but if you look closely, Ringo is wearing the very same outfit from top to toes as from the April 24 shooting and also, if you compare the available video and pictures from the "Blindman" shooting days and film, his beard is way longer. So, IF he was doing some additional work between takes of the Blindman film and flew one day to Stockholm, well, he did something different, not the "Cilla" Special! Maybe that uncirculated “live” version of "It Don’t Come Easy", backed with an orchestra?  .

Version #2 and #3 were re-broadcast many times over the years on the BBC, they could look the very same but they aren’t.

The differences between the two occur at:

00:42- 00:44
01:43- 01:47
01:50- 02:06
02:32- 02:37
02:52- 02:54

Showing completely different scenes of Ringo or people skiing from one version to the other.
None of these two versions appear on the official DVD “Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr”.

Version #3 hasn’t been included on any bootleg compilation to date.


1972:

Back Off Boogaloo- Version #1
Back Off Boogaloo- Version #2

Directed by Ringo with the help of Caravel Films, although the original credits always mention Tom Taylor as the director, but the liner notes and DVD credits for the official release “Photograph: The Beast of Ringo Starr” only shows Ringo Starr as director. Alan Tavener was the cameraman.
Filmed on March 20, 1972 at Tittenhurst Park, Ascot, while he was staying in John’s mansion (Ringo bought it later, September 18, 1973).

The only differences between the two occurs over the intro and finale: Version #1 starts with a shoot of a “Back to Mono” button over Ringo’s coat, while Version #2, released on the official DVD “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr” starts with outtake footage from the film Born to Boogie, filmed the same week and same location. The finale also on this second version is cut prematurely while on Version #1 we can see Ringo and Frankenstein passing in front of the camera after the song ended.

This second version was copied over and over on many recent bootleg compilations, instead of the original.

Here is Version #2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXg1AxBXN5g



1973:

Photograph 

Apparently also directed by Michael Hurll for "Top of The Pops", and filmed at his new property in Tittenhurst Park, Ascot and also using brief non-Ringo footage from the BBC archives, like a scene of  Davie Bowie at backstage during his 1973 UK tour in Bournemouth, 25 May, shown on "Nationwide News" June 5, 1973. This is not the time Ringo was with Bowie in his dressing room (June 3 at the Hammersmith Odeon, video footage that exist).

Broadcast 1 Nov 1973 on "Top of The Pops". One of those “lost” videos, it wasn’t even included on the official DVD “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”, but was recently recovered from the TOTP raw archives, with a total duration of 3:14, although the BBC master keeps rolling with a black screen and the song continues until 3:34 (remember, it’s a raw tape).

A fake video uploaded on youtube that runs the full length of the song, simply edits back some of the scenes. Be aware of that version floating around.

This is the raw original version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcOZWroUDE0


1974:

Only You 

Only You.

Directed by Stanley Dorfman. Filmed in Los Angeles, CA, at the top of the Capitol Records tower with Harry Nilsson by his side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5zpFpfw3Fw


1976: 

Hey Baby (Audio Variation A)
Hey Baby (Audio Variation B)

Filmed in Hamburg on August 6.  The original audio used for this video is an alternate Rough Mix. Although it cuts 30 seconds out of the released version from 01:39 to 02:11, it has the full warm-up intro and count in and the end is not only longer than the released version but also different during the final seconds, and also lacks of some instruments (a trumpet during the final, for example, that can be heard on the commercial version from 02:41  to 02:45).

Audio Variation A starts directly with the count-in and it runs 02:46.

Audio Variation B features pre count-in warm-up audio (over the slate). Running time of the video is also 02:46 but if we count only the audio length over the slate with the full unedited intro, it runs 02:51.

The official studio version runs 03:06.

The video is the very same on the two versions except for the slates: Variation A starts with a countdown starting from 8 to 2 and goes directly with the song, while Variation B starts with a different countdown picture, starting from 10 until 3 and after that, the slate appears with the title “Ringo Starr /RS 194/Hey Baby”.

This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.

Here is a sample of Audio Variation B:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozhXOs_jjrM


You Don’t Know Me At All #1 (Variation A)
You Don’t Know Me At All #2 (Variation B)

Filmed in Monte Carlo and Hamburg.

A countdown “slate” for Version A is available and features between numbers 8 and 7, a glimpse from a vintage photo of a woman (or a doll?).

The only difference between the two versions is the intro on Variation B that has a translucent title: “Ringo Starr /You Don’t Know Me” that fades out  while the song is starting, maybe to tell the watcher that the bald guy who will later appear is no other than Ringo the ex Beatle. This is the rarest version to get.



This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.
A sample of Variation B:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eGI5mbf_8I

I’ll Still Love You

Filmed at the Schloss Hotel, Tremsbüttel, outside Hamburg in the West Germany on August 8, 1976.
The slate is labeled as “I Still Love You”.

This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN7H7mJdSxQ


1977:                           

Drowning in the Sea of Love

A countdown “slate” is available and features between numbers 8 and 7, a glimpse of a vintage picture of a woman (or a doll), the same from the "You Don’t Know Me At All" video, but in a different pose.



This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGfKqMW5WiQ


1978:

Tonight

Filmed in Monaco, Directed by Christian Topps. Girlfriend Nancy Andrews appear.
A countdown “slate” is available and this time, does not feature any picture of any woman.
This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1zDA2cGPMo

You’re Sixteen (1973 audio edit)

The original audio for this video features an undocumented alternate edit, and although this video was released on the official DVD “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”  it does not contains the original audio mix.

This “video” was originally created as part of the “Ognir Rrats” or “Ringo” TV Special from 1978, a mixture of animated and real scenes of Ringo and Carrie Fisher.

Also, the audio was re-recorded in 1978 and features a duet between Ringo and Carrie. This is the well known version, and we are not talking about this “alternate audio”.

The original video from that TV show was used to create a separate promotional clip, but instead of having the re-recorded audio from 78, a new edit from the original track from 1973 was prepared.

Lasting only two minutes to match with the original film, this alternate edit starts with the second verse: “You're all ribbons and curls”, while the original track starts with “You come on like a dream”, so the full first verse was erased and also near the end this line of “You're sixteen, so beautiful, and you're mine” was also edited out.

This is the original audio edit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ainB6qnWBI

When it was released on the official DVD, they didn’t bother to include this audio edit, but instead they just put the original track from start and until it reached the 2 minute mark. Like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hm6xQnNbcaw

And this is the 1978 audio track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZiGA4teqC8


1981:

Stop and take the time to Smell The Roses

Or “Stop and Smell the Roses” as the slate says. Directed by Keefco. First part was filmed in Tittenhurst Park, Ascot while the second at the Egham Aerodrome in Surrey between September 16 and 17, 1981, filming at the same time the “Wrack My Brain” video. Wife Barbara makes a cameo.
This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4mcNIqnX_8


Wrack My Brain (Variation A)
Wrack My Brain (Variation B)

Another Harrison composition, another Ringo video. Filmed in part at the Egham Aerodrome between September 16 and 17, and also in a London location on September 18.
Wife Barbara makes a cameo as well. The same video is available with two variations.

Variation A shows the title “RINGO STARR ‘RACK MY BRAIN” at the 15 seconds of start.

Variation B digitally “erases” this title although we can still see a distorted spot where they tried to erase it. This is the most common version available on bootleg compilations.



This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr” and is incomplete on youtube and all video channels on the web (missing all the introduction, when Ringo awakes and walks towards the Haunted House)

Link to the incomplete video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVovCtmCmXU


1982:

Private Property

Directed by Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. Extracted from the MPL short film "The Cooler" (with three songs as part of the story: "Private Property", "Attention" and "Sure To Fall"), this was the only song also released as a separate promotional video.

This clip was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.



1990:

It Don’t Come Easy (live) #1 (Long Version)
It Don’t Come Easy (live) #2 (Short Version)

Filmed at Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA Sep 3, 1989. Video clip created for promotion of the home video release (VHS/Laser Disc) for the first All Star Band in 1990, it features over the intro, still pictures from all the members of the band (different from the home video release) while the rest is taken directly from the live film. The only difference between the two versions is the end, one has a full “What’s my Name?” joke and the other doesn’t.

There are no links to see this actual promo on the web.



1992:

Weight of The World #1 (Long Version)
Weight of The World #2 (Short Version)

Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. Filmed at the Variety Arts Center in Los Angeles, CA.
Joe Walsh and two members of the group Jellyfish: Roger Joseph Manning and Andy Sturmer also appear.
Long version has an introduction for the “Summer’92” All Star Band Tour members and last 4:15, while short version omits this intro and lasts only 3:49.

This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.





Don’t Go Where The Road Don’t Go 

Directed by Stanley Dorfman, features soundcheck footage and live shots mostly from Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland on July 13, 1992 and  Liverpool, England July 6, 1992.

This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.




1998:

La De Da #1 (Regular Version)
La De Da #2 (W/O Noose Version)
La De Da #3 (Short Version) 

Directed by Nancy Bennett, filmed mostly in Time Square, New York. Features cameos from wife Barbara and daughter Lee Starkey, Mark Hudson and the Roundheads  and even the boy-band Hanson. Also footage of Paul McCartney during the recording sessions.

The only difference between Version #1 and #2 is the aspect ratio. #1 has a simulated widescreen view (in a 4:3 format) with black bars on top and bottom, while #2 (named “W/O” or “Without Noose”) is a real widescreen 16:9 and no black bars.

The audio on both versions is a 4:07 edit, while the commercial version runs around 5:40.
Version #3 is the shortest lasting only 2:11 and was broadcast in a few countries in Europe and Japan. It cuts out a few verses during the middle and goes directly with the sing-along coda. The edit occurs at 1:05 and goes directly with the scene where Paul appears.

Second and third versions are the rarest and never seen on bootleg video compilations to date.

This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlbedF4VIvc


2001:

Yellow Submarine (live)
With A Little Help from my Friends (Live)

Two videos created to promote the official Anthology of the All Star Band CD and DVD release, using footage from all incarnations of the band from 1989 to 1999.


2003: 

Never Without You

Never Without You CD single.

Ringo’s tribute to George Harrison. Directed by Brent Carpenter. The audio for this music video features a different mix, staring with the sound of girls screaming and also lasting only 4:30, while the commercial version is 5:19. Also different from the Promo CD  Radio Edit (4:15).
This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr” but was included on the “Ringo Rama Deluxe Edition” 2CD/1DVD.

The deleted DeLuxe edition of "Ringo Rama" featured the "Never Without You" promo on a DVD disc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PjnOdHq-T8


2005:

Fading in Fading Out #1 (Variation A)
Fading in Fading Out #2 (Variation B)

Directed by Brent Carpenter using footage from the Choose Love sessions.  Variation A has the title of the song over the intro, while Variation B is clean; also the end is complete on first variation when we can see Ringo turning off the camera while the second version fades out earlier. The audio mix is also different from the commercial version.




This video was omitted from the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3jfGWEaSoI


2007:

Liverpool 8

Co-directed by Seth Dalton and Dave Stewart, the video features footage from The Beatles and pictures from Ringo’s collection, footage from Liverpool’s soccer team and also appearance from  Dave Stewart. This is also a unique video edit of the musical track.
Commercial version runs 4:51, Radio edit is 3:59 and this video edit is 4:33.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM34giD4o4w

Although footage from the 2010 ‘Y NOT’ sessions exists, no promotional video was created or distributed.

2012:

Wings

Directed by Jem Gerrard, winner of the Genero.tv contest to create a video for the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKxryaxPfcE

Think it Over

The song was recorded in 2011 for the Buddy Holly tribute CD ‘Listen To Me’ and also included on his ‘Ringo 2012’ CD. A partial video was included on the making of documentary DVD for the same ‘2012’ disc, and later released in full as a “promotional video”, also appears on the official DVD release of ‘Buddy Holly: Listen To Me,  The Ultimate Buddy Party’ in 2012.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrQcD7uFMeY


2015:

Postcards from Paradise

Directed by Willie Witte. A combination of animation and some concert footage filmed at the Ryman July 7, 2012.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4BZgOEJfps

RINGO STARR RELATED VIDEOS:

1973:

Marc Bolan & T. Rex: Children of the Revolution 

More songs from the ‘Born to Boogie’ film features Ringo, but the only song also released as a "video clip" was this.

1979:

Ron Wood & The New Barbarians: Buried Alive

Recorded  in April, this live promo video was later broadcasted on the Midnight Special TV Show on June 8, 1979, thus many people thinks it comes from this show.
Also, a second song with Ringo on drums was recorded (Seven Days), but the video only features Ron Wood playing all the instruments.

1985:

Artists United Against Apartheid: Sun City

Directed by Jonathan Demme, Hart Perry, Godley & Creme.

A super group was reunited by Steven Van Zandt to help South Africa, and features Ringo and son Zack playing the drums (footage from the recording session was included on the video). Also appearances from Pete Townshend (The Who), Bono (U2), David Ruffin (The Temptations), Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Clarence Clemons among others.

The Singing Rebel’s Band: Freedom (Promo Version)

Directed by Dick Clement for Handmade films, produced by Harrison for the film ‘Water’.
Billy Connolly (vocals), Chris Tummings (vocals), The Singing Rebels Band: George Harrison (guitar, backing vocals), Ringo Starr (drums), Eric Clapton (guitar, backing vocals), Chris Stainton (bass), Ray Cooper (drums), Jon Lord (keyboards), Mike Moran (keyboards), Jenny Bogle and Anastasia Rodriguez (backing vocals).

The actual promo video for this song is available in regular quality and unbootlegged to date and consist of the same “performance” from the film and a mixture of many scenes from the movie, but the audio over the intro is clean and slightly different, when in the film we can see and hear an actor saying “My God, it's The Concert for Cascara!” (a parody for ‘The Concert For Bangladesh’). Also, actor Fred Gwynne (Herman from The Munsters) who also appears on the “Water” film, can be seen in this version saying “Gentlemen, We’re in the water business” .

Freedom (Film Version 1)
Freedom (Film Version 2)

The common version on bootleg compilations over the years is taken directly from the film Version #1. And when it was re-released on DVD in 2010, a new cut was made including some alternate scenes (an exclusive Harrison/Clapton scene for example), we will call that Film Version #2, cut in Widesceen from the original film tapes adding even more picture on the sides that is not available in the original print that let us see a few more Harrison (and many other members of the band, like Clapton) shots. These two versions are not promotional videos, but worth mentioning.


1989:

Tom Petty: I Won’t Back Down

Directed by David Leland. The backing band consisted of Jeff Lynne on bass, George Harrison on acoustic guitar, Mike Campbell on lead guitar, and Ringo Starr on drums.
Almost replicating the same personnel from the studio recording, except for Ringo that didn’t play but Phil Jones.


Gentlemen Without Weapons: Spirit Of The Forest

Another charity super-star video to save the rainforest. Directed by Storm Thorgerson, with participation from Ringo (singing this time), Brian Wilson, Richard Page, David Gilmour, Bonnie Raitt, Olivia Newton-John, Donna Summer, Debbie Harry, Kate Bush, among others.


Buck Owens: Act Naturally 


Directed by George Bloom. This video was also included on the official DVD release “Photograph: The Best of Ringo Starr”. Behind the scenes footage is also in circulation.




 Jan Hammer: Too Much to Lose

The video features the participation of Ringo Starr, David Gilmour and Jeff Beck, although they didn’t play on the studio recording.


1990:

John Lennon Tribute: I Call Your Name 

Not really a musical video, but this was Ringo’s contribution for the Lennon tribute. Features half of the Wilburys (Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Jim Keltner) and Joe Walsh.

1991:

Nils Lofgren: Valentine

A member of the All Star Band, this video features Ringo on drums as well Bruce Springsteen on vocals and comes from the album “Silver Lining”.

1994:

RADD- Drive My Car #1
RADD- Drive My Car #2

Two different versions (one features the ‘rap’ stars and the other don’t). Paul McCartney, Julian Lennon and Ringo Starr, among many others appear during this campaign to drive responsibly.

2005:

Hurricane Relief

Tears in Heaven Version #1
Tears in Heaven Version #2

Another charity single. Directed by Marcus Raboy. Ringo plays drums on the recording and makes a cameo on the video, along with: Elton John, Rod Stewart, Phil Collins, Slash, Ozzy Osbourne, Pink, Gewn Stefani, Steven Tayler, etc.
Both versions have different footage from all the artists, some are most notable than others.
Version 1: Ringo is sitting on his drum kit receiving a blue brick (a symbolic way the musicians contribute to the rebuild what the tsunami in southeast Asia destroyed), and in a different scene, he’s passing that brick to another person. He also appear playing the drums in a shoot from his actual recording. A picture of him holding the blue brick is also near the end of this version.

Version 2 features a different scene of Ringo receiving the brick, and when he’s passing it to another person the scene is more brief, contrary to Version #1 when we can see his face. There are no more Ringo scenes or picture in this second version.




2009:

Peter Kay’s Animated All Star Band: Children in Need Medley.

The English comedian Peter Kay reunited the original actors and celebrities that have given his voices to children TV shows and cartoons over the years, from different companies that agreed to lend the copyrights so the characters could appear all together in an animated video. Ringo is mistaken as  “Thomas the Tank Engine”, when in fact he was the narrator from the first two seasons. And for this recording and video, he’s NOT providing the voice of Thomas (as many have written), he’s in fact only singing one line: “Can you Feel it!” from 00:45 to 00:46  (yep, that’s all!), but not as the Thomas character, we simply hear his voice while there are more characters on screen at this time.
The medley of songs consist of: “Can You Feel It”,  “Don’t Stop”, “Jai Ho (You are My Destiny)”, “Tubthumping”, “Never Forget”, “Hey Jude” and “One Day Like This”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpk-Y3W1BhQ

2016:

Ringo Starr and All Stars for United Nations: Now the Time Has Come

A new song released on the International Day of Peace, Sept 21, Co-written with producer Bruce Sugar with verses sung by Richard Page, Colin Hay and Billy Valentine and backing vocals from many others, who also appear on the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVLo1CjIiAU

An “alternate” version with a verse sung in Spanish by Colombian singer Fonseca is also available, but the video does not features any of the artists.


With a Little Help from his Friend: (more info, check the separate reviews)

Ringo appears on the following Paul McCartney official promo videos:

-Take it Away
-So Bad
-No More Lonely Nights
-Beautiful Night
-Nod Your Head

Ringo appears on the following George Harrison official promo videos:

-When We Was Fab
-Living in the Material World (2006)

Official videos from other artists. Ringo plays on the tracks but does not make any video cameo.

2003:

Liam Lynch: Try Me.

Ringo plays drums on the song but is not present on the official video.


Fake Videos circulating:

1972-1974:
-Harry Nilsson:
Fake videos circulating for the songs:  “You’re Breaking my Heart” and “Spaceman”.
These are very good fan-created youtube videos using footage from the actual ‘Son of Schmilsson’ sessions, taken from the unreleased documentary “Did Somebody Drop His Mouse?” with Ringo Starr footage on it, sadly they are NOT official videos even when they are on a few bootleg compilations.
Plus another two fake videos: “At my Front Door” and “Daybreak”, using footage from the film ‘Son of Dracula, also with Ringo Starr. Do not be confused, no official videos for those four songs were ever made.

1976:
Guthrie Thomas: Band of steel
Another youtube fake video using photographs from the sessions. Ringo plays on the song but there is no official video.


Non musical videos:
Frequently included on bootleg video compilations, clips from TV Shows or films or concerts that are not official videos, like:
-The Snowman Song (Cilla special, 1971)
-The No No Song (Smothers Brothers, UK 1975)
-Nonsense (Alice in Wonderland, UK 1985)
-Songs from the Carl Perkins special (USA, 1985)
-Songs from the Prince’s Trust concert (UK, 1987)
Etc, etc

The 2012 documentary.

British television company Sky Arts has a documentary in the making, all about The Beatles' company, Apple Corps Ltd. Of course, the company has been profiled in documentaries before, like the 2 hours and 42 minutes Strange Fruit: The Beatles' Apple Records from 2012 (see review). Not to mention The Beatles' own three part Apple documentary, which is available on YouTube.
Still, one hopes that a new look at the company may tell more about Apple's other divisions - and perhaps follows the company into our own era. Already they have filmed a wealth of great interviews and performances but no celebrity talking heads, they say - they are only interviewing people who were there at the time...so no Elvis Costello, Eddie Izzard or Sigourney Weaver! The documentary is due for broadcast in the UK some time in 2017, hopefully also internationally, but whether it will be released to on DVD/Blu-ray is still not decided upon.

Ethel & Ernest soundtrack album.

A new McCartney song will be out on 28 October as a download and 11 November as a physical product - from Decca Records! The song was written for the upcoming animated motion picture, "Ethel & Ernest".

This hand drawn 94 minutes long animated film, based on the award winning graphic novel by Raymond Briggs, is an intimate and affectionate depiction of the life and times of his parents, two ordinary Londoners living through extraordinary events, from their chance first encounter in the 1920s until their deaths in the 1970s.

Ethel and Ernest were solid members of the English working class, part of the generation that lived through the most tumultuous years of the twentieth century. They met during the Depression--she working as a maid, he as a milkman--and we follow them as they court and marry, make a home, raise their son, and cope with the dark days of World War II. Briggs portrays how his parents succeeded, or failed, in coming to terms with the events of their rapidly shifting world: the advent of radio, television and telephones; the development of the atomic bomb; the moon landing and the social and political turmoil of the sixties.

The soundtrack features an original score by composer and conductor Carl Davis CBE and an exclusive new song by Sir Paul McCartney. McCartney's new song, titled "In the Blink of An Eye", plays over the end credits of the movie.

Paul's song features strings arranged by Carl Davis and an orchestra arrangement by Chris Egan.

"I knew that Paul McCartney was a big animation fan and I knew that Raymond Briggs' book Fungus the Bogeyman had influenced Paul's 1980s track Bogey Music," director Roger Mainwood told British newspaper The Telegraph. "So I asked Raymond if he might write a letter to Paul to see if he was interested in composing a track for Ethel and Ernest, which he did on Fungus the Bogeyman headed paper!"

"It obviously worked and we were thrilled when Paul said he was interested," he continued.  "We met up and he produced a CD which included a track called Mum and Dad theme.  This eventually became In the Blink of An Eye which we have used in the film."

Back in the 1920s Sir Paul McCartney’s father, James McCartney, wrote a tune called "Walking in the Park with Eloise" when he was leader of the Jim Mac’s Jazz band, a version of which was recorded by Paul McCartney with Floyd Cramer and Chet Atkins as "The Country Hams" in 1974. This tune has been re-arranged specially for the film by Carl Davis (Paul McCartney's collaborator on his first classical outing, "Liverpool Oratorio") and performed by the Chamber Orchestra of London. "Walking in the Park with Eloise" is heard during a sequence early on in the film, set outside a ballroom. Paul's composition "In The Blink Of An Eye" plays over the first part of the end credits before leading into a reprise of "Walking in the Park with Eloise".

The Country Hams: Walking In The Park With Eloise (1974).

The film also uses original recorded music from the periods depicted in the film. A vast range of popular tunes from four decades are woven into the soundtrack, from Al Bowlly’s 1934 recording of "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" through to The Shadows 1963 hit "Foot Tapper". In addition, internationally renowned composer and conductor Carl Davis has composed an original score for the production. The film will be broadcast on the BBC around Christmas (potentially Christmas Day – TBC).


Ethel & Ernest Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Music by Carl Davis.

1. Opening Titles
2. London 1928
3. Ethel and Ernest introduce Themselves
4. Walking in the Park with Eloise (composed by James McCartney)
5. We’re Going To Be Married
6. Now You’re In My Arms
7. What A Little Moonlight Can Do
8. Homemaking Montage
9. Blue Skies Are Around The Corner
10. The Baby
11. Housekeeping
12. Tea for Two
13. Paddington
14. The Deepest Shelter in Town
15. Underneath The Spreading Chestnut Tree
16. We’ll Meet Again
17. Blitzkrieg
18. Dorset – A Visit
19. Singing In The Bathtub
20. A Perfect Day
21. Stagecoach Theme
22. Grammar School
23. A Clever Boy
24. The Laughing Policeman
25. An Ordinary Copper
26. The Young Ballerina
27. Sous Le Ciel de Paris
28. Foot Tapper
29. Little Things
30. Reflections of Charlie Brown
31. Tea For Two Reprise
32. She’s Gone
33. Pear Tree
34. In The Blink Of An Eye – Paul McCartney

• The movie soundtrack of Ethel and Ernest will be released on November 11, 2016 by Decca Records.
  
• The official website of the movie.

The LP sized book comes in an outer slipcase.

"All You Need Is Love" by Paul Skellett & Simon Weitzman is one of the new books released by UK based Archivum Publishing. Money to publish the book comes from crowd funding through Pledge Music and The Fest for Beatles Fans. The book is 180 pages and looks like a happening, thanks to a modern, collage-like layout. It features essays on the June 25, 1967 Our World satellite telecast, quotes from The Beatles themselves and a few insiders like engineer Geoff Emerick and producer George Martin, courtesy of old interviews and books, the creation and recording of "All You Need Is Love" and a little bit about the B-side of the single, "Baby, You're A Rich Man".

John and Paul with manager Brian Epstein.

Sprinkled throughout the book are a lot of photos from the recording session, the live event and the previous day's balloon promotions inside EMI studios (and at the back outside the no. 1 studio). Also featured are lots of "All You Need Is Love" front covers from singles released around the world, blown up to 12" size.

International front covers of the "All You Need Is Love" single.

Although fairly good at describing the circumstances under which the Our World TV special came about, as well as the technical intricacies of the recording of the main song itself (which initially had George Harrison playing the violin and Paul McCartney on double bass!), the text still falls a little short and is still not the final word on the live event. For instance, we do get a photo of Paul painting the "Come back Millie" sign, as well as glimpses of the sign in photos from the broadcast, but the text fails to explain the background story.

Paul, painting a sign which was an inside joke in the McCartney family.

Still, the book is a nice trip back to the days when The Beatles ruled the world. And yet, they didn't. The book also examines how "the straights" reacted to the fact that Great Britain and the BBC's contribution to the first global TV broadcast was this pop group. It's revealed that the countries in the "Eastern bloc" at the time, with the Soviet Union at the helm, all decided to withdraw their participation in the broadcast after all, after finding out that The Beatles were participants. They were probably afraid that The Beatles' music could corrupt their youth. Which they probably did anyway. Of course, in hindsight, The Beatles contribution is the only significant thing that makes us all still remember the "Our World" TV-show.

Colour photos from the broadcast and rehearsal was used as a guide to colourise the clip in the 90's.

The Our World TV special was shot and televised in black and white, and the Beatles' performance of "All You Need Is Love" was colourised in the nineties for the Beatles' documentary TV series "The Beatles' Anthology". In 2015, the full colourised clip was used as a promotional music video in the DVD and Blu-ray release of The Beatles 1.

Links:
Archivum Publishing
PledgeMusic
Paul Skellett

---

In 1997, Tracks released their book on the subject, 'All You Need is Love': "Beatles" Dress Rehearsal, which featured lots of colour and black and white photos and an essay from Steve Turner. It's still available here and there.

As part of Capitol's 75th anniversary, "Meet The Beatles" will be available on vinyl again.

CAPITOL RECORDS TO LAUNCH YEAR-LONG 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN NOVEMBER

Hollywood, CA – Capitol Records, one of the world’s preeminent music companies and the first record label established on the West Coast, will launch its 75thAnniversary Celebration in November with an extensive slate of music, film and literary projects that will pay tribute to Capitol artists spanning the past eight decades and shine a spotlight on their historic contributions to music and popular culture.

Capitol Music Group (CMG) Chairman & CEO Steve Barnett today announced three of the company’s planned endeavors: A year-long major vinyl reissue campaign – The Capitol Records 75th Anniversary Collection, 75 albums that illustrate the unparalleled artistry of Capitol Records throughout its history – launched in partnership with leading home furnishings destination Crate and Barrel; the publication of a deluxe photograph and essay book from TASCHEN, 75 Years Of Capitol Records, on December 15, and the development of a Capitol Records docu series being produced by Nigel Sinclair/Whitehorse Pictures (The Beatles: Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan), with individual episodes to be directed by music luminaries and Capitol artists, past and present.



The year-long celebration will commence on Tuesday, November 15 when Capitol becomes the first record company to receive a star of recognition from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which will be installed in front of the landmark Capitol Tower and adjacent to the internationally-renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame. At the star’s unveiling, the State the Los Angeles City Council will present Capitol with a resolution declaring November 15 Capitol Records Day in the city. Beginning that evening, the spire on top of the Capitol Tower that has always emitted “Hollywood” in Morse code will change to “Capitol 75,” and will continue to flash in that manner for the next 12 months.

The Capitol Records 75th Anniversary Collection – Vinyl Reissue Program

To select 75 albums that represent the best of Capitol Records from among literally thousands of works the company has released over the past 75 years, the label convened an advisory board of noted music journalists, authors and renowned creative figures to decide on the final list of albums that comprise The Capitol Records 75th Anniversary Collection. The result spans myriad Capitol eras and musical genres, and includes best sellers, influential works and lesser-known gems (see below). The reissue program begins this month, and titles will be available through music retailers throughout 2017.

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - USA edition

Crate and Barrel & American Airlines Partnerships

Leading home furnishings retailer Crate and Barrel has partnered with Capitol for its 75th Anniversary celebration to feature The Capitol Records 75th Anniversary Collection in stores nationwide. The collection can be found within The Listening Room, where consumers can find an exclusive collection of furniture, accessories and cutting edge audio equipment. American Airlines continues their partnership with Capitol Records and Universal Music Group to celebrate a Hollywood Icon and its contribution to music around the world. In 2017, American Airlines will continue their commitment to the industry by launching, “Fly to the Beat” – a Global Music platform, connecting consumers to their favorite musicians – including Capitol artists — and moments across five continents.

75 Years of Capitol Records – TASCHEN Release in December

To commemorate Capitol’s extraordinary history of recorded music, TASCHEN is publishing the official account of Capitol Records from its founding year of 1942 through to today. To be released December 15, 75 Years of Capitol Records follows the label’s evolution and the making of some of the greatest music of the 20th and 21st centuries. The book includes hundreds of images from Capitol’s extensive archives, as well as a foreword by Beck and essays by cultural historians and music and architecture critics. This photographic and musical history includes the label’s most commercially successful, creative and important artists whose work has defined Capitol Records, music and popular culture for the past eight decades. 75 Years of Capitol Records is also available at Capitol’s online store.

Capitol Records Docuseries – Produced by Nigel Sinclair / Whitehorse Pictures

This series – planned for release in the autumn of 2017 – will tap into the creative passions of Capitol’s artists, the hidden glories of the company’s extensive archives and the many stories that have taken place within the Capitol Tower throughout its 75-year as one of the world’s premiere music companies. But it will be more than just the illustrious history of such a storied label; it will also tell the story of America’s love  affair with popular music and an exploration of how Capitol’s
artists and their music have helped shaped social movements, transform our popular culture and helped define our lives. This docuseries will be produced by Nigel Sinclair’s Whitehorse Pictures, the creative team involved in numerous music-centered documentaries, including the award-winning No Direction Home: Bob Dylan and the just-released The Beatles: Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years. Each episode in this docuseries will be directed by a past or present-day Capitol artist or other cultural luminary who will bring a unique and knowledgeable perspective to the stories being conveyed.

Revolver - Capitol records edition.

The Capitol Records 75th Anniversary Collection  
(alphabetical by artist)

1: Ashford & Simpson: Solid, 1984
2: Beastie Boys: Paul’s Boutique, 1989
3: Beck: Morning Phase, 2014
4: Blind Melon: Blind Melon, 1992
5: Bob Seger: Night Moves, 1976
6: Bobbie Gentry: Ode To Billy Joe, 1967
7: Bobby Darin: You’re The Reason I’m Living, 1963
8: Bonnie Raitt: Nick of Time, 1989
9: Bonnie Raitt: Luck Of The Draw,1991
10: Buck Owens: Buck Owens, 1961
11: Cannonball Adderley: Mercy Mercy Mercy,1966
12: Coldplay: Parachutes, 2000
13: Crowded House: Crowded House, 1986
14: Dean Martin: Dino: Italian Love Songs, 1962
15: Duke Ellington: The Duke Plays Ellington, 1953
16: Foo Fighters:Foo Fighters, 1994
17: Frank Sinatra, In The Wee Small Hours, 1955
18: Frank Sinatra: Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! 1956
19: Frank Sinatra: Come Fly With Me, 1958
20: Frank Sinatra: Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely, 1958
21: Freddie Jackson: Rock Me Tonight, 1985
22: Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps: Bluejean Bop, 1956
23: George Clinton: Computer Games, 1982
24: George Harrison: All Things Must Pass, 1970
25: Glen Campbell: By the Time I Get to Phoenix, 1968
26: Grand Funk Railroad: We’re an American Band, 1973
27: Heart: Heart, 1985
28: James Taylor: James Taylor, 1968 (would be nice if they used the Apple label)
29: Joe South: Introspect, 1968
30: John Lennon: Imagine, 1971
31: Johnny Mercer: Accentuate the Positive, 1957
32: Judy Garland: Judy at Carnegie Hall, 1961
33: Katy Perry: Teenage Dream, 2010
34: Kingston Trio: Kingston Trio, 1958
35: Knack: Get The Knack, 1979
36: Les Paul and Mary Ford: Les and Mary, 1955
37: Linda Ronstadt: Heart Like a Wheel, 1974
38: Louie Prima: The Wildest, 1956
39: Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly: Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, 1977
40: Mazzy Star: So Tonight That I Might See, 1993
41: MC Hammer: Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em, 1990
42: Megadeth: Peace Sells: 1986
43: Merle Haggard: Mama Tried, 1968
44: Miles Davis: Birth Of The Cool, 1957
45: Nancy Wilson: How Glad I Am, 1964
46: Nat King Cole: Unforgettable, 1953
47: Natalie Cole: Unpredictable, 1977
48: Neil Diamond: The Jazz Singer, 1980
49: Norah Jones: Come Away With Me, 2002
50: Peggy Lee: Is That All There Is, 1969
51: Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon, 1973
52: Radiohead: OK Computer, 1997
53: Raspberries: Raspberries, 1972
54: Richard Thompson: Rumor & Sigh, 1991
55: Ringo Starr: Ringo, 1973
56: Robert Glaspar: Black Radio, 2012
57: Rosanne Cash: Black Cadillac, 2006
58: Sam Smith: In The Lonely Hour, 2014
59: Steve Miller Band: Fly Like an Eagle, 1976
60: Tavares: In The City, 1975
61: Tennessee Ernie Ford: Sixteen Tons, 1960
62: The Band: Music From Big Pink, 1968
63: The Band: The Band, 1969
64: The Beach Boys: Surfer Girl, 1963
65: The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds, 1966
66: The Beatles: Meet The Beatles, 1964
67: The Beatles: Revolver, 1966
68: The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967
69: The Beatles: The Beatles, 1968
70: The Beatles: Abbey Road, 1969
71: Tina Turner: Private Dancer,1984
72: Various: Oklahoma, 1955
73: Various: Funny Girl, 1968
74: Wanda Jackson: There’s a Party Goin’ On, 1961
75: Wings: Band on the Run, 1973

Winner of Best music documentary at the Critics' Choice Documentary Awards.

The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years was named best music documentary at the first annual Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards on Thursday night in New York.
The Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards were created to honour the finest achievements in documentary features and non-fiction television. The winners were determined by a committee of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) members with a background and expertise in the documentary field.
The Ron Howard film was also nominated for Best direction of a documentary feature, but the category was won by "O.J. Made in America", which took home four prizes at the event.

Meanwhile, The Beatles are busy promoting the home cinema release of the documentary, available on digital download, Blu-ray, DVD and 2 disc special edition from 18 November.

White vinyl limited edition of Unfinished Music No. 2:Life with the lions

1st group, November 11 - 2016:
John Lennon and Yoko Ono:Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins (1968) also on White vinyl
John Lennon and Yoko Ono:Unfinished Music No. 2: Life With Lions (1969) also on White vinyl
Yoko Ono:Plastic Ono Band (1970) Also on Clear vinyl


2nd group (date to be announced):
Yoko Ono:Fly (1971)
Yoko Ono:Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
Yoko Ono:Feeling the Space (1973)
Yoko Ono:A Story (recorded in 1974, released as part of Ono Box in 1992)

3rd group (date to be announced):
Yoko Ono:Season of Glass (1981)
Yoko Ono:It’s Alright (I See Rainbows) (1982)
Yoko Ono:Starpeace (1985)
John Lennon and Yoko Ono:Unfinished Music No. 3: Wedding Album (1969)

The vinyl is re-mastered from the original tapes by Greg Calbi and Sean Lennon. In addition to making the vinyl available for the first time in decades, each album will also be available digitally for the first time ever.

New edition "Time Takes Time" CD (Japan)

26. October 2016 saw the release of Ringo Starr's 1992 album "Time Takes Time" on a Blu-spec CD2 in Japan. As was the case with the original Japan release of the album, it includes the bonus track "Don't Be Cruel", otherwise only available on the "Weight Of The World" single. A Sony Music release, the album is also available on a yellow vinyl limited edition (1500 copies). The releases were available to buy at Ringo's recent concerts in Japan.

Limited edition yellow vinyl release.

The Blu-spec CD format is a Red Book Compact Disc manufactured by a proprietary process introduced by Sony Music Entertainment Japan in 2008. Instead of a traditional infra-red laser, a blue laser is used for recording the pits on the CD master that is needed for disc replication. The blue laser purportedly creates more precise pits, which Sony claims reduces distortion in the optical read-out process. The "Blu-spec CD2" or BSCD2 is a 2012 progression of the Blu-spec CD format which employs a more precise BD cutting machine, a master disc that is made from the same smooth material as silicon wafers for chip manufacture, and a different recording layer material for the master disc. Sony refers to this process as "Phase Transition Mastering".  A Blu-spec CD and a Blu-spec CD2 disc can be played on all CD players and does not require a blue laser to be read.

Poster for this year's edition Royal Variety Performance

Tuesday December 6 it's again time to rattle some jewellery at this year's Royal Variety Performance in London. The Beatles themselves only appeared once at this event, and that was back in 1963. Now it's an ensemble from Cirque du Soleil who are going to entertain the audience with an excerpt from their Beatles show "Love" at the Hammersmith Apollo.

The Beatles were invited back several times, but felt that they had done their bit and never came back to perform at the annual event. However, in 1986 Paul McCartney returned to the line-up, as he perfomed "Only Love Remains" from his then current album, "Press To Play". The Royal Variety Performance is usually filmed, and excerpts shown on TV in Great Britain and elsewhere.

Tickets: www.royalvarietycharity.org/rvptickets

The late Kenny Everett

A new radio show about legendary and controversial radio DJ Kenny Everett and his relationship with the Beatles, presented by Paul Gambaccini, will be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on the 21st December at 10pm.

Maurice James Christopher Cole (25 December 1944 – 4 April 1995), known professionally as Kenny Everett, was a British comedian, radio DJ and television entertainer. Everett is best known for his career as a radio DJ and for The Kenny Everett Video Show.

A fellow Liverpudlian, Kenny got on well with the Beatles. Everett had struck up a friendship with the Beatles and accompanied them on their August 1966 tour of the United States, sending back daily reports for pirate station Radio London. He was heard in May 1967 on the BBC's Light Programme previewing the Beatles' forthcoming album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and was one of the DJs on the new pop music station Radio 1 from its launch at the end of September 1967. He also produced The Beatles' 1968 and 1969 Christmas records, collages of odd noises, musical snippets, and individual messages.

Apple promo from Italy

One of his radio interviews with the Beatles was released on an Apple record in Italy, titled Una sensazionale intervista - a sensational interview. The 45 rpm single disc was part of a promotional Apple package, also containing discs from Mary Hopkin, The Iveys and Jackie Lomax. Side one contains part 1 which lasts 3:30 and side two contains part 2 which lasts 3:52. The interview begins with John singing "Cottonfields" and ends with the whole band singing "Goodbye" to Kenny Everett with much fun in between. Recorded during the recording sessions for "Don't Pass Me By", the interview was played in edited form on his show.

Paul Gambaccini said: "Kenny Everett was the greatest radio presenter of my lifetime. The Beatles were the greatest group. I hope that when we put them together the result is at least good! I have done several programmes about my old friend Kenny Everett before, but never one taking this angle. This is fascinating. I love to learn, and I have learned about one of my friends and heroes from working on this show."

Diagnosed as HIV positive in 1989, Everett died from an AIDS-related illness aged 50 in 1995.

The Radio 2 show, which will air at 10pm on December 21, also promises to reveal how Everett inspired lyrics to one of the Beatles' most memorable hits...we trust this will be done in the best possible taste.

HMC 028

A couple of new releases in the TMOQ Gazette series of video bootlegs have been announced, according to Collector's Music Reviews. The two DVDs concentrate on in depth look at specific promotional films. The first of these examines "Hey Jude" and "Revolution".  The DVD features a bundle of Abbey Road rehearsal footage for the ‘Music’ documentary, the rehearsals for the promo video on the set of the David Frost show and more little extras all in superb stereo sound.

The documentary Music! - An experiment in television was released in 1968 and is a celebration of music in Britain, ranging from Tippett, The Beatles, folk clubs, brass bands right through to bell ringing.
The Beatles footage captures rehearsals for "Hey Jude", and was filmed on Tuesday 30th of July, 1968. The Beatles recorded takes 7 through to 25, though according to Mark Lewisohn, it was not The Beatles' intention to capture the perfect recording yet. But this session was arranged as more than a means of rehearsing "Hey Jude", it was also arranged so that the Beatles could be filmed for part of this documentary.
The resulting film only includes around six minutes of Beatles footage, compiled from several hours of shooting, showing The Beatles busking, chatting and rehearsing. The musical takes recorded during this session featured just piano, drums and acoustic guitar - so there was no role for George Harrison. Music! showed him in the control room of studio 2 with George Martin and Ken Scott.
"The film crew was supposed to work in such a way that no-one would realize they were there," recalls Scott. "But of course they were getting in everyone's way and everyone was getting uptight about it." Most of the footage used were from take 9 of "Hey Jude". We hope this bootleg release will have some of the unused material filmed at the session.

HMC 029

"Lady Madonna & Hey Bulldog" (HMC 029) examines the video from the recording session of "Hey Bulldog", which was utilised for the "Lady Madonna" promotional film in 1968, and re-edited to promote "Hey Bulldog" in conjunction with the 1999 release of "Yellow Submarine Songtrack", which featured new mixes of songs used in the animated feature film.  Further new edits on this bootleg release contain unseen material alongside "a compilation of studio outtakes, isolated tracks, demos and alternate mixes for both songs". A brand new edit of the filming session for the track clocking in at 20 minutes is a surprising feature.

Two picture discs included with the boxed set.

This post has been updated with new information after it was first published. As previously rumoured, a George Harrison vinyl collection is going to be available individually and as a boxed set. The set has a release date of  February 24, 2017 - just in time for what would have been Harrison's 74th birthday. The collection has still not been officially announced, so we are quoting an anonymous source.

The collection consists of all George Harrison's LPs (except the live album "Concert for Bangladesh", which is a various artists album anyway), which means that the "All Things Must Pass" triple album and the "Live in Japan" double album are included. Exclusive to the boxed set are two picture disc singles not sold separately: a replica of the original "When We Was Fab" 12" maxi single and a new one for the song "Cloud Nine" (tracks to be confirmed). The latter is the same 7" as the Genesis Publications "I Me Mine" book bonus vinyl single (or EP).

An illustration of George Harrison albums.

George's first two albums, the experimental "Electronic Sound" and the movie soundtrack "Wonderwall Music", both released while Harrison was still in the Beatles, will also be part of the reissue programme. "Early Takes Vol 1" is currently readily available on vinyl and will not be included in the boxed set. Here's a list of the 13 albums in the box:

1. Wonderwall Music
2. Electronic Sound
3. All Things Must Pass
4. Living In The Material World
5. Dark Horse
6. Extra Texture
7. 33 & 1/3
8. George Harrison
9. Somewhere In England
10. Gone Troppo
11. Cloud Nine
12. Live In Japan
13. Brainwashed
+

14. Picture disc When We Was Fab
15. Picture disc Cloud Nine

This is all preliminary information, so details may change before the release. The two compilation albums "Best of George Harrison" and "Best of Dark Horse, 1976-1989" haven't made the list. Still these albums contain some material not available in the new collection, like the "Bangladesh" single version on the former and "Poor Little Girl" and "Cheer Down" on the latter.

This teaser trailer caused a lot of speculation on social media, because nothing was found to confirm that this was indeed a documentary in the making. Nothing on imdb or elsewhere. But axs.com managed to find the man behind the teaser trailer, Noven Jaisi. In an exclusive email exchange with the website, Jaisi explains that this is a documentary he would like to make, but he has not had any success in contacting Ringo. Now that he has gone public, we hope that contact will be made, and that his project can come to fruition.

Link: Axs.com

Crackerbox Palace. Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames

Olivia Harrison, the widow of Beatle George Harrison wants to build an archive at the home they shared for 30 years.

Mrs Harrison has applied to South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, for permission to remove temporary storage and utility units at Friar Park and erect new buildings.

The development would include an archive building for the storage of family papers and objects which are currently stored in “unsuitable conditions” in various places around the estate.

The building would measure 20m by 8m and include accommodation for an archivist.

The application is a revision of plans for which Mrs Harrison was granted planning permission in 2014 but has not yet implemented.


It says: “Since that time thoughts about the planning of the site have evolved, particularly in the way that the garden landscaping might be resolved in this area, which impacts on the layout of the proposed and consented buildings.

“There is now a strong desire to reconnect lost garden routes and to remove a proliferation of later access roads and hard-standing areas, especially closer to the historic buildings.

“For this to be achieved, a revised layout is required but one which also seeks to preserve as much of the historic garden structure as well as the presently protected trees.”

Mrs Harrison also wants to relocate the estate security and accommodation for night staff. The estate is obliged to operate a 24-hour security operation 365 days a year.

In 1999, Harrison was attacked after a man broke in and stabbed him seven times before his wife knocked out the intruder with a poker.

High security around Friar Park was put in place following the attack.

The plans also include new ancillary stores, gardeners’ sheds, staff welfare facilities and machinery/car park storage plus an additional garage for the storage of three vintage cars which are currently stored off site.

The district council will make a decision by January 16.

Source: The Henley Standard

Planned for March 24: The Archive edition of Paul McCartney's "Flowers in the dirt".

Amazon has announced the Archive edition of Paul McCartney's 1989 album "Flowers in the dirt". A Deluxe edition, containing 3 CDs and 1 DVD and a Special edition of 2 CDs, as well as a double vinyl album are listed.
Originally planned for release in 2016, the album was delayed following McCartney having left his previous record label Hear Music/Concorde for Capitol Records.
At the time of the original release, "Flowers in the dirt" was considered a major return to form, and earned him some of his best reviews in years. The album made number 1 in the United Kingdom and Norway and produced several hit singles (the first being "My Brave Face"). It also marked a return to concert touring for McCartney. His last tour was the December tour of 1979 with Wings, now he embarked on a World tour as a solo artist. Starting in Drammen, Norway, the Paul McCartney World Tour opened on 26 September 1989 and featured concerts in North America, Europe, Japan and Brazil until the following July.

New vinyl edition has two LPs and mp3 downloads.

After the meagre sales that greeted the 1986 album "Press to Play", McCartney realised that he needed to work much harder on his follow-up. Thus, he not only teamed up with several different producers, but also spent the better part of 18 months perfecting "Flowers in the Dirt". A highlight of the sessions was McCartney's productive alliance with Elvis Costello, with whom he composed many new songs. In his 2015 autobiography, "Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink", Costello described the track "That Day Is Done" as, "the unhappy sequel to "Veronica"", which they had also co-written. McCartney greatly enjoyed the new partnership, even finding that Costello mirrored John Lennon in certain aspects of his personality. Costello would also appear on the album, even co-singing "You Want Her Too" with McCartney. Another celebrity guest included was his friend David Gilmour from Pink Floyd, who plays the guitar on "We Got Married". On "Put It There", McCartney used an old Buddy Holly trick, the knee-percussion, that McCartney recorded on the same day as the backing track. Elvis also persuaded Paul to bring back his trademark Höfner bass guitar, both for recording the album and on tour. The bass guitar had been retired since Paul's Beatle days, but he must have enjoyed playing it again, it still remains an icon in his stage presence.

Single: "My Brave Face" and the non-album track "Flying To My Home"

In May 1989, the Beatlesque "My Brave Face" was released as a single and promptly gave McCartney a US hit, reaching number 25, while reaching number 18 in the UK. In June, "Flowers in the Dirt" was released to high anticipation and immediately entered the UK charts at number 1, garnering very positive reviews from all around. In the US, the reaction was better than "Press to Play", with the album reaching number 21, staying on the charts for a year and going gold, though it still sold beneath expectations. The second single, "This One", also reached number 18 in the UK. The follow-ups "Figure of Eight"/"Où est le Soleil?" and "Put It There" would all be minor UK hits.

The album cover artwork was photographed by Linda McCartney. The background canvas was painted by the British artist Brian Clarke, who was also responsible for designing stage backdrops for the world tour.

12" single featuring three remixes of the track "Ou est le Soleil?"

In an interview with the Washington Post in July 2016, Paul McCartney revealed that the non-inclusion of any "Flowers" tracks on his recent "Pure McCartney" compilation was due to the Archive edition being on the horizon.

Paul was then asked by the interviewer, "Will it be released in its entirety? There are all those songs you wrote and recorded with Elvis Costello, many of them not officially released," to which Paul responded: "That’s one of the real exciting things. Those demos. We’re releasing them as part of this package. I’m not sure I’m supposed to be telling you this. . . . It’s great that you’re a fan of "Flowers in the Dirt". Cause you’ve got a real nice release coming out. We showed it all to Elvis, and he was just tickled pink."

Unconfirmed from the industry is that the set includes 21 demos, 61 tracks all in all (music and video), plus paper material in the form of at least one 112 page book and several other booklets etc.

Original album track listing:

1. My Brave Face
2. Rough Ride
3. You Want Her Too
4. Distractions
5. We Got Married
6. Put It There
7. Figure Of Eight
8. This One
9. Don't Be Careless Love
10. That Day Is Done
11. How Many People
12. Motor Of Love
13. Ou Est Le Soleil (bonus track on cassette and CD editions)

Earlier re-releases

World Tour Pack

- A limited-edition "World Tour Pack" of "Flowers in the Dirt", sold in a facsimile trunk, was issued in Great Britain and Europe in October 1989, and America (with British catalogue numbers) in January 1990. The set included a bonus single of "Party Party" (mixed by Bruce Forest and released on a one-sided 7" single in vinyl editions of the "World Tour Pack" and a 3" CD-single in compact disc editions of the "World Tour Pack").

Japan 2CD edition (1990)

 - In March 1990, another limited edition of the album that featured a bonus disc was released exclusively in Japan and re-entered the country's chart.

Track list of CD2:

1. "Message"– 0:28 - an environmental message from Paul to the Japanese fans.
2. "The Long and Winding Road" (Lennon–McCartney) – 3:51 From the video "Put It There".
3. "Loveliest Thing"– 3:59
4 "Rough Ride"– 4:53
5. "Ou est le Soleil (7" Mix)"– 4:50
6. "Mama's Little Girl"– 3:41 - an outtake from the 1972 "Red Rose Speedway" sessions.
7. "Same Time Next Year"– 3:06 - an outtake from the 1979 "Back To The Egg" sessions.
8. "Party, Party" (McCartney/Linda McCartney/Robbie McIntosh/Hamish Stuart/Chris Whitten/Paul "Wix" Wickens) – 5:35
9. "P.S. Love Me Do" (McCartney–Lennon) – 3:40 - The studio version of the combination of two of The Beatles songs owned by MPL Communications. The live version is found on the "Birthday" CD single.

1993 Remastered CD

- A remastered CD was released in 1993.

Bonus tracks:
"Back on My Feet" – 4:24
"Flying to My Home" – 4:15
"Loveliest Thing"– 3:58

Amazon listings:

Paul McCartney Flowers In The Dirt Deluxe Edition (3CD 1DVD)
Paul McCartney Flowers In The Dirt Special Edition (2CD)
Paul McCartney Flowers In The Dirt Double LP

Earlier DeLuxe releases in McCartney's Archive series:

• Wings: Band on the Run. 9 bonus tracks. DVD playing time: 51:49
• Paul and Linda McCartney: Ram. 8 bonus tracks, 12 mono and 11 Thrillington. DVD playing time: 27:56
• Paul McCartney: McCartney 7 bonus tracks. DVD playing time: 31:55
• Paul McCartney: McCartney II. 16 bonus tracks. DVD playing time: 54:56
• Wings: Wings Over America. 8 bonus tracks. DVD playing time: 80:59
• Wings: Wings at the Speed of Sound. 7 bonus tracks. DVD playing time: 22:18
• Wings: Venus and Mars. 14 bonus tracks + 3 downloads. DVD playing time: 25:38
• Paul McCartney: Pipes of Peace. 9 bonus tracks. DVD playing time: 26:12
• Paul McCartney: Tug of War. 11 bonus tracks + a 12 track remix of the album. DVD playing time: 35:36

The Beatles 1 - in a new physical format

A new physical format is on it's way, and The Beatles "1" album is available in this high resolution format, called MQS SD, which in fact is a micro SD card. Explore further on the video below:

Planned for March 24: The Archive edition of Paul McCartney's "Flowers in the dirt".

SPECIAL EDITION [3CD/1DVD]
• Deluxe 3 CD + DVD Numbered Edition
• 18 bonus audio tracks across 2 discs, featuring previously unreleased demos with Elvis
Costello
• Original B-sides, remixes and single edits, plus 3 previously unreleased tracks from a
cassette demo (download only)
• Remastered at Abbey Road Studios
• DVD featuring all of the music videos from the album, the ‘Put It There’
documentary and 3 new edits of unseen archive material
• Also includes a 112 page essay book, 32 page notebook of Paul’s handwritten lyrics
and notes, 64 page photobook featuring the music videos for ‘This One’, 32 page
Linda McCartney exhibition catalogue
• Plus downloadable high-resolution audio (Disc 1, 2, and 3)

DISC 1:
1. My Brave Face (2017 Remaster)
2. Rough Ride (2017 Remaster)
3. You Want Her Too (2017 Remaster)
4. Distractions (2017 Remaster)
5. We Got Married (2017 Remaster)
6. Put It There (2017 Remaster)
7. Figure Of Eight (2017 Remaster)
8. This One (2017 Remaster)
9. Don’t Be Careless Love (2017 Remaster)
10. That Day Is Done (2017 Remaster)
11. How Many People (2017 Remaster)
12. Motor Of Love (2017 Remaster)
13. Où Est Le Soleil? (2017 Remaster)

DISC 2:
1. The Lovers That Never Were (Original Demo)
2. Tommy’s Coming Home (Original Demo)
3. Twenty Fine Fingers (Original Demo)
4. So Like Candy (Original Demo)
5. You Want Her Too (Original Demo)
6. That Day Is Done (Original Demo)
7. Don’t Be Careless Love (Original Demo)
8. My Brave Face (Original Demo)
9. Playboy To A Man (Original Demo)

DISC 3:
1. The Lovers That Never Were (1988 Demo)
2. Tommy’s Coming Home (1988 Demo)
3. Twenty Fine Fingers (1988 Demo)
4. So Like Candy (1988 Demo)
5. You Want Her Too (1988 Demo)
6. That Day Is Done (1988 Demo)
7. Don’t Be Careless Love (1988 Demo)
8. My Brave Face (1988 Demo)
9. Playboy To A Man (1988 Demo)

DOWNLOAD ONLY:
Original B-sides, remixes and single edits:
1. Back On My Feet
2. Flying To My Home
3. The First Stone
4. Good Sign
5. This One (Club Lovejoys Mix)
6. Figure Of Eight (12” Bob Clearmountain Mix)
7. Loveliest Thing
8. Où Est Le Soleil? (12” Mix)
9. Où Est Le Soleil? (Tub Dub Mix)
10. Où Est Le Soleil? (7” Mix)
11. Où Est Le Soleil? (Instrumental)
12. Party Party (Original Mix)
13. Party Party (Club Mix)
Cassette demos:
1. I Don’t Want To Confess
2. Shallow Grave
3. Mistress And Maid

Amazon links:

Paul McCartney Flowers In The Dirt Deluxe Edition (3CD 1DVD)
Paul McCartney Flowers In The Dirt Special Edition (2CD)
Paul McCartney Flowers In The Dirt Double LP

Figure of Eight - one of many constellations of the single.

After the track lists of the new archives edition of Paul McCartney's "Flowers in the dirt" have been published, fans have launched an online petition to add another physical disc to the set.

Link to petition 

Previous archive editions have added single B-sides to the physical discs, but "Flowers in the dirt" deviates from this policy by having these tracks available as downloads only.
Russian fan Evgeny Sokolov created the petition and writes: "We, Paul McCartney fans, are extremely disappointed by the fact that the forthcoming reissue of the classic album Flowers In The Dirt by Paul McCartney will include some great tracks (b-sides, remixes, alternate versions) only as download. The price of the deluxe set is high enough and those who buy those expensive sets deserve actual CD's (and) not downloads".

Paul Sinclair from superdeluxeedition.com also weighs in on the subject in an open letter to Paul.
Here are the tracks in question:

1. Back On My Feet * - originally the B-side of "Once Upon A Long Ago" in 1987
2. Flying To My Home * - originally the B-side of "My Brave Face"
3. The First Stone - originally the B-side of "This One"
4. Good Sign - originally a track on the 12" single of "This One"
5. This One (Club Lovejoys Mix) - appeared on a limited UK 12-inch promo single and was released afterwards on a commercial 12-inch single paired with “Figure Of Eight” and only released in very limited quantities in the UK, Germany and France.
6. Figure Of Eight (12” Bob Clearmountain Mix) - from the 12" single 12R6235
7. Loveliest Thing * - originally a track on the CD single CDRS6235
8. Où Est Le Soleil? (12” Mix) - originally on a 12" single
9. Où Est Le Soleil? (Tub Dub Mix) - originally on a 12" single
10. Où Est Le Soleil? (7” Mix) - originally the B-side of "Figure of eight" 7" single
11. Où Est Le Soleil? (Instrumental) - originally a dance club promo only
12. Party Party (Original Mix) - originally a one sided single included in the "World Tour Pack"
13. Party Party (Club Mix) - originally a promo disc for club DJs only.

---

* The 1993 remastered edition of "Flowers In The Dirt" was part of what was then called The Paul McCartney Collection and the disc contained three bonus tracks which are now to be released as downloads only: "Back on My Feet", "Flying to My Home" and "Loveliest Thing".

---

Paul McCartney released a myriad of singles for "Figure of Eight" back in 1989, and collectors had a hard time finding them all at the time:

• Parlophone R6235 - 7"
• Parlophone RDJ6235 – DJ 7" single
• Parlophone 12R6235 – 12" single
• Parlophone 12RS6235 - 12" limited edition single
• Parlophone 12RX6235 - 12" limited edition single
• Parlophone CD3R6235 - 3" CD single
• Parlophone CDRS6235 – 5" CD single

R6235 - Figure of eight (5:16) / Ou est le soleil? (4:50)

The A-side is remixed by Bob Clearmountain. The B-side has a remix by Shep Pettibone. The original track was only available on the CD version of “Flowers in the dirt”

RDJ6235 - Figure of eight (3:59) / Ou est le soleil? (3:57)

This release is a special DJ mix. Both versions are edited compared to the official release. Not commercially available.

12R6235 - Figure of eight (5:16) / This one (Club lovejoys mix) (6:10)

12" single. The B-side is not only a remix but a completely new version with different lyrics.

12RS6235 - Figure of eight (5:16) / Où Est Le Soleil? (4:50)

Same material as the 7” single, but on this 12” limited edition pressing, the image from the front of the sleeve is etched into the disc on the B-side.

12RX6235 - Figure of eight (5:16) / Où Est Le Soleil? (7:10) / Où Est Le Soleil? (tub dub mix) (4:30)

12" single. Two different mixes of "Où Est Le Soleil?". A third, instrumental mix was to be found on a special promotional 12" single released to dance clubs only.

CD3R6235 - Figure of eight (5:16) / Rough ride (4:54) / Où Est Le Soleil? (7" mix) (4:50)

A special 3-inch CD single. "Rough ride" is a remix only available here and on the 1990 2CD Japan special edition release of "Flowers In The Dirt".

CDRS6235 - Figure of eight (4:04) / The long and winding road (Lennon/McCartney) (3:53) / The loveliest thing (3:59)

This release had a new track "The loveliest thing".

---

"This One" was another single from the album, released in quite a few configurations:

• Parlophone R6223 – 7" single
• Parlophone RX6223 - Limited edition 7" pack
• Parlophone 12R6223 - 12" single
• Parlophone 12RX6223 - Limited edition 12" single
• Parlophone CDR6223 - CD single

R6223 - This one (4:10) / The first stone (McCartney/Stuart) (4:03)

The regular 7" single

RX6223 - This one (McCartney) (4:10) / The long and winding road (Lennon/McCartney) (3:50)

Limited edition boxed set containing 6 postcards and a 7" single. The Beatles track taken from the recording of the "Put It There" video cassette special.

12R6223 and CDR6223 - This one (4:10) / The first stone (McCartney/Stuart) (4:03) / I wanna cry (4:40) / I'm in love again (Domino/Bartholomew) (2:40)

Released on a 12" single as well as on a CD single.

12RX6223 - This one (4:10) / The first stone(McCartney/Stuart) (4:03) / Good sign (6:52)

Another 12" single.

---

"Party Party" appeared this way:

Parlophone R6238 - 7" one sided single
Parlophone CD3R6238 -3" CD single
Parlophone 12R6238 - 12" DJ promo

R6238 and CD3R6238 - Party party (P.McCartney/L.McCartney/McIntosh/Stuart/Whitten/Wickens) (5:36)

This single was not available on its own, but was added as a bonus disc when buying the "Flowers in the dirt - World tour pack" on either vinyl or CD.

12R6238 - Party party (original mix) (5:36) / Party party (Bruce Forest club mix) (6:27)

Promo pressing only released to club DJs.

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"Où Est Le Soleil?"

• Parlophone 12SOL 1 - 12" DJ promo single
• Parlophone 14 2034136 12" Italian single
• Capitol V15199 - 12" USA single

Où Est Le Soleil? (7:10) / Où Est Le Soleil? (Tub Dub mix) (4:30) / Où Est Le Soleil? (Instrumental mix) (4:30)

The Parlophone promo was only pressed in a few hundred copies aimed at club DJs, but the Italian release was available all over Europe.

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Link to petition

Paul McCartney has responded positively to Russian requests in the past. In 2008, a survey on a Russian Beatles fan site concluded that the song most fans wanted Paul to include on his set list was a track from the "Band on the run" album, "Mrs Vandebilt" - which had been a hit in the Soviet Union. Paul responded by rehearsing the song and included it in his set list when he played a free concert in Kiev that year, saying in Ukranian: "We were asked to do this". The song remained in his set list for years after that, as it proved to be one of the non-Beatle songs fans could sing along to.

Also planned for download only release are the following cassette demos:
1. I Don’t Want To Confess
2. Shallow Grave
3. Mistress And Maid

The Archive edition of "Flowers In The Dirt" is due out March 24, 2017 - below are Amazon links for preordering:

Paul McCartney Flowers In The Dirt Deluxe Edition (3CD 1DVD)
Paul McCartney Flowers In The Dirt Special Edition (2CD)
Paul McCartney Flowers In The Dirt Double LP

Roger Stormo and Sam Leach, 2008.

Sam Leach, a well known name in Liverpool's early Beatles history died last night in the arms of two of his children, following a brief hospitalisation. Sam's daughter Samantha posted this on Facebook today:

Our dad passed away this morning peacefully in the arms of my sister and brother. Although we knew he wasn't well it's still left us shocked and truely deverstated as we didn't think it would happen so fast. He is such a legend as you all know a true warrior, dads words "Never give up and never give in" ....and he never did. Sleep tight dad. Samantha xxx

Sam was a promoter of dances and concerts in and around Liverpool in the early sixties. A champion of The Beatles, booking them for many of his events, Sam wanted to become their manager at one point. He attempted to introduce The Beatles to London agents by promoting shows at The Palais Ballroom in Aldershot on 9 December 1961. The show was not advertised properly and, as a result, only 18 people attended. The local newspaper, The Aldershot News, failed to publish Sam Leach's advertisement for the show. Weeks after this Brian Epstein became the group's manager.

Paul McCartney with Sam Leach

Sam remained friendly with the Beatles after they had left Liverpool, and published the pictorial "Beatles on Broadway" in many countries around the world in 1964.

Norwegian edition of Sam's picture magazine from 1964

Paul McCartney used to invite Sam backstage whenever he returned to give concerts in the hometown. Sam wrote a book about his days as a maverick dance promoter, "The Rocking City", and he used to sell photos from his Beatles days from a table in The Grapes, a pub opposite the Cavern Club in Mathew Street. Sam also attended Beatles conventions in other countries.

This year, a documentary film about Sam Leach, The Sixth Beatle premiered at the Toronto international film festival, with Sam in attendance. Sam was 81 when he passed away. Rest in peace.

Coming in August 2017 - part one of a new George Martin biography

Kenneth Womack is a scholar and a Beatles author who has previously written a few books on the group:  "Long and Winding Roads", "The Cambridge Companion to the Beatles", "The Beatles Encyclopedia", and "New Critical Perspectives on the Beatles". He is currently working on a 2-part biography on George Martin for Chicago Review Press. The first volume will be published August 1, 2017, titled "Maximum Volume: The Life of Beatles Producer George Martin, The Early Years, 1926–1966". It will be 336 pages and will be published in a hardcover.

From the Publisher: In the first book of its kind, "Maximum Volume" offers a glimpse into the mind, the music, and the man behind the sound of the Beatles. George Martin’s working-class childhood, his education, and his musical influences at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama profoundly shaped his early career in the BBC’s Classical Music department and as head of the EMI Group’s Parlophone Records. These musical influences would become the fount out of which flowed the genius behind his seven years producing the Beatles’ incredible body of work, including such albums as "Rubber Soul", "Revolver", "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band", and "Abbey Road". 

The first of a two-part series, "Maximum Volume" traces Martin’s early years as a scratch pianist, his life in the Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War, and his groundbreaking work as the head of Parlophone Records during the 1950s, when Martin saved the company from ruin after making his name as a producer of comedy and spoken-word recordings.

In its most dramatic moments, "Maximum Volume" narrates the story of Martin’s unlikely discovery of the Beatles and his painstaking efforts to prepare their newfangled sound for the British music marketplace. As the story unfolds, Martin and the band craft numerous Number 1 hits along the group’s progress towards The Ed Sullivan Show and such landmark songs as "Yesterday" and "In My Life"—Beatles tunes that bear Martin’s unmistakable musical signature.