Saturday 28 December 2013

With The Beatles and Please Please Me top the Charts

UK Official Album Charts: 28 December 1963

1. WITH THE BEATLES - BEATLES (1)
2. PLEASE PLEASE ME - BEATLES (2)
3. WEST SIDE STORY - ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK (4)
4. BORN FREE - FRANK IFIELD (8)
5. HOW DO YOU LIKE IT - GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS (3)
6. FREDDIE AND THE DREAMERS - FREDDIE AND THE DREAMERS (14)
7. ON TOUR WITH THE GEORGE MITCHELL MINSTRELS - GEORGE MITCHELL MINSTRELS (12)
8. MEET THE SEARCHERS - SEARCHERS (7)
9. THE SHADOWS' GREATEST HITS - SHADOWS (13)
10.KENNY BALL'S GOLDEN HITS - KENNY BALL (9)

Tuesday 17 December 2013

Coming Soon: The Beatles U.S. Albums box

Great news for all Beatles fans: mark 20 January 2014 in your agenda! Because on that day Apple will release the Beatles The U.S. Albums (13 CD Box) To mark the 50th anniversary of the Beatles US invasion, The Beatles release a set of all the original US albums in a collectors box. All albums will feature a faithful reproduction of the artwork and packaging of the original vinyl albums. Both the mono and stereo recordings of each album will be featured on the discs. This beautiful collection will be accompanied by a 64 page booklet.

The Beatles record a Saturday Club Christmas Special

On 17 December 1963 the Beatles went to the Playhouse Theatre in London to record their contribution for the annual Saturday Club Christmas edition. Saturday Club was a very popular radio show on the BBC Light Programme. The Beatles rehearsed and recorded from 3pm till 6.30pm and recorded All My Loving, This Boy, I Want to Hold your Hand, Till There Was You, Roll over Beethoven and She Loves You On a lighter note they also recorded a special Christmas song which actually consisted of a medley of Love Me Do, Please Please Me, From Me To You, She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand and "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer". They also sang their version of "All I want for Christmas is a Beatle" but they replaced the word "Beatle" by "Bottle.

Paul McCartney's New is out now - on vinyl

Paul McCartney's new record (called not so surprisingly 'NEW') has today been released on vinyl. The record is a 180 gram gatefold vinyl one and comes with a digital download card. NEW was recently voted 4th best album of the year 2013 by Rolling Stone magazine and was produced by Mark Ronson, Paul Epworth, Giles Martin and Ethan Johns.

Sunday 1 December 2013

1963 NME Awards

At the end of 1963, New Musical Express (NME) published its yearly awards

1963


World Male Singer: Cliff Richard
World Vocal Group: Beatles
World Musical Personality: Elvis Presley
World Female Singer: Brenda Lee
British Vocal Personality: Joe Brown
British Vocal Group: Beatles
British Large Band Or Orchestra: Joe Loss
British Small Group: Shadows
British Traditional Jazz Band: Kenny Ball
Best British Disc Of The Year: Beatles 'She Loves You'
British Female Singer: Kathy Kirby
Artist For Poll Concert: Billy J Kramer and Dakotas
British Male Singer: Cliff Richard
Disc Jockey: David Jacobs
New Disc or TV Singer: Gerry Marsden
Solo Instrumentalist: Jet Harris

Saturday 2 November 2013

Ringo Starr releases RINGO

On 2 November 1973 (40 years ago in the US) and three weeks later (23 November 1973 in the UK), Ringo released his third solo album (after Sentimental Journey and Beaucoup of Blues).

It would be one of his most succesful and critically-acclaimed records and is famous for guest appearences by the other three Beatles and many other musicians

Track Listing

1.     "I'm the Greatest"       John Lennon     3:21
2.     "Have You Seen My Baby"       Randy Newman     3:44
3.     "Photograph"       Richard Starkey, George Harrison     3:56
4.     "Sunshine Life for Me (Sail Away Raymond)"       Harrison     2:45
5.     "You're Sixteen"
6.     "Oh My My"       Starkey, Vini Poncia     4:16
7.     "Step Lightly"       Starkey     3:15
8.     "Six O'Clock"       Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney     4:06
9.     "Devil Woman"       Starkey, Poncia     3:50
10.     "You and Me (Babe)"       Harrison, Mal Evans     4:59

Personnel

    Ringo Starr – lead vocals, drums, acoustic guitar, piano
    George Harrison – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, harmony vocal
    Vini Poncia – acoustic guitar, percussion, harmony vocal
    Marc Bolan – electric guitar
    Robbie Robertson – guitar
    Steve Cropper – electric guitar
    Jimmy Calvert – acoustic guitar
    Klaus Voormann – bass
    Levon Helm – mandolin
    Rick Danko – fiddle
    David Bromberg – banjo, fiddle
    Paul McCartney – kazoo, piano, synthesizer, string and flute arrangements, backing vocal
    John Lennon – piano, harmony vocal
    Billy Preston – piano, organ
    Nicky Hopkins – piano, electric piano
    James Booker – piano
    Tom Hensley – piano
    Stephen Stills – piano
    Gary Wright – piano
    Garth Hudson – accordion
    Jim Keltner – drums
    Milt Holland – percussion, marimba
    Lon Van Eaton – percussion
    Derrek Van Eaton – percussion
    Bobby Keys – tenor sax
    Tom Scott – horns, sax, horn and clarinet arrangements
    Chuck Finley – horns
    Ron Cattermole – horns
    Jim Horn – horn arrangements
    Jack Nitzsche – orchestral and choral arrangements
    Richard Perry – backing vocals
    Harry Nilsson – backing vocals
    Linda McCartney – backing vocals
    Martha Reeves – backing vocals
    Merry Clayton – backing vocals
    Pete Ham – backing vocals
    Tom Evans – backing vocals

Monday 7 October 2013

Beatlemania is born


Today 50 years ago, on 7 October 1963, the term "Beatlemania" was first used by Andi Lothian, a Scottish concert promoter who used the phrase when talking to a reporter at the Caird Hall Beatles Concert.

The first time the term was printed in a newspaper, was a couple days later on 15 October 1963 in the Daily Mirror where the previous day's Beatles concert in Cheltenham was discussed.

Monday 10 June 2013

Complete List of The Beatles concerts in Summer 1963

After the extremely succesful concert tour with Roy Orbison, The Beatles started on a massive Summer tour of 1963 that would take them all over England & Wales

10 June Pavilion, Bath
12 June Grafton Rooms, Liverpool
13 June Palace Theatre Club, Cheshire
13 June Southern Sporting Club, Manchester
14 June Tower Ballroom, New Brighton
15 June City Hall, Salisbury
16 June Odeon Cinema, Romford
21 June Odeon Cinema, Guildford
22 June Town Hall, Monmouthshire
25 June Astoria Ballroom, Middlesbrough
26 June Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
28 June Queen’s Hall, Leeds
30 June ABC Cinema, Great Yarmouth
5 July Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill
6 July Memorial Hall, Northwich
7 July ABC Theatre, Blackpool
8-13 July Winter Gardens, Margate
14 July ABC Theatre, Blackpool
19-20 July Ritz Ballroom, Flintshire
21 July Queen’s Theatre, Blackpool
22-27 July Odeon Theatre, Weston-super-Mare
28 July ABC Cinema, Great Yarmouth
31 July Imperial Ballroom, Nelson
2 August Grafton Rooms, Liverpool
3 August Cavern Club, Liverpool
4 August Queen’s Theatre, Blackpool
5 August Abbotsfield Park, Urmston
6-7 August The Springfield Ballroom, Jersey, Channel Islands
8 August Candie Gardens, Guernssey, Channel Islands
9-10 August The Springfield Ballroom, Jersey, Channel Islands
11 August ABC Theatre, Blackpool
12-17 August Odeon Cinema, Caernarvonshire
18 August Princess Theatre Torquay
19-24 August Gaumont Cinema, Bournemouth
25 August ABC Cinema, Blackpool
26-31 August Odeon Cinema, Southport
4 September Gaumont Cinema, Worcester
5 September Gaumont Cinema, Taunton
6 September Odeon Cinema, Luton
7 September Fairfield Hall, Croydon
8 September ABC Theatre, Blackpool
13 September Public Hall, Preston
14 September Memorial Hall, Northwich
15 September Great Pop Prom, Royal Albert Hall, London

Tuesday 21 May 2013

Link between Roy Orbison and The Beatles

Roy Orbison (April 23, 1936 - December 6, 1988) was an American singer-songwriter, famous for wearing dark sunglasses, having an characteristic vocal range and hits like Pretty Woman, Only the Lonely and Dream Baby

His career is closely linked to The Beatles. Not only was he a major influence on them (Please Please Me was supposed to be a "Roy Orbison"-style song, only slower. George Martin suggested speeding it up a bit.

The Beatles also performed work by him, including "Dream Baby", the very first song they recorded for the BBC (broadcasted on March 8, 1962 on "Teenager's Turn")

From May 18 till June 9, 1963, The Beatles and Roy Orbison toured together and played in 20 different venues.

George Harrison remained a good friend of Roy Orbison, playing accoustic guitar on his last album (Mtystery Girl) and inviting him to join his "super-group" The Travelling Wilburys.

The Beatles Record Two Radio Sessions

On May 21st 1963 The Beatles spent most of the afternoon and evening in the Playhouse Theatre in London.

First they arrived around 2.30 pm to rehearse and record songs for Saturday Club. This was the first time they were the main act on the show, and they performed 6 songs: I Saw Her Standing There, Do You Want To Know A Secret, Boys, Long Tall Sally, From Me To You and Money (That's What I Want). 
They also had an interview with presenter Brian Matthew.

The show would be transmitted later that week on Saturday 25 May 1963

Later that evening they recorded 6 songs for another show: Steppin' Out, a completely new show:
Please Please Me, I Saw Her Standing There, Roll Over Beethoven, Twist And Shout, Thank You Girl and From Me To You.

It must have been interesting for the audience to hear Roll Over Beethoven, a song that would not appear on record until later that year on 22 November 1963 on With The Beatles.

The show would be transmitted in the beginning of June (June 3, 1963)


Monday 20 May 2013

The Beatles Live at Gaumont Cinema, Southampton

On May 20th 1963 The Beatles performed their third concernt on the Roy Orbison Tour.

They performed: Some Other Guy, Do You Want To Know A Secret, Love Me Do, From Me To You, Please Please Me, I Saw Her Standing There and Twist And Shout

Other groups to peform that night were: Roy Orbison, Gerry and the Pacemakers, David Macbeth, Louise Cordet, Tony Marsh, Terry Young Six, Erkey Grant and Ian Crawford

It was The Beatles' first appearance at the Gaumont Cinema (previously know as Empire Theatre and later Mayflower Theatre) but they would be back on two more occasions: 13 December 1963 and 6 November 1964

Ray Manzarek died aged 74

Ray Manzarek died today, aged 74. Famous for being the talented keyboard player of The Doors, he also had some connection to The Beatles.

In March 1973 (40 years ago) Ray Manzarek and the two other remaining Doors members (Robbie Krieger and John Densmore) arrived in London to look for a possible replacement for deceased Doors singer Jim Morrison.

Some of the names on Ray's list were Iggy Pop, Joe Cocker and Howard Werth (of The Audience). But they also had a meeting with Paul McCartney.

Paul McCartney said the following about The Doors: "I always liked the Doors and was sorry I missed them at Isle of Wight. It was a few months after the breakup and I wasn’t in a good place. But their music has always been cool."

Ray Manzarek recalls how they came up with Paul McCartney: "It was clear we needed to find a new front man. We couldn’t go on with me and Robby. So we figured let’s go to London and find someone. We thought about Joe Cocker- he’s a great singer. Iggy Pop came up. Do you know him? From the Stooges? Really raw and onstage he’s kinda like Jim, way out there. We were talking about singers we liked and Robby loved Little Richard. He said “that’s rock power.” That’s when I thought, what about Paul McCartney? Besides singing better than all of us he is the best bass player around and I won’t have to play bass anymore. We’d be like Lennon, musically at least, and provide that darkness and edge. So I called Paul and I was happy he agreed to come by and talk."

Saturday 18 May 2013

Complete list of Roy Orbison and The Beatles Tour 1963

After playing for smaller audiences in April and May 1963, The Beatles went again on a monster tour, this time with Roy Orbison. Orbison was a major star, having had a string of hits which included Only The Lonely, Crying, Love Hurts, Running Scared, In Dreams and many many more.

Much later Roy Orbison would become one of the Traveling Willburys (together with George Harrison)

18 May Adelphi, Slough
19 May Gaumont, Hanley
20 May Gaumont, Southampton
22 May Gaumont, Ipswich
23 May Odeon, Nottingham
24 May Granada, Walthamstow
25 May City Hall, Sheffield
26 May Empire, Liverpool
28 May Gaumont, Worcester
29 May Rialto, York
30 May Odeon, Manchester
31 May Odeon, Southend-on-Sea
1 June Granada, Tooting
2 June Hippodrome, Brighton
3 June Granada, Woolwich
4 June Town Hall, Birmingham
5 June Odeon, Leeds
7 June Odeon, Glasgow
8 June City Hall, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
9 June King George's Hall, Blackburn

Saturday 11 May 2013

Please Please Me reaches number 1 in the UK Albums Chart

Yes! Exaclty 50 years ago the first Beatles LP reached the coveted top spot in the official Album charts in the UK

UK OFFICIAL ALBUM CHART of 11 May 1963

1. Please Please Me - The Beatles (2)
2.Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1)

3. Reminiscing - Buddy Holly (2)
4. I'll Remember You - Frank Ifield (4)
 5. West Side Story - Original Soundtrack (6)
6. Girls! Girls! Girls! - Elvis Presley (7)
7. All Star Festival - Various Artists (5) 
8. All Alone Am I - Brenda Lee (10)

9. Hats of to Del Shannon - Del Shannon (new)
10. South Pacific  - Original Soundtrack (8)

Thursday 9 May 2013

Paul McCartney live at Estadio Governor Placido Castelo in Fortaleza, Brazil

Paul McCartney appeared life at the Placido Castelo Stadium in Fortaleza, his last leg of the Brazilian Out There Tour

The Set List:

    Eight Days A Week
    Junior's Farm
    All My Loving
    Listen To What The Man Said
    Let Me Roll It
    Paperback Writer
    My Valentine
    Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five
    The Long And Winding Road
    Maybe I'm Amazed
    Hope Of Deliverance
    We Can Work It Out
    Another Day
    And I Love Her
    Blackbird
    Here Today
    Your Mother Should Know
    Lady Madonna
    All Together Now
    Mrs Vandebilt
    Eleanor Rigby
    Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!
    Something
    Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
    Hi, Hi, Hi
    Band On The Run
    Back In The USSR
    Let It Be
    Live And Let Die
    Hey Jude

    Day Tripper
    Lovely Rita
    Get Back

    Yesterday
    Helter Skelter
    Golden Slumbers
    Carry That Weight
    The End

Monday 6 May 2013

Paul McCartney live at Estadio Serra Dourada in Goiania, Brazil

Today Paul McCartney gave his second concert in Brazil during his "Out There" Tour.

Normally Paul McCartney is a punctual performer, but this time the concert started half an hour late because Paul's jet got delayed due to bad weather

McCartney's band was :
- Paul 'Wix' Wickens (vocals, keyboards, guitar, percussion, harmonica),
- Brian Ray (vocals, guitar, bass),
- Rusty Anderson (vocals, guitar) and
- Abe Laboriel Jr (vocals, drums).

The Setlist:


    Eight Days A Week
    Junior's Farm
    All My Loving
    Listen To What The Man Said
    Let Me Roll It
    Paperback Writer
    My Valentine
    Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five
    The Long And Winding Road
    Maybe I'm Amazed
    Hope Of Deliverance
    We Can Work It Out
    Another Day
    And I Love Her
    Blackbird
    Here Today
    Your Mother Should Know
    Lady Madonna
    All Together Now
    Mrs Vandebilt
    Eleanor Rigby
    Being For The Benefit Of Mr Kite!
    Something
    Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
    Band On The Run
    Hi, Hi, Hi
    Back In The USSR
    Let It Be
    Live And Let Die
    Hey Jude

    Day Tripper
    Lovely Rita
    Get Back

    Yesterday
    Helter Skelter
    Golden Slumbers
    Carry That Weight
    The End

Saturday 4 May 2013

Paul McCartney kicks off his Out There tour in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Today, Saturday May 4 2013, Paul McCartney kicked off his new World Tour (aptly called "Out There) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Approximately 55,000 fans watched the 70-year old ex-Beatle perform many songs that he never before performed live in concert.

First treat of the evening was "Eight Days a Week" which The Beatles only performed during their 1965 concerts. Other unique songs were "Your Mother Should Know", "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" and "All Together Now".

He also performed Lovely Rita for the first time and Another Day

The complete Belo Horizonte setlist

• Eight Days A Week
• Junior's Farm
• All My Loving
• Listen To What The Man Said
• Let Me Roll It
• Paperback Writer
• My Valentine
• Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five
• The Long And Winding Road
• Maybe I'm Amazed
• Hope Of Deliverance
• We Can Work It Out
• Another Day
• And I Love Her
• Blackbird
• Here Today
• Your Mother Should Know
• Lady Madonna
• All Together Now
• Mrs Vandebilt
• Eleanor Rigby
• Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!
• Something
• Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
• Band on the Run
• Hi, Hi, Hi
• Back in the U.S.S.R.
• Let It Be
• Live And Let Die
• Hey Jude

Encore:
• Day Tripper
• Lovely Rita
• Get Back

Second Encore:
• Yesterday
• Helter Skelter
• Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End

Wednesday 1 May 2013

The Beatles on the Classics 100 of Flemish Radio 1

Every year the most important Flemish radio station (Radio 1) publishes its Top 100 of classic rock and pop songs.

At the moment of writing, they are counting down and have arrived at number 80.

So far, the following Beatles or Beatles-related songs have been played. I wonder if any other will make it to the top 10. I'm counting on Yesterday, Hey Jude and Imagine to make an impact.


Update: there will be a total of 6 Beatles songs in the list (not counting solo-projects) The list (2013) so far:

004 The Beatles A Day In The Life

014 John Lennon Imagine

028 The Beatles Here Comes The Sun

051 The Beatles Hey Jude

059 The Beatles Yesterday

064 The Beatles Strawberry Fields Forever

081 The Beatles While My Guitar Gently Weeps

154 The Beatles Get Back

162 The Beatles Something

164 The Beatles In My Life

180 The Beatles I Am The Walrus

193 The Beatles Let It Be

219 The Beatles Eleanor Rigby

229 Wings Band On The Run

235 John Lennon Jealous Guy

277 John Lennon Working Class Hero

Tuesday 30 April 2013

Paul McCartney releases Red Rose Speedway

On April 30, 1973, Paul McCartney released "Red Rose Speedway", the second album by Wings and successor to the weak performing Wild Life.

The original idea was to release a double album but in the end it was cut down to just a single album.

Track List

1.     "Big Barn Bed"       3:48
2.     "My Love"       4:07
3.     "Get on the Right Thing"       4:17
4.     "One More Kiss"       2:28
5.     "Little Lamb Dragonfly"
6.     "Single Pigeon"       1:52
7.     "When the Night"       3:38
8.     "Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)"       4:23
9.     "Medley: Hold Me Tight/Lazy Dynamite/Hands of Love/Power Cut" 

Personnel

    Paul McCartney — vocals, piano, bass, guitar, mellotron, electric piano, celeste, Moog synthesizer
    Linda McCartney — vocals, electric piano, organ, harpsichord, percussion
    Denny Laine — vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica
    Henry McCullough — guitar, backing vocals, percussion
    Denny Seiwell — drums, backing vocals, percussion, bass on "Single Pigeon"

Strangely enough this record is out of print on CD (but available on iTunes Store)

Monday 29 April 2013

Hard Rock Cafe to Auction Beatles Memorabilia

Ever wanted to own a piece of musical history?

Then head down to Hard Rock Café New York where on May 18th, 2013, they will be selling loads of rock 'n' roll memorabilia.

Maybe you want to get your hads on a signed copy of "In His Own Write", John Lennon's literary debut.

Other interesting stuff by the Fab Four includes copies of the famour "Butcher" cover of "Yesterday and Today", signed copies of the Please Please Me debut album and much more

But the real eye-cather is the rare offering of a VOX guitar played by both John Lennon and George Harrison.

The striking custom guitar built by Mike Bennett and Dickey Denney was gifted to “Magic Alex” Mardas by John Lennon in 1967.

Harrison played the guitar while practicing “I am the Walrus” during The Magical Mystery Tour and by Lennon while recording a video session for “Hello, Goodbye.”

The spectacular piece of Beatles history is estimated to bring $200,000-300,000 and offers collectors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own one of the rarest pieces of Beatles memorabilia ever to be offered.

Interestingly, if you are in Ireland then you can see the guitar already today.

The John Lennon/George Harrison played Beatles guitar will be on display at The Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge Silverware in County Kildare, Ireland from April 16th – May 8th 2013

Emili Sande takes The Beatles UK record

Records are there to be broken. And so Emili Sandé broke one of the longest running records by The Beatles. In the 1960's, Please Please Me, The Beatles' debut LP remained in the charts for a staggering 62 weeks in the Top 10 in Great Britain. And on Saturday Emili Sandé did one better by being in the charts for 63 weeks with her debut "Our Version of Events". Good for you Emili, and lets see in 10 years' time if you managed to break any other Beatles' records.

Wings over America re-issue already going strong

As you all know, 2013 is going to be a pretty cool year for Paul McCartney fans everywhere. Not only will the the successful Wings Over America live-album be released in the already famous "Paul McCartney Collection" series, but on May 15 there will be a special cinema screening all over the world of the 1976 Rockshow tour. Incidentally, on June 10 2013 Rockshow will be released on DVD for the first time. Hopefully also on BluRay And when you look in the Amazon pre-order sales, you will see that the pre-orders for the Wings over America CDs are a going strong. I have reserved my copy of the Superdeluxe edition. And you?

Saturday 27 April 2013

Please Please Me reaches number 2 in the UK Album Charts

UK OFFICIAL ALBUM CHART of 27 April 1963

1. Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1)
2. Please Please Me - The Beatles (3)
3. Reminiscing - Buddy Holly (2)
4. Girls! Girls! Girls! - Elvis Presley (5)
5. I'll Remember You - Frank Ifield (7)
6. Sinatra-Basie -Frank Sinatra and Count Basie (2)
7. All Star Festival - Various Artists (8) 
8. West Side Story - Original Soundtrack (4)

9. Out of the Shadows - Shadows (7)
10. South Pacific  - Original Soundtrack (11)

Thursday 25 April 2013

Ringo Starr buys his first Ludwig Drum Kit

Around this time, 50 years ago, Ringo Starr visited Drum City in London with Brian Epstein, and picked up his first Ludwig kit. It was a small 20" set in oyster black pearl.

Epstein had agreed that the transaction would cost nothing if Ringo traded in his old Premier drumkit and if the Ludwig logo would appear on the front drum skin. In return Drum City would put a Beatles logo. Legend has it that Ivor Arbiter, the owner of Drum City, drew a couple of suggestions, including the now famous "dropped T" that we all came to learn and love.

Eddie Stokes was a London sign painter who was commisioned to put Arbiter's design into practice, and on May 12, 1963 Ringo took possession of his first Ludwig drumkit, just in time for the taping of Thank Your Lucky Stars, a U.K. Talent Show

Tuesday 23 April 2013

Richie Havens dies, aged 72

Richie Havens, famous for opening the Woodstock festival in 1969, died today aged 72.

He will be remembered by Beatle fans for his version of "Here Comes the Sun" which made it into the charts in 1970.

He also released two other Beatles singles: Rocky Raccoon and Lady Madonna

Saturday 20 April 2013

Please Please Me stalls at 3 in the UK Album Chart

UK OFFICIAL ALBUM CHART of 20 April 1963

1. Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1)
2. Reminiscing - Buddy Holly (9)
3. Please Please Me - The Beatles (8)
4. West Side Story - Original Soundtrack (7)
5. Girls! Girls! Girls! - Elvis Presley (3)
6. Sinatra-Basie -Frank Sinatra and Count Basie (2)
7. I'll Remember You - Frank Ifield (8)
8. All Star Festival - Various Artists (4)
9. Out of the Shadows - Shadows (7)
10. Richard Chamberlain Sings - Richard Chamberlain (11)

Tuesday 16 April 2013

The Beatles in the Official UK Charts

During their career, The Beatles had a staggering 17 number 1 hits (not including the Please Please Me single which everywhere else topped the charts).

Here is a list of all the entries in the Official UK Top 100 Charts

Date  ---------  Single Name ----- highest position ----- Weeks

11/10/1962 - LOVE ME DO -             17                              18

17/01/1963 - PLEASE PLEASE ME -  2                              18

18/04/1963 - FROM ME TO YOU -     1                              21

06/06/1963 - MY BONNIE -               48                                1

29/08/1963 - SHE LOVES YOU -         1                             33

05/12/1963 - I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND -  1            22

26/03/1964 - CAN'T BUY ME LOVE -   1                            15

11/06/1964 - AIN'T SHE SWEET -       29                             6

16/07/1964 - A HARD DAY'S NIGHT - 1                            13

03/12/1964 - I FEEL FINE -                     1                           13

15/04/1965 - TICKET TO RIDE               1                          12

29/07/1965 - HELP! -                                1                          14

09/12/1965 - DAY TRIPPER/WE CAN WORK IT OUT - 1  12

16/06/1966 - PAPERBACK WRITER -    1                         11

11/08/1966 - YELLOW SUBMARINE/ELEANOR RIGBY - 1   13

23/02/1967 - PENNY LANE/STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER - 2  11

12/07/1967 - ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE - 1                            13

29/11/1967 - HELLO GOODBYE -             1                            12

13/12/1967 - MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR (DOUBLE EP) - 2    12

20/03/1968 - LADY MADONNA - 1                                          8

04/09/1968 - HEY JUDE -               1                                        16

23/04/1969 - GET BACK -              1                                        17

04/06/1969 - THE BALLAD OF JOHN AND YOKO - 1        14

08/11/1969 - SOMETHING/COME TOGETHER -       4         12

14/03/1970 - LET IT BE  -               2                                        10

13/03/1976 - YESTERDAY -           8                                         7

27/03/1976 - HEY JUDE -              12                                         7

27/03/1976 - PAPERBACK WRITER - 23                                 5

03/04/1976 - STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER - 32            3

03/04/1976 - GET BACK -             28                                         5

10/04/1976 - HELP! -                     37                                         3

10/07/1976 - BACK IN THE U.S.S.R. - 19                                6

07/10/1978 - SGT PEPPER'S LONELY
                     HEARTS CLUB BAND -
                     WITH A LITTLE HELP
                     FROM MY FRIENDS -      63                               3
05/06/1982 - BEATLES MOVIE MEDLEY - 10                      9

16/10/1982 - LOVE ME DO -                   4                              7

22/01/1983 - PLEASE PLEASE ME -  29                                4

23/04/1983 - FROM ME TO YOU  -    40                                4

03/09/1983 - SHE LOVES YOU -        45                                3

26/11/1983 - I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND - 62            2

31/03/1984 - CAN'T BUY ME LOVE - 53                              2

21/07/1984 - A HARD DAY'S NIGHT - 52                            2

08/12/1984 - I FEEL FINE  -                   65                             1

20/04/1985 - TICKET TO RIDE -           70                             2

30/08/1986 - YELLOW SUBMARINE
                       /ELEANOR RIGBY -       63                              1

28/02/1987 - PENNY LANE/
                     STRAWBERRY FIELDS
                     FOREVER -                        65                               2

18/07/1987 - ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE -  47                         3

05/12/1987 - HELLO GOODBYE -              63                         1

26/03/1988 - LADY MADONNA -              67                          1

10/09/1988 - HEY JUDE -                            52                          2

22/04/1989 - GET BACK -                           74                          1

17/10/1992 - LOVE ME DO                        53                           1

01/04/1995 - BABY IT'S YOU -                    7                          7

16/12/1995 - FREE AS A BIRD -                  2                          8

16/03/1996
REAL LOVE
BEATLES (Apple CDR 6425)
4 7 0
27/11/2010
HEY JUDE
BEATLES (Apple/Parlophone CATCO2521233)
40 2 0
27/11/2010
LET IT BE
BEATLES (Apple/Parlophone GBAYE0000945)
38 3 0
27/11/2010
TWIST AND SHOUT
BEATLES (Apple/Parlophone GBAYE0601423)
48 2 0
27/11/2010
HERE COMES THE SUN
BEATLES (Apple/Parlophone GBAYE6900021)
64 1 0
21/04/2012
HERE COMES THE SUN
BEATLES (Apple/Parlophone GBAYE0601696)
58 1 0

Monday 15 April 2013

What did John Lennnon sing at the end of I Am The Walrus?

Every true Beatles fan knows about I Am the Walrus, the nonsense song that appeared as a B-side of "Hello Goodbye" and was also part of The Magical Mystery Tour TV movie.

At the end of the song, there is a whole dialogue which is very difficult to understand, but thanks to my new Philips Fidelio X1 headset, I managed to finally decipher the text.

I always thought it was John saying stuff about how Paul McCartney died in a bike accident in 1966 and which was later made infamous with the "Paul is Dead" myth. But careful listening to the remastered CD with a good headset reveals that it is actually part of a scene from William Shakespeare's King Lear.

The excerpt begins at Act IV, Sc vi,II lines 224-25,where the disguised Edgar talks to his estranged and maliciously blinded father the Earl of Gloucester: Edg: A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows."
Edgar then kills Oswald the steward of Goneril (who cries out "Slave, thou has't slain me").
Edgar describes the dead Oswald in words heard in the song's coda as a "serviceable villain."
Gloucester asks "What, is he dead?" and Edgar replies "Sit ye down father rest you.

Sunday 14 April 2013

The Beatles a third time on Thank Your Lucky Stars

 One week before the transmission on the ITV Network (Saturday 20 April) The Beatles went to Teddington Studios to record their third appearance on Thank Your Lucky Stars.

They mimed one song (From Me To You) and met Dave Clark Five, The Vernons Girls, Bert Weedon, and Del Shannon.

From Wikipedia: Thank Your Lucky Stars was a British television pop music show made by ABC Television, and broadcast on ITV from 1961 to 1966. Many of the top bands performed on it, and for millions of British teenagers it was essential viewing. As well as featuring British artists, American guests were frequent visitors.

It would appear from the surviving footage that the bands mimed their latest 45. Occasionally a band was allowed to do two numbers (possibly the ‘A’ and ‘B’ sides of the latest single), and if you were pop royalty like The Beatles or The Rolling Stones you could do four numbers.

Audience participation was a strong feature of Thank Your Lucky Stars, and the Spin-a-Disc section, where a guest DJ and three teenagers reviewed three singles, is a very well remembered feature of the show. Generally American singles were reviewed. It was on this section that Janice Nicholls appeared. She was a former office clerk from the English Midlands who became famous for the catchphrase "Oi'll give it foive" which she said with a strong Black Country accent. After she was dropped from the show she trained as a chiropodist and ran a practice in Hednesford in Staffordshire. Billy Butler was another reviewer[1] and dozens of teenagers had their fifteen minutes of fame on the show.

The Beatles second national television performance was on the programme, the first being on Tuesday Rendezvous on 4 December 1962.

The TYLS Merseyside specials are very fondly remembered and gained huge audiences.

Saturday 13 April 2013

The Beatles appear on The 625 Show

On April 13 1963 The Beatles went to the BBC to record their first national TV debut. The studios were located in Shepherd's Bush (Lime Grove) and the Fab Four rehearsed three times before taping their performance.

The name of the show was "The 625 show" (no relation to Jack Goods' 6.5 Special) and they played From Me To You, Thank You Girl and Please Please Me.


Afterwards they went to a party organised by Bruce Welch (born Bruce Cripps), the guitarist of The Shadows. There The Beatles met Cliff Richard for the first time.

Paul McCartney is the Richest Musician in the UK

Good news for Paul McCartney's accountant...for the 25th time he has been the richest musician of the UK.

The Sunday Times have revealed that Sir Paul has (together with his wife Nancy Shevell) a fortune of about 800,000,000 euro.

When The Sunday Times started the list, Paul McCartney was already top with 80,000,000 euro. This means he has now 10 times more money then in 1989.

Other people on the list are:

Andrew Lloyd-Weber
U2
Elton John
David & Victoria Beckham
Mick Jagger
Adele
On 13 April 1963, Please Please Me continued its climb on the Official UK Album Charts

 OFFICIAL UK ALBUM CHARTS 13 APRIL 1963


1. Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard and the Shadows (1)
2. Reminiscing - Buddy Holly (9)
3. Please Please Me - The Beatles (8)
4. All Star Festival - Various Artists (6)
5. Girls! Girls! Girls! - Elvis Presley (3)
6. Sinatra-Basie -Frank Sinatra and Count Basie (2)
7. West Side Story - Original Soundtrack (5)
8. I'll Remember You - Frank Ifield (4)

9. Out of the Shadows - Shadows (7)

10. South Pacific - Original Soundtrack (10)

Thursday 11 April 2013

It was 50 years ago today: The Beatles Live at Co-op Hall, Middleton

It was 50 years ago today: The Beatles Live at Co-op Hall, Middleton: Sorry if you found your way here by typing "Middleton" in Google and were hoping to find some nice pictures of Duchess Kate, but t...

The Beatles Live at Co-op Hall, Middleton

Sorry if you found your way here by typing "Middleton" in Google and were hoping to find some nice pictures of Duchess Kate, but this is about the only time that The Beatles played a concert in Middleton, Lancashire.

On Thursday 11 April 1963 they appeared at the Co-operative Hall (better known by the locals as Co-op Hall) in Middleton.

They played for an audience of 300 crazed boys and girls, and the Middleton Guardian wrote a nice story about it. Some of it sounds a bit weird, like their claim that John and Paul were actually living next door to each other.

But when the article tries to explain why they are so popular, they are spot-on: "Perhaps one of the reasons for their success is the fact that most of their work is completely original and they seem to have an almost inexhaustible supply of new material"