Sunday, January 31, 2010

Starr Time

A few random Ringo clips from early 1970.

First, an audio recording of a press conference held at Los Angeles International Airport January 26th. Ringo was visiting the US to promote The Magic Christian and appear on Rowan And Martin's Laugh-In:


Here are some excerpts from his Laugh-In appearance, videotaped January 27th in beautiful downtown Burbank, and aired February 23rd on NBC:


Ringo also appeared on Frost On Sunday March 29th to introduce the promo clip for the title track of his new LP, Sentimental Journey:


The promo clip, directed by Neil Aspinall, had been filmed at the Talk Of The Town nightclub on March 15th:

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Budokan '66



Liquid Recordings, 1984

A clear vinyl reissue of an Audifon title from 1981 which upgraded the so-called "white suits" Tokyo concert of July 1st, 1966.

- Rock And Roll Music
- She's A Woman
- If I Needed Someone
- Day Tripper
- Baby's In Black
- I Feel Fine

- Yesterday
- I Wanna Be Your Man
- Nowhere Man
- Paperback Writer
- I'm Down

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Frisco Inferno



On August 31st, 1965, The Beatles concluded their summer 1965 tour with two chaotic concerts at San Francisco's Cow Palace. News cameras caught up with them as they deplaned at the airport, far from the crowds.


After the first concert, they held a press conference on stage. Here's a composite recording of the event from multiple sources:


They also spoke with Cleveland DJ Jerry G. Bishop backstage before the hectic second performance.



After the shows, they unwound with singer Joan Baez and other visitors, including DJ Jim Stagg, who took the opportunity to chat with Paul and George.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Twickenham Jams



Smilin' Ears, 1977

Copied from three EPs: Twickenham Jams, Get Together, and Television Outtakes.

- Honey Hush
- Stand By Me
- Hare Krishna Mantra
- All Things Must Pass
- Fools Like Me
- You Win Again

- Slippin' And Slidin'
- All My Loving/She Loves You/I Want To Hold Your Hand/Yesterday
- Kenny Everett interview
- Nowhere To Go

Sunday, January 24, 2010

20 X 4



Ruthless Rhymes, 1977

Starts off shaky with 4 outfakes on side A, but does contain the bootleg debuts of the Abbey Road outtakes, Paul/Donovan tape and George/Paul Simon/Bob Dylan collaborations, along with other solo rarities.

- Oh! Darling
- Peace Of Mind
- Blackbird
- Things We Said Today
- Help!
- Every Little Thing
- Homecoming Queen

- Imagine
- I Love My Suit
- Bye Bye Love
- My Carnival
- Heather
- Her Majesty
- Nowhere To Go
- I'd Have You Anytime
- Bluebird/Mama's Little Girl/Michelle/Heart Of The Country
- Hi Hi Hi/C Moon radio spot

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Flip Your Wigg



David Wigg interviewed all four Beatles individually for BBC Radio's Scene And Heard several times between 1969 and 1973. His sole interview with Paul took place at Apple on September 19th, 1969. Portions of the raw tape were released on the 1976 LP The Beatles With David Wigg, but here is the original off-air broadcast, containing unreleased material:



Friday, January 22, 2010

Indian Rope Trick



Ruthless Rhymes, 1977

Must have blown a few minds when it was released, but it turned out that half the LP was other artists (The Fourmost, Ravi Shankar, Neil Innes) or half-channel outfakes ("It's Only Love", "Savoy Truffle", "Hey Bulldog"). The handful of radio and TV broadcasts would have been worthwhile, though.

- My Bonnie
- I Love You Too
- It's Only Love
- Spiritual Regeneration/Happy Birthday
- Frenzy And Distortion
- Savoy Truffle
- Hey Bulldog
- The Fool On The Hill

- I Am The Walrus
- Watching Rainbows
- Madman
- Mean Mr. Mustard
- All Things Must Pass
- Cheese And Onions
- Oriental Nightfish
- The Pirate Song

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Detroit Rock City



On September 6th, 1964, The Beatles visited Detroit, the city where most of their favorite music of the past year originated. After the first show at Olympia Stadium, a press conference took place backstage:


They were also interviewed by various reporters and DJ's from local station WKNR-AM:


Here's some great silent footage from Olympia Stadium, including a bit of the opening act The Exciters:



Finally, some extras from WKNR's coverage:


Wednesday, January 20, 2010

From Us To You, A Parlophone Rehearsal Session



Ruthless Rhymes, 1978

Not an EMI rehearsal, but the BBC session tapes from the July 17th, 1964 recording of From Us To You. This 10" LP was the first appearance of the material, which still hasn't been upgraded 32 years later (although the source tape is available on CD).

- From Us To You
- Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey!
- Long Tall Sally
- If I Fell
- Boys
- I'm Happy Just To Dance With You

- I Should Have Known Better
- Things We Said Today
- A Hard Day's Night
- From Us To You

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Good Old Uncle Joe



Here are a few recordings of John promoting and reading pieces from his second book, A Spaniard In The Works, in 1965.

June 16:

June 18:


July 30:

Monday, January 18, 2010

The Deccagone Sessions



Smilin' Ears, 1977

8 Decca audition cuts lifted from singles, with BBC Radio performances and other filler.

- Searchin'
- Like Dreamers Do
- Three Cool Cats
- Hello Little Girl
- How Do You Do It
- "Get Off!"
- Crying, Waiting, Hoping
- The Honeymoon Song
- Nothin' Shakin' (But The Leaves On The Trees)

- Love Of The Loved
- Memphis, Tennessee
- September In The Rain
- The Sheik Of Araby
- Revolution
- Some Other Guy
- So How Come (No One Loves Me)
- I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You)
- A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues

Friday, January 15, 2010

Essen Press Conference



By request from a reader who was there, here is The Beatles' press conference in Essen, West Germany, on June 25th, 1966:


Thursday, January 14, 2010

Rough Notes



POD, 1980

A decent mix of new tracks (George's rough mixes, the One Hand Clapping, From Us To You, and Nagra recordings), upgrades ("I'll Be On My Way"), and outfakes ("I Want You (She's So Heavy)", "I Need You" and "Honey Don't").

- Band On The Run
- I Want You (She's So Heavy)
- I Need You
- One After 909
- Two Of Us
- I'll Be On My Way
- This Boy
- Please Mr. Postman

- Ding Dong, Ding Dong
- Dark Horse
- Roll It Over
- Yesterday/Bridge Over Troubled Water/Rock Island Line
- Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five
- Wild Life
- Honey Don't
- From Us To You

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

John Jagger, Paul MaCharmley, George Parasol, and Ringo Stone



On July 28th, 1964, The Beatles flew from London to Stockholm, Sweden. Before deplaning at Arlanda Airport, they spoke with their old pal Klas Burling:



A few hours later, a press conference was held at the Hotel Foresta.

The Beatles were in a silly mood that day, as evidenced by this TV interview with Torsten Ljungstedt:


And then there is this piece of lunacy:



Four chaotic concerts were performed at the Johanneshovs Isstadion over the next two days. Here's some audience noise and introductions from one of them (most likely the first show on the 28th).


Finally, Klas Burling taped a lengthy interview with Paul on the 29th, as well as brief chats and record requests from Ringo, George, and John.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Munich At Least



ZAP, 1976

Another of the "Amendment" compilations, featuring Hollywood Bowl on shuffle play and the Munich TV broadcast.

- Can't Buy Me Love
- If I Fell
- I Want To Hold Your Hand
- Twist And Shout
- You Can't Do That
- All My Loving
- Long Tall Sally

- Rock And Roll Music
- Baby's In Black
- I Feel Fine
- Yesterday
- Nowhere Man
- I'm Down

Monday, January 11, 2010

Cue The Clap NOW!



Following the marathon "White Album" sessions in 1968, George and Pattie Harrison flew to Los Angeles on October 16th. The next seven weeks in the US were an extremely happy and productive time for George, as he spent time producing and playing on Jackie Lomax's solo LP Is This What You Want?

While in California, George dropped by underground Pasadena radio station KPPC-FM on November 4th and sat in for a lengthy interview with Don Hall and Charles Laquidara:


Likewise, George taped a promo for KHJ-AM to promote the US release of the film Yellow Submarine:


On November 12th, during a session for the Lomax LP at Sound Recorders Studios, Bernie Krause introduced George to the wonders of the Moog III synthesizer. Their synth experiments that evening were released as "No Time Or Space", a track on George's 1969 LP Electronic Sound.


On the 13th, George, Pattie, and Mal Evans visited Frank Sinatra in a Hollywood studio, where Sinatra was recording his Cycles LP. Two days later, George popped up at CBS-TV Studios to make a guest appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour:



Later that month (possibly the 21st), George was at Wally Heider Studios to contribute a rhythm guitar performance to Cream's next single, "Badge" (co-written by George and Eric Clapton, with help from Ringo).


George flew to New York for Thanksgiving, where he spent time in Woodstock hanging out with Bob Dylan and members of The Band. On the 30th, he and Tiny Tim taped a memorable contribution to The Beatles' Sixth Christmas Record:


George and Pattie flew back to London on December 6th.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Sweet Apple Trax Volume 2



CBM, 1974

- Let It Be
- She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
- Be-Bop-A-Lula
- She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
- Hi-Heel Sneakers

- I Me Mine
- I've Got A Feeling
- One After 909
- Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
- She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

- La Penina
- Shakin' In The Sixties
- Move It/Good Rockin' Tonight
- Across The Universe
- Two Of Us

- "Ramblin' Woman"
- I Threw It All Away
- Mama, You Been On My Mind
- I Me Mine
- Domino

Saturday, January 9, 2010

San Diego Press Conference



Not much to say about this one; by request, from August 28th, 1965:


Friday, January 8, 2010

Sweet Apple Trax Volume 1



CBM, 1974

One of two double album sets released simultaneously, featuring the first samples of the massive cache of Nagra "Get Back" session reels.

- Tennessee
- Across The Universe
- House Of The Rising Sun
- "Commonwealth"
- "Enoch Powell"
- "Get Off"

- "Get Off!"
- Honey Hush
- For You Blue
- Let It Be

- Get Back
- Don't Let Me Down
- Two Of Us
- Baa Baa Blacksheep
- Don't Let Me Down

- Suzy Parker
- I've Got A Feeling
- Get Back

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Your Story Has Become Tiresome



Norddeutscher Rundfunk radio correspondent Dieter Bröer conducted at least two Beatle-related interviews in 1964. On March 31st, scenes for A Hard Day's Night were being filmed at the Scala Theatre in London. Dieter was there to chat with fans outside the venue, and talk briefly with Paul:

Dieter and Paul


A few months later (most likely July 11th), Bröer was able to interview Paul, George, and Ringo at the London Hilton. Portions of the interview were included on a 5" flexi-disc included with OK Magazine in November, 1965 (including a segment of the March interview with Paul). Here is the full 10+ minute recording:


Wednesday, January 6, 2010

On Stage In Japan



TAKRL, 1974

First issue of the June 30th, 1966 Tokyo concert. One of the better sounding bootlegs of the early 1970s.

- Rock And Roll Music
- She's A Woman
- If I Needed Someone
- Day Tripper
- Baby's In Black
- I Feel Fine

- Yesterday
- I Wanna Be Your Man
- Nowhere Man
- Paperback Writer
- I'm Down

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Girl Reporter Miranda Ward



On September 13th, 1967, The Beatles were on location in Newquay filming Magical Mystery Tour. BBC Radio dispatched Miranda Ward to the Atlantic Hotel where the crew was based, and she recorded a long interview with George for Radio 1's Scene And Heard.

The first portion of the interview was transmitted September 30th, on the inaugural day of Radio 1 programming. Much of this was re-aired in 1988 on The Beeb's Lost Beatles Tapes, but I've reinstated missing portions from a recent TV interview with Miranda. The second segment was aired October 7th, and only survives from a fair-quality off-line recording. Here are both segments:


On September 14th, Miranda chatted with Ringo at the Atlantic Hotel. Here's an excerpt from that interview, originally aired on Scene And Heard October 14th:



Monday, January 4, 2010

Get Back Sessions



Slipped Disc, 1979

A copy of an early TMOQ bootleg, with stereo cuts from Kum Back and mono copies of "One After 909" and "Dig It".

- Get Back
- The Walk
- Let It Be
- One After 909
- Teddy Boy
- Two Of Us

- Don't Let Me Down
- I've Got A Feeling
- The Long And Winding Road
- Dig It
- For You Blue
- Dig A Pony
- Get Back

Sunday, January 3, 2010

W-A-Beatle-C



On August 13th, 1965, The Beatles returned to New York City to begin their second North American tour:


As with their previous visits, the New York radio stations competed fiercely to gain access to the group, with round-the-clock coverage. WABC (AM 770) staked out a place at the Warwick Hotel where the group was staying:



The Beatles' first task was the usual press conference; being the first of the tour it was heavily attended by radio, newsreel, TV, and print outlets. Here is a composite recording of the conference from multiple sources:



After the conference, WABC's Dan Ingram and Cousin Bruce Morrow (above) broadcast live interviews from the Beatle suite, presenting the group with "Orders Of The All-American Medals":


Saturday, January 2, 2010

Live Concert At Wiskey Flats



Whiskey Records, 1971

Not "Wiskey Flats", of course, but the first appearance of the Philadelphia concert of September 2nd, 1964:

- Twist And Shout
- You Can't Do That
- All My Loving
- She Loves You
- Things We Said Today
- Roll Over Beethoven

- Can't Buy Me Love
- If I Fell
- I Want To Hold Your Hand
- Boys
- A Hard Day's Night
- Long Tall Sally

Friday, January 1, 2010

Like An Art That's Oh So True

Back in 1964 Art Schreiber was news director at KYW-AM in Cleveland, which was owned by the Westinghouse Broadcast Network. Schreiber often doubled as national correspondent for Westinghouse, covering high‑profile stories and rubbing elbows with the day's biggest newsmakers.

During his career Schreiber filed radio reports on the presidential bid of John F. Kennedy, Kennedy's funeral, and Lyndon Johnson's rise to the presidency. He covered NASA and the first manned space flights. He reported on race riots in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami and he covered Martin Luther King Jr.'s march from Selma to Montgomery and James Meredith's march through Mississippi for voting rights.

That he got the Beatles assignment was something of a fluke. A competing radio station had won a sponsorship bid to bring the Beatles to Cleveland as part of the band's tour. To avoid getting lost in the roiling dust cloud of Beatlemania, Schreiber suggested that he be placed on the band's tour as the national correspondent for the Westinghouse Broadcast Network. The network's Washington bureau chief hated the idea, insisting that Schreiber cover the national Democratic convention in Atlantic City.

"He told me a serious newsman can't lower himself to cover the Beatles," Schreiber said. "I told him it's a sociological phenomenon and we ought to do it." Schreiber also assured him he could manage both assignments.

Westinghouse Network officials gave Schreiber the go‑ahead. He joined the Beatles entourage in New York, straight from the Democratic convention, missing only a few of the tour stops. He remained with the Beatles for the better part of a month and got to know each of them personally.

"John Lennon and I sat together on the chartered plane almost every night," Schreiber said. "When John found out I traveled with Kennedy and King, he couldn't get over it and kept wanting to talk about politics and religion and what was happening in America. He was an intellectual."

When not deep in conversation with Schreiber, Lennon and Paul McCartney passed sheets of paper back and forth as they crafted songs. "The floor of the plane was just littered with the stuff," Schreiber said. "I could have picked up those scraps and they'd be worth big money today."

Among his fondest memories are nightly Monopoly games he played with Lennon and George Harrison. "When we'd arrive at a hotel, I'd no more sooner get in my room and the phone would ring and it would be John Lennon. He'd say, 'Art, where are you; we're waiting.' So I'd go to his room and he and George would be sitting there at the Monopoly board. John always stood up to shake the dice and roll. He wanted so badly to get Park Place and Boardwalk. He could stand to lose the game, as long as when he lost he had Park Place and Boardwalk."

Harrison was true to his reputation as the quiet Beatle. He was preoccupied with acquiring the B&O Railroad. "I asked him why he wanted the B&O so badly, and he never did tell me. He never did tell me much of anything. We'd play until sunrise, and I'd be falling asleep at the table, and John would poke me and say, 'one more game, Art.' During this whole time George would say practically nothing."

Sleeping late was out of the question for Schreiber, who had to file fifteen radio spots each day. His reports focused on all manner of things Beatle: what they had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; how the crowd and individual fans reacted to them at concerts; how the security was managed; interviews with local DJs who aired Beatles music; and near daily interviews with the Beatles themselves.

He also reported on the assortment of things that fans threw on stage during the Beatles' shows. Airborne projectiles included cakes, jelly beans, various articles of clothing--particularly women's undergarments--and pieces of jewelry.

[Source: http://nfb.org/legacy/bm/bm03/bm0310/BM031013.htm]

Here are some of Art's interviews from the 1964 tour:

Cleveland, September 15th

New Orleans, September 16th

Flight to New York, September 20th

Flight to New York #2

New York, September 21st

New York #2

Tour report