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Beatles connection storeBeatles Connections: Movies, Books, Music

Movies, books, and music for adults and children with a Beatles connection. Our Amazon.com shop illustrates and offers such items as:

  • The Beatles Complete Scores - A fitting tribute to possibly the greatest pop band ever - The Beatles. This outstanding hard-cover edition features over 1100 pages with full scores and lyrics to all 210 titles recorded by The Beatles. Guitar and bass parts are in both standard notation and tablature. Also includes a full discography.
  • A Hard Days Night and Yellow Submarine movies on DVD.
  • The Official Price Guide to The Beatles Records and Memorabilia - including CD and record listings (artist compilations, singles, EPs, and LPs from Meet The Beatles! to Abbey Road), bubble gum cards, lunch boxes, key chains, movie posters, toys, underwear, drum kits, hairspray, wigs, and much more!

Beatles FAQ - Table of Contents

Beatles FAQ

Who Are the Fab Four? The Fab Four (Beatles) were:

  • John Lennon (born Liverpool: Oct. 9, 1940; murdered in New York City: Dec. 8, 1980)
    - founded group March 1957
  • Paul McCartney (born Liverpool: June 18, 1942)
    - joined July 1957
  • George Harrison (born Liverpool: Feb. 25, 1943; died in Los Angeles: Nov. 29, 2001)
    - joined Feb. 1958
  • Ringo Starr (born Richard Starkey in Liverpool: July 7, 1940)
    - played with Beatles as early as Oct. 15, 1960 in Germany; replaced Pete Best Aug. 16, 1962

The Beatles disbanded in 1971 and the members followed their separate careers.

Who Were The Drummers Before (and Fill In For) Ringo Starr?

The group had high turn over of drummers; between drummers, Paul McCartney played drums. Known drummers include:

  1. Tommy Moore - recruited by the drummerless group for a brief tour to northeast Scotland, injured in a motor vehicle accident on return trip and left band
  2. Norman Chapman - after a few weeks, drafted into Army
  3. Pete Best - recruited in Aug. 1960; played on tour to Germany; replaced by Ringo Starr Aug 16, 1962
  4. Andy WHite - session drummer for 2nd EMI recording session, Sept. 11, 1962
  5. Jimmy Nicol - 1964 filled in when Ringo was sick

    6. Who Else Were Early Members of the Group?

    In the early days, members continually joined and left the lineup. Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison emerged as the only constant members. Lennon and McCartney both played rhythm guitar, Harrison played lead guitar, Stuart Sutcliffe (a classmate of Lennon at Liverpool Art College) played bass guitar from 1960 to 1961; when he left to pursue his interests in painting, Paul McCartney started playing bass guitar. Stuart Sutcliffe (the "5th Beatle") died of a brain hemorrhage in 1962.


    What other group names did the Beatles play as?

    In 1959, teenagers Paul, John, and George, beginning as the Blackjacks and then soon changing their name to the Quarrymen, were playing "skiffle" music and knocking off Buddy Holly tunes. [Skiffle was usually played with an acoustic guitar, a washboard, and a tea-chest one string double-bass. The broom-handle 'neck' was hinged and you played different notes by increasing/decreasing your pull on the neck to raise/lower the note - not a precision instrument. The washboard player would have thimbles on his fingers. Skiffle was 'developed' by a guy named Lonnie Donegan (http://www.harbour.sfu.ca/~hayward/van/glossary/skiffle.html) - thanks to Jon O'Brien for the skiffle details.] In rapid succession (according to various sources) Paul, John, and George became Johnny and the Moondogs, Long John and the Beatles, the Silver Beats, and then the Silver Beetles. Finally on August 17, 1960 (and still without Ringo, who joined in 1962) they took the name that would shape pop music for a generation - the Beatles. (They were also listed as the Beat Brothers when they played "My Bonnie" and "When the Saints" with Tony Sheridan in 1961.)


    What Beatles Albums Were Released in Other Countries?

    The early Beatles (vinyl) LP albums were often released in different versions in different countries. Since countries also differed in the number of songs on an album (typically, 14 in the UK, 12 in the USA), this also meant that additional albums had to be released to collect the "missing" songs. As the Beatles music matured, the albums became cohesive wholes and the trend shifted to worldwide release in the same form. When the vinyl versions were rereleased in CD format, they were typically released in the original United Kingdom (UK) format as they were originally created. The USA and UK versions of vinyl and CD albums are detailed in my Beatles CD and Album List. The versions released in other countries are gathered (additions appreciated) in my International Beatles Album List.


    What are Those Famous Last Words?

    • "We don't like their sound and guitar music is on the way out" - Decca Records rejecting the Beatles, 1962

    Are the Beatles recognized on Postage Stamps?

    Yes, the Beatles have been recognized by United States Postal Service with the "Yellow Submarine" postage stamp, the United Kingdom is issuing 10 Beatles related stamps in 2007, and the Isle of Man (my ancestral homeland) issued (July 1, 2002) a set of 6 stamps designed by Paul McCartney. Many other countries have issued stamps (with varying degrees of legitimacy) illustrating or honoring the Beatles.

    • Royal Mail (United Kingdom) is recognizing the contributions of the Beatles on January 9, 2007 with a set of 6 stamps illustrating their record albums as well as a souvenir sheet of 4 stamps commemorating Beatles memorabilia. These stamps are being issued 50 years after John Lennon and Paul McCartney met and may be ordered from Royal Mail.
      [UK Beatles album stamps] UK Beatles album stamps
      UK Beatles memorabilia souvenir sheet [UK Beatles memorabilia souvenir sheet]

    • The United States Postal Service recognized the contributions of the Beatles in the "Celebrate the Century" (1960's decade sheet) with a Yellow Submarine postage stamp on September 17, 1999. This subject was selected by popular vote of the American citizens at post offices around the country. Relive that movie experience with the Yellow Submarine Video from Amazon.Com
      [caption] Celebrate the Century series [stamp]

    • The Isle of Man Postal Bureau issued a set of 6 [stamp] [stamp] stamps which were illustrated and described in Linn's Stamp News in the March 11, 2002 issue on page 1. These stamps were designed by Sir Paul McCartney to support the "Adopt-A-Minefield" campaign to remove hazardous landmines from battlefields around the world. These stamps also commemorate Paul McCartney's happy recollections of a visit to the Isle of Man as a child on vacation. To the left is the presentation pack cover for the stamp set entitled "Happy Memories of the Isle of Man" and to the right is one of the stamps from the upcoming set. (as these images were scanned from the Linn's Stamp News newspaper, they show traces of the text on the reverse side of the paper and do not do justice to the actual artwork)

      The difficulty for collectors, however, is that many other "Beatles stamps" are simply limited edition unauthorized "labels" issued by speculators to take money from Beatles fans. Many are not postally valid stamps (are unauthorized), do not even come from stamp issuing countries, or are issued for collectors rather than to carry mail. Perhaps a fair rule of thumb is that any labels advertised as being limited, highly expensive, or certain to grow rapidly in value are to be avoided. The Beatles were well known before any of these "stamps" were issued so the quantities issued, if indeed they come from legitimate postal services, should be sufficient to prevent any huge increases in value. Ideally the stamps should also be issued by countries that have a connection to the subject of the stamp. Countries honoring Paul McCartney or the Beatles include Belgium, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Dominica, Sao Tome and Principe, and Tanzania. The Beatles have not been directly illustrated on the stamps of the United States or many other countries because of national prohibitions against honoring living people (except their monarchs) or commercial enterprises on postage stamps. These rules however are changing. The United Kingdom is showing living Beatles on their 2007 stamps. Australia began allowing illustration of living people on their stamps in 1996 and issued stamps honoring their Olympic Gold Medalists in Utah while the games were still in process. The United States has recently issued many stamps illustrating clearly recognizable commercial products including cartoon characters, crayons, TV shows, and motor vehicles. As illustrated below, the Beatles are mentioned by name on the reverse side of the United States "Yellow Submarine" stamp. There are also a number of United States stamps that "inadvertently" illustrated living people because they were models for paintings or present in historical photographs (for instance, in wartime). These stamps, however, were not issued for the purpose of recognizing those specific individuals.


    • Partial listing of Beatles Stamps and Labels (via the Beatles Stamp Site: http://www.geocities.com/Lunardig17/Beatles_Stampsindex.html). As noted above, the listings that follow are not necessarily actual valid postage stamps. Refer to a Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue to determine which of these are actually real postage stamps.
      • Republic of Abkhazia
        • sheetlet : John Lennon & Groucho Marx issued in1994
        • sheet of 12 stamps : 1 of John Lennon issued in 1995
        • John Lennon : 1 sheet of 9 stamps
      • Angola: Sheet of 14 stamps : one stamp of J. Lennon + B. Marley )
      • Antigua Barbuda
        • John Lennon : sheets of 16 stamps : entitled " Rock & Roll Legends "
        • John lennon : 1 stamp in a series with 7 others ( J. Wayne, R. Hudson, J. Garland, O. Wells etc)
      • Australia: John Lennon : Joint Issue with UK : Bicentury 1788-1988 set of 4 stamps x 2
      • Azerbayjan: John Lennon : sheet with 16 stamps - "Rock & Roll Legends" issued in 1995
      • Batum: The Beatles : 4 Stamps , John , Paul , George & Ringo
      • Belgium: The Beatles : 1 stamp on a sheet of 20 stamps : 1st serie : "Le tour du 20ième siècle en 80 timbres" (issued Dec 4, 1999)
      • Republic of Buriata :
        • sheet of 8 stamps with 2 of :- Paul McCartney & Linda with the Band :
        • Paul McCartney with band
      • Burkina Faso :
        • John Lennon : 2 stamps
        • The Beatles : 1 stamp : "les Années Showbizz" issued in 1995
        • Elvis Presley stamp with the Beatles in the background ( Still Missing !! )
      • Republic of Burundi: John Lennon : sheet of 4 stamps : 1 of John Lennon
      • Central-Africa: The Beatles : one sheet called "Evenements du XXième sciècle 1970-1980"
      • Chuvashia: The Beatles : one sheet of 12 Beatles Stamps
      • Gagauzia Moldova: The Beatles : 1 stamp in a serie of 10 stamps
      • Germany: John Lennon : 1 stamp in a serie of 4 stamps (B Holly ,E Presley & J Morrison) issued 1988 (artist Graschberger ) (1 stamp left over)
      • Ghana: John Lennon : - sheet of 16 stamps - "Rock & Roll Legends"
      • Gibraltar: John Lennon: sheet of 10 stamps of John & 2 John & Yoko: Issued March 20,1999
      • Guinea: The Beatles : a sheet with one stamp of the Beatles , the sheet is called "evenements du 20ième sciècle"
      • Guyana: John Lennon : sheet of 16 stamps: "Rock & Roll legends"
      • Hungary: sheet of 2 stamps " in Memoriam " : John Lennon & M. Monroe" limited to 2000 pieces
      • Karelia: The Beatles : 1 Sheet of 12 stamps
      • Karjala: sheet of 9 stamps of The Beatles
      • Komi: sheet of 2 stamps on the Beatles
      • Kyrgystan :
        • The Beatles - sheet of 6 stamps : "Beatles in doorway"
        • The Beatles - "Millenium" sheet
      • Laos :
        • The Beatles : - Sheet of 6 stamps of which 3 of the Beatles
        • John Lennon: - 3 Sheets depicting John Lennon with each 1 stamp of the Beatles
      • Republic of Madagasikara :
        • John Lennon & E. Fitzgerald : - 1 stamp issued in 1994
        • 1 sheet of 4 stamps of John Lennon issued in 1996
      • Republic of Malagasy: John lennon & Sammy David Jr : 2 stamps issued in1991.
      • Maldives: John Lennon - sheet of 6 stamps : "Rock & Roll legends"
      • Mali :
        • John Lennon : - sheet of 9 stamps issued in 1996
        • The Beatles & John Lennon : 1 stamp issued in 1999
      • Nicaragua: John Lennon : 1 stamp issued in 1995
      • Niger: John Lennon issued 1996
      • Palau: John Lennon : sheet of 16 stamps - "Rock & Roll legends" issued Dec 8, 1995
      • St Vincent: John Lennon : sheet of 9 stamps
      • St Vincent & the Grenadines: John Lennon : - sheet of 9 stamps : " 100th Anniversary of Cinema"
      • Sao Tome E Principe :
        • The Beatles : 4 stamps : John , Paul , George & Ringo issued on 19th Nov 1996
        • John Lennon : sheet " Happy Birthday Elvis " , with1 stamp of John Lennon & 7 others
      • Republic of Somalia: The Beatles :& Queen mom "Celebrates the Century" issued in 1999
      • Republic of Somaliland :
        • sheet of 4 stamps : Paul McCartney & Lady Diana in pink frame
        • sheet of 6 stamps : 1 stamp with Paul McCartney & Lady Diana in blue frame
      • Tanzania
        • John Lennon : - sheet of 9 stamps issued in 1999
        • Paul McCartney : 1 stamp
        • Sheet of 9 stamps : 5 Beatles stamps plus 1 Harrison, 1 Starr, 1 McCartney & 1 Lennon stamp
      • Republic of Tchad (Chad)
        • The Beatles : - 1 stamp issued in 1996
        • sheet of 9 stamps of John , Paul , George & Ringo and Pete issued in 1996
        • John Lennon : - sheet of 9 stamps issued in 1996
        • 4 stamps : J. Lennon , P. McCartney , G. Harrison & R. Starr
      • Republic of Tuba :
        • John Lennon : - sheet of 4 stamps
        • The Beatles : - Sheet of 10 stamps with 2 stamps on The Beatles issued in 1995
        • sheet " Love " with 4 stamps : John , Paul , George & Ringo
      • Republic of Turkmenistan
        • sheet of 9 stamps with 1 on The Beatles : " Events & People of the 20th century issued in 1998
        • sheet of 9 stamps " In Paris "
        • sheet of 9 stamps : " Millenium 2000 " : 1 stamp on The Beatles
        • sheet of 9 stamps : " Icons of the 20th Century : 1 stamp on The Beatles
        • "The diner" : 1 stamp on John Lennon.
      • Tadjikistan: sheet of 9 stamps on the Beatles
      • United Kingdom
        • John Lennon : - 3 stamps Local post in Runcorn issued on October 8, 1996
        • joint issue with the Australian bicentury 1788-1988 , set of 4 stamps x2
        • Beatles album cover stamps 2007, set of 6 stamps
        • Beatles memorabilia souvenir sheet 2007, set of 4 stamps
      • United States of America: Yellow Submarine (The Beatles : "Celebrate the Century series : 1960's" issued September 17, 1999)
      • Zaire ( Republic of Congo )
        • John Lennon : - sheet of 9 stamps
        • 1 John Lennon stamp in sheet with 8 other artists
        • 1 stamp issued in 1997

    How Well are Beatles Albums Selling Now?

    • Beatles Anthologies 1 and 2 sold 13,000,000 copies in one year in the middle 1990's and the back list sold 6,000,000 copies that year. Those sales were better than during the Beatles peak of popularity during the 1960's according to CNN!

    Which CD is a Beatles Song On?


    Who Composed a Beatles Song?

    • My Beatles complete alphabetical CD song list identified the composer of the song as well. The Beatles are identified by the initial of their last names and other composers have their last name written out in full (item #38 lists how many each wrote).

    When Was a Beatles Album Released in the U.S.A.?


    What On-line Sources are there for Beatles Information?


    Where Did The Beatles Records Reach in the Charts?

    • "The Beatles on Record" by Mark Wallgren published by Simon and Schuster in 1982 lists 250 records (45's, LP's, rereleases) by the Beatles as a group and as solo artists together with the numbers the albums and songs reached in the music industry charts.

    Beatles LP List

    Where Can I Find Lyrics to Beatles Songs?

    • Try searching on-line systems (Alta Vista, HotBot, WebCrawler) by entering a line from the song. These Web Search engines can be reached through my home page. I am most successful when I enter a series of words (in quotes) that I remember from the song. Typically I find half a dozen hits.
    • Beatles Complete Scores book (available from Amazon)
    • I don't list (or support) specific comprehensive web sites because they never last very long; they typically are closed down because they violate the artist's copyright on their music.

    Where Can I Download Beatles Songs?

    • I don't list (or support) specific comprehensive web sites because they never last very long; they typically are closed down because they violate the artist's copyright on their music.

    Where Can I Find Sheet Music for Beatles Songs?

    • Try a local music store
    • Beatles Complete Scores book (available from Amazon)
    • For guitar tab music, check out http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/tab.html (when you get there type in "Beatles") -- this information was provided by smc.

    Where Can I Find Out the $$ Value of Old Beatles Records?

    OFFICIAL PRICE GUIDE TO THE BEATLES: RECORDS AND MEMORABILIA
    [cover]
    from Amazon.Com at 20% discount

    • I have not yet seen Beatles record appraisals or pricing on-line. However, there are MANY record pricing books available in bookstores. I'd suggest that you look for one when you are next browsing to check your favorite records. Of course you can ASK any price for something, the real issue is the price it SELLS for (check auctions at ebay to see whether your album is selling there).

      GOLDMINE RECORD ALBUM PRICE GUIDE
      [cover]
      from Amazon.Com at 20% discount

    • As an example, I attach a record pricing sample for "Introducing the Beatles" (Vee Jay records) from: Goldman's Price Guide to Collectible Record Albums 1950-1979 by Neal Umphred (o) 1991, Krause Publications, Iola, WI. These prices are for mint condition copies, good copies are about 50% of listed price and fair copies are about 25% of listed price. Other pricing guides show lower prices ($30 to $50) for the most common versions; I bought a fair copy at a used record store for $2 a few years ago. Recently, on a business trip to Dallas, I saw a framed copy of "Introducing the Beatles" on sale for $150. Finally many counterfeits of the Vee Jay albums exist! Also, note the number of versions of the album and the details required to establish which version is being priced.

      1. VJLP-1062 (Mono) $ 2,000 ----------- VJSR-1062 (Part Stereo) $ 4,000 (year 1963)

        with "Love Me Do" and "PS I Love You", black label with a rainbow border and oval logo. The cover has "Printed In U.S.A." in the lower left corner. The back cover has ads for 25 other albums.

      2. VJLP-1062 (Mono) $ 1,000 ----------- VJSR-1062 (Part Stereo) $ 2,000 (year 1963)

        with "Love Me Do" and "PS I Love You", black label with a rainbow border. The back cover is blank.

      3. VJLP-1062 (Mono) $ 350 (year 1963)

        with "Love Me Do" and "PS I Love You", black label with a rainbow border and oval logo. The back cover lists the songs in 2 columns.

      4. VJLP-1062 (Mono) $ 400 (year 1963)

        with "Love Me Do" and "PS I Love You", black label with a rainbow border and brackets logo. The back cover lists the songs in 2 columns.

      5. VJLP-1062 (Mono) $ 250 ----------- VJSR-1062 (Stereo) $ 1,000 (year 1964)

        with "Please Please Me" and "Ask Me Why", black label with a rainbow border and "Vee Jay" logo in an oval. The back cover lists the songs in 2 columns.

      6. VJLP-1062 (Mono) $ 200 ----------- VJSR-1062 (Stereo) $ 900 (year 1964)

        with "Please Please Me" and "Ask Me Why", black label with a rainbow border and "VJ" logo in brackets. The back cover lists the songs in 2 columns.

      7. VJLP-1062 (Mono) $ 250 ----------- VJSR-1062 (Stereo) $ 1,000 (year 1964)

        with "Please Please Me" and "Ask Me Why". Solid black label with plain "VJ" logo. The back cover lists the songs in 2 columns.

      8. VJLP-1062 (Mono) $ 250 (year 1964)

        with "Please Please Me" and "Ask Me Why". Solid black label with a "VJ" logo in an oval. The back cover lists the songs in 2 columns.

      9. VJLP-1062 (Mono) $ 300 (year 1964)

        with "Please Please Me" and "Ask Me Why". Solid black label with a "VJ" logo in brackets. The back cover lists the songs in 2 columns.

    GOLDMINE PRICE GUIDE TO 45 RPM RECORDS from Amazon.Com at 20% discount [cover]
    [cover] GOLDMINE PROMO RECORD & CD PRICE GUIDE from Amazon.Com at 20% discount
    OFFICIAL PRICE GUIDE TO RECORDS : 2000 from Amazon.Com at 20% discount [cover]

    What is the Vee Jay recording company?

    • Vee Jay records was the US company that released the "Introducing the Beatles" album before Capitol picked up the Beatles. Later in an effort to get more record sales they packaged a Four Seasons album and "Introducing the Beatles" in a double album cover and called it "The Beatles vs. the Four Seasons". Most (or all?) of the "Introducing the Beatles" songs were then released by Capitol much later on the album "The Early Beatles" which has the photograph used on the "Nowhere Man" 45.

    Where Can I Sell Beatles Souvenirs?

    • Post a message on the Beatles web sites listed above, use Web search engines to find people with similar interests (such as Alta Vista, Hot Bot, WebCrawler), visit a Beatles convention, or contact Pepperland at Irving Mall, Dallas Texas. The best location, however, is probably to use the online auction: eBay.com

    What Beatles Album was first released with a cover showing the Beatles as Butchers?

    • "Yesterday... And Today (Capitol (S)T 2553) was released June 15, 1966 (with Butcher Cover) and then after complaints the cover was quickly replaced on June 20, 1966 (with steamer trunk cover). Album release information is available through My Beatles complete album list with dates and song list.

    Do you knew anything about "My Bonnie" and "Ain't She Sweet" by The Beatles & Tony Sheridan?

    • Very early in their career, the Beatles played backup for Tony Sheridan in Hamburg, Germany. Recordings of "Ain't She Sweet" and "My Bonnie" were included. The album has been released by several different record companies with many different titles. On CD it is called "Early Tapes". You can see the other songs on the album at by checking My Beatles complete album list with dates and songs.

    What is the Story Behind "The Amazing Beatles" Album produced by Clarion Records?

    • The AMAZING BEATLES album is another release of the Tony Sheridan material that has appeared on half a dozen albums by various record labels. "The Beatles on Record" book published by Simon and Schuster in 1982 says of this album "Two years and 2 weeks after Atco originally released the AIN'T SHE SWEET album, a subsidiary label, Clarion, reissued the same recording. Changes in cover, title, and order of songs were made in a clear effort once more to induce unsuspecting Beatles fans into falling for the album. Issues just 2 months after MGM/Metro has attempted the same things, fortunately this record also failed to sell very well." (Charion 601 released October 17 1966)

    Who Plays Lead Guitar on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps?

    • According to the Macintosh Hypercard "Q & A - The Beatles" available on the Arizona Macintosh Users Group CD-ROM - The correct answer is ERIC CLAPTON.

    What song has a lyric like "Please don't wear red tonight, because red is the color that my baby wore...?

    • The Beatles song with "please don't wear red tonight...." is YES IT IS composed by Lennon and McCartney. It is available on the "Past Masters 1" CD; an earlier incomplete take is also available on the "Beatles Anthology 2" CD. Both are available in most record stores. My Beatles complete alphabetical CD song list will enable you to find the CD location of any song that you know the name of as well as telling the composer name.

    May I include your Beatles FAQ when I next update my Beatles links?

    • Certainly!

    You left a song out of your Complete Beatles CD Song List. I found the song "The Night Before" on Help.

    • If the song title starts with "The" or "A" check under the next word in the title as well.

    I am writing a report on the Beatles. What do you think makes the Beatles so special?

    • Many people say that the Beatles lead an evolution of popular music. They began with simple songs and outrageous haircuts that caught people's attention. Then each album became more innovative and complex in both the musical form and the lyrics. As fans first heard each album they were disappointed because it was not more of the same music that they loved, But the more they listened to the new albums, the more they loved them. Notice how many times people listen to the same album over and over. Notice also how many people can sing the words - how many Rolling Stones songs can you sing the words to? How many Rolling Stones lyrics speak to you? In this way the Beatles moved the standard of rock and roll from a simple music to an immortal complex music. I believe that this explains why at this instant my 8 year old daughter has just started playing a Beatles album again that was recorded 24 years before she was born! Music by other groups does not have the same immortal attraction.
    • Don't forget to check at your library - there are a variety of books written about the Beatles
    • The web sites that are referenced here also offer a lot of information about the Beatles

    How do I download the Beatles music?


    Are "Let It Be" or "Yellow Submarine" available on video?

    • Newsweek Magazine (May 24 1999, page 63) reported that the Yellow Submarine movie would be rereleased in the fall of 1999. It was finally rereleased September 14, 1999 (after nearly 30 years out of print) and can be ordered; see the link at the top of this page.
    • "Let It Be" is still not available at the moment. Used videos may be found occasionally for rent or even purchase in "specialty" stores.

    Who Broke Up The Beatles?

    • The Beatles break-up had many causes and volumes have been written about the subject - the truth depends on who is asked.
    • At the time, many Beatles fans blamed the break-up on the members' developing interest in their outside lives - especially Paul McCartney's marriage and the relationship between John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
    • The punishing schedule that the Beatles endured without vacations of concerts, writing music, recording songs, and filming movies certainly lead to exhaustion, burn out, and internal strife.
    • Each of the Beatles was recording solo albums and pursuing solo careers which suggested that a drift apart was inevitable as their artistic differences increased.
    • According to "The Complete Guide to the Music of the Beatles", Omnibus Press, London, 1994 by John Robertson, page 102-103: In mid-1969 "John Lennon told the others he was quitting the group." ... By mid-1970 when the Let It Be film "was released, McCartney had announced that he was leaving the group. Lennon's prior decision having been kept out of the media, he was promptly blamed for the break-up. By the end of 1970, Paul was suing the rest of the group in high court. As John Lennon put it, the dream was over."

    When were Paul and Linda were married? For how long?

    • Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman were married on March 12 1969 according to: "The Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock, and Soul" by Irwin Stambler, St Martin's Press, New York, 1989.
    • Linda Eastman, his wife, lover, and companion of 30 years died on April 17, 1998. They never spent a single night apart - except for one brief enforced absence - when Paul was in jail.

    What Are Bootleg Albums and Where Can I Find Out About Them?

    • Bootlegs are records that are created by unauthorized people. For example, if you tape recorded a Beatles concert and then made a record from it that would be a bootleg. Bootlegs in the past were a source of early copies of Beatles songs before they were released. When I was in college in 1970, for instance, I heard a bootleg record with a very muffled version of "Across the Universe" that was not yet available on any Beatles record. These albums were often in blank record covers and they had no label name because they were illegal copies of recordings.
    • The (legal) Capital "Beatles Rarities" vinyl album was later released to try to capture fans interest in other versions of the Beatles songs. More recently of course, the Live at the BBC and "Beatles Anthology Albums 1, 2, and 3" also offered official copies of the previously unreleased versions of songs.

    (in short) Where Can I Find A Beatles Covers List?

    The Beatles music has been incredibly popular and their songs have been rerecorded (covered) by many groups. Last time I checked, Yesterday was the most popular song for groups to record (The Beatles Covers lists about 120 versions). The Beatles (typically Lennon-McCartney) also wrote some songs for other groups which they never released themselves. For example, I Don't Want to See You Again was written for, and recorded by, Peter and Gordon as Paul McCartney explains at the beginning of the recording. These "Beatles songs" never recorded by the Beatles are merged into the The Beatles Covers (alphabetical by song title) list but are listed separately in the The Compleat Beatles Covers (alphabetical by group) list. Both lists are somewhat dated as they were last amended in 1998 and 2000 respectively. Nevertheless, they do capture a tremendous number of the "classic" cover recordings of Beatles songs. The Compleat Beatles Covers also includes a list of songs that the Beatles Themselves Covered - in other words, the songs written by other artists (for example Twist and Shout written by Medley and Russell) which the Beatles recorded.

What Other Groups Have Recorded Beatles Songs?

Extracted from my records, submissions, and the: The Compleat Beatles Covers (an incomplete list alphabetical by first word of group name). Additions, updates, corrections, and song names would be appreciated: please E-mail them to the webmaster: [webmaster]

  • A

    Acappella, Ace Cannon, Acker Bilk, Adam Faith, Adrian Baker, Adrian Belew, Aerosmith, Akim, Al Caiola, Al Green, Al Jarreau, Alan Lorber Orchestra, Alex Chilton, Alex Murzyn, Alfonzo Blackwell, Alice Donut, Alison Krauss, Allan Holdsworth, Allies, Alma Cogan, Alvin Lee, Amboy Dukes, Amen Corner, The Ancients, Andre Kostelanetz, Andy Williams, Anita Kerr, Anything Box, Anne Murray, Annie Lennox, Anti-Nowhere League, Apollo 100, Apostles, Applejacks, Aranbee Pop Symphony Orchestra, Aretha Franklin, Arif Mardin, Arlo Guthrie, Arthur Conley, Arthur Fiedler, Arthur Fiedler / Boston Pops, Arthur Lyman, Astrud Gilberto, Azalia Snail

  • B

    The Bachelors, Bad Brains, Badbeats "Tip Of The Tongue" / "One And One Is Two" (1979), Badfinger, Bagatelle, The Baja Marimbas, Bananarama, Bangor Flying Circus, The Bar-Kays, Barbara Mandrell, Barbra Streisand, Barclay James Harvest, Barefoot Servants, Barney Kessel, The Barracudas, Barrett Deems Big Band, Barry Goldberg, Barry McGuire, Barton Tyler Group, Basement Walls, Bash, Batido House Band, BBC, The Beach Boys, Beachfront Property, Beastie Boys, The Beatle Buddies, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, Béla Fleck And Tony Trischka, Ben E. King, Ben Taylor, Benny Goodman, Beppe Gambetta, Bernadette Peters, Bette Midler, Betty Davis, Beyond The Blue, Les Bidochons, Bill Deal & The Rhondells, Bill Withers, Billy Barber, Billy Bragg, Billy Ed Wheeler, Billy J. Kramer And The Dakotas, Billy Joel, Billy Ocean, Billy Preston, Billy Vaughn, Bing Crosby, Bjork Gudmunsdottir, Black Riot, Black Tie, Blackstreet, The Blamed, Bleckmann / Kirk, Blenders, Blonde On Blonde, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Bloodrock, Bloodstone, Blue Rubies, Blues Traveler, Bo Street Runners, Bob Culbertson, Bob Kuban & The In-Men, Bob Leaper, Bob Marley, Bob Mintzer, Bob Welch, Bobby Fuller, Bobby Fuller Four, Bobby Goldsboro, Bobbie Gentry, Bobby McFerrin, Bobby Vinton, Bobby Womack, The Bobs, Boingo, Bon Scott, Bongwater, Boogie Down Productions, Booker T. And The MG's, Boots Randolph, Boston Pops / Arthur Fiedler, Boyz II Men, The Brady Bunch, The Breakfast Club, The Breeders, Brian Auger And Trinity, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Brian Melvin Quartet, Brian Poole And The Tremeloes, Brinsley Schwarz (The Knees), Brinsley Schwarz (Limelight), Broadlahn, Brothers Johnson, Bryan Ferry, The Buckinghams, Bucky Pizzarelli, Bud Shank, Buddy Greco, Buddy Merrill, Buddy Rich, Butthole Surfers, Buzzcocks

  • C

    Caetano Veloso, Calamity Jane, Canadian Brass, Candy Flip, Carmaig de Forest, Carney-Hild-Kramer, Carol Sloane, The Carpenters, The Carpet Frogs, Chad & Jeremy, Chain Of Fools, Chameleons, Charles Lloyd, Charlie Byrd, Charlie Daniels, Charlotte Dada, Les Chaussettes Noires, Cheap Trick, Checkfield, Cher, Cherito XXX, Chet Atkins, Chevy Chase, Chieftains, The Chipmunks, Chisato Moritaka, The Chorallaries of MIT, The Chris Barber Band, Chris Burke, Chris Camozzi, Chris Potter, Chubby Checker, Chuck Loeb, Chucklehead, Cilla Black, Cissy Houston, Clarence Wheeler & The Enforcers, Clark Terry, Claude François, Claudine Longet, Clay Crosse, The Clef Hangers, Cleo Laine And John Williams, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Cliff Richard, Clint Ruin & Lydia Lunch, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Ben Webster, Colin Newman, Connie Francis, Coroner, Cosmic Dilemma, Count Basie, Count Basie / Sammy Davis Jr., The Country Gentlemen, The Cowsills, Crack The Sky, Craig Hundley Trio, The Crickets, Cristina, The Crocodile Shop, Crosby, Stills & Nash (And Young), Crossed Wire, The Crusaders, Cryin' Shames, Cyril Stapleton Orchestra, Cyrkle

  • D

    Dale Miller, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa / McNeill, Das Damen, The Damned, Daniel And Dimitri, Daniel Ash, Daniel Godfrey, Daniel Johnston, Danielle Denin, Danny Kirwan, Danny Tenaglia, Danny Wright, Dave McKenna, Dave Valentin, David And Jonathan, David Bowie, David Crosby, David "Fathead" Newman, David Lanz And Paul Speer, David Peel And The Apple Band, David Porter, David Schnaufer, David Syme, David Weiss, The dB's, De Danann, Dead Milkmen, Debby Boone, Decca & The Dectones, Deems, Deep Purple, Definition Of Sound, Defunkt, The Deighton Family, The Del Rubio Triplets, Del Shannon, Delbert McClinton, Dennis Brown, Detroit Emeralds, Dhyani Dharma Mas, Di Scherling, Diamond And Psychotic Neurotics, Diana Ross, Diana Ross And The Supremes, Dick Hyman, Dick Smothers, Dillard & Clark, The Dillards, Dimit, Dino, Desi & Billy, Dion, Dionne Farris, Dionne Warwick, Dislocation Dance, Disney Babies, Dokken, Dolly Parton, Don & The Goodtimes, Don Ellis, Don Fardon, Don Randi & Quest, Don Randi Trio, Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Don Wayne, Don Williams, Donna Byrne, Doris Troy, Doug MacLeod, Doug Parkinson, Dr. John, Dragon, Dread Zeppelin, Duffy Power w/ The Graham Bond Quartet, Duke Ellington, Dweezil Zappa

  • E

    Earth, Wind & Fire, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Ecstasy Boys, Eddie Murphy, Edward Gerhard, Either / Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, Elton John, Elton John (w/ John Lennon), Elvis Presley, Emanuel Orgega, Emmylou Harris, En Vogue, Enoch Light, Eric Burdon & War, The Eric Gales Band, Eric Schoenberg, Erin O'Donnell, Erlend Krauser, Erroll Garner, Eskimo & Egypt, Esperanto Rock Orchestra, The Essentials, Esteban / Mirage, Esther Phillips, The Ethiopians, Eugene Chadbourne, Eugene van Beethoven, Evan Marshall, The Everly Brothers, Extreme, Exuma

  • F

    Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Failure, Fantastic Strings, Fat Boys, Fat Larry's Band, Fats Domino, The Feelies, Feet Of Clay, Ferrante & Teicher, Ferry Aid, Fever Tree, Fifth Dimension, Mr. Fingers, The Five Stairsteps, Los Flamers, Flamin' Groovies, Flat Duo Jets, Foetus, The Four Seasons, The Four Tops, The Fourmost, Frances Black and Kieran Goss, Franco Ambrosetti & Friends, Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush, Frank Sinatra, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Frankie Valli, Freeway Philharmonic, The Friends Of Distinction, Funkadelic

  • G

    Gamalon, Game Theory, Gary And Randy Scruggs, Gary McFarland, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Gary US Bonds, Gene Rondo, Gene Wooten, George Benson, George Burns, George Lamond, George Martin, George Van Epps, The Georgia Satellites, Georgie Fame, The Gestures, Gigi On The Beach, Gilberto Puente Gladys Knight & The Pips, Globo, God Street Wine, The Gods, Golden Gate Quartet, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Grappelli / Clements, The Grateful Dead, Gray Matter, Grant Green, The Grass Roots, Grave Digger, Gregg Wright, Groove Collective, Guadalcanal Diary, Las Guitarras Del Renacimiento

  • H

    Hank Williams, Jr., Hanne Boel, Harpers Bizarre, Harry Nilsson, Harvest, Hash, Hawaiian Style Band, Haywire, The Head Shop, Heart, Henry Mancini, Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass, Herb Pomeroy & Billy Novick, Herbie Hancock, Herbie, Hiram Bullock, HIS, Holland - Dozier - Holland, Hollies, Holly Johnson, Hollyridge Strings, Honeycrack, Hooters, Hootie And The Blowfish, Hot Rize / Red Knuckles, Hotel X, Hourglass, Howard Jones, Hubert Laws, Hugh Hopper & Kramer, Hugo Montenegro, Hüsker Dü

  • I

    Ian Gillan, Ice Man's Band, The Iguanas, Ike & Tina Turner, Innocence, Instant Funk, Intermission, The Isaac Hayes Movement, The Isley Brothers

  • J

    Jack Jones, Jack Sheldon, Jackson 5, Jaco Pastorius, The Jam, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, James Booker, James Galway, James Last, James Taylor, Jan & Dean, Janet Lee Davis & Peter Hunnigale, Janis Siegel / Fred Hersch, Javier Solis, Jazz Cafe, The JazzHole, Jean Gros & His Orchestra, Jean-Luc Ponty, Jeff Beck, Jeff Beck w/ Jan Hammer, The Jeff Healey Band, Jeff Jarvis, Jeffrey Osborne, Jerry Garcia, The Jerry Garcia Band, Jerry Murad And His Harmonicats, Jerry Vivino, Jim Nabors, Jim Schoenfeld, Jimi Hendrix, Jimi LaLumia & Psychotic Frogs, Jimmy Forrest, Jimmy McGriff, Joan Baez, The Joan Orborne Band, Joanie Bartels, Joe Adams, Joe Cocker, Joe Pass, Joe Pesci, John Denver, John Foster And Sons Ltd. Black Dyke Mills Band, John Fred And The Playboys, John Keating Sound, John Mayall, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, John Pizzarelli "John Pizzarelli Meets the Beatles" (jazz) (1998 re-released 2007), The John Schroeder Orchestra, The John Tesh Project, Johnny Hallyday, Johnny Rivers, Johnny Rodriguez (Tejano), Jonathan Butler, Jorge Pardo, José Feliciano, Jotta Herre, Journey, Joyce, Judy Collins, Julie London, Julio Iglesias, Junior Reid, Justin Hayward / Mike Batt

  • K

    Karrin Allyson, Katfish, Keely Smith, Keisuke Doi, Keith Moon, Kelly Family, Ken Dodd, Ken Peplowski, Kenny Drew, Kenny Loggins, Kenny Lynch, Kenny Rankin, Kenny Rogers, Kentucky Headhunters, Kid Frost, Killer Watts, Kim Hill, King Curtis, King Uszniewicz & His Uszniewicztones, King's Singers, Kingmaker, The Kingsmen, Kingston Trio, Kiss Of The Spider Woman Original 1994 Cast, Kiss Of The Spider Woman: The Musical Original Broadway Cast, KLF, Die Kreuzen, Kwame & A New Beginning

  • L

    Laibach, Lakeside, Lana Cantrell, Lani Groves - Darlene Love, Larry Carlton, Larry Rice, The Last, Laughing Sky, Laurindo Almeida, Lawrence Welk, Lemon D, Lena Horne, Lena Horne / Gabor Szabo, Leo Gandelman, Leo Sayer, Leon Russell, Leos Janácek, The Leslie West Band, Lighthouse, Lincoln Mayorga and Colleagues, Linda Eder, Linda Ronstadt, Lindisfarne, Lisa St. Ann, Lisette Melendez, Listen To The Music, Little Big Horns, Little Junior Parker, Little Mike & The Tornadoes, Little Richard, Living Jazz, Liz Damon's Orient Express, Lollipops, The London Film Orchestra, The London Symphony Orchestra, Lonnie Smith, Lorrie Morgan, Lou Rawls, Lou Reid / Terry Baucom / Carolina, Louie Cordero, Louis Armstrong, Love

  • M

    Maceo & All The Kings Men, Mae West, La Mafia, Magneto, Maia Amanda, Mama Cass, The Mamas And The Papas, Manhattan Transfer, Los Manolos, Mantovani, The Mar-Keys, Marc Bonilla, Marc Ribot's Rootless Cosmopolitains, Marcia Griffiths, Marcus Miller, Marian McPartland, Marianne Faithfull, Marmalade, Martin Taylor, Marvin Gaye, Marvin Mouse & Tuttle Turtle, Mary Hart, Mary McCaslin, The Mattaio Band, Maura O'Connell, Maureen McGovern, Max Bygraves, Maynard Ferguson, MC Olive, McCoy Tyner / Sir Roland Hanna, McCoys, MC5, Meat Beat Manifesto, Men Without Hats, Merle Haggard w/ Willie Nelson, The Meters, Mexico 70, Michael Bolton, Michael Hedges, Michael Jackson, Michele Torr, Micky Dolenz, Mike Fab-Gere And The Permissive Society, Mike Garson, Mike Marshall, Mike Shannon w/ The Strangers, Mike Summers, The Mission U.K., Mitch Miller And The Gang, The Moffatts, Mongo Santamaria, Monsoon, Mortal, Moscow Sax Quintet, Mose Allison, Mötley Crüe, Mott The Hoople, The Movin' Dream Orchestra, Los Muecas, Mulgrew Miller, The Mystic Moods Orchestra

  • N

    Nan Vernon, Nana Mouskouri, Nancy Ames, Nancy Sinatra, Nando Lauria, The Nashville Superpickers, Nasty Facts, Natalie Cole, Neal Von Non / Guinea Pig, Neil Diamond, Neil Young / Crazy Horse, Nelson Riddle, Nerdy Girl, Neville Brothers, New Christy Minstrels, New Grass Revival, New Musik, The New Tradition, New Variety Band, Newbeats, Nick DeCaro, Nicole Rieu, Nils Lofgren, Nina Simone, Nini Achinoam (Noa) & Gil Dor, No Strings Attached, Noah's Great Rainbow, Noel Redding, Nora York, Nordisle Bois Orchestre, Nudes, Nylons

  • O

    Oasis, Obo, Odion's Juju And The Beatles With Fagbola And The Turtles, Oingo Boingo, Olivia Newton-John, Old Friends (Philo 1046), Omar & The Howlers, One Alternative, One Hundred One Strings, Oriental Spas, Ornette Coleman, Oroboros, Osamu, Oscar Peterson, Otis Redding, Our Lady Peace, The Overlanders

  • P

    P.J. Proby, PM Dawn, P.P. Arnold, Pam Bricker / Rick Harris, Pandora, Passion, Pat Benatar, Patrick Husson, Patti Austin, Patty Pravo, Paul Anka, Paul Johnson And The Packards, Paul Mauriat, Peace Choir, Pearl Jam, Penny Dreadfuls, Percy Faith, Perry Como, Peter And Gordon, Peter Nero, Peter Randall & The Raindogs, Peter Sellers, Peter Tosh, Petula Clark, Phantom Raiders, Phil Collins, Phil Keaggy, Phil Spector, Philadelphia Orchestra / Eugene Ormandy, Cond. Philip DeGruy, Phoebe Snow, Piano Bar, Los Pianos Barrocos, Placido Domingo, Placido Domingo / John Denver, Primal Scream, Princeton Katzenjammers, Procol Harum, Prudence Johnson, Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers

  • Q

    Queers, Quincy Jones

  • R

    Radio Stars, Raffi, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Railway, Ramsey Lewis, Ramsey Lewis / Nancy Wilson, Ramsey Lewis Trio, Randy California, Randy Coven, Randy Crawford, Rare Earth, Raul Di Blasio, Ray Charles, Ray Drummond, Ray Martin / Orchestra, Ray Price, The Real Group, Realm, Rebel Rousers, REM, REO Speedwagon, The Residents, Rev. Clay Evans & The AARC Mass Choir, Richard Barone, Richard Clayderman, Richard Dworsky, Richie Havens, Rick Wakeman, Robbie Nevil, Robert Palmer, Robin Crow, Robin Eubanks, Robyn Hitchcock, Rod McKuen, Rod Steward, La Rodven Big Band, Roger Williams, Roland Kirk, The Rolling Stones, Rolls-Royce Conventry Band, Ron Sanfilippo, Ronnie Dyson, Rosanne Cash, Rosetta Stone, Roupa Nova, Roy Redmond, Ruben Blades / Seis Del Solar, The Runaways, Russ Freeman & The Rippingtons

  • S

    Sabotage Qu'est-Ce Que C'est?, Sadao Watanabe, Salamander Crossing, Salsa Kids, Sam Bennett, Sanchez, The Sandals (60's Group), Sandie Shaw, The Sandpipers, Sandy Nelson, Santo & Johnny, Sarah Vaughan, Saylor And Fultz, Scanner, Scritti Politti w/ Shabba Ranks, Sebastian, Sensuous Sax, Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66, Sergio Salvatore, Sesame Street, Severed Heads, Shalamar, Sham 69, Shang Shang Typhoon, Sharon Shannon, Sheila, Shirley Bassey, Shirley Horn, Shirley Scott, Shockabilly, Shonen Knife, The Silkie, Silver Convention, Simon F., The Singers Unlimited, Siouxsie And The Banshees, Ska Boys, The Skatalites, Skeleton Crew, Skin Yard, Slade, Slowdive, Sluts For Hire, Sly And Robbie, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Smokey Wilson, The Smokin' Mojo Filters, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Son Seals, Sonny & Cher, Sonny Criss, Sonny Curtis, Souled Out International, Soundgarden, Spacemen 3, Spencer Davis Group, Spooky Tooth, Spotnicks, Squirrels, St. Louis Union, Stan Getz, Stan Kenton Orchestra, Standells, Stanley Jordan, Stanley Turrentine, Starliters, Stars On 45, Starsound Orchestra, Stephane Grappelli w/ Vassar Clements, Stephen Stills, Steve Cropper, Steve Earle, Steve Gibbons Band, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Steve Hillage, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Stink, Stone The Crows, The Stowaways, Sugar Beats, Suggs, The Supremes, The Supremes / Condy Birdsong, Suzi Quatro, The Swallows, Sweethearts Of The Rodeo, The Swingle Sisters, Sylvester, Sylvia McNair / Daniel Kobialka

  • T

    T-Lowe, Tad Robinson, Take That, Tamio Okuda, Tams, Tears For Fears, Ted Nugent, 10cc, The Temptations, Terri Lyne Carrington, Tesla, Tevin Campbell, That Dog, Thelma Houston / Pressure Cooker, Theodore Bikel, Third Day, Thor Inc., Three Dog Night, Three Good Reasons, Throwing Muses, Tiffany, Tim Armacost, Tim Keyes, Tim Ware Group, Timelords, Tiny Tim And Brave Combo, Tina Turner, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Today's People, Todd Rundgren (& Utopia), Tom Jones, Tommy Bolin, Tommy Emmanuel, Tommy Lepson & The Lazy Boys, Tommy Emmanuel, Tommy Quickly, Toninho Horta, Tony Bennett, Tony Furtado (w/ Alison Krauss), Tony Williams, Totte Bergstrom, Toys, Translator, Trash, The Tremoloes, Trouble, Trouble Tribe, Troy Newman, Truth, The Tubes, Tuck And Patti, Tufts Beelzebubs And UVA Silhouettes

  • U

    Ulli Bogershausen, Unifics, University Of Nebraska Marching Band, U.S. Nerds (Morgan Fisher)

  • V

    Valerie Simpson, Van Gogh, Vanilla Fudge, The Ventures, Verrill Keene, Vikki Carr, Vince Guaraldi, Vince Hill, Vincent Malone, Vinnie Moore, Vincent Bell, The Violet Burning, Vontastics, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Vow Wow

  • W

    Wall Matthews, Wallace Collection, Wallace Roney, Walls Have Ears, Walter Carlos, Warren Vache Sextet, The Washington University Pikers, The Waterboys, Wayne Boyer, Wayne Johnson, Wes Montgomery, Wet, Wet, Wet, Wilson Pickett, Wire, Whipped Cream, White Eisenstein, White Flag, Whitesnake, Will Hale, William Aura, William Shatner, Willie Bobo, Willie Banks & The Messengers, Willy DeVille, Wire Train, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Womack And Womack, Wonder Years, World Party, Wynton Kelly Trio

  • X

    Xavier Cugat

  • Y

    Yellow Magic Orchestra, Yes, Young-Holt Unlimited, Youth Gone Mad, Yusef Lateef

  • Z

    Zach Davids, Zamfir, Zap Mama, Zumpano


Who is in the Crowd on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Album Cover?

with THANKS to my son Alex who found the answers - on the Sgt. Pepper's CD. Location: Chelsea Manor Studios, Flood Street, London. Date: Thursday March 30, 1967. The crowd assembled:

BACK ROW LEFT TO RIGHT

  1. Sri Yukteswar Giri (guru)
  2. Aleister Crowley (dabbler in sex, drugs and magic)
  3. Mae West (actress)
  4. Lenny Bruce (comic)
  5. Karlheinz Stockhausen (composer)
  6. William Claude Fields (comic)
  7. Carl Gustav Jung (psychologist)
  8. Edgar Allen Poe (writer)
  9. Fred Astaire (actor)
  10. Richard Merkin (artist)
  11. The Varga Girl (by artist Alberto Vargas)
  12. Leo Gorcey (actor - painted out because he requested a fee)
  13. Huntz Hall (actor, with Leo Gorcey, one of the Bowery Boys)
  14. Simon Rodia (creator of Watts Towers
  15. Bob Dylan (musician)

4th ROW LEFT TO RIGHT

  1. Aubrey Beardsley (illustrator)
  2. Sir Robert Peel
  3. Aldous Huxley (writer)
  4. Dylan Thomas (poet)
  5. Terry Southern (writer)
  6. Dion (di Mucci) (singer)
  7. Tony Curtis (actor)
  8. Wallace Berman (actor)
  9. Tommy Handley (comic)
  10. Marilyn Monroe (actress)
  11. William Burroughs (writer)
  12. Sri Mahavatara Babaji (guru)
  13. Stan Laurel (comic)
  14. Richard Lindner (artist)
  15. Oliver Hardy (comic)
  16. Karl Marx (philosopher / socialist)
  17. Herbert George Wells (writer)
  18. Sri Paramahansa Yagananda (guru)
  19. Anonymous (wax hairdresser's dummy)

3rd ROW LEFT TO RIGHT

  1. Stuart Sutcliffe (artist, former Beatle)
  2. Anonymous (wax hairdresser's dummy)
  3. Max Miller (comic)
  4. The Pretty Girl (by artist George Petty)
  5. Marlon Brando (actor)
  6. Tom Mix (actor)
  7. Oscar Wilde (writer)
  8. Tyrone Power (actor)
  9. Larry Bell (artist)
  10. Dr. David Livingston (missionary/explorer)
  11. Johnny Weismuller (swimmer/actor)
  12. Stephen Crane (author)
  13. Issy Bonn (comic)
  14. George Bernard Shaw (writer)
  15. Horance Clifford Westermann (sculptor)
  16. Albert Stubbins (soccer player)
  17. Sri Lahiri Mahasaya (guru)
  18. Lewis Carroll (writer)
  19. Thomas Edward Lawrence (soldier - Lawrence of Arabia)

2nd ROW LEFT TO RIGHT

  1. Sonny Liston (boxer)
  2. The Pretty Girl (by artist George Petty)
  3. Wax model of George Harrison
  4. Wax model of John Lennon
  5. Shirley Temple (child actress)
  6. Wax model of Ringo Starr
  7. Wax model of Paul McCartney
  8. Albert Einstein (physicist)
  9. John Lennon, holding a French horn
  10. Ringo Starr, holding a trumpet
  11. Paul McCartney, holding a cor anglais
  12. George Harrison (holding a flute)
  13. Bobby Breen (singer)
  14. Marlene Dietrich (actress)
  15. Mohandas Ghandi (Indian leader - painted out at EMI request)
  16. Legionnaire from the Order of the Buffalos
  17. Diana Dorrs (actress)

Front Row RIGHT to LEFT

  1. Shirley Temple
  2. Cloth grandmother figure by Jann Haworth
  3. Cloth figure of Shirley Temple (child actress) by Jann Haworth
  4. Mexican candlestick
  5. Television set
  6. Stone figure of girl
  7. Stone figure
  8. Statue from John Lennon's house
  9. Trophy
  10. Four-armed Indian doll
  11. Drum skin designed by Joe Ephgrave
  12. Hookah (water tobacco pipe)
  13. Velvet snake
  14. Japanese stone figure
  15. Snow White stone figure
  16. Garden Gnome
  17. Tuba

Why Don't The Songs on My Beatles Album Match the Songs in the Listing?


Where Can I Find Information About Beatles Solo Albums?

  • I obtained over 100 Internet web site listings for each of the Beatles by searching the Internet using the Alta Vista Web Search engine at http://www.altavista.com/ with the search command in the following format.
    +"John Lennon" +discography
  • John Lennon's complete chronological U.S. albums and singles discography with LP covers and track listings. Also links to other John Lennon web sites.
  • Paul McCartney's complete chronological U.S. albums and singles discography with LP covers and track listings. Also links to other Paul McCartney web sites.
  • George Harrison's complete chronological U.S. albums and singles discography with LP covers and track listings. Also links to other George Harrison web sites.
  • Ringo Starr's complete chronological U.S. albums and singles discography with LP covers and track listings. Also links to other Ringo Starr web sites.

Where Can I Find Beatles Photographs On-Line?


I heard "The End" on "Anthology 3", but after it was over I heard something unusual. And what was the "final chord" the liner notes talk about? Was it the "surprise" I've been hearing about?

  • At the end of the track "The End", instead of going into "Her Majesty" as it was on "Abbey Road", we hear a "final chord" played backwards to the point where it began, and then forwards as it fades out. This happens to be the "final chord" lifted from "A Day In The Life". The only clue to its identity comes from its recording date in 1967, two years before the actual recording of "The End". And yes, the "final chord" was the surprise people talked about being on "Anthology 3". [thanks to Hiphats@aol.com]

About 20 (?) years ago I heard an instrumental version of the Beatles song, "If I Fell in Love with You". Do you know of any way I can find out who did it?

  • This is a tough question since hundreds of groups have recorded their own versions of Beatles songs (I believe that Yesterday alone was recorded by 200 or 300 groups). I'd suggest going to a record store and looking up the song title in their recordings index. This should show instrumental as well as vocal versions.

What did John Lennon say about the Beatles being more popular than Jesus?

  • John Lennon created a huge uproar by making a passing comment about the Beatles being more popular than Jesus which was often quoted out of context.
  • http://www.getback.org/bapology.html is an extremely well done web site with quotes and photographs discussing this subject

What phrase does John actually say at the end of "Strawberry Fields"?

  • In the years since its release in 1967, there are still people who misinterpret the closing phrase as yet another clue in the infamous "Paul Is Dead" hoax ("I Buried Paul"). But "Anthology 2" and many bootlegs make it very clear that John utters "Cranberry Sauce", not "I Buried Paul", at the end of "Strawberry Fields Forever"

Does anybody know what "Jai guru dev" means in Across the Universe?

  • According to Paul McCartney in Paul McCartney - Many years from now by Barry Miles (1997) it means "Long live Guru Dev". (Guru Dev was the Maharishi's guru; the Maharishi was the Beatles' guru).

What was the last Beatles song/album?

  • This is a trick question. The last entirely original Beatles album to be RECORDED was "Abbey Road", released September 1969. The last original Beatles album to be RELEASED was "Let It Be", issued in the spring of 1970, nearly two years after it was recorded (having been produced BEFORE "Abbey Road"). The last original Beatles song to be recorded by all four Beatles at once was "The End", made in August 1969. The last original Beatles song to involve any of the Beatles and issued under the Beatles name (for 24 years at least) was "I Me Mine", recorded for the "Let It Be" album January 1970. The last Beatles recording to feature all four Beatles and issued under the Beatles name was "Real Love", released on record February 1996 (though the video was released November 1995 as part of ABC's "Beatles Anthology" broadcast), the song having been constructed from an unfinished Lennon demo and new vocals and instrumentation by the three surviving Beatles. So you can see there are many "final" Beatles recordings, it's a matter of what frame of mind you come from.

What musical honors and milestones has Paul McCartney set?

  • Guinness Book of World Records: most successful popular-music composer and recording artist ever with sales of 100 million singles and 60 gold disks
  • Guinness Book of World Records: largest stadium audience in history when 184,000 Brazilians paid to see him perform at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro - April 1990
  • Guinness Book of World Records: fastest ticket sale in history when 20,000 tickets for 2 shows in Sydney sold out in eight minutes in 1993
  • MBE (Member of the British Empire with other Beatles in 1965
  • honorary Doctorate of Music from University of Sussex
  • first rock musician to receive Chile's Order of Merit for "services to music, peace, and human understanding"
  • first recipient of the Swedish Polar Music Award ("Nobel prize for music")
  • In 1993 Yesterday was confirmed as world's most popular song with 6,000,000 airplays in the USA and by being recorded by more than 2,200 other artists
  • Knight bachelor announced on New Honours List December 31, 1996: Sir Paul
  • Freeman of the City of Liverpool
  • [According to Barry Miles (1997) in his Paul McCartney - Many years from now].

Which Beatles albums should I buy first?

  • Question: I love The Beatles songs but I don't have any of their albums. Would you please recommend which CDs to buy first? I am considering the following options.
    1. The Beatles 1962-1966 and The Beatles 1967-1970
    2. Past Masters Volume One and Past Masters Volume Two
    3. Live at the BBC
    4. The Beatles Anthology 1, The Beatles Anthology 2, The Beatles Anthology 3 Please give advise or other option. Thank you very very much!
  • My Opinion: An excellent question. I must admit that I would take a very different approach.
    1. The "BBC" and "Anthology CDs" contain a lot of out takes (unreleased material) and talk so you are not hearing the "classic" versions of the songs. I would buy them last. The "Beatles 1962-1966" and "Beatles 1967-1970" are "greatest hits" but they lack the flow of songs of the original albums and the songs are repeated on the "original" albums which you will eventually want to buy.
    2. The "Past Masters Volume One" and "Past Masters Volume Two" have songs on no other albums - the only problem is that they don't flow internally. They are "cleanup" albums for songs that were released as singles and never on albums.
    3. I would buy original albums one by one as time and money permit. Personally I would start with "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" or "Abbey Road" for "late" Beatles and "With the Beatles" or "Beatles for Sale" for "early" Beatles.

How Many Albums Have the Beatles Sold? How many Gold and Platinum Records?

  • The Beatles are the All Time Best Selling Artists in the United States; in recent years Led Zeppelin, Garth Brooks, Billy Joel, and the Eagles have vied for 2nd place
  • (Best selling album of all time is Michael Jackson's "Thriller" with 25 million in sales)
  • Foreign sales are almost impossible to determine because there are no reliable sources and bootlegging is widespread
  • The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) which certifies gold and platinum records reported Beatles album sales approaching 105 million in The United States of America as of March 8, 1999 http://www.neosoul.com/riaa/faq.html
  • The RIAA reported Beatles album sales approaching 100 million in The United States of America as of December 1, 1997
  • The RIAA has certified 39 Beatles albums as gold (500,000 sold), platinum (1,000,000 sold), or multi-platinum as of March 8, 1999. Double disk albums count as 2 sales. http://www.neosoul.com/riaa/faq.html
  • The Beatles best sales year was 1996 with 40 million sales due to release of the Anthology albums Beatles revival combined with a larger buying public in recent years for the growing record industry
  • Best selling Beatles albums
1/ The Beatles White Album ---- 17 million (disks) Feb 1999
2/ The Beatles 1967-1970 ------ 14 million (disks) Feb 1999
3/ The Beatles 1962-1966 ------ 13 million (disks) Feb 1999
4/ Abbey Road ----------------- 11 million         Feb 1999
5/ Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts  11 million         Feb 1999
6/ Meet the Beatles              5 million         (older)
7/ Magical Mystery Tour          5 million         (older)

source Feb 1999: http://www.neosoul.com/riaa/faq.html

source (older): gigaplex.com/10top/10album.htm - about 3/4 the counts but no longer active

How many Beatles songs did each composer write?

  • John Lennon: 119
  • Paul McCartney: 99
  • George Harrison: 26
  • Ringo Starr: 7
  • Larry Williams: 3
  • Carl Perkins: 3
  • Chuck Berry: 2
  • Yoko Ono: 2
  • Arthur Alexander: 1
  • Gerry Goffin: 1
  • Carol King: 1
  • Luther Dixon: 1
  • Wes Farrell: 1
  • Hal David: 1
  • Barney Williams: 1
  • Burt Bacharach: 1
  • Ric Marlow: 1
  • Bobby Scott: 1
  • Bert Burns: 1
  • Meredith Wilson: 1
  • William Garrett: 1
  • Robert Bateman: 1
  • Georgia Dobbins: 1
  • Brian Holland: 1
  • Freddie Gorman: 1
  • Smokey Robinson: 1
  • Richard P. Drapkin: 1
  • Janie Bradford: 1
  • Berry Gordy: 1
  • Enotris Johnson: 1
  • Little Richard: 1
  • Robert Blackwell: 1
  • Roy Lee Johnson: 1
  • Jerry Leiber: 1
  • Mike Stoller: 1
  • Richard Penniman: 1
  • Buddy Holly: 1
  • Johnny Russell: 1
  • Voniw Morrison: 1
  • Louise Harrison: 1
  • Kahlil Gibran: 1
  • Derek Taylor: 1
  • (Public Domain): 1
  • Thomas Dekker: 1
  • compiled by Jonathan Rubke who also notes: if two people helped to write a song they both get credit for writing one complete song. The list includes 'Free As A Bird' and 'Real Love'; even though John originally wrote both of them, all four of them are given credit for their contributions to the final product.

Articles about the Beatles by web site visitors

The Beatles - "Revolution" - review by Alex Kocan

There has been an unbelievable amount of literature, film and radio material created about The Beatles. Their popularity and continuing influence is even more staggering due to the fact that, as a signed band, they only existed for seven years.

Having said this, not as much has been written about individual songs. In this article I would like to review the song "revolution".

At the time of the tracks creation The Beatles were recording songs for "The White Album". These "sessions were filled with tension as members of the group stormed out periodically and often failed to record together, turning in tracks recorded independently". This didn't make for a good atmosphere and very rarely were all four members present at album tracks initial recording.

In the summer of 1968 it was time for a new single to be released. As ever, there were discussions over which song was most suitable. Eventually, they decided upon two tracks to create a double A side. Track one was "Hey Jude" and track two was "revolution".

"Revolution" was written exclusively by John Lennon. The lyrics were "Lennon's dry response to the calls for revolution amongst the once pacifist counter culture" . Peace and love ethics were no longer working and the hippies were turning to violence to get their views heard. In 1968, at the Chicago Democratic Convention, police openly beat protesters to stop them sabotaging the political purpose of the convention. John disagreed with the Hippies newfound violence and did not want any part of it.

John was in favour of social revolution. Hippies and peace protesters looked up to him as their media mouthpiece. Unfortunately, he angered them with the phrases don't you know you can count me out and don't you know its gonna be, alright. These lyrics were in reference to their recently violent protests and not to the cause as a whole. Therefore, to soothe their upset, in the promotional film for revolution, he said don't you know you can count me out / in.

At its inception Revolution was an acoustic Dylanesque sounding track. This demo can be found on the Esher Bootleg Tapes. The Demo demonstrates John's soft vocal, backed up with an acoustic guitar and handclaps supplied by fellow band members. This style was carried through to the version that found its way onto The Beatles album, nicknamed The White Album by their fans.

John wanted to release the album version as the single. However, the others said it was to slow and may not be as successful as their previous singles. Therefore, they went back to the drawing board. It was certainly worth the effort.

They're new interpretation of the lyrics was created between the 9th and 11th July 1968. The band wanted a fast and loud song and that's what John was going to give to them. The overdriven lead guitar introduction and the scream that leads into the vocal track really draws the listener in. It also manages to keep the audience glued with anticipation for the next three minutes twenty three seconds.

The distorted electric guitar effect, that is one of the tracks trademarks, was obtained by plugging the guitar directly into the mixing desk to create the strong feedback sound. It is said that if certain engineers or George martin, The Beatles producer, had been present at the time they would have forbidden from doing such a thing. It was against company rules and could have been extremely dangerous. This was "the most distorted production" ever created by the Beatles. This sound can be seen as the grand father, or at least an aging uncle, of the grunge style that was popular in the 1990's and continues to be today.

Ringo, as ever, is on top form here. If you close your eyes you can see images of him with damp tea towels over his drum kit, as is seem in the lady Madonna video. It's a great crashing and breaking sound that matches the guitar sound superbly.

As a way to ease tensions, at the beginnings of the end of the group, guest musicians were asked to perform on certain tracks. This was as an aid to stop them being so aggressive towards each other and get on with the music. This can be seen on this track where Nicky Hopkins plays electric piano. His work can be heard in the middle eight. As George's lead guitar fades out there are only drums, electric piano and John's grunting voice. Essentially Hopkins keeps the song alive here. The electric piano is used to build the momentum to get the listener ready, and totally hooked for the last verse.

Many elements of the album version were omitted from the single master. The most noticeable of these omissions is George's and Paul's harmonies. The repeating of "shoo bee do wahh, bob, shoo bee do wahh" has a swing essence that doesn't match well with this real rocker. They decided well to discard it for this version.

Even though it was a great song it was relegated to track two, behind Paul's, Hey Jude for the double A side. By this time John's heart was elsewhere, with Yoko and his waiting to begin solo career. He, as were the others, angry that Paul had taken over as the leader of the group. However, there is no sign of musical differences or disputes that tarnishes their final years on this track. There is just a strong, group-sounding effort that still sounds fresh thirty-four years after its original release. Fantastic.

The Beatles - "Revolution 9" - review by Alex Kocan

What is perhaps The Beatles most criticised and possibly loathed track, to this day, is that of Revolution 9. It was the brainchild of Lennon who was intensely in love with his, soon to be wife, the Japanese conceptual artist Yoko Ono.

Whatever your personal opinion about their private lives, this sound collage was very different from the majority of the originally released Beatles tracks. At this time The Beatles apple was going very sour. They were all now married, except Paul, who was in a serious relationship. They were also growing apart, musically. A style of avent guard music that was popular with Paul in 1965- 66 was now a favourite of Johns. There are clear similarities between "Revolution 9" and "Tomorrow Never Knows", which resides on the Revolver album, released several years previously.

The track was created on and off between the 6th June to 21st June 1968 . The track was truly the beast of John and Yoko. The only other Beatle to appear, in any form, was George who contributed several vocal overdubs.

The foundation onto which the track was built was the last six minutes of the album version of "Revolution 1". Unfortunately, for historical purposes, very little of the originally track made it through the wall of sound into the final mix.

As mentioned above, the track can be seen to have influences from the avent guard scene. This may have been the influence of Yoko upon John. However, it was also the influences of Paul upon John. The main difference between "Tomorrow Never Knows" and "Revolution 9" is that there are no formal lyrics to the latter and the intentions of the track are tinged with "cynical darkness" , unlike the former. This is why Paul wanted the track to be removed from the album. Perhaps this is precisely why "What's the New Mary Jane" didn't see the light of day until 1995.

Many hours were spent creating tape loops, trying out different mixes and recording fresh material to create this manic sounding piece. Many hours were also spent rummaging in EMI's vast sound archives. John, Yoko and George read and recorded several adlibs and excerpts from poems that were to be added into the mixing bowl. Few of George's pieces peep through the montage. George's can be heard contributing phrases such as "upon a telegram" and "who's to know?"

The faceless voice that appears randomly throughout the track, uttering the words "number 9, number 9" has a somewhat confused origin. Official sources say that the voice was "lifted off an old examination recording for the Royal Academy of Music then kept in the library at Abbey Road". However, other sources believe that it was The Beatles roadie, Mal Evans's voice and others believed it to be an unknown engineer that just happened to be the studio when John and Yoko were experimenting with different ideas.

The track contained many gigantic sounds. Most noticeable were the orchestral bursts. According to Mark Lewishom, who examined the original four track tapes from which the track was created, there is an excerpt from the overdub prepared for "A Day In The Life".

At the end of the track there are protestors shouting "lock that gate, lock that gate". This seems to suggest that John was trying to distance himself from The Beatles so that situation could no long hurt him, as it had been doing for several years.

"This type of art was designed to change the way its beholders experienced reality" . John and Yoko were attempting to create something that would allow people to experience something more than pure pop music. If they succeeded or not is difficult to conclude without doubt. However, the use of samples from previous songs and from other sound sources could possibly be the inspiration behind the use of sampling which is prominent within Dance and Hip Hop music today.

A year after The Beatles officially separated, in 1971; John recalled his aims while creating the track. "I thought I was painting in sound a picture of revolution- but I made a mistake. The mistake was that it was anti revolution".

Many reviewers believe that this track is incredibly irritating and that people only listened to it once. It appears to be a commercial version of the works John and Yoko released on their first three solo albums. There are clear links between "Unfinished Music 2: - Life With The Lions". It has the repetition of "Cambridge 1969". However, there is more variation, which allows it to be more accessible to the more blinkered listener. Perhaps, the only difference between the two tracks is that one says "The Beatles" and one doesn't. Far from being a disaster it is "one of the most significant acts The Beatles ever perpetuated"? And it is worth sitting through, more than once, even if it is not easy listening.

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