Harrison sitar sells for big bucks

A sitar used by George Harrison in 1965, the year the Beatles recorded Norwegian Wood sold Sept. 28 for $62,500, it was announced by Nate D. Sanders Auctions. The instrument was accompanied by two letters of authenticity, including one written by Pattie Boyd, who said Harrison played "Norwegian Wood" on the instrument for her when they were on their honeymoon. The second LOA was written by George Drummond, a friend of Boyd's, who was given the sitar by Harrison.  

Courtesy Nate D. Saunders Auctions

Ringo Christmas album on vinyl now

Universal Music.

Ringo Starr's "I Wanna Be Santa Claus" has just come out on vinyl. 

'The Beatles: Eight Days a Week: The Touring Years: to air on PBS

Apple Corps. L

See our story on AXS.com:

https://www.axs.com/pbs-to-air-the-beatles-eight-days-a-week-the-touring-years-123475

Paul McCartney featured in new Christmas music collection

It's not even October and already there's news about Christmas music. Paul McCartney is among the artists featured on "Holidays Rule, Vol. 2," a 16-track collection of holiday songs out Oct. 13. In addition to McCartney, who performs "Wonderful Christmastime" with Jimmy Fallon and the Roots, also featured is Barns Coutney featuring Lennon Stella, Albin Lee Meldau, Calum Scott, Rosanne Cash, Judah & the Lion, The Decemberists, Lake Street Dive, Flor De Toloache, Vera Blue, Muna (who sings McCartney's "Pipes of Peace"), Us Girls and Andrew McMahon. The disc is the sequel to the original "Holidays Rule" issued in 2012.

"Wonderful Christmastime" is available now with a pre-order of the album or separately for $1.29.

You can see the video of the McCartney/Fallon/Roots "Wonderful Christmastime" below.

Track listing:

1. Paul McCartney, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots – Wonderful Christmastime
2. Barns Courtney Feat. Lennon Stella – Baby, It’s Cold Outside
3. Albin Lee Meldau – All I Want For Christmas Is You
4. Calum Scott – It’s Beginning To Look Like Christmas
5. Kandace Springs – (Everybody’s Waitin For) The Man With The Bag
6. Norah Jones – Peace (Live at the Sheen Center)
7. Grace Potter – Christmas Moon
8. Rosanne Cash – May Ev’ry Day Be Christmas
9. Judah & The Lion – The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
10. The Decemberists – Jesus Christ
11. Lake Street Dive – I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas
12. Flor De Toloache – That’s What I Want For Christmas
13. Vera Blue – A Winter Romance
14. MUNA – Pipes of Peace
15. US Girls – Blue Christmas
16. Andrew McMahon – What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve

Freda Kelly recovering from heart surgery

Freda Kelly and Kathy McCabe, one of the producers
of "Good Ol' Freda" at a screening of the film
in San Francisco. (Photo by Steve Marinucci.)

Freda Kelly, who the world now knows from the superb documentary "Good Ol' Freda," is on the mend at home after undergoing heart surgery. This note was posted on her "Good Ol' Freda" Facebook page today.

A Message From Freda Kelly

Many thanks to all of you who sent get well wishes after my recent heart surgery. I am recovering well and your love and support meant so much to me. 

I want to tell all my good friends in Mexico City how sorry I am about the horrible earthquake that happened. I am thinking of you constantly and hope life returns to normal for you soon.

Lastly, it is with great sadness I tell you of the sudden passing of my dear friend Billy Hatton of the great Liverpool band The Fourmost. We were friends for 55 years and his sense of humor was impeccable! Billy came to see me several times while I was in hospital. I'll always be honoured that he appeared in 'Good Ol' Freda.'

Godspeed, Billy.

We send our love and wish Freda, one of our favorite people ever, a speedy recovery. You can also leave your best wishes, as we did, on her "Good Ol' Freda" Facebook page.

McCartney brings Bruce Springsteen onstage during 9/15 MSG show!

Madison Square Garden

"This is going to be a night full of memories for me" -@PaulMcCartney at @TheGarden #OneOnOne

— MSG (@TheGarden) September 16, 2017

And one of them is @springsteen https://t.co/1ENa3ZlOxy

— Backstreets Magazine (@backstreetsmag) September 16, 2017

Just watched @PaulMcCartney and @springsteen doing "I Saw Her Standing There" twice!! pic.twitter.com/jQd30Mr9S9

— Kory Grow (@korygrow) September 16, 2017

The Boss joins Macca to perform "I Saw Her Standing There" in an unforgettable moment at The Garden. #OneOnOne #PaulMcCartneyMSG pic.twitter.com/VbgGUBRJUg

— MSG (@TheGarden) September 16, 2017

Beatles "LOVE" YouTube miniseries, part 2

Apple Corps Ltd. 

Three more behind-the-scenes vids with backstage looks at the Las Vegas Beatles "LOVE" show dropped Thursday on YouTube. You can see them below in order. 
Catch the first three here. 

New Beatles 'Love' mini-series drops on YouTube

Apple Corps Ltd. 

Three behind-the-scenes vids with backstage looks at the Las Vegas Beatles "LOVE" show dropped today on YouTube. You can see them below in order. (Thanks to Bryan S. Burke.)

Report: Unreleased George Harrison tape sells big

Omega Auctions

We don't have confirmation of the final price from Omega, but we have a report that the "Hello Miss Miss Molly Bee" tape sold Sept. 11 for £14,000, which comes out to about $18,440 USD. That doesn't include buyer's premium. (Thanks, David.) 

The tape, which Omega said had never previously heard in public was recorded in 1968 on to a reel to reel tape and was made for his good friend Mary Bee. It described the song as very much in the Indian style of music that George was heavily influenced by and was produced around the time of his first studio album ‘Wonderwall’. Here's a short clip. Unconfirmed reports say the song was linked to Donovan and sounded similarly like his song "Peregrine," but the auction house made no mention of that. 

Here's the Donovan song if you want to compare. 

Unreleased George Harrison song being auctioned

We have no knowledge of what this is, but Omega Auctions says it's an unreleased George Harrison song, "Song to Miss Mary Bee" from 1968 from around the time of "Wonderwall". The estimated value is 10,000 GBP - 20,000 GBP. 

Here's the description:

GEORGE HARRISON UNRELEASED RECORDING - of a track entitled "Song to Miss Mary Bee" along with a reel 2 reel recording of his "Wonderwall" album, postcards sent by George and his wife Patti Boyd to the vendor and a 6 page letter from Patti to the vendor. This incredible recording was made especially for the vendor whose name is "Mary Bee" back in early 1968 and was sent to her by George and Patti along with postcards and other recordings during 1967 & 1968. The song was recorded on an Emidisc Reel 2 Reel tape in 1968 at "Kinfauns" and is very much in the Indian style of the music that he was heavily influenced by and producing around the time of his first studio album "Wonderwall". In addition to the "Song for Mary Bee" which is approximately 2 minutes long there are other recordings of tracks that George would have been working on with The Beatles at the time. The case of this tape has writing on which reads "Tape to Mary Bee". The "Wonderwall" tape again has writing on the box which reads "Music from the film Wonderwall for Mary Bee". The 6 page letter is a great read and has numerous references to the tapes. Patti talks about George working on the "Wonderwall" soundtrack and at one stage says she can't send a tape of the music but then corrects herself (after speaking to George) to say that "George will tape his music". She also says that George has "just come into the kitchen singing Mary Bee, Mary Bee about to make a lovely cup of tea". There are 3 postcards from Patti & George included in the lot which are all addressed to Mary Bee and have been sent from India. The postcards mention where George & Patti have visited, how they are having their first yoga lesson and that she has been thinking of Mary when meditating. On one George has written "Hello Mary - love George". One of the postcards also starts by asking "Did you get the tapes?". Includes a letter of provenance from the vendor along with her transcribed lyrics for the song.

The Beatles in this week's Billboard

In the Sept. 2-15 issue of Billboard magazine that hit the stands Thursday, the Beatles make a few appearances. In the Top Rock Albums chart, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" sits at #23, up from #25 the previous week. In Top Album Sales, "Sgt. Pepper" ranks at #34, up from #43.  And on the Billboard Top 200, "Sgt. Pepper" rates at #125, down from #124, while "Abbey Road" sits at #149, up from #167 and "The Beatles 1" is at #147, up from #165.

Then there's the full page ad above from SiriusXM promoting the open listening for the Beatles Channel and the rest of the Sirius lineup now going on through Sept. 5.

And don't miss the best Beatles talk on the internet with this week's edition of "Things We Said Today," with yours truly, Allan Kozinn and Ken Michaels. It's available on for download on Podbean and iTunes and streaming on YouTube and theTune In Radio app.