Meet the author of 'Experiencing the Beatles'

Brooke Halpin, author of the recently released "Experiencing the Beatles: A Listener's Companion," will talk about his book at 3 p.m. today (Oct. 28) at the Barnes and Noble store at 23630 Valencia Blvd. in Valencia, California. The book is a comprehensive look at the Beatles music. Admission is free. More information is here.

Indie singer's upcoming Beatles cover album

Water & Power Records

Indie folk-pop artist Fascinoma is releasing Don't Let Me Down: A Beatles Cover Album, across digital platforms only on Oct. 27. The tracks are "Something," "And I Love Her," "Cry Baby Cry," "Don't Let Me Down," "Long Long Long," "Happiness Is a Warm Gun," "I'm So Tired," "I'm Only Sleeping," "Julia" and, to end it, "Her Majesty." The first video below is a video trailer for the album, the second is a live version of the title song. You can preview the entire album on bandcamp.com.

Get thee to Cleveland. John Lennon's Epiphone from rooftop concert is on display at Rock Hall of Fame

Copyright Lennon Archive

It's one of 15 guitars now on display. From the Rock Hall of Fame: "At the heart of countless rock anthems, head-bangers and ballads is the guitar. 15 iconic instruments, including John Lennon's '65 Epiphone Casino, are now on display in our newly launched Guitar Gallery. See how we put the guitars up on display and click to rockhall.com for more behind-the-scenes stories."

The guitar, as the video shows, was used in the rooftop concert in "Let It Be." 

Paul McCartney included in Grammy retro TV special

Photo by MJ Kim. Copyright MPL Productions Inc. 

Set your DVRs. The Recording Academy, which oversees the Grammy Awards, today announced a two-hour CBS special on Nov. 24 called "GRAMMY's Greatest Stories: A 60th Anniversary Special," with a look back at Grammy history. Among those featured on the show will be Paul McCartney.

"Never before have we gathered all of GRAMMY's greatest moments from more than a half-century of award shows for one primetime special, and when you see them put together in a parade of amazing clip montages interspersed with the stories behind the performances, it's really pretty unbelievable," said Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of the GRAMMY Awards for the past 38 years.

'Lennonology' on sale today

From Chip Madinger, author of "Lennonology":


It's been two years since STRANGE DAYS INDEED first hit the street. To celebrate, paperback copies are on sale today (10/9/17) as follows. Prices include shipping (please make sure that you select the proper country).

US $65. paypal.me/lennonology/65  
Canada $105. paypal.me/lennonology/105  
ROTW $115. paypal.me/lennonology/115  

This offer is only good today (10/9/17)

Paul McCartney to fill your Christmas stockings with reissues

Six solo Paul McCartney albums and two of his albums with Wings will be reissued in bare bones single disc 180 gram black vinyl, colored vinyl and CD configurations on Nov. 17 in a move that marks his return to Capitol Records, he announced today.

The order links to the single disc black McCartney vinyl albums: “McCartney,” “Ram,” “Band on the Run.” “Tug of War,” “Pipes of Peace,” “McCartney II.”
The two Wings albums are “At the Speed of Sound” and “Venus and Mars.”  The colored vinyl pressings are available through udiscovermusic.com.

The order links to the single disc CDs: “McCartney,” “Ram,” “Band on the Run.” “Tug of War,” “Pipes of Peace,” “McCartney II” and the two Wings albums “At the Speed of Sound” and “Venus and Mars.” 

All the albums will be issued in single CD, black vinyl and various shades of colored vinyl with “McCartney” in red, “McCartney II” clear, “Tug of War” blue, “Pipes of Peace” silver, “Ram” yellow, “Band on the Run” white, “Venus and Mars” red and yellow and “At the Speed of Sound” orange. The vinyl albums will include a download card.

Lennon Plastic Ono Band drummer Alan White to perform at Seattle benefit concert Thursday

Alan White, who played drums with John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band during their live debut at the Toronto Rock 'n' Roll Revival Festival in 1969, and the Seattle Beatles tribute band Apple Jam and will re-create that debut at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 at a benefit concert at the Hard Rock Cafe in Seattle, Washington. Also performing will be violinist Geoffrey Castle. The show, titled "Loispalooza," will raise funds for Lois and Jerry Levin, two Seattle-area photographers and friends of White. Lois was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.

White recalled how he got involved with Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band. “The phone rang and there was a guy who said, 'Alan, this is John Lennon. I saw you playing at the club the other night. You’re a great drummer. Do you want a gig?' I thought it was a friend of mine playing a joke and I put the phone down. Five minutes later, I get another callback. The same person. And it was John Lennon.”

Besides the Plastic Ono Band, White was also a member of Yes and the show will include songs from both Lennon and Yes.

“Jerry and Lois have been great friends for many years. They have photographed me in both my personal life and professional career and have given their time selflessly for many charitable causes around Seattle. It’s an honor to be able to give back to them,” White said.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. The Hard Rock is located at 116 Pike Street in Seattle. More info at tickets online is available at www.loispalooza.org.

Coming soon: New McCartney vinyl albums, George Martin CD, more

Eight McCartney vinyls are coming out Nov. 17 from uMe. They are "Ram," "Band on the Run," "Speed of Sound," "Venus and Mars,"

"Pipes of Peace," "Tug of War," "McCartney" and "McCartney II." Order them at the links. 

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Six solo Paul McCartney albums and two of his albums with Wings will be reissued in bare bones single disc 180 gram black vinyl, colored vinyl and CD configurations on Nov. 17 in a move that marks his return to Capitol Records.

The order links to the single disc black McCartney vinyl albums: “McCartney,” “Ram,” “Band on the Run.” “Tug of War,” “Pipes of Peace,” “McCartney II.”
The two Wings albums are “At the Speed of Sound” and “Venus and Mars.”  The colored vinyl pressings are available through udiscovermusic.com.

The order links to the single disc CDs: “McCartney,” “Ram,” “Band on the Run.” “Tug of War,” “Pipes of Peace,” “McCartney II” and the two Wings albums “At the Speed of Sound” and “Venus and Mars.” 

All the albums will be issued in single CD, black vinyl and various shades of colored vinyl with “McCartney” in red, “McCartney II” clear, “Tug of War” blue, “Pipes of Peace” silver, “Ram” yellow, “Band on the Run” white, “Venus and Mars” red and yellow and “At the Speed of Sound” orange. The vinyl albums will include a download card.

"The Film Scores and Original Orchestral Music of George Martin" coming out November 10. Double vinyl out in January. Order it here.

From Amazon: 

 "This recording collects - for the first time - the major orchestral works of iconic composer, arranger and producer George Martin. Performed by the Berlin Music Ensemble conducted by Craig Leon, the album features music from the films Yellow Submarine, Live and Let Die and the previously unrecorded choral and orchestral score for The Mission. Also included are the Overture to Under Milk Wood, the suite Three American Sketches and other previously unreleased original compositions."

And if you're looking for something a little different that's out now, "Louis Van Dyke Plays Lennon-McCartney" is available on import CD.  It's E. Power Biggs meets the Beatles and one of our favorite Beatles cover albums. Here's a sample.

New George Martin orchestral album coming out in November

"The Film Scores and Original Orchestral Music of George Martin" coming out November 10. Double vinyl out in January. Order it here.

From Amazon: 

 "This recording collects - for the first time - the major orchestral works of iconic composer, arranger and producer George Martin. Performed by the Berlin Music Ensemble conducted by Craig Leon, the album features music from the films Yellow Submarine, Live and Let Die and the previously unrecorded choral and orchestral score for The Mission. Also included are the Overture to Under Milk Wood, the suite Three American Sketches and other previously unreleased original compositions."

Beatles 'What Goes On' demo sells for over $13k

Bidding just ended for the "What Goes On" unreleased Beatles demo. It sold for 10,200 pounds or $13,649.45. Here's more info on it.