Big Bruce Spizer book sale

To celebrate his 20th year as a Beatles author, Bruce Spizer is having a sale on all of his Beatles books bought through directly through his website atwww.beatle.net. 

All of his regular edition books, including the hardcover and revised and expanded digital editions, are currently on sale for only $20.   

The sale includes the $70 book “Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records,” as well as the $50 books, such as “The Beatles Solo on Apple Records,” “The Beatles Swan Song” and “The Beatles Are Coming!” and his recent book on “Sgt. Pepper.” The sale will end on Sept. 9. 

Bruce's books are indispensable for collectors and fans alike.  We strongly suggest you take advantage of these great prices while you can. 

  

Free Kindle Beatles book worth at least a look

Happened to catch this book "Life on Two Legs" in the Amazon Kindle store yesterday. It's written by the founder of Trident Studios. The foreward is by Paul McCartney. The opening chapter talks about the recording of "Hey Jude." It's free, at least for now. (Prices are known to change without warning in the Kindle store, from my experience.) Worth at least checking out since it's free. 

Klaus Voormann book pre-sale has begun!

Picture copyright Klaus Voormann

Klaus Voormann has begun taking orders for his next book, "It Started in Hamburg." The exclusive edition which is signed by Voormann is now available for pre-sale in his website shop. It will be published in the second half of May.

Here are details taken from the website (and thanks to J. for the alert):

Scheduled to be available as of the second half of May 2018

Softcover/adhesive (unsewn) binding
22 cm x 26 cm
220 pages
More than 200 images (fotos, illustrations, sketches, objects)

About the book:

Musician and graphic designer Klaus Voormann’s Grammy award-winning Beatles “REVOLVER” album cover is considered a masterpiece. However, confining his achievements to the “REVOLVER” album cover wouldn’t capture the whole picture of his multifaceted artistic work.

On the occasion of his 80th birthday in 2018, the book „KLAUS VOORMANN – IT STARTED IN HAMBURG“ is dedicated to his substantial creative work, beginning in Hamburg in 1958. Looking back on a productive period of 60 years, the graphic art also refers to
the musician Voormann and the perennial influence of the world of music.
Besides well-known illustrations from the Beatles-area, almost 200 pieces of artwork will reveal the artist’s diversity, including many graphic works, sketches and productions supplemented by fotos and stories – hitherto unknown to the general public – and contributions of companions and friends.

You can see images of pages from the book on the website.

Julian Lennon sets book autograph sessions in New York and L.A.

Julian Lennon announced today he will sign copies of his new book "Heal the Earth" at 7 p.m. April 6 at Barnes & Noble Union Square, 33 East 17th Street, New York, NY 10003 and 7 p.m. April 13 at Barnes & Noble The Grove at Farmers Market, 189 The Grove Drive Suite K 30
Los Angeles, CA 90036.

Amazon purchase link for "Heal the Earth" 

Amazon purchase link for "Touch the Earth" (his previous children's book)

New Cavern Club book has intro by Sir Paul McCartney

Press release.

About this item

AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW, PUBLISHED 23RD NOVEMBER 2017

The Cavern Club is proud to announce the publication of a limited edition book as part of The Cavern’s 60th anniversary year celebrations. The book features many never before seen items including: George Harrison handwritten letter written to Cavern Club DJ Bob Wooler from Hamburg, unseen Paul McCartney images from his historic performance at The Cavern Club in 1999, a collection of replica handbills and opening programme, restored images of The Beatles at The Cavern Club, Bob Wooler handwritten notes “An introduction to the Cavern” from his personal collection, colour images of The Cavern Club/Mathew St circa 1966 from Ray McFall’s personal collection, exclusive 60th Anniversary 250GSM art print poster by original Cavern poster designer Tony Booth.

The Cavern Club opened its doors on 16 January 1957 and undoubtedly, without the 292 gigs The Beatles played there between February 1961 and August 1963, The Cavern’s story would be a very different one. But they did play those 292 gigs and The Cavern was firmly on the world’s musical

map.

Today The Cavern is a thriving live music venue, still attracting big names. Artists to have played here in more recent years include; Oasis, Travis, Arctic Monkeys, Adele, Jessie J, Jake Bugg, Elbow and of course, in 1999, the return of Sir Paul McCartney.

304 pages of glorious history, told in 25,000 words, packaged in unique anniversary slipcase.

Limited edition of 1,957 to commemorate the date when the club first opened.

Purchase link: https://www.tracks.co.uk/product/b26253-cavern-club-60th-anniversary-limited-edition-book-foreword-sir-paul-mccartney/

(Thanks to John Bezzini of the Beatles Book Collectors Facebook group for the alert.)

Julian Lennon book signings in New York and Los Angeles

Julian Lennon will sign copies of his soon-to-be published children's book, "Touch the Earth," at two U.S. Barnes & Nobles stores this spring. The first signing will take place at 11 a.m. ET April 15 in New York City at the Union Square store, 33 East 17th Street, New York, N.Y. (Phone: 212-253-0810). The second is at 3 p.m. PT April 22 at The Grove at Farmers Market, 189 The Grove Drive, Suite K-30 in Los Angeles (Phone: 323-525-0270). The book hits the streets April 11. (For those across the ocean, it also available for pre-order in the UK.)

And be sure to check out our That's What I Want Beatles store on Amazon. It has a huge selection of Beatles items -- and not all the usual stuff -- at the best prices.)

Ringo's "Photograph" book only $7.49 at Amazon!

The hardcover version of Ringo Starr's mass market version of his "Photograph" book is now only $7.49 at Amazon.com. Please use this link to order.  It is not marked down at Amazon.co.uk, so grab it while you can. It'll make a great holiday gift (or just for yourself). (Thanks to Jessica C.)

And be sure to visit our That's What I Want Beatles Page (U.S) or That's What I Want Beatles Store (UK).

Pre-order the updated George Harrison 'I Me Mine' now from Amazon

The updated and "extended" trade edition of the George Harrison book "I Me Mine," which will be published in February, can now be pre-ordered from Amazon.com in the U.S. and Amazon.co.uk in Great Britain.

From Publisher's Weekly: 

"A 400-page memoir from the Quiet Beatle? Can it be? Well, yes and no: only about 60 pages of this earnest tome, originally published in 1980, are devoted to Harrison's recollections of life before, during and (notably) after the Beatles. His memories, which manage to feel fresh and distant at the same time, come to readers via transcripts of his conversations with Derek Taylor (1932-1997), the Beatles press officer and ghostwriter of Brian Epstein's memoir. Harrison (1943-2001) was only in his late 30s when I Me Mine came out-the Beatles had formed, changed music forever and disbanded before his 28th birthday. The rest of this volume consists of photos with whimsical captions ("the author enjoying a cheese sandwich with some friends" is assigned to a picture of Harrison with a sitar) and facsimiles of his handwritten lyrics (including a fairly different version of "Taxman"), each accompanied by a brief explanation (ideas expressed in "It's All Too Much," for example, were inspired by LSD and "confirmed in meditation"). Most of the songs were composed after Harrison's immersion in Hinduism; divorced from their melodies, lyrics espousing love, peace and harmony tend to take on a certain sameness. This volume offers much to Beatles zealots, but for the casual fan, Harrison will likely remain as admirable and as inscrutable as ever. B&w photos and illustrations throughout."

Genesis is also putting out a more expensive numbered and stamped version available through their website.

Mark Lewisohn's only North American appearance in 2016

Mark Lewisohn interviewed by Steve Marinucci in San Francisco in 2013. (Photo by Sue Marinucci.)

Mark Lewisohn, author of "The Beatles: All These Years, Vol. 1 - Tune 1," announced on Twitter today he'll appear Oct. 22 in the Atrium of the Toronto Reference Library from 2 to 4 p.m. His talk will be titled, "Beatles '66: Tune In: Toronto,"  It'll be his only appearance in North America this year. Admission is free. More information on the library website.

Journalist's 'Beatles Archive' book expands for print edition

“The Ray Connolly Beatles Archive,” which collects the veteran British journalist's stories on the Beatles that spans their career, is now available in paperback in both the U.S. and in the UK, Connolly told us today.

The original ebook featured 336 pages with stories dating from 1962 through 2011. The new version, Connolly said, is “an updated version with about 10 more pieces, including an account of John and Yoko when they first went to New York to live, a couple on George Martin (one an obit), one on how the Beatles changed the self image that we Brits had at the time and another on Freda Kelly. A few more, too.”

We've been always thought books like these with reports from the day are valuable insights into Beatles history. This one is definitely that. Connolly was on the scene for the events of Beatles history he writes about in his book. That makes it well worth getting, whether in print or ebook form.   

"A Hard Day's Night" not a classic?

So the other day, we picked up this book because we love old movies. More than 5,000 entries, the cover says. So we're looking through the book and all the ones you'd expect are there. "Casablanca." "Gone With the Wind." "Ben-Hur." "King Kong." "The Godfather." Not everything in the book is on the list of best movies, but many are, as they should be. But some of the worst were there, too, like "Plan 9 From Outer Space." 

So, as we often do with books, we go looking for Beatle mentions. Like "A Hard Day's Night." Turn the pages to the H's. Not there.  Huh? And no "Help!," "Magical Mystery Tour," "Yellow Submarine" or "Let It Be." Hmm... Curiously, though, the Monkees' "Head" is listed. As is the Dave Clark Five's "Having a Wild Weekend." So is "Jimi Hendrix." "Jailhouse Rock." "Rock, Rock, Rock." "Go, Johnny, Go!" "Beach Blanket Bingo." "Beach Party." 

Tucked in the back are checklists of directors' films. It is there (and only there) we found AHDN, plus "How I Won the War" and the McCartney tour film "Get Back" listed. In tiny print.

The key seems to be the mention in the Editor's Note that the book excludes ("painfully," it says) British films, except for early Hitchcock films and also James Bond movies, but makes an exception for films that "feature predominately Hollywood-associated casts or directors." So presumably, then, John Boorman, who is British, incidentally, and his direction of "Having a Wild Weekend" makes it, but the films of Richard Lester, an American, do not?

By the way, this is not a recent book, but came out in 1999. I have to admit I like the book otherwise because I love reading about classic movies. But this was a huge error and there's no excuse for it. 

(For all the best Beatles news, please subscribe to our Beatles Examiner, Paul McCartney Examiner, George Harrison Examiner and Ringo Starr Examiner columns. And don't miss the weekly Beatles radio show "Things We Said Today" we co-host with Allan Kozinn, Al Sussman and Ken Michaels.) We would very much appreciate you.) 

Beatles book alert: Special price for Apple devices on Allen Klein book

Fred Goodman's biography, "Allen Klein: The Man Who Bailed Out the Beatles, Made the Stones and Transformed Rock 'n' Roll" is now only $2.99 in the Apple iTunes store. It's not as critical as it should have been, in our view, but it does go behind the scenes of what he did. Since Amazon's Kindle price is higher, I suspect this won't last long. Get it while you can.

Big collection of original Beatles Monthlies for sale

Eil.com is advertising a collection of 59 original issues of the Beatles Monthly for sale. The list of issues starts with No. 2 (no Number 1, unfortunately) and goes up to issue No. 55 with only issue 37 missing. There is a second copy of issues 64 through 69. They describe the condition of the issues as "fantastic" (their word), though they say a few issues have the original price written in hand by the news dealer. The price is $596 USD or £395 UK. The link to the full listing is here.

The original magazine published 77 issues from 1963 to 1969. It was revived in 1976 with all the originals reprinted with added content, then continued on until it ended again with issue 321 in 2003.