Beatles ’65 – #3

This gem of an album hits No. 3 on my list not only for the great collection of post A Hard Day’s Night and pre Help! songs, but also because of its value as a memory-maker. This was the first U.S. album - or Beatles product for that matter -  timed to be in stores during the holiday gift giving, (and receiving!), season. It was released on December 15, 1964. Most of the Beatles products including their first wave of Beatlemania albums and singles, toys, models, wallpaper, shampoo, trading cards and the notorious Beatle wigs had been in stores since The Ed Sullivan Show. The market continued be saturated with Fab Four products through the mania of A Hard Day’s Night and the August / September tour of North America. Whatever money we could scrape up, we used to by Beatles “stuff.” And then just when we thought we had it all, BAM here was a new album filled with new songs that we HAD to have. It quickly hit No. 1 on every loyal Beatle fan’s holiday gift wish list.

Beatles ’65 was the first in what has become over a four decade holiday tradition for original Beatles fans. Since Christmas 1964 we’re always waiting for a new Beatles holiday gift. And it could be almost anything such as a greatest hits / remastered package, book or DVD set, (Anthology was a huge holiday prize to receive and could be renamed Beatles ’95),  or even a puzzle of an album cover. It’s become traditional fun for many of us to see the Fab’s faces when unwrapping a gift found under a Christmas tree. 

My baby sitter gave me Beatles ’65  about a week before Christmas. Actually, she was my younger sister’s baby sitter, but had been mine first. She was I guess, about 16 or 17 at the time and I was 11 – so she knew probably more than most parents what a Beatle fan would want for Christmas.

Of couse this album includes many of the songs that the U.K. fans were hearing on Beatles For Sale, and one left over from A Hard Day’s Night, (I’ll Be Back), but we didn’t know anything about that. This was the U.S. and Beatles ’65 is what Capitol Records wanted us to buy, (or ask for Christmas). So the songs left off this collection would still be new to us the next summer on Beatles VI.

The opening track, No Reply, still gives me the excitement it did on first listen. It was new music and only the beginning of what was to follow. I’m A Loser was next and became one of my all-time favorites when The Beatles appeared on the TV show Shindig, (taped in England), and John played his harmonica with a metal “rack” holding it in place while also playing his guitar and singing. Up to that point, I had only seen that device used by Bob Dylan and the comical “one-man bands” that appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Hollywood Palace or other TV shows at the time. Plus it was noticable that The Beatles were growing their hair even longer than in A Hard Day’s Night. Their sound and look was maturing.

I once saw a list of the “worst” Beatles songs, (if there could ever be such a list), and the No. 1 worst was Mr. Moonlight. Well, I’ll admit it was never my favorite and it closes side one of Beatles ’65, but it still brings good vibes because this album is a special collection. It wouldn’t be Beatles ’65 without it. This also continued the legend John was putting together as a lead singer by having another vocal chord shredding song on an album. Think Twist and Shout and Money – and Mr. Moonlight fits right in.

The collection also includes the double-sided single I Feel Fine and She’s A Woman. The U.K. albums never included singles, which was The Beatles’ policy. They didn’t think fans should have to pay for the same songs twice. Of course Capitol Records didn’t think the same way. But I didn’t mind at all – and am glad both songs are on the album. I had the single when it came out, but it was always a bit of a pain to get up and flip the 45 rpm record over to hear the song on the other side. On Beatles ’65, (and others), you could just let the album side play and hear more than just one song – including the hit single - before changing sides, (or hearing them all again!).

Here’s the track list:

Side One:

1. No Reply
2. I’m A Loser
3. Baby’s In Black
4. Rock’n Roll Music
5. I’ll Follow The Sun
6. Mr. Moonlight

Side Two:

1. Honey Don’t
2. I’ll Be Back
3. She’s A Woman
4. I Feel Fine
5. Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby

Some Beatles historians have described this as a time when the Beatles were getting worn down from the hectic pace of touring, writing, recording, and filming A Hard Day’s Night. I’m pretty sure that was written by someone who looked at the Beatles For Sale album cover and described them as “tired.” Hey, guess what – that was just ONE photo. There’s nothing tired about this album. It’s obvious these are songs the Beatles were into, had a blast recording and an even bigger blast playing live.  Six out of the eleven songs were performed during their 1965 and 1966 world tours. Some songs were played during both tours, (I Feel Fine, Baby’s In Black, She’s A Woman). 

Beatles ’65 lands in the No. 3 spot. Only two more to go, stay tuned…

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Dave Schwensen is the author of The Beatles In Cleveland: Memories, Facts & Photos About The Notorious 1964 & 1966 Concerts. He also presents the multimedia program, Beatlemania on the Northcoast, to schools, universities and special interest groups. For more information visit www.BeatlemaniaOnTheNorthCoast.com.

Copyright 2010 – North Shore Publishing

A Sunny Memory of Bobby Hebb

Life’s coincidences, both large and small, never cease to amaze me. Seriously, that may sound like a very cool made-up statement, but it’s true for me. I always seem to be running into people I was just thinking about or hearing from people I was just talking about. Even when writing my books, one connection always seems to lead to another - and a lot of times that connection was someone already on my “wish list” to be interviewed for the book. What a coincidence…

That’s happened with both my comedy books, (How To Be A Working Comic and Comedy FAQs And Answers), but most notably with The Beatles In Cleveland.

 When I was working on that book in 2004, I posted a story on my website about the opening acts for the Fab’s 1966 tour. They were The Remains, The Cyrkle, The Ronettes and Bobby Hebb. I just couldn’t figure out how to get in touch with any of them for the book. And if I had a choice, the first request would be to Bobby Hebb. He had a MAJOR No. 1 hit that summer with Sunny and his performance – next to The Beatles – is the one I remembered most.

So, you know what’s coming – right? What a coincidence…

Seems as if it was only within days I heard from music producer and writer Joe Viglione in Boston. He had a close friendship and working relationship with Bobby Hebb and asked if I’d like to interview him for the book. Are you kidding me?? Of course – and I did.

Now for a sad coincidence…

August 14, 2010 was the 44^th anniversary of the Cleveland Beatles concert that inspired my book. The date has become special to me, almost like a birthday since it was my first concert and a personal connection with The Fab Four. August 14^th carries a lot of memories for me.

But this year it was different. I found an article online that very day by Joe Viglione that Bobby Hebb had passed away. He actually left us on August 3^rd but I missed the news. I emailed Joe and he sent me a couple articles about Bobby’s life and passing.

I only spoke with Bobby twice – and both times on the phone. It was only supposed to be a one time interview for my book The Beatles In Cleveland, but I’m a self-professed “techno duh” and after we hung up, I realized my trusty tape recorder hadn’t been recording. I called him back; he laughed and graciously did the entire interview with me again. I’ve never forgotten that. Believe it or not, (and this is meant to be sarcasm), there are celebrities that are “star struck” and make you feel lucky for whatever time they give you. Not Bobby Hebb, (and this is meant to be the truth). From my experience and judging the feelings of good will and good humor during our conversations, he was one of the good ones.

Bobby is best known for his No. 1 single Sunny during summer of the Beatles final tour in 1966. But he should never be grouped with any one-hit wonders. He had a career that lasted almost all of his 72 years, (was a performer at 3 years old), and was known for writing a song every day since the age of 14. He finished over 1,000 of them.

I could go on about Bobby Hebb’s career and accomplishments, but I have something else in mind. So for all his biographical information and awards, just Google Bobby’s name and start reading. It’ll take you awhile.

What I want to share here is my connection with Bobby Hebb. It’s the interview we did for The Beatles In Cleveland. This is the entire conversation and not the edited version that appears in the book. It’s Bobby talking about performing and that special summer of 1966 when he toured with The Beatles. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

THE AUGUST 1966 CONCERT WITH THE BEATLES IN CLEVELAND. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER?

(laughs)

YOU WERE WEARING THE DARK SUIT…

Okay… It was a rainy night. Sam Davis, he was the A&R man, Audio and Recording man, for Mercury Records at that time. This was the gentleman… He and his daughter, I had promised to get seats for him on the tour. And they got a chance to see the show. They did not get a chance to meet The Beatles. But it was a fun thing there.

YOU SAID EARLIER THEY WERE IN A SAFE PLACE.

Oh yes. They were in a safe place. They were right up front, but they still didn’t get hurt when the kids ran out on the field in Cleveland.

OBVIOUSLY THEY STAYED IN THEIR SEATS.

Well, I hope so. She was there with her father. (laughs)

YOU SAID YOU TOOK THREE SUITS WITH YOU ON THAT TOUR. THREE DIFFERENT STAGE OUTFITS?

Give and take… I do remember a black one, a white one and possibly blue. Oh I know! I had a yellow jacket and I had a brown – a heavier – sport coat, which is on exhibit right now at The Hall of Fame in Nashville.

I REMEMBER YOU DRESSED IN BLACK AT THE CLEVELAND SHOW. AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A LEATHER JACKET, BUT MAYBE I WAS SITTING TOO FAR AWAY.

Well, I do remember having a black outfit. I still wear a lot of black.

SO WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE ON THAT STAGE IN FRONT OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE?

That was a wonderful feeling. That was more people… I would think maybe even more than I’ve ever performed in front of in my whole, entire life.

WERE YOU TOO FAR AWAY TO SEE THE CROWD WITH ALL THE LIGHTS? WHAT WAS YOUR VISION LIKE?

Oh yes, I remember the crowd. Because the way I perform is that I have to look directly over the heads of the crowds.

THIS WAS AN OUTSIDE STADIUM. BARRY TASHIAN, (OF THE REMAINS), SAID HE WAS ABOUT 125 FEET AWAY FROM THE AUDIENCE.

Oh yes… I could see something. I can see from a distance. I can’t see close up! (laughs)

EVEN BACK THEN?

Even though I wear glasses, I still can’t see close up. So I put on another pair of glasses AND those glasses. Bifocals! (laughs)

EACH ACT HAD ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES ON STAGE?

That could have been. About twenty minutes each. I don’t know if we had that long, but it could’ve been. Twenty minutes sounds normal.

SUNNY WAS SOMETIME TOWARD THE END OF YOUR SET.

The end of the show?

YEAH. THE END OF YOUR SET.

At the end of the show, we were talking… It was in San Francisco. I added a song. I did, I Left My Heart In San Francisco. And I just played guitar only on that, because I didn’t have time to rehearse that with the band.

BUT YOU SAID IN THE OTHER SHOWS – INCLUDING CLEVELAND – YOU OPENED WITH BREAD…

I think I opened up with Bread. And of course I did Sunny, but I can’t remember what the middle songs would’ve been.

I REMEMBER SUNNY BEING TOWARDS THE END OF THE SET. AND I REMEMBER PEOPLE SINGING ALONG BECAUSE WE KNEW IT SO WELL. HERE WAS THE BIG SUMMER TOUR WITH THE BEATLES – BUT YOU HAD THE NO.1 SONG IN THE COUNTRY…

Yes, it was No.1. That was a very fortunate thing.

SO THE AUDIENCES ALL KNEW YOU.

Yes.

DID THE BEATLES EVER SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE SONG SUNNY?

Oh yes! The congratulated me and they liked the song. As a matter of fact, I recall all of them talking about that. That was the one thing that, when we first met, that was the first thing that they mentioned, that it was a great song and they liked it.

YOU’VE MENTIONED THAT YOU TALKED WITH PAUL MORE THAN THE OTHERS, CORRECT?

Well… I talked more to Ringo. I talked to Paul about photography. But I spoke to Ringo, because Ringo wanted me to do some work with them on piano.

BUT YOU RECOMMENDED SOMEBODY ELSE.

Yes, I recommended Billy Preston.

HOW DID YOU FIND BILLY PRESTON?

Well, I heard Billy play his version of Sunny. And I thought that he was a good musician and a fine performer.

AND BILLY PRESTON WENT ON TO BE ALMOST THE FIFTH BEATLE.

Oh yes, yes, yes, yes. He did very well. He did a good job.

SO YOU MENTIONED TO ME THAT YOU THOUGHT RINGO WAS MORE LIKE THE BUSINESS MAN.

Correct.

AND HOW DID YOU PICK UP ON THAT?

By watching. Observing.

JOHN LENNON WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE DECISION MAKER IN THE BEATLES…

Well, Ringo would kind’a ‘scout’ things. And discuss things with the other fellas.

MANY YEARS LATER, GEORGE SENT YOU AN EMAIL.

Yes. I sent him an email saying happy birthday and he returned an email. I wish I had… I lost all of that in my palm pilot, because I could have… I should have kept that. I saved the message…

YOU MET JOHN AND YOKO.

Right. At a BMI Award dinner in Manhattan.

WHAT DID YOU TALK ABOUT? DID YOU MENTION THE TOUR AT ALL?

No, no, no, no. We talked about current things, actually. We were talking about… It was just very small, because you know; you don’t have much time to talk. But we talked about current material. That’s the basic things that we were doing and he was apologizing that he hadn’t gotten in touch with me to say hello. He had forgotten all about me. But I can understand that. You get busy, man, and you get involved into a project. And even when you get a minor break from that project, you try to take care of the current things that are in front of you.

IT WAS THAT COLD, RAINY NIGHT DURING THE 1966 CLEVELAND CONCERT. WE TALKED ABOUT THE FANS RUSHING THE STAGE. IT WAS THE FIRST OUTDOOR SHOW OF THAT TOUR. THE KIDS RUSHED THE STAGE. I CALLED IT A RIOT, BUT YOU DIDN’T REALLY CALL IT THAT.

No. I didn’t. I couldn’t see that as a riot. I thought it was just a form of excitement and one that had just reached a certain ultimate at that particular moment. And I don’t think the break during the concert was bad or anything like that…

DO YOU REMEMBER SEEING THE KIDS RUSH ACROSS THE FIELD TO THE STAGE? DID YOU SEE THAT?

Yes, I recall that.

DO YOU RECALL WHERE YOU WERE?

I was not in the area, so wherever the dressing room was, that’s where I was.

WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND? WERE YOU AFRAID FOR THEIR SAFETY?

Well, someone asked me to look. And I guess it was probably a member of The Cyrkle. I headed toward that way, but security stopped me and wouldn’t allow it. So therefore, I became, you know, obedient so that we could continue doing whatever we were trying to do.

DID YOU TALK TO THE BEATLES ABOUT IT AFTERWARDS? WAS IT MENTIONED AT ALL?

No. I listened.

NOT EVEN ON THE PLANE AFTERWARDS? THE NEXT DAY OR ANYTHING?

No… I found out a long time ago that I learned more by just listening. You know, seriously. Because what happens is I stopped listening once and I started making “B’s” in class. I stopped talking and just kept listening and I made “A’s.”

THAT’S A GOOD THEORY! WHAT WAS IT LIKE ON THAT AIRPLANE?

We played games. Like the game shows they had on television. The Ronettes came up with quite a few of them. Password was one of them. I couldn’t tell’ya how the game went at this moment. I seriously couldn’t! (laughs)

DID THE BEATLES EVER PLAY ANY OF THESE GAMES WITH YOU?

No.

THEY WERE WHERE?

Well, if The Beatles weren’t talking about different things they were nodding. Getting a little rest.

YOU SAID THEY SAT TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

Correct.

DID THEY GET UP AND DOWN THE AISLES AT ALL AND SOCIALIZE?

Oh yeah!

WHO WAS THE FRIENDLIEST ONE DO YOU THINK?

The friendliest?

YEAH.

Ringo.

I’VE HEARD THAT FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE. WAS GEORGE REALLY THE QUIET ONE?

George and John were quiet. Paul and Ringo were more active.

WHAT ABOUT THE FANS. WAS IT CRAZY THE WHOLE TOUR? WERE YOU PRETTY WELL ISOLATED? ANY MEMORIES OR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

Well, we kind’a stuck together.

YOU DID?

Yeah. We were a good team. We became like a family type of thing. You know, we ate the same thing… The Beatles had the same thing that we had. And we had our choice of what we wanted to drink.

YOU SAID YOU HAD SOME GOOD FOOD AND GOOD DRINK, RIGHT?

Yes. And in those days I really didn’t care for champagne. All I wanted was Jack Daniels. I don’t drink now. In those days, that’s what I wanted. Jack Daniels.

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS FOR THIS BOOK?

Well, on the plane coming from Los Angeles to San Francisco, Joan Baez rode with us. And in the dressing room we were just jokingly singing a duet together that was called Carameabeing.

I’M NOT FAMILIAR…

Caro Mioben. It’s Italian and from an opera.

SHOWS YOU HOW MUCH I KNOW ABOUT OPERA!

(laughs)

THAT SOUNDS LIKE QUITE AN EXPERIENCE. OH I DID WRITE IN MY NOTES THAT YOU REMINDED ME MORE OF JAMES BROWN THAN THE TEMPTATIONS.

Oh, thank you!

YOU LIKE THAT ONE?

Yes. Thank you very much. I know both of them. I knew the original Temptations. You know, when David (Ruffin) was there. I don’t know the other guy.

THE GUY AFTER HIM.

Yeah. I did not know the guy after David. Because when I met them, David was there. As a matter of fact, David had broken his arm some place. But David wasn’t on that tour.

THEY WEREN’T ON THAT BEATLES TOUR.

No.

YOU HAD THE RONETTES AND THE CYRKLE.

Right. But I toured also with The Temptations. That’s why I knew The Temptations.

YOU HAD REAL ENERGY. I REMEMBER YOU BEING ALL OVER THAT STAGE. AM I CORRECT ON THAT?

Well, thank you. I always feel at home on stage.

YOU WORKED THE AUDIENCE AND PUT ON A GREAT SHOW. CONGRATULATIONS ON EVERYTHING YOU’VE DONE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP WITH THIS BOOK.

Thank you very much and have a good one. Ciao.

Bobby Hebb: July 26, 1938 – August 3, 2010

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Dave Schwensen is the author of The Beatles In Cleveland. For more information about the book visit www.BeatlesInCleveland.com. For information about Dave’s live presentation, Beatlemania on the Northcoast, visit www.BeatlemaniaOnTheNorthcoast.com.

Copyright 2010 – North Shore Publishing

Something New – #4

  In my list of Beatles albums only released in the U.S. – Something New comes in at No. 4. If you wanna get technical about it, this album was also released in Germany and on U.S. Armed Forces bases in Europe. But ask someone from outside the U.S. and Germany about Something New and they’ll probably answer with what they got for Christmas last year…

  This was the summer of A Hard Day’s Night. We were still riding the first BIG wave of Beatlmania where everything released by The Fab Four was landing at the top of the Singles and Album Charts. It was released on July 20, 1964 on Capitol Records – not long after the A Hard Day’s Night soundtrack album came out on United Artists.

  Here’s what was going on. The Beatles were massive in popularity and earning-power. Capitol had them because of their business relationship with England’s EMI Records. BUT, United Artists had them signed to a movie deal and was releasing their first film, A Hard Day’s Night. This allowed UA to also ride the Beatles popularity with a soundtrack album.

  Capitol wasn’t going to let the golden egg slip through their fingers, so they also released the Beatles’ songs from the soundtrack, (UA owned the instrumentals), minus the title song and I Should’ve Known Better. Both songs had already been a No. 1 Capitol single release and flip side. The way Capitol always handled the Beatles song catalogue to compile more albums in the U.S., it’s surprising they didn’t include both sides from the single and save two other songs from Something New for a later release.

  This was an extremely exciting summer for Beatles fans. Everyone bought the A Hard Day’s Night album – and within weeks bought it again as Something New. The previous LP hit the No. 1 spot on the charts while Something New stayed right behind it as No. 2.

  Think about this for a moment and you’ll understand the tight grip The Beatles had on U.S. teenagers. Both the country’s No. 1 and No. 2 albums included the songs I’ll Cry Instead, Tell Me Why, And I Love Her, I’m Happy Just To Dance With You and If I Fell. Those are five songs – almost half of the 11 total on the album! And they were on both! Amazing.

  The others on Something New included Things We Said Today, Any Time At All and When I Get Home from the English release of A Hard Day’s Night. Slow Down and Matchbox were from the British Long Tall Sally long player, (larger than a 45 – smaller than an LP). And the last song was Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand – or I Want To Hold Your Hand sung in German. Again, this shows the power of The Beatles in that all of us in the U.S. were rockin’ to a second version of a song we all bought just months earlier – but now sung in a language most of us couldn’t understand. And looking back, I wonder with WWII less than 20 years removed from this song – which also received radio play, (believe it or not) - it must have irked more than a few veterans who fought in the European Theater against the Nazis. And when you combine that with how upset many of these guys already were because the Baby-Boomer males were starting to grow their hair long, it’s no wonder WWIII was blowing up between the generations at home. 

  Today Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand is little more than a novelty song. I have it on my iPod just because it’s a Fab’s tune and brings back the great memories surrounding Something New, but if I someday have too many songs on the iPod and something had to go – this would be it.

  I remember buying this album at a Grant’s Department store, (doubt they still even exist), in Sandusky, Ohio. I hadn’t seen or heard of it before, but when I saw it on display I had to have it. The LP is currently framed and on display in my office. And whenever I look up at it, I think of the summer of A Hard Day’s Night and the excitement of still being a pre-teen and discovering the music that has stayed with me ever since.

Copyright 2010 – North Shore Publishing

Crispian St. Peters – The Pied Piper

 I read that British pop singer Crispian St. Peters passed away on June 8, 2010. I remember him from his mega-hit in 1966, “The Pied Piper,” and because I’d never heard of anyone with the name “Crispian” before. Sounded very cool and very English.

St. Peters also had a hit with the song, “You Were On My Mind,” which was a remake of the 1965 hit by the We Five. Of course that was also a remake of the original version – which was written by Sylvia Tyson and recorded, (with her husband), by Ian & Sylvia in 1964.

It’s amazing that the same song, “You Were On My Mind,” could be recorded by three acts and charted – THREE years in a row! Also a fun fact about the We Five – they were chosen for representation by a manager, (can’t remember name), in the 1960s OVER The Mamas and the Papas. There’s a career choice that undoubtedly came back and haunted that guy forever. Sort of like Dick Rowe at Decca Records turning down The Beatles. Okay, NOT on that scale, (let’s be real), but still a blunder.

Crispian St. Peters made a few waves around 1966 when he declared he was a better songwriter than John Lennon & Paul McCartney. Also said The Beatles as performers were boring compared with him, since they “just stood there” while Crispian moved around “working the audience.” Whatever. He eventually faded from the music scene, (at least my scene), after 1966, but I’ve always dug his name and “The Pied Piper.”

I have fond memories of ”The Pied Piper” because it was part of that amazing year in music, 1966. The Beatles were touring that summer and the whole music scene was filled with catchy songs. I’ve focused on the year’s music in my book, “The Beatles In Cleveland,” and still look back on it as a real turning point from pop to rock.

I just checked my iPod and have a total of 1,017 songs. The range goes from early 1960′s Ray Charles to 2009 “American Idol” runner-up, Adam Lambert. “The Pied Piper” is ranked at No. 70 on my personal “most played list.” Still love the song!!

Dave is the author of “The Beatles In Cleveland” and presents “Beatlemania on the Northcoast” for colleges, universities, high schools and special interest groups. For more information, visit www.BeatlesInCleveland.com and www.BeatlemaniaOnTheNorthcoast.com.

Copyright 2010 – North Shore Publishing

Introducing… The Beatles – #5

Sometimes – but not always – I like to put things in order. I guess a lot of us do. That’s why we have best friends who are mentioned first when planning a party, favorite books we can list when asked, and activities we like to do- as opposed to things we have to do.

It’s called “making lists.” We all do it, or at least follow other people who do. We read end of the year lists of Best and Worst Movies, what concert tours grossed the most money, and listen to repeats on the radio of Casey Kasem counting down songs from the 1970′s. I plan to discuss that program in the future with a personal Best and Worst list, but I have something else on my mind tonight.

Until the release of The Beatles’ music catalogue on CD in the mid-1980′s, the U.S. albums did not match the U.K. versions. It wasn’t until June 1967 with “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” that U.S. fans actually had an album with all the songs The Beatles had intended to be included when they recorded it. 

I won’t repeat what dedicated fans already know about how Capital Records used less tracks per album in the U.S. so they could compile them with the hit singles, (not included on U.K. albums), and have more product to sell. That’s history and the original U.K. albums are now considered the “official” albums. But I grew up listening to the U.S. versions and have fond memories of each. To me, that’s how I experienced Beatlemania in the 1960′s.

For example, the “Hard Day’s Night” and “Help!” albums include instrumental soundtracks. “Rubber Soul” opens with “I’ve Just Seen A Face” and not “Drive My Car.” That song is the first track on “Yesterday… and Today,” which is also the only album that had the song, “Yesterday.”

So I’ve decided to make my own list of the Top Five Beatles albums that were released in the U.S. and did not match the U.K. versions. I’ll take my time doing this, so it won’t be on a regular basis. I may do the next one tomorrow, or wait a couple weeks. But eventually, you’ll have my list.

Oh – do I really need to name all the U.S. albums? I’m sure you know them. If not, I included the titles in my book, “The Beatles In Cleveland.” Otherwise you can Google for the information or continue checking back as I list my top five.

But keep in mind there were 9 albums released in the U.S. with titles never used in England, (I didn’t include ”Hey Jude (The Beatles Again)” in this list, which was an Apple / Alan Klein release of older songs), and 4 with the same titles, but different, (for example, “Rubber Soul”). I’ll only concentrate on the 9 that were strictly U.S. versions. Here we go…

#5 – “Introducing… The Beatles”

This was my first Beatles album – released on VeeJay Records in January 1964. Here’s why…

It was the Saturday after the first “Ed Sullivan” appearance, (Feb. 9, 1964), and I was hooked. My parents were going shopping and I asked them to PLEASE buy me a Beatles record. ANYTHING would do!

I really expected the “other” album. I didn’t know the title of it at the time, but it was “Meet The Beatles” and included “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” That was the No. 1 hit single and what everyone was singing and talking about in my 5th grade class. But when my mom and dad came home, they handed me “Introducing… The Beatles.”

There may have been a moment of disappointment when I saw what appeared to be an older photo on the cover, therefore thinking it was an older album. The Fabs’ hair was a bit shorter than the “Ed Sullivan” appearance and I didn’t care for the brown suits. The entire package didn’t seem to look as cool as the magazine photos I had seen of the album with the half shadows, (“Meet The Beatles”). But I got over it the minute I placed it on our stereo turntable.

The first track, “I Saw Her Standing There,” opened with Paul shouting, “Four!” then kicked into the song. Seems the VeeJay Records exec in charge of putting it together thought Paul’s countdown was an overlooked edit – so he cut it out. That’s how I first heard it - and still remember it.

I’ll cut this short, this album follows the original U.K. debut, “Please Please Me,” but there are different versions. Some copies include “Love Me Do” and “P.S. I Love You,” while others have “Ask Me Why” and “Please Please Me.”  Mine was the latter.

I played both sides over and over until I scored a copy of “Meet The Beatles” during another shopping trip by mom and dad the next weekend. Then I played BOTH albums over and over. When you stop and think about it, how cool were my mom and dad? They bought me my first two Beatles albums, while a lot of other parents were complaining about their long hair and electric noise.

Of course the highlight was when my mom and dad took me to a Beatles concert in 1966, but I won’t get into that now. That’s why I wrote “The Beatles In Cleveland.”

“Introducing… The Beatles” was my “introduction” to The Fab Four on record. I could listen to the songs any time I wanted and didn’t have to keep my ears glued to the radio or wait for the next “Ed Sullivan” appearance to hear their songs. All I had to do was play this album and it will always be special to me for that reason. The tracks included:

Side One:

I Saw Her Standing There / Misery / Anna (Go to Him) / Chains / Boys / Ask Me Why

Side Two:

Please Please Me / Baby It’s You / Do You Want To Know A Secret? / A Taste of Honey / There’s a Place / Twist and Shout

Today my original album is framed and hanging on my office wall. The Fabs look pretty good with the shorter hair and brown suits. The exciting part is that it offers a great mix of rock – “Twist and Shout” is a true classic – pop, (“Do You Want To Know A Secret?”), and R&B, (“Baby It’s You”). And yes – I even enjoy the Broadway song, “Taste of Honey.” It would really be a blast if Paul McCartney did it on his current tour!

“Introducing… The Beatles” set the stage for what was to come and is #5 on my list of U.S. only releases.

Dave is the author of “The Beatles In Cleveland.” For more information visit www.BeatlesInCleveland.com.

Copyright 2010 – North Shore Publishing

John Lennon: “But he was a policeman.”

During my program “Beatlemania on the Northcoast,” we open with a ten minute film that includes rare photos and news clips of the 1964 and 1966 Cleveland concerts. Voice overs from John Lennon (1964) and Paul McCartney (1966) give audiences insight into what they were thinking when fans rushed onto the stage – at both concerts – and the Beatles were rushed off – for their personal safety.

One comment from John Lennon always gets a laugh. It’s obvious he’s not pleased about what happened, but doesn’t blame the fans. Not at all. In fact, he thought the police overreacted.

When the segment comes up during the opening film, the audience quietly listens to what he had to say. Then he delivers his final comment – which I’m sure he didn’t mean to be funny – and the crowd reaction is laughter. It’s a great example of John Lennon speaking his mind, which is how we’ll always remember him…

 

Interviewer: “At the moment the show was stopped, when you were playing and the man walked up on the stage, what was the first thought that ran in your mind if you can remember?”

John Lennon: “I felt like kicking him off, you know, because it was so annoying when he come charging the stage and the way he did, was came on and just pushed George and I off the microphone. They didn’t say why. Apparently someone was getting hurt, but we couldn’t see anything. You know, nothing was really happening wild. They were just coming on and shoving us off and shouting, “Get off the stage!”

The line that gets the laughs? Here we go…

Lennon: “You know, I felt like kicking him – but he was a policeman.”

 

www.BeatlemaniaOnTheNorthCoast.com

Vatican Forgives The Beatles

News came out this week that The Vatican has finally forgiven the Beatles. What I want to know is - forgiven for what?

According to newswire reports, The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano paid tribute to The Fab Four on the 40th anniversary of the band’s break-up. Not exactly a date Beatles fans celebrate, but we can let them slide on this one.

The paper states that the Beatles’ “dissolute” lives and John Lennon’s “boastful” claim that the band was more popular than Jesus are in the past, while their music lives on. Well of course their music lives on – I’m listening to “The White Album” right now. So the newspaper’s PR machine is correct on that level. As for the other claims…

Do you really know what “dissolute” means? I’m sure we all know it’s not a compliment, but let’s see exactly how L’Osservatore Romano is describing the creators of the ”music that lives on.” I looked up the word and here are a few meanings:

* Degenerate * Depraved * Immoral * Debauched * Self-indulgent

Those terms fit the image many rock stars aspired to for PR purposes – especially in the 70′s and 80′s. I guess Mick, Keith and Brian from The Rolling Stones set the mold, but the two who lived through it were more of a family act by the time they got back together for the 1989 tour. “The Bad Boys of Rock” better describes KISS, Poison, Billy Idol and others from that era. One way they earned that public reputation was by “self-indulging” their fantasies by featuring sexy girls wearing sexy outfits in music videos. But The Beatles in the 1960′s? When they sang about women in their lives, the lyrics were about being in love.

The Fab Four were “rock stars” in their early 20′s. And if asked, most male rock musicians will tell you they got into the business to meet girls.  The Beatles were no different. But countless writers have played detective while writing countless books about the group. Believe me, if they could dig up dirt and report new scandals to make a few extra bucks, they would. However, no one has been able to turn up anything remotely “depraved” as the lifestyles of Jim Morrison, Keith Moon or Led Zeppelin.  John and Yoko was the biggest sex scandal and I’ve heard of worse sex scandals at college fraternity parties.

As for their personalities, while writing “The Beatles In Cleveland” I heard nothing but compliments. They were not “star struck” nor expected special treatment. They remembered people’s names and asked about their families. Eyewitnesses also stressed each member’s sense of humor. According to the interviews I gathered while “playing detective” for the book, the personalities you saw in “A Hard Day’s Night” were the personalities you saw when dealing with The Fab Four in public.

That’s a far cry from Van Halen’s contractual demands that all brown M&M’s be removed from the bowls of the candy in their dressing rooms. If not, the VH’s members were known to grind them into the carpet with their boots. The Beatles biggest concert demand were clean towels and a few bottles of soft drinks. I would hardly call The Fabs “dissolute.”

We also know John Lennon’s remarks about The Beatles being more popular than Jesus were taken out of context. He was only stating what was apparent with teenagers in England in 1966 and was a small part of a long, rambing interview about various topics. He basically said British teenagers were more likely to attend a Beatles concert than go to church. He wasn’t talking for or against it – just saying what he observed. It’s been written about in many books, including a chapter in “The Beatles In Cleveland.” We all know that now – which makes it surprising to me that he’s being forgiven 40-plus years later for something he really didn’t do.

I’d also like to say right here that on the side of being a spiritual person and in an effort to be politically correct, I won’t bring up the much publicized woes the church and its leaders have been dealing with for years. That will be solved by government and media “detectives” and doesn’t need any comments or finger-pointing from me. You know what I’m talking about, so let’s just leave it at that.

But to be fair and because there are always two sides and two opinions to every story, let me throw this one at you. The Vatican has forgiven The Beatles. Considering all the circumstances, truths, rumors and accusations over the past 40-plus years – do Ringo and Paul really care? Should they? Now THAT would be an interesting story.

www.BeatlesInCleveland.com

American Idol Features Songs By Lennon & McCartney

For the critics who’ve been a little too critical of having the music of John Lennon & Paul McCartney featured on the U.S. television show “Amercian Idol,” here’s a thought… Get over it.

I don’t believe the Lennon & McCartney catalogue belongs only to Baby-Boomers and music critics, who seem to be the ones promoting this opinion. Their general feeling appears to be that these songs are not being shown the respect they deserve on a top rated reality program that aims for a desired demographic of younger adults and teenagers. Apparently, according to these critics, there’s something wrong with the youthful contestants performing these songs for an audience who are also too young to remember the originals.

I remember The Rat Pack and other… well, older singers from the 60′s doing Lennon & McCartney songs in an attempt to appeal to younger audiences and no one called them out on it. Picture a Las Vegas style performer in a tux, snapping his fingers and singing a cabaret lounge version of “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.” They got away with it and are now remembered as legendary, but “American Idol” contestants are being criticized. Talk about a double standard…

I LOVE the fact that the younger generations are learning about The Beatles and great songs. My 14 year old son is probably not much different than other members of his generation when it comes to his musical tastes. In other words, when he gets in my car he changes the station from my Classic Rock to today’s Top 40. But since he’s also a devoted “American Idol” fan, the show is doing a great job of reminding him of the great songwriting team of Lennon & McCartney. For others who may not be familiar with the songs, the show is giving them an education in pop music history.

I’m old enough to have seen The Beatles in concert. I’m also a BIG ”American Idol” fan. I think the television program is an excellent showcase for young talent and succeeds by letting viewers choose who will be the ”next big thing.” That’s the basic premise behind showbusiness – give the people what they want.

If you know your FAB history, The Beatles used to audition, (which is what “American Idol” finalists are doing every week), for promoters and anyone else who might give them their big break. For FAB historians, think Larry Parnes and their first Scottish tour with Stu Stuttcliffe on bass. Winning that audition, (actually they came in second, but so did Adam Lambert on “American Idol”), was a huge accomplishment on their road to success. It’s also why I truly believe The Beatles would have been standing in line to audition for “American Idol” – or England’s “X-Factor” - if there had been such shows in 1960.

And if you think about it, they probably would’ve performed songs by Elvis, Chuck Berry or Buddy Holly. Would critics have bashed the television show for allowing The Beatles to sing those classic rock’n roll songs? Maybe. After all, they were hits in the 1950′s and The Beatles didn’t chart hits until the next decade. Critics might have even compared them to a cover band or karaoke singers. 

But would it have stopped The Beatles from playing Elvis, Chuck Berry or Buddy Holly songs? Or the Baby Boomer Generation from listening, buying the records and going to their concerts? No way. 

The Beatles educated us by breaking away from the ”musical stylings” of the early 1960′s, which had become too commercialized and had lost the excitement. If you need an example, download a video of Pat Boone singing Little Richard’s “Tutti Fruitti” and you’ll know what I mean. The Beatles gave us a needed lesson in rock’n roll. “American Idol” did the same by featuring the songs of Lenn0n & McCartney.

 The “American Idol” top 10 finalists will go out on tour this summer and there’s a good chance one or more will sing a Beatles song. The critics who complained about these songs used on the television show will probably skip the concerts. One even wrote that he would stay home, sit in a comfortable chair and listen to his original Beatles albums instead.

Me? I’ll go to the “American Idol” concert and listen to a new generation of talent sing, (hopefully), one or two great Lennon & McCartney songs I grew up with and loved. I also hope they put a new spin on the tunes, inspiring a new generation to download the songs onto their iPods.  And then I’ll also listen to the originals – excuse me, the remasterd CDs - on the drive home. Sounds more exciting than another night sitting in a comfortable chair.  

So for critics past the age limit to audition for “American Idol,” please do us all a favor and stop acting so old. It’s getting embarrassing and you’re sounding like the old geezers we battled during the first stage of Beatlemania. Plus you’re taking away any credibility we earned in the 1960′s as a generation that was open to – and supported – whatever style of music we enjoyed and wanted to hear.

Lennon & McCartney on “American Idol” was a lesson in music appreciation. And for my critique, I think it ROCKED!!

Puff The Magic Dragon?

Don’t know why I just thought of this, but I remember being in third grade and having an art teacher who must have been into folk music. Back then, most teachers and parents thought rock’n roll and protest songs were too rebellious for kids our age. We would’a been wild in the classrooms! But thanks to the soothing effect of acoustic guitars and mellow harmonies, folk music was supposed to be safe for America’s youth.

That year we had to do a project based on the folk song “Puff The Magic Dragon,” by Peter, Paul & Mary. I remember drawing, coloring, cutting-out and pasting pictures of dragons and clouds. When finished, it was pretty psycadelic looking. The hippie movement in San Francisco would’ve been proud.

Now, this is what I find hilarious about this memory…

The Beatles were banned from the radio for singing “I’d love to turn you on” in the song “A Day In The Life.” It was the same with “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds,” because the initials, (supposedly), stood for LSD. “Puff The Magic Dragon,” the classic folk song that we were taught to sing in school, was safe - even though the song was about smoking pot. 

I would’ve rather created an art project based on “Lucy,” but John Lennon’s son had already done that – and his dad’s song had nothing to do with LSD or drugs. Like “Yellow Submarine,” which came out only a year earlier, (and some adults tried to sell us an absurd notion that it stood for drying out and smoking “yellow” banana peels?!), ”Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” was a children’s song. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Ringo Starr was asked about their latest single, “Yellow Submarine,” during an interview in Cleveland, Ohio on August 14, 1966:

“All it is is a children’s song,” he said. “It’s not deep. It’s not anything, you know… It’s just a children’s song.”

Too bad the older generation didn’t hear it that way. Instead, we did art projects based on “Puff,” which I considered then – and still do now – to be a lame song. Of course now I see the humor in it all. Not with the song - but that we were doing school work based on lyrics that were not as innocent as the ones we were prevented from hearing on Top 40 radio.

Looking back, somebody was high – and it wasn’t the kids!

Beatlemania On The North Coast

  Everyone lives on the north coast of some place. Think about it. Even if you’re from the south side of Chicago – you live on the north coast of the southern border of Chicago. I live on the north coast of the U.S. – which happens to be on south shore of Lake Erie. Mull it over for awhile and the location mentioned in this blog’s title will hit home. It’s meant to include all of us – we’re all “North Coaster’s.” And if you’ve ever experienced Beatlemania in person or only through books and video, you fit the demographic. Congratulations!

  Here’s something interesting you won’t find in my book, “The Beatles In Cleveland.” The Fabs’ 1966 concert at Cleveland Municipal Stadium was the last show during the tour that Paul McCartney played his bass with a guitar pick. How do I know? Well a true Beatles fan told me a couple years ago at the NY-Metro Fest For Beatles Fans. We couldn’t prove it because Paul never came out and said it – as far as I know. And photos from shows after August 14th are inconclusive. No one had digital cameras in those days to zoom in on his famous left hand. So whether it’s true, speculation, rumor or just a random observation from a dedicated fan, I can’t prove it – so it’s not in the book. BUT it’s here on the blog.  If you have any thoughts about this, let me know.

www.BeatlesInCleveland.com