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Rezensionen (5)
04. Sep 2012
No Doubt The Best Thing Available For Beatle's American Record Collectors!!
I won an Auction that had both Parts 1 and 2 in a single easy to store box set. I'll break out my reviews into the two parts of the books.
The Beatles' Story on Capitol Records, Part One - Beatlemania and The Singles:
Bruce Spizer, a tax attorney, Beatles historian, and contributor to various Beatles fan magazines, offers this meticulously researched follow-up to The Beatles Records on Vee-Jay (498 Prods., 1998). His study of the Beatles' American recordings on Capitol Records is two-fold. This work, Part 1, examines 45 rpm singles from 1964's "I Want To Hold Your Hand" to 1968's "Lady Madonna" (the last Capitol release before the Beatles launched Apple Records). Part 2, covers the Beatles' LPs. Three sections make up this title: how Capitol finally agreed to release Beatles records in the United States after rejecting the first four British hits; a breakdown of each single release with explanations and photographs of each issued label and picture sleeve variation, complete with coverage of Capitol's Beatles-related novelty singles, Canadian releases, and counterfeit records; and, lastly, a history of Capitol and other Capitol miscellany. Part Two will contain information that will apply to this title, e.g., a chapter on identifying pressing plants based on information etched in the plastic discs. Hundreds of source documents from Capitol's files are reproduced, such as Capitol's first Beatles press release. One of Spizer's other books...a history of the Beatles on Apple Records makes a great companion to complete this set IMO. Spizer's works are indispensable for serious Beatles collectors but of limited appeal to casual fans. These are for hardcore Beatle Fans IMO. Another great book if you collect the English Records is "Beatles For Sale On Parlophone." Another Spizer Classic that shows up in eBay Auctions.
The Beatles Story on Capitol Records, Part Two - The Albums:
"The Beatles'Story on Capitol Records, Part Two: The Albums" is the second volume of Bruce Spizer's epic Capitol project. The book opens in 1964 with the release of "Meet The Beatles!" and moves forward through 1967's "Magical Mystery Tour." Here is the real story behind the Capitol LPs, with explanations of why Capitol reconfigured the Beatles albums for the American market. For each album, the book provides session and chart information and pictures of the front and back covers, all label variations, trade advertisements, promotional posters and displays. The book offers the most comprehensive coverage ever on the infamous butcher cover to the "Yesterday And Today" album, which was judged so offensive that it had to be recalled and destroyed. It also provides full details regarding the recording and marketing of "Sgt, Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Also included are chapters on the albums issued by Capitol's Canadian and Mexican subsidiaries and a complete breakdown on the stereo, duophonic and mono mixes used by Capitol. Contains over 600 color and original black & white images.
Any Beatle Collector who is on the fence on these books and can pick them up in Auction for a decent price should do it. They are OOP and Spizer has said he has no plans for printing more at this time. Collectors will rejoice!
03. Feb 2013
The Cavern Club...More great music going on than just The Beatles
The Big Three never got the hit they deserved. Although they made the lower reaches of the U.K. top 50, they just didn't find a good enough song to make a major impact. Still, this CD is a must for anyone who likes music of the Mersey beat era.
The main attraction is the first 4 tracks. They represent a reissue of 'At The Cavern', an EP of songs performed live from the home of the Beatles and so many other great Liverpool groups. Bob Wooler, the leading Liverpool DJ at the time, welcomes us to the "best of cellars" and proclaims that "We've got the hi-fi high and the lights down low, so here we go with the Big Three show!" Then the boys launch into a tear-it-up version of Ray Charles' 'What'd I Say". Three other great rock songs follow, all to a background of screams from the girl fans. These guys can really play and the singing, though not perhaps very sophisticated, is great for stirring up excitement. This is the only recording which gives the listener a feel for what The Cavern was like in its heyday and is an absolute must-have for devotees of that period..
The rest of the CD, though not measuring up to the first 4 tracks, is good, listenable pop and rock, very representative of the time. It's perhaps most like Gerry and the Pacemakers, though the Big Three had their own sound. This is a good UK band of the British Invasion years and although they didn't hit the big time, they're well worth a good listen. Buy it!
18. Okt 2016
Great Writing WIth Lots Of Freebie Extra Features
Great Writing WIth Lots Of Freebie Extra Features.