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December 10, 2010

Book Review: John Lennon: In His Life, new photo-biography

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John Lennon: In His Life from White Star Publishers is a new coffee-table style book featuring a pictorial look at John Lennon’s life. The biographical text is written by Beatles author, John Blaney, and there is a preface written by Yoko Ono Lennon.

The book starts off with a gorgeous array of photos from John Lennon’s childhood and teenage years. The large size of the book offers quality reproductions of Lennon’s birth certificate as well as color images of his boyhood writing and drawings from the “Daily Howl”. The quality and scale of the early photographs are reminiscent of the hardcover book from 1988 called Imagine: John Lennon, a companion to the John Lennon documentary of the same name.

The photos of The Beatles years in Hamburg are stunning and printed in high quality and a highlight of the book. The early years of Lennon’s career with The Beatles are given a thorough exploration in John Lennon: In His Life.
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However, as the years progress in Lennon’s life, the variety of pictures starts to decrease. The focus of the book is on Lennon’s Beatles years. Yoko doesn’t even enter the book’s timeline until page 182 out of 270 pages. That means the later years of Lennon’s life are not given the same amount of attention.
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The 1970s are only given 25 pages in the book, and shockingly, 1980 is represented with one page spread. With that last spread, the book ends abruptly with virtually no pictures of the last year of Lennon’s life.
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As a result, this book cannot be described as a complete look at John Lennon’s life. But if you are more interested in Lennon’s early years and his time with The Beatles, than you will enjoy this book.
–Trina Yannicos
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December 8, 2010

Gimme Some Truth: Essential books and films to remember John Lennon

Posted by Daytrippin' under Interviews, New Beatles merchandise, Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
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For those of us who were too young or not even born when John Lennon was alive, or for those who just want a refresher course, the best way to celebrate what John Lennon was really about is to go straight to the source. On this day, 30 years after the tragic death of John Lennon, we highlight the best John Lennon interviews available through books and video.
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Of course, John Lennon’s music was magical and inspirational, but it goes further than that. The more as time goes on, we realize how rare John Lennon was in terms of his honesty in expressing his personal and political beliefs and his courage to take a stand in what he believed in. Very few entertainers or politicians are willing to take a stand these days. We not only miss John Lennon’s words and music, we miss his courage.
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Here are some books, videos and films to help illustrate what John Lennon was all about:
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A set of three candid interviews from 1971 and 1972
The September 11, 1971 show was the first US TV interview John gave after the breakup of The Beatles.

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From 1972, a five-episode set where John and Yoko essentially took over The Mike Douglas Show in 1972 serving as guest hosts and choosing the guests
Now hard to find on VHS.
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This documentary chronicles John and Yoko’s 1969 Peace Bed-Ins and Protests. Even people who were alive at the time may learn a lot from watching John and Yoko’s campaign for peace and realize how ahead of their time they were.
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This in-depth interview with John was conducted for Rolling Stone in 1970 by the magazine’s publisher, Jann Wenner
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Also known as the Playboy Interviews, conducted in 1980 by David Scheff
Now available on Kindle
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JUST ANNOUNCED:
For the first time ever, Rolling Stone is publishing one of the last interviews conducted with John Lennon from December 5, 1980 in their current issue – you can also download a podcast of the interview
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Essential John Lennon movies include:
Imagine, the biographical movie produced by Andrew Solt released in 1988, now available in a deluxe DVD edition;
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Backbeat, the movie about the Beatles days in Hamburg, Germany which focused a lot on John;
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Nowhere Boy, the fascinating film about John Lennon’s teenage years – coming to DVD on January 25, 2011;
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Lennon NYC, the PBS film exploring John Lennon’s New York years.
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And of course there’s John Lennon’s entire solo catalog, just released in a Signature Box. The John Lennon Box of Vision features all of the album art from John Lennon’s solo albums in a hardcover book format.
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In conclusion, the best tribute you can give John Lennon is to follow in his footsteps–search for and demand the truth, and give peace a chance.
“War is over, if you want it”

–Trina Yannicos

 

November 2, 2010

Paul McCartney’s remastered Band on the Run delivers great bonus material

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Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good thing — but we Beatles fans are up to our ears in the recent releases of remastered CDs — John Lennon’s entire solo catalog, the Beatles Red and Blue albums, the Apple Records Box Set, not to mention last year’s Beatles remasters in stereo and mono. And today, November 2, marks the release of Paul McCartney’s Band on the Run remastered CD coming in three different packages.

It seems like just yesterday when the 25th Anniversary Edition of Paul McCartney and Wings’ Band on the Run was released. In actuality, that version came out 11 years ago in 1999. While it may not seem like enough time has passed to warrant another Band on the Run release, the first release from the ‘Paul McCartney Archive Collection’ knows how to lure in its fan base — great bonus material, of course!

If you don’t have a CD copy of Band on the Run, getting this remastered version is a no-brainer. But for those of us who may already have previous versions of the album and/or the CD, it always helps when the powers that be add a few extras that most loyal Beatles/McCartney fans won’t be able to pass up.
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Case in point – the previously unreleased documentary, One Hand Clapping, filmed in Autumn 1974 at Abbey Road Studios in London. This (approx.) 45-minute film is a gem because it shows a rarely seen side of Paul McCartney behind-the-scenes and relaxed in a studio environment surrounded by his Wings’ bandmates including his late wife, Linda McCartney.
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The best moment in the film is during the performance of “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five” when Paul sings while holding a microphone and stands in front of the camera without an instrument — a rarity indeed. We even see Paul dancing and bopping along to the song!
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The history behind Band on the Run is fascinating in itself and explained in the liner notes by Paul Gambaccini, who interviewed Paul on behalf of Rolling Stone back when Band on the Run was originally released. [Gambaccini would go on to publish the books "Paul McCartney: In His Own Words" and "The McCartney Interviews: After the Breakup."]
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Gambaccini reveals some interesting trivia like the fact that at the time Paul and Linda had a black labrador puppy named “Jet,” and the song “Helen Wheels” is only on the bonus audio CD because it was originally released as a single and not included on the original Band on the Run album in the UK.
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Another fascinating piece of Band on the Run history can be seen in the short bonus video footage documenting the Band on the Run album cover photo shoot at Osterley Park. Paul recruited six celebrities to appear with Linda, Denny Laine and himself in the classic renegade/prison break shot. In this bonus footage you see Paul interacting with actor James Coburn, boxing champion John Conteh, Clement Freud (grandson of Sigmund), actor Christopher Lee, singer Kenny Lynch and popular British TV host, Michael Parkinson.
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The Band on the Run ‘Special Edition’ includes the remastered album, the bonus DVD described above and a bonus audio CD featuring several live performances from One Hand Clapping. While most of the tracks are live versions of the original Band on the Run songs, it would have been nice if a few of the songs on the bonus CD were the lesser known songs featured in One Hand Clapping like ‘Soily’ and ‘All of You’.
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For the true collector, the 4-disc deluxe edition offers even more bonus material including an extra CD featuring an audio documentary (originally included in the 25th Anniversary edition) and a 120-page book “containing many previously unpublished images by Linda McCartney and Clive Arrowsmith, album and single artwork, and a full history of the album, complete with a new interview with Paul” as stated on McCartney’s official website.
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If the 4-disc deluxe edition is not in your budget, the Band on the Run special edition 3-disc set is affordable and worth the price compared with purchasing just the standard edition. (Find it on sale at Amazon.com)

–Trina Yannicos

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November 1, 2010

Beatles Hamburg photos featured in new book, ‘Astrid Kirchherr: A Retrospective’

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The companion book to the photography exhibit “Astrid Kirchherr: A Retrospective” which is currently on display at the Victoria Gallery & Museum in Liverpool was officially released today. What a treat for those of us who can’t make it to Liverpool before the exhibit closes on January 29, 2011!

With or without the exhibit, “Astrid Kirchherr: A Retrospective” is an important historical document in Beatles history. Compared to her limited edition coffee table books from Genesis costing several hundred dollars, this is one of the few times Astrid Kirchherr has compiled a collection of her legendary photos of The Beatles in an affordable edition.

Not only was Astrid a photographer who took the first professional shots of The Beatles back in Hamburg in late 1960, but she also became their friend. Aside from her love affair with The Beatles’ former bassist Stuart Sutcliffe, Astrid formed the closest bond with George Harrison.
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In an interview with Astrid featured in the book, she says: “George was always my favorite, his kindness and wit. He was just a wonderful person and whenever I was in trouble, like with money and things, he was always looking after me and he invited me a couple of times to London and later on to Henley. I just miss him terribly because he was like a little guardian angel for me. I feel like I am in a way lost without him.”
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Astrid, her ex-boyfriend, Klaus Voormann, and friend Jurgen Vollmer had a huge impact on The Beatles during their time in Hamburg. The Beatles traded in their matching sports jackets for leather attire due to the fashion influence of their new Hamburg friends, and eventually combed their hair forward in the “moptop” style due to Astrid and Jurgen’s influence.
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The first black and white photos that Astrid took of The Beatles at the funfair at a munincipal park in Hamburg are regarded as some of the best photos of The Beatles ever taken. These photos as well as many never before seen photos are featured in the book including pictures of Astrid with Paul, George and Ringo on a holiday vacation in Tenerife in 1963.
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At 208 pages, “Astrid Kirchherr: A Retrospective” offers not only famous photos of The Beatles, but also uncropped and alternate shots. Featuring in-depth interviews with Astrid, Klaus Voormann, Ulf Kruger and Gibson Kemp, we learn much more about this young female photographer who, at the time, had no idea that her friends and photography subjects would become the biggest band in the world.
– Trina Yannicos
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“Astrid Kirchherr: A Retrospective” is available for order on Amazon.com
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Editor’s Note: Read about Astrid Kirchherr’s first US appearance in Chicago in 1997 in the first issue of Daytrippin’ (available in PDF or hard copy format)
 

August 24, 2010

Book Review: A Date with A Beatle by Judith Kristen

Posted by Daytrippin' under Reviews | Tags: , , , |
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Review by Susan Fischer
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In 1963 Judy was 15 years old. She’d had a rough year. But in late 1963 she caught a glimpse of four lads from across the pond that would change her life forever. There was one lad in particular that really caught her eye.
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In A Date With A Beatle, Judith Kristen tells the true story of how, with grit and determination, she made the dream of meeting George Harrison a reality.
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A Date With A Beatle follows the adventures of Judy and her reluctant (at times) friend Shelly who do all in their power to meet their idols, the Beatles. Judy was a George fan. Shelly, a Ringo fan. They would be ‘Judy Harrison’ and ‘Shelly Starr’, respectively. The only things in their way were the police and the thousands of other screaming girls who dreamed the same dream. But, those other girls didn’t have Judy’s tenacity!
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The story takes place in the Philadelphia area and chronicles how these two young women go from location to location to see the Beatles in concert and then find out where the group was staying, make reservations at the same hotel, and try to fulfill their goal.
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There are obstacles along the way — the police being the main one. But with Judy’s charming irreverent wit, she was able to get pretty close to her George a few times, all things considered. Judy was a very determined girl!
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A Date With A Beatle is a really great read. You’ll be able to read it in one easy sitting. Judith tells her story with such great humor that really illustrates this young woman’s tenacity and boldness to achieve her goals. It is a very entertaining tale that allows first generation fans to relive that excitement again and for the second and third generation fans to see what it was like in the height of Beatlemania and to be green with envy.
 

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