The new Beatles Singles Collection is due out on November 22, 2019. From 1962 to 1970, The Beatles released 22 UK singles; of those 44 A and B-side tracks, 29 were not included on the group’s British albums at that time. These singles, plus an exclusive new double A-side single for the mid-1990s-issued tracks “Free As A Bird” and “Real Love,” are newly cut for vinyl from their original mono and stereo master tapes by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios for a new limited edition boxed set.
The Beatles, Tittenhurst Park, August 22, 1969; © Apple Corps Ltd.
The most infamous rock and roll meeting of all time occurred when Elvis Presley met The Beatles. On August 27, 1965, John, Paul, George and Ringo along with their manager, publicist and assistants came to Presley’s house on Perugia Way in Los Angeles to meet their rock and roll idol.
The Beatles were the ones who pushed for the meeting. After all, it was Elvis who was one of the main influences for John Lennon to start the band. “Without Elvis, there would be no Beatles,” Lennon famously remarked in later years.
When The Beatles became a worldwide sensation in the 1960s, one would assume that they would only dine at the most expensive and luxurious restaurants. But on their 1965 American tour, they made an exception. They wanted to eat at an authentic American diner.
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)
by Shelley Germeaux
Fans of the Beatles know that all four lads were from Liverpool, England, but not as many are aware of the deep Irish heritage that three of them — John, Paul, and George — share. As the world celebrates St. Patrick’s Day, if you get misty-eyed over Ireland while singing along to “Oh Danny Boy”, you might enjoy a bit of Beatles Irish history.
Liverpool has been called the “Capital of Ireland” because an estimated three-quarters of its people have Irish roots. Irish immigrants poured into Liverpool after the 1798 rebellion as well as the Great Famine of the 1840s, greatly impacting its demographic make-up. Three-quarters of the Beatles also have Irish roots– Ringo Starr is the only Beatle with no trace of Irish background.
By Shelley L. Germeaux
2017 edition
This article was originally published in Daytrippin’ Issue #18, Spring 2002, after George’s death. It is being republished with updated information, in honor of what would have been his 76th birthday.
George Harrison’s autobiography, I Me Mine, was originally published in the fall of 1980 by Genesis Publications. At 450 pages long, you would expect a comprehensive and detailed life story. However, the autobiographical section, (including Derek Taylor’s italicized commentary), is just 67 pages, and not close to being a Beatles tell-all. It is an intimate and personal perspective of the major themes of George’s life up to that point, often lighthearted, but also revealing some traumatic moments.
Fifty full-page photographs follow, but the overwhelming bulk of the book–the final two-thirds— are the reproductions of George’s original song lyrics, jotted on envelopes and various notepads. Lyrics have been re-typed in their final form, accompanied by George’s candid and at times humorous comments about the inspiration behind the song.
By Shelley Germeaux
Note: This article originally appeared in the Spring 2002 (No. 18) issue of Daytrippin’ – just a few months after George Harrison’s death.
Psychic phenomenon – precognitive dreams, strange coincidences, and intuitive hunches about people we care for – is always an interesting topic of discussion. It usually happens with relatives and close friends, but in this case I am talking about George Harrison. A few Beatle friends have shared with me some “strange” experiences they had between the hours preceding his death on November 29, 2001 and before we heard the news on November 30. Maybe some of you had similar experiences.
