Friday, March 29, 2013

"Saturday Club" anniversary show

On September 07 1963, The Beatles recorded a live performance of various songs for the fifth anniversary of the BBC radio show "Saturday Club". The recording took place at the Playhouse Theater in London. The show would be transmitted almost a month later on October 5. The host for this show was Brian Matthew.
The songs performed on the show are as follows: the first song is the original first track from the first LP: "I Saw Her Standing There" with Paul on vocal. This is followed by a cover of "Memphis, Tennessee" sung by John. After this tune, The Beatles attempt to sing and play "Happy Birthday" in a rockabilly style. Quite good, actually. Next up is the current single starting with the B-side "I'll Get You" followed by the A-side of the single "She Loves You". The line up of songs ends with a cover of Little Richard's "Lucille" sung by Paul McCartney.
All of this can be found on the vinyl bootleg "The Beatles At the Beeb, Volume Seven" as well as on the Great Dane box set: "The Complete BBC sessions - disc 5". The last song ("Lucille") has been commercially released by Apple on the 2-LP/2-CD set "Live At the BBC".

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

"Pop Go The Beatles" episode 15

On September 03 1963, the last of three episodes recorded on this day (very exhausting; a lot of music recorded on this day; and all live to boot!). Once again all three episodes were recorded at Studio Two, Aeolian Hall in London. the producer of the episodes was Ian Grant and the Host was once again Rodney Burke. Episode 15 would eventually air on the BBC light programme three weeks later on the 24th at around dinner time.
This particular episode features a repeat from an earlier recorded completed earlier in the day; the original Lennon/McCartney current single A-side "She Loves You". The next song performed is from the very second single - it's B side - the original mainly Lennon composition "Ask Me Why". This is followed by a cover of The Donays "Devel in Her Heart" featuring a vocal by George Harrison. The cover would be featured on the upcoming LP to be released by The Beatles two and a half months later after this recording. Paul sings the original composition "I Saw Her Standing There" which is the first song on side one of the first LP.  The Beatles go back to another cover in the form of "Sure To Fall (In Love With You)" and finally we hear the last cover from the Isley Brothers and sung by John "Twist and Shout" which also finishes the first LP.
This particular episode can be found on the late 1980s release "The Beatles At the Beeb, Volume Six" as well as on compact disc from the Great Dane Box set "The complete BBC sessions"
This is the last in the "Pop Go The Beatles" episodes for the BBC.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

"Pop Go The Beatles" episode 14

On September 03 1963, this was the second  (of three) episodes recorded for BBC radio. It was again recorded in Studio Two, Aeolian Hall, London, England. Produced by Ian Grant (again) and hosted by Rodney Burke (again). The show would be transmitted on BBC Light on September 17 of the same year.
This time, the songs performed include a George vocal on the cover version of the Cookies "Chains" and then another cover version of the Miracles "You Really Got A Hold On Me" with John on vocals. This tune would appear on the second LP released two months later. The Beatles revert back to the first LP with the original "Misery". Following this, a cover of Little Richard's song "Lucille" is treated with a Paul McCartney vocal. The Beatles third hit single is then performed "From Me To You" and they end on the Ringo Starr vocal for the cover version of "Boys".
This show can be found on various bootleg recordings including "The Beatles At The Beeb, Volume Six" as well as on compact disc with the Great Dane box set, "The Complete BBC Sessions" disc five.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

"Pop Go The Beatles" episode 13

On September 03 1963, The Beatles arrived at Studio Two in the Aeolian Hall in London England in order to record three (yes, three !!) episodes for the BBC radio service.
The first one was episode 13 and this particular show would feature host Rodney Burke (as would the other two). All episodes were recorded at the same venue and produced by Ian Grant. Eventually, the show would be aired one week later on September 10 1963 at the 5 o'clock hour (afternoon).
The songs performed at this taping included John's vocal on the cover "Too Much Monkey Business" and this is followed by a performance of the very first original single "Love Me Do".  The next performance consists of the latest single with the Beatles playing both sides: "She Loves You" followed by "I'll Get You". A slower number from the first LP is next with a cover of "A Taste Of Honey" sung by Paul. The show ends on an upbeat number with Paul singing a cover version of "Hippy Hippy Shake".
All of these tunes can be heard on the bootleg LP "The Beatles At The Beeb, Volume Six" as well as CD-5 from the Great Dane box set: "The Complete BBC Sessions". Lastly, note that "Too Much Monkey Business" from this show is found commercially on the Apple 2-LP/2-CD release "Live At the BBC".

Saturday, March 9, 2013

"Big Night Out" television show.

On September 01, 1963, The Beatles taped a mimed appearance for the ITV television series "Big Night Out" at Studio One, Didsbury Studio Centre in Manchester England. This was basically all mimed with the commercial version of the songs playing. None of the guitars are plugged in and there are no mics.
The stage is just a thin piece of board over some kind of makeshift Ikea looking structure. The Beatles and their instruments are placed in between various archways (signifying the Cavern setting perhaps?). All of the Beatles are wearing their colarless suits for this taping.
The songs played during this taped performance include two their current number one singles "From Me To You" followed by "She Loves You". The next tune performed is the last song on the first LP; the cover of the Isley Brothers' "Twist and Shout". The hosts of the show (Mike Winters and Bernie Winters) thank the Beatles for their appearance and they introduce a new dance - The Monkey Twist !
There are hired dancers that then appear in front of the Beatles as they mime to "I Saw Her Standing There".  The end credits roll as the song fades.
The show was eventually aired a week later on September 07 1963. Segments from the show are available on VHS and DVD on the Beatles "Anthology" series in a commercial form.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY_mA62PVwE

Saturday, March 2, 2013

"The Mersey Sound" Television Show

Between August 27 and August 30 1963, The Beatles were to filed and recorded for a BBC-TV documentary that would eventually be titled "The Mersey Sound".  This documentary featured interviews with various people in the "business" in Liverpool (including Bill Harry of the "Merseybeat" pop newspaper) and some of the groups playing in Liverpool (including Jackie Lomax who would later become an Apple artist on the Beatles' label and is shown in the documentary with his group "The Undertakers" all wearing stove top hats !!).
The Beatles portion was filmed mainly on the 27th of August in a simulated live concert with only themselves and the BBC camera crew (no audience). Spliced in was audience shots from another show. The live concert was recorded at the Little Theater in Southport. The audience was filed the previous evening at the same location
The songs performed for the documentary include the cover of the Isley Brother's "Twist And Shout" which is the last song from the first LP; it is only heard in parts with voice-over. "She Loves You" (the lastest single) is also performed - both previous songs show the Beatles in their collarless jackets. A change of clothes and the very first single is lip-synced - "Love Me Do" although only a short portion is shown. Finally, there is also snatches of an instrumental version of the first song from the first LP "I Saw Her Standing There" used as incidental music sprinkled around the documentary.
The music can be heard on various youtube uploads and the music can be heard on bootleg CD "Beatles at the Beeb - TV".http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-OBy51d4qI