Pop Go The Beatles - episode 12

On August 01 1963, The Beatles recorded a second show for the BBC radio folks from the Playhouse Theatre in Manchester (see previous posting for the first one).
Once again, the producer for this particular episode was Ian Grant and the host for this one is Rodney Burke. No changes from the previous episode taped earlier in the day.
Of course, the songs are different and there they are: The first two songs are original compositions featured on previous 45 singles in the UK. Of course, "From Me To You" is sung by John and Paul and was a number one previous. The second original is "I'll Get You" which is also sung by John and Paul and featured on the "then" current single. A cover version of "Money (That's What I Want)" sung by John is next and this would be featured on the upcoming LP to be released later that year. The next song broadcast is the original composition by John entitled "There's A Place". This tune is from the first LP although the version heard here is from an earlier episode of "Pop Go The Beatles" (episode five) and was originally recorded the previous month (July 05). The next song performed is a cover version of the Carl Perkin's classic "Honey Don't" sung by John on this early version. The song would eventually be recorded for EMI on the Beatles fourth LP released almost a year and a half later in late 1964 and would be sung by Ringo. Finally, the last song for this recording is the Chuck Berry version of "Roll Over Beethoven" sung by George and this tune would also be featured on the upcoming second LP to be released later in the year.
The bootleg LP "The Beatles at the Beeb, Volume Five" includes "There's A Place", "Honey Don't" and "Roll Over Beethoven" from this performance. The box set by Great Dane "The Complete BBC Sessions" includes most of the performance with the exception of "I'll Get You". Also noted is that fact that "Honey Don't" from this episode is now available commercially on the 2-LP/2-CD Apple "Live At the BBC" release.

Pop Go The Beatles - episode 11

On August 01 1963, The Beatles recorded two radio show both for the BBC. Both shows are for their own titled "Pop Go The Beatles" episodes 11 and 12. This entry will concentrate on the music for episode 11.
The show was recorded in Manchester at the Playhouse Theater.  The producer for the show is Ian Grant and the host of the show is Rodney Burke (master of corny jokes).
But what is really important is the music performed during this episode. The show opens with the cover tune "Ooh! My Soul" originally performed by Little Richard and this cover is sung by Paul with amazing drumming from Ringo. It should definitely had been put on an official EMI LP but there ya go. The second song performed on this episode is the cover "Don't Ever Change" originally written by Goffin/King. "Don't Ever Change" features George and Paul on vocals.
The next two songs are featured on the Beatles' first LP and are both covers sung by John. "Twist and Shout" is performed following by the Arthur Alexander tune "Anna (Go To Him)". The last song performed for this episode is "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues".
The first two songs and the last song can be found commercially on the "Live At The BBC" 2-LP/2-CD set from Apple. The others are available on vinyl "The Beatles At The Beeb, Volume Five" as well as on the Great Dane Box set in CD form.

All My Loving - Alternate Intro

During the summer and fall of 1963, The Beatles were working on the follow up to their first LP. The second LP was coming along fine. On July 30 1963, The Beatles entered EMI Studio 2 to continue the fine work. They finished four songs on that day, two of them being overdubs from earlier takes: "Till There Was You" and "It Won't Be Long". The other two songs were started and completed from scratch "Roll Over Beethoven" and "All My Loving".
The alternate introduction to "All My Loving" is created via five high-hat hits and an intake of air from Paul McCartney. The introduction heard on most official recordings have this introduction edited out so that the song begins with vocals. The alternate introduction is still not heard often and was originally sent to the West Germany affiliate of EMI and used on the German "Odeon" LP pressings. I checked my white/gold label version (Odeon 0-83-568) and it has the high hat version in stereo. The German version is also available on the pirate/bootleg LP "Collector's Item" (both versions SPRO-9462 and SPRO-9463).

Saturday Club (Fifth Appearance)

In the late afternoon of July 30, 1963 The Beatles taped an appearance for BBC radio at the Playhouse Theatre in London, England for later transmission. The show was eventually broadcast on August 24 1963 at ten in the morning.
The show opens with a blistering version of Little Richard cover "Long Tall Sally" screamed by Paul. Next up, we hear the latest hit single from the band; the original composition "She Loves You" sung by John ,Paul and George (mainly John). Following this song is another cover by Carl Perkins "Glad All Over" sung by George Harrison.
The show continues with two more covers; first up is a cover of the Isley Brothers tune "Twist And Shout" sung by John and backing by Paul and George. This is the tune that also completes the first LP being the last song on side two. The second cover is a cover version of Smokey Robinson's "You Really Got A Hold On Me" which would be featured on the upcoming second LP. The last song of the show is the B-side of the latest single (maybe this show was basically promoting the latest single with covers thrown in); the original composition "I'll Get You".
The songs from this particular show can be found on various vinyl and CD bootlegs. Note that the version of "You Really Got A Hold On Me" is now available commercially on the 2-LP/2-CD "Live At the BBC" from Apple.
The others have been found on such titles as : "Directly from Santa Claus"(LP). "I'll Get You" and "Glad All Over" have been broadcast on BBC radio specials. My copy of the CD box set "The complete BBC Sessions" isn't so complete after all. It has all the tunes with the exception of "Twist and Shout" and "You Really Got A Hold On Me". The CD set "Mythology Vol. 1" has "Twist and Shout" with the original intro.

A bit of a "rant".

I'm not one to complain (usually), but lately I've discovered that they don't press vinyl like they used to. I recently purchased the new stereo vinyl box set and opened it up in order to play the vinyl (yes, I do that once in a while). I must say that the outer box is nice and glossy with the slipcase, the interior of the box has the foam strategically placed to protect the book and the records. All of the covers were sealed.
I removed the outer slipcase, opened the box, moved the foam and proceeded to open the vinyl records. A bit of a disappointment I must say. First off; the quality control for vinyl record products has gone quite downhill in the last year or two.  I've seen that the cardboard used for the covers is a little thinner than I expected. It's a shame that the company who printed these covers hadn't looked at past quality covers (eg; the Japan "AP" or "EAS" series, for instance). The colours are good and vibrant.
The records themselves have very thin labels and some of them are actually off-center a little. There is a printing mistake on side two of "Magical Mystery Tour"; check it out; it claims that "Baby, You're A Rich Man" is composed by George Harrison !! haha.
I played the entire series and found that the pressings were not what they should be. For the amount of money Apple and others charge for re-issued vinyl that is supposed to be superior to regular past vinyl, this is not the case. The first LP "Please Please Me" has a skip on the second song "Misery" (talking strictly my copy). I was dumbfounded. This is fresh out of the package. I let it play through and then played side two. Once the LP was over, I once again tracked the vinyl back to side one and "Misery". Yes, folks. The anomaly is still there.
Most of the collection played well with the following being evident: My copy of "Revolver" has a "no-fill" issue on the track "Eleanor Rigby". I also found that there is loud popping on side two of "Abbey Road" on the long medley "Sun King/Mean Mister Mustard" section.
After playing the LPs; I read some reviews on various critical sites on the box set and discovered that I got off easy. A lot of people were complaining of "no-fill" on an entire side of "Abbey Road" and some problems with noise on "Sgt. Pepper".
Another issue was when I purchased Paul McCartney's 45 single "The Christmas Song/ Wonderful Christmastime" coloured vinyl. This time "The Christmas Song" played through and it was filled with pops and noise and sounded terrible. Once again, the pressing of these vinyl treasures has deteriorated considerably. A real shame.

I must add that I have checked my audio equipment (all is fine), I even took out some of my older vinyl and all play extremely well. Hopefully the companies that manufacture vinyl will "get their sh*t together" and start a better quality control system.

Another "Easy Beat"

On July 17 1963 (one day after recording not one, not two, but three separate shows for the BBC), The Beatles returned once again to perform a live show at the Playhouse Theater in London for the BBC program "Easy Beat". This live performance would be broadcast four days later. The host of this particular show was Brian Matthews.
The Beatles performed four songs live in front of an audience consisting mainly of screaming young girls. The first song performed was from the first LP; the opening number in fact; the original Lennon/McCartney composition "I Saw Her Standing There". The next song in the set is a cover of a song originally recorded by Arthur Alexander and is the only time we can hear this song performed live in front of an audience "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues". The third song in the set is another tune that is seldom heard performed live for an audience in the form of the original Lennon/McCartney song from the first LP: "There's A Place". Finally the last song in the set is also the last song featured from the first LP, The Isley Brothers cover sung by John entitled "Twist And Shout".
This show can be found on earlier vinyl bootlegs such as "Wonderful Picture Of You" and "Stockholm" as well as "Meet The Beeb" and "The Beatles at the Beeb w/Pete Best (sic)". It can be found on the excellent Great Dane box set "The complete BBC sessions" as well.

"Pop Go The Beatles" episode number Ten.

The last of the three shows taped at the BBC Paris Studio in London with the host Rodney Burke on July 16 1963. This evening performance was recorded betwee 08:45 and 10:30 PM and features some covers as well as some upcoming musical gems from forthcoming EMI Beatle LPs and EPs.
Let's take a look at the musical numbers, shall we? First off is another preview of the latest single (at the time) "She Loves You" which is actually the same performance taken from the previous "Pop Go The Beatles" episode nine discussed in the previous blog post. The newer music starts with a Buddy Holly cover sung by John and Paul which would be recorded the following year for the Beatles "For Sale" LP ; "Words Of Love". Following this cover is a George vocal for Carl Perkin's "Glad All Over".  A cover version of the Ann Margaret classic (ha ha) follows with a John vocal in the form of "I Just Don't Understand". This is followed by a cover version of the Donay's "Devil In Her Heart" with the lead vocal by George. The song would be recorded for the follow up LP two days after this performance in 1963. Lastly, a John vocal of the Larry Williams cover "Slow Down" with different lyrics than the recording of the song for the future "Long Tall Sally" EP to be recorded almost eight months later.
"Glad All Over", "I Just Don't Understand" and "Slow Down" have been released commercially on the Apple 2-LP/2-CD "Live at the BBC". "Devil In Her Heart" has also been commercially released as a track for the Apple CD single "Baby It's You".
The entire show can be found on the LP "The Beatles At the Beeb, Volume Five" as well as on the CD Gread Dane box set "The Complete BBC Sessions" on CD 4.
Earlier snippets of songs are featured on early bootleg compilations such as "Yellow Matter Custard" and "Studio Sessions, Volume Two".