The Beatles: All These Years - Tune In Extended Version

At the recent International Beatleweek in Liverpool, I had the pleasure of meeting Mark Lewisohn (writer and historian, widely regarded as the world's leading authority on The Beatles).

Aftewards I bought the Extended Version of the first volume of All These Years, what promises to be the definitive biography on The Beatles.

It is the complete, uncut biography of the Beatles’ early years, from their family backgrounds through to the moment when they’re on the cusp of immense stardom at the end of 1962. More than 1700 pages (notes not included) and a true collector's item, featuring hundreds of thousands of words of extra material, as well as many extra photographs.

Beatles Setlist for the 1964 Hollywood Bowl Concert

On August 23 1964, The Beatles played a concert in the famous Hollywood Bowl Theatre.

The Setlist:

- Twist & Shout
- You Can't Do That
- All My Loving
- She Loves You
- Things We Said Today
- Roll Over Beethoven
- Can't Buy Me Love
- If I Fell
- I Want to Hold your Hand
- Boys
- A Hard Days Night
- Long Tall Sally

Un Dia en la Vida at the International Beatleweek

Un Dia en la vida (Spanish for A day in the Life) is a tribute band from Peru. They appeared at the Cavern Pub with 7 members: 5 guitar players (!), a drummer and a keyboard player (also a guitar player)

I enjoyed the show a lot, because of the mix of different styles (old & new Beatles), the gifted lead guitarist and the way the singer tried to overcome the chatter and banter of part of the audience.

Beatle-ness: 3/5 (5 guitars, a keyboard, ...quite original :) )
Originality: 4/5 (see above, a Peruvian Beatle group with even a young guitar player (and we mean YOUNG!) should score well for originality
Technical skills: 3/5 (a good mix of decent guitar playing...especially the lead guitarist, with some nice vocals on pretty difficult songs)
Crowd interaction: 3/5 (not so much in the beginning, but at the end the crowd screamed "Oh Darling")
Selection of songs: 4/5 (The Abbey Road medley mixed with A Hard's Night, need i say more?)

My verdict: 3,5 stars out of 5

picture from the LaRepublica

Hamburg Beat at the International Beatle Week

One of the first bands I saw at this year's International Beatle Week was Hamburg Beat. Don't expect Beatle tunes from them, but pure rock 'n' roll from the days that The Beatles were in Hamburg.

Songs like "Take out some Insurance on me" or "Hippy Hippy Shake". And in the true tradition of The Beatles, the drummer even gets to sing "Slow Down"

My verdict:

Beatle-ness: 4/5 (especially the instruments, the clothes and Stu Sutcliffe!
Originality: 5/5 (for refusing to play Hey Jude in Belgium haha)
Technical skills: 4/5 (good guitar playing, sounds like The Beatles in Hamburg)
Crowd interaction: 4/5 (lots of songs, good interaction, too bad they didn't do a Beatles tune for somebody's 30ieth birthday LOL)
Selection of songs: 3/5 (the Tony Sheridan songs were nice, some others were a bit too predictable)

End Score: 4 stars out of 5

International Beatleweek 2014 - Friday 22 August

Cavern Club Front

Midday Kenny Herbert
1.00pm Now There
2.00pm Meat the Beatles
3.00pm The Backties
4.00pm Red Berry
5.00pm Born Again Beatles
6.00pm The Beatboys
7.00pm The Compleatles
8.00pm Hamburg Beat
9.00pm The Brother Creepers
10.00pm The Calangles Rock Band
11.00pm The End
Midnight Beatline & Seppo
1.00am Beat Love

Cavern Live Lounge

1.00pm Mona Lisa Twins
2.00pm Red Berry
3.00pm The Brothel Creepers
4.00pm Glesion Tulio
5.00pm The Bestbeat
6.00pm Mick Francis & Peter Jones
7.00pm The Beatelles
8.00pm The Sutfliffes
9.00pm Dirty Soul
10.00pm The Tearaways
11.00pm The Peakles
Midnight Johnny & The Moondogs
1.00am The Rockits

Cavern Pub

Midday The Peakles
1.00 The Compeatles
2.00 Beat Love
3.00 Un Dia en la Vida
4.00 Hamburg Beat
5.00 The Bertils
6.00 Now Here
7.00 Johnny & The Moondogs
8.00 The Starrlite Beatles
9.00 Beatline & Seppo
10.00 Born Again Beatles
11.00 Dirty Soul
Midnight The Bestbeat
1.00am The Beatboys

Town Hall Accoustic Stage

11.45am Janne Borgh Identity
12.45pm Jay Goeppner & Maiju Leopaki
2.15pm Jannne Borgh Identity
3.15pm Jay Goeppner & Maiju Leopaki
4.45pm Jannne Borgh Identity
5.45pm Jay Goeppner & Maiju Leopaki

Town Hall Main Stage

11.45am Clube Big Beatles
12.45pm Them Beatles
2.15pm Clube Big Beatles
3.15pm Them Beatles
4.45pm Clube Big Beatles
5.45pm Them Beatles

Adelphi Hotel American Bar

11.30pm Two of Us (Holland)
12.30am Jay Goeppner & Maiju Leopaki
1.30am Rolando & Alex Giambelli
2.30am Mick Francis & Peter Jones

Adelphi Hotel Cromptons Bar

11.00pm The Wigs
Midnight Born Again Beatles
1.00am The Backties
2.00am The Sutcliffes
3.00am Johnny & The Moondogs

Adelphi Hotel Wave Bar

11.00pm Gleison Tulio
Midnight The Yesterdays
1.00am The Brothel Creepers
2.00am The Tearaways
3.00am McDonald's Farm

Royal Court Theatre

8.00pm Paul McCartney "A Retrospective"

Packages International Beatleweek 2014

In liverpool you can attend the International Beatle Week from Wednesday 20 August till Tuesday 26 August.

Here below you can find the different packages that are available (excluding accommodation)

Which one will you attend?

Yellow Sub - £95

Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th August

Price includes tickets to the following shows: Songs The Beatles Gave Away, The Fab Faux Shaux, Fab Four Party, Beatles Convention and Adelphi All-Nighter. Plus free entry into The Cavern Club on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Red Album - £ 115

Sunday 24th & Monday 25th August

Price includes tickets to the following shows: Beatles Convention, Adelphi All-Nighter, All You Need Is Peace & Love, The British Invasion Concert, The Overtures' Finale, Chris Montez and Tommy Roe plus free entry into the Cavern Club on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday

White Album - £140

Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd August

Price includes tickets to the following shows: Town Hall Reception, Paul McCartney 'A Retrospective', Threatles Party, Songs The Beatles Gave Away, The Fab Faux Shaux, Fab Four Party, Beates Convention, plus free entry into the Cavern Club on Friday and Saturday.

Blue Album - £170

Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th August

Price includes tickets to the following shows: Town Hall Reception, Paul McCartney 'A Retrospective', Threatles Party, Songs The Beatles Gave Away, The Fab Faux Shaux, Fab Four Party, Beates Convention, Adelphi All-Nighter plus free entry into the Cavern Club on Friday and Saturday & Sunday

Silver Beatles - £170

Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th & Monday 25th August

Price includes tickets to the following shows: Songs The Beatles Gave Away, The Fab Faux Shaux, Fab Four Party, Beatles Convention, Adelphi All-Nighter, All You Need Is Peace & Love, The British Invasion Concert, The Overtures' Finale, Chris Montez and Tommy Roe, plus free entry into the Cavern Club on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Gold Anthology - £230

Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd, Sunday 24th & Monday 25th August

Price includes tickets to the following shows: Town Hall Reception, Paul McCartney 'A Retrospective', Threatles Party, Songs The Beatles Gave Away, The Fab Faux Shaux, Fab Four Party, Beatles Convention, Adelphi All-Nighter, All You Need Is Peace & Love, The British Invasion Concert, The Overtures' Finale, Chris Montez and Tommy Roe plus free entry into the Cavern Club on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

1964 - 24 Concerts in 23 Cities

At the exact same day that The Beatles left London for the U.S, many Americans are doing exactly the opposite...only 50 years later.

Many North Americans are flying into London today to join other Beatle fans in celebrating the most important musical group ever. Beatle Week is starting from Wednesday 20 August 2014.

And what did the Beatles do 50 years ago in the United States and Canada? Well, spending 25 days in 23 Cities, playing 24 concerts (New York City saw them twice).

I created a quick map in Google Maps, and boy did they have to fly from one corner of the US to the other. In 1965 their trip was much better organised, because really... flying from Montreal to Jacksonville and then back to Boston is not my idea of a clear itinerary.

The Beatles Flying...to San Francisco

Exactly 50 years ago today, The Beatles embarked on their first "real" US & Canada tour. During 25 days they would travel all over North America, including the famous first Hollywood Bowl concert.

Were you present at any of these concerts? Then let us know, we'd love to hear from you!

A list of their concerts:

19 August 1964 - Daly City (San Francisco area) - Cow Palace

20 August 1964 - Las Vegas - Convention Hall

21 August 1964 - Seattle - Seattle Center Coliseum

22 August 1964 - Vancouver - Empire Stadium

23 August 1964 - Los Angeles - Hollywood Bowl

26 August 1964 - Morrison (Denver area) - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

27 August 1964 - Cincinnati - Cincinnati Gardens

28 August 1964 - New York City - Forest Hills Stadium

29 August 1964 - New York City - Forest Hills Stadium

30 August 1964 - Atlantic City - Convention Hall

2 September 1964 - Philadelphia - Convention Hall

3 September 1964 - Indianapolis - Indiana State Fair Coliseum

4 September 1964 - Milwaukee - Milwaukee Arena

5 September 1964 - Chicago - International Amphitheatre

6 September 1964 - Detroit - Olympia Stadium

7 September 1964 - Toronto - Maple Leaf Gardens

8 September 1964 - Montreal - Montreal Forum

11 September 1964 - Jacksonville - Gator Bowl Stadium

12 September 1964 - Boston - Boston Garden

13 September 1964 - Baltimore - Baltimore Civic Center

14 September 1964 - Pittsburgh - Civic Arena

15 September 1964 - Cleveland - Public Auditorium

16 September 1964 - New Orleans - City Park Stadium

17 September 1964 - Kansas City - Municipal Stadium

18 September 1964 - Dallas - Memorial Auditorium

20 September 1964 - New York City - Paramount Theater

Beatles in Pictures - Quiz 6

And now a though one: which Beatle-related song is disguised behind this picture

The Beatles in Pictures - Quiz 5

Which Beatles song do you think is behind this picture?

The Beatles in Pictures - Quiz 4

The picture here above was taken in 2008 I think, and fits well to a Beatle song... but which one?

I'm sure a real Beatle fan will come up with some great suggestions...looking forward to hearing them

The Beatles in Pictures - Quiz 3

I have started a project where I try to create pictures based on Beatles songs.

Which song do you think represents this picture?

The Beatles in Pictures - Quiz 2

While we are waiting for Beatle Week to begin in Liverpool, I thought of entertaining you with a small Beatles Quiz.

I took this picture here above in Austria. Which Beatles song do you think it represents?

Beatles in Pictures - Quiz 1

Here above you can see a picture I took. It is based on a Beatles song. Can you guess which one?

The Chipmunks Sing The Beatles

In the first week of August 1964, the famous cartoon figures of The Chipmunks (Alvin, Simon, Theodore) released a tribute album to The Beatles.

The original LP contained 12 songs, later re-released often only 10.

Track List

Side One
1."All My Loving"
2."Do You Want to Know a Secret"
3."She Loves You"
4."From Me to You"
5."Love Me Do"
6."Twist and Shout" (P. Medley/B. Russel)

Side Two
1."A Hard Day's Night"
2."P.S. I Love You"
3."I Saw Her Standing There"
4."Can't Buy Me Love"
5."Please Please Me"
6."I Want to Hold Your Hand"

The Beatles Live at the Seattle Coliseum

August 21, 1964 was a special day for Seattle. The Beatles appeared for the first time at the Seattle Coliseum (they would come back two years later on August 25, 1966). Almost 15,000 fans saw them play a 30-minute set.

Just before the concert The Beatles held a quick press conference.

Here is a snippet from that conference, where The Beatles talk about the constant screaming that accompanied their gigs:

Q: "Well, it was said in Las Vegas and in Frisco that your performance couldn't be heard because of the noise. Now, how do you feel about this? Do you consider it might hurt your future concerts?"

PAUL: "It's been going on for a couple of years, you know."

Q: "How many more years do you think it will go on?"

PAUL: "Don't know. We're not..."

JOHN: "We're not taking bets."

Q: "Have you got any idea? Will it be three? Four? What do you think?"

GEORGE: "Till death do us part."

(laughter)

Before the concert there were the usual opening acts: Bill Black Combo, Exciters, Righteous Brothers and Jackie DeShannon.

The Beatles played: "All My Lovin,' "Twist and Shout," "You Can't Do That," "She Loves You," "Can't Buy Me Love," "If I Fell In Love With You," "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," "Boys", and "Roll Over Beethoven."
They ended the concert with "Long Tall Sally.

Here is a trip down memory lane from Suzie B.

I was 15 on August 21, 1964, and it was the summer before I started high school (which started in 10th grade then). I thought I had kept the ticket stub to the concert, but I just looked and couldn't find it. I did find a diagram of the seating in the Seattle Coliseum, and I had documented my seat number. I am thinking the ticket cost $4. I remember the seat was up high, and Jackie DeShannon was one of the warm-up acts.

I tried to resist the whole Beatlemania thing, but that did not last long. My friends and I were just gaga over them (and all things British). I had to acknowledge that Paul was the cutest, but John was the most appealing to me. Yes, I knew he was married, but that was no match for a schoolgirl crush.

I tried to sing Twist and Shout just like John--I couldn't do it without ruining my voice for a day or so, so it's good to know that he couldn't either.

p.s. The Seattle Coliseum is now called the KeyArena (formerly the Washington State Pavilion, Washington State Coliseum and Seattle Center Coliseum).