I’ve never seen Paul McCartney’s vanity film Give My Regards to Broad Street, not a lick of it if you don’t count any segments that were broadcast on MTV in the day as his video single. From the little I’ve seen on YouTube this morning and the little I’ve read about it – hell, from nothing more than still photographs from the shoot – I’m thankful for not having seen it. Although the video clip that kicks off this thread is of a surprisingly half-decent song (and features friend of Rock Town Hall Chris Spedding front and center), I suspect this film would be included in the Great Beatles Refuse Removal Truck that’s coming to your town.
Simple question: What Beatles-related debris would you chuck once and for all?
Specific songs you don’t like, be it “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” or “She’s a Woman,” will not be accepted. Nor will blanket tosses, such as the entire solo career of your least-favorite solo Beatle. This psychedelic dumptruck is looking to collect the offshoot stuff, the vanity projects and collectibles, that are truly not necessary and that will possibly threaten the band’s legacy – and your own rock nerd reputation – through this millenium. For instance, George’s limited-edition autobiography, I Me Mine, may be another example of Beatles debris that’s ready to be tossed, but I wouldn’t know, because I wasn’t one of the suckers lucky 2000 to pay some exorbitant price for this tome.
Wow — where to start? The short-lived Beatles cartoon with fake Beatles voices? The horrid Sgt. Pepper’s movie by Robert Stigwood? Beatles ties with goofy artwork supposedly inspired by a song, which was really just a copycat idea stolen from Jerry Garcia. I think they hype surrounding ‘Real Love’ a few years ago was pretty bad too — it’s a sweet little song, but John probably never released it for a reason.
Oh man, those ties! Someone in my family got me one of those one year, for Christmas. I don’t think I’ve ever worn – nor have I yet tossed. This thread may inspire me to do so – unless they’re worth a lot on eBay. Great suggestions, funoka.
I just tossed one that I had — forgot to check eBay first! I think it was All You Need is Love with a heart or something on it.
Apple Records’ catalog other than Beatles albums.
Ringo in “Caveman”.
Aw, I like me some Mary Hopkin.
How about Alan Parsons and maybe Mal Evans?
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31053346&l=91eb6ce912&id=1052959302
The idea that George Martin’s genius as a producer could be detached from the Beatles and applied to things like America and Cirque du Soleil.
What about that Hollywood Bowl album that was finally officially released in the late ’70s? I recall being underwhelmed by it when I bought it, and I probably haven’t played it since 1980.
I really like the RADHA KRSNA TEMPLE album with George Harrison, although I bet it is a thorn in some Beatle fan’s side. Maybe I’d junk the Klaatu records…
Shanghai Surprise starring Madonna and Sean Penn.
TB
Andre Gardner
Those U.S.S.R. episodes of Head of the Class where the two nerds (Dennis and Arnie, right?) smuggle blue jeans and Beatles tapes into the country. Or something like that.
Larry Kane
“Spain trip”
shawnkilroy has the “Love” motorcycle but I’m going for the whole “Love” cirque du soleil and cd and all merchandise pertaining thereto. Load up that truck.
New McCartney live albums
Ringo’s Travelin’ All-Star Band
That Across The Universe movie.
Cut-out albums of that weird double-album of people covering Beatles songs from the mid- or late-70s. The title had something to do with WWII, if memory serves. Has anyone ever heard a lick of that thing?
All this and World War II, I think that was! And while we’re in the 70s, as much as it is a cherished part of my childhood, toss in the bizarrely packaged and weirdly conceived Rock and Roll Music comp.
Oh, I forgot — The Beatles featuring Tony Sheridan albums that they re-released every two years or so to fool kids like me.
“And while we’re in the 70s, as much as it is a cherished part of my childhood, toss in the bizarrely packaged and weirdly conceived Rock and Roll Music comp.”
I completely disagree misterioso. I received R&R Music as a gift one year and, other than the questionable inclusions (Got To Get You Into My Life, for one), I enjoyed that collection.
C’mon, having Paul & John’s Little Richard-like screams on one collection — how bad can that be?
Scoffing at the Rock ‘n Roll Music collection is one of my earliest rock nerd memories, so I’m backing misterioso on that one. My close personal friend andyr owned that one, and although he would go on to be the more dedicated, knowledgeable Beatles collector, I still feel he lost points for owning that album and the Love Songs collection.
I have two – the “Love Songs” compilation and all of “The Next Beatles” comparisons – Bay City Rollers, The Knack, etc
I think Chicken had “All This & WWII”
BTW – I dig both “Rock & Roll” and “Hollywood Bowl” records. Both those comps gave the listening public new Beatles product, especially Hollywood Bowl. This was the first live stuff released.
Hey – Mr Mod – I did not own Love Songs.
Don’t get me wrong: it’s not like the music on Rock and Roll Music isn’t good! And I can appreciate, if not actually respect, the need to get “new product” out there, at least theoretically. And I still own my old copy. Shoot, it was the only way to hear “I’m Down” unless you had the single. But the whole concept was pretty half-baked and I am still trying to figure out the artwork, especially the gatefold with its Happy Days imagery. See http://www.bootlegzone.com/scan.php?scid=76188
Where’s the Fonz and Potsy?
Sorry, andyr. After I hit SEND I worried that I unfairly accused you of having a sappy side. I should have known better! (BTW, I’m looking through the links you sent me and will initial comments shortly.)
As misterioso so aptly puts it (“Happy Days imagery”), my main beef with the ’70s reissue collections is that the cover art sucked. The Beatles set a high standard for cover art. The red and blue hits albums are cool and use those cool photos, but Rock ‘n Roll Music and Love Songs look like they were packaged by the people who released David Cassidy albums.
Let’s not neglect Reel Music.
http://www.rarebeatles.com/boxsets/reelmulp.jpg
The man’s name was Arvid, not Arnie, you dope. Show some respect.
I would chuck all of those Beatles ‘biographies’ done by Geoffrey Guiliano or whatever.. I’ve gotten one or two and they suck it.
We had the Love Songs album when I was growing up and I could never figure out why they went with that brown album cover. It looked like the couch somebody would have in their basement.
Mod, I believe I have Roy Wood’s “Lovely Rita” from All This And World War II. It sounds about what you’d think Boulders-and-after Roy Wood covering Lovely Rita would sound like, just with less splashing water.
How about the Stars On 45 Beatles record? Or does that avoid the truck thanks to its induction of “Sugar, Sugar” into the Beatles’ catalog?
Good one, mickavory!
Can we chuck Mae Pang, or do we have to save her because she’s probably the person who was closest to Lennon who is most accessible to the likes of radio shows and Beatles fairs?
I found a bit of Beatles flotsam in a big stack of garage sale vinyl the other day — a single on Apple by a guy named Chris Hodge. Evidently he was Ringo’s big discovery; they bonded over a mutual fascination with UFOs. He released two singles on Apple, then nothing. That doesn’t stop him from running a Web site continuing to describe himself as “Apple Recording Artist Chris Hodge.”
I found a *ton* of similar Beatles Debris in this latest haul — awful covers and so forth. I may take the time to create a medley and post it. I’ll include the Chris Hodge number if people are curious.
Dear God, please haul away the insufferable Elliot Mintz.
STARS ON 45!!! hahaha!
love it!
I was confusing Head of the Class with the movie Christine, because of that scene where Keith Gordon (Arnie) uses Christine to smuggle blue jeans and Beatles tapes.
What’s the general consensus on other Beatles biographies?
I chucked the Guiliano ones.. but are there other Beatle books ones that should be chucked..
and.. as far as Apple goes.. there are a few suspect singles & LPs out there
Can we chuck all of those Yoko Ono LPs that were essentially copies of John records (in name and cover)like Fly or Approximately Infinite Universe??
Can this be separate from chucking Yoko?
What about Linda’s Suzy & the Red Stripes single.. Seaside Woman??
I’ve got a bunch…
The wives didn’t need to release LPs..
and.. TB.. don’t you go votin’ for Thrillington..
all I know is its got a Ram’s head on the cover
another one I thought of.. Paul’s side project.. The Country Hams.. and their single “Walking In The Park With Eloise”??
Most of them. Recording Sessions can stay, so can Revolution in the Head, flawed though they both may be. I have a soft spot for Nicholas Schaffner’s Beatles Forever. I’m not sure there are any more worth keeping.
The recording techno-nerd coffeetable book can stay.
wow what a collection of tier 3 Beatles stuff we all have!
I actually like Give My Regards to Broad Street (or I think I do, I have not seen it in 15 years)
I have the recording techno-nerd book about the limiters and faders and compressors they used.. It is interesting if you are a musician.. which I barely am..
It was too expensive to get rid of..
and.. by the way.. the Bruce Spizer books about the Beatles on Capitol or the Apple books are really really nice. I’ve met Bruce a few times (he lives in N.O.) and he’s really a nice guy.
Speaking of Beatles Debris, I just won an eBay auction for a sealed Mono Box Set — $86!
i like the song ‘No More Lonely Nights’
I’d like to toss out the yearly WBWC Beatles covers marathon radio show the little college station in my town does every year. I’m okay with their Beatles marathon, but if they aren’t gonna do the Stones and have time for Helloween and Simple Minds instead, then they can drop the awful covers by Leonard Nimoy and Tiny Tim and a bunch of other people just trying to cash in on the novelty of covering Beatles songs. 18 hours of that stuff in a row is way too much!
How many covers of Beatle tunes are worth keeping? Stevie Wonder’s “We Can Work It Out,” maybe Joe Cocker’s “With a little help from my friends” (which I don’t actually care for, but I know many do) and what, Earth Wind and Fire’s “Got To Get You Into My Life?” Maybe Donny Hathaway’s “Yesterday.” Maybe.
as far as solo covers.. there aren’t many.. But the Fifth Dimension do a cover of Paul’s ‘Every Night’ that puts his to shame.
Also, I’m told that Rod & the Faces do a mean version of ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ that smokes Paul any day.
Throw out the Bernard Purdie myth
Nick Cave’s Let It Be is remarkably good.
I like the Faces “Maybe I’m Amazed”, but not as much as Paul’s original version (not the live Wings version)… I have a couple of nice solo covers collections, mostly Paul and George covers…
I would throw away all the non-musical John Lennon licensed objects that Yoko keeps printing up – ties, mugs, prints, etc.
Also, all of the “tell-all” bios.
Oh, and that Bob Spitz book only because he was such a putz when people contacted him to tell him about the many errors in his book.
I’d do away with this ad for Citroen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ph4rZU0Ns4