Sunday 24 July 2016

The Beatles and WWII

Just received the press release below about this "re do"  of the original from 1976.  Hopefully we will review it in the next magazine for you. 


 “The Beatles and WWII” Featuring Elton John, Brian Ferry, Keith Moon, Rod Stewart, Jeff Lynne, Peter Gabriel, The Bee Gees and Others On 2CD/DVD Set


Music sung by:
 Elton John, The Bee Gees, Bryan Ferry, Jeff Lynne, Leo Sayer, Keith Moon, Rod Stewart, David Essex, Tina Turner, Helen Reddy, The Four Seasons, Lynsey De Paul, The Brothers Johnson, Richard Cocciante, Henry Gross, Status Quo, Peter Gabriel, and Frankie Vallii

London, UK - Legendary musical tribute “The Beatles and WWII” will be issued on CD/DVD by Gonzo Multimedia UK on July 15, 2016! Take a group of some of the most famous solo artists of the 70's - Elton John, Tina Turner, The Four Seasons, The Bee Gees, Peter Gabriel, Bryan Ferry, Rod Stewart, Leo Sayer, Keith Moon, Helen Reddy, Jeff Lynne & Frankie Valli - get them to sing cover versions of some of the most famous Beatles songs ever written. Add a considerable dollop of authentic documentary footage of the Second World War telling the story of that epic encounter...and what do you have?

“The Beatles and WWII”!!!

Sound crazy? It is. But enormously entertaining, and occasionally very chilling. A unique blend of music and film like no other. Of that much we can be absolutely certain.

 “The best collection of Beatles covers in a film EVER” 

In an article written by Ronnie Dannelley editor of Ear Candy Magazine: “The old 1976 film was the strangest mix of cinema and rock 'n' roll, combining World War II images (newsreels and Hollywood films made at that time) with the music of The Beatles (not The Beatles original recordings, but by various artists). The old movie combined a pastiche of World War II-themed film segments (both period films and post-war action films) with the backdrop of the music of The Beatles (NOT the original songs, but cover versions by various artists). Strange concept huh? A long story, but the end result was disastrous. The original distributor junked the film so completely that no copies survived, and the film took on its iconic status.”

Says legendary director Tony Palmer of his new film, Although the original 1976 film had disappeared, thanks to the indifference and stupidity of the original distributor, instinctively I felt the central idea, and the material, and of course the music, were just too good to be lost forever.

“So for those fans who have had to rely on a few very poor quality extracts on YouTube, the 2016 film is a completely new experience, much of it in HD. Yes, we have used some of the original tracks, but added a lot of new archive footage, some never seen before. In addition, I have often used totally different music. The film starts with Vaughan Williams, and ends with Shostakovich, taking in Rachmaninoff en route and including many of the famous 2nd World War speeches by Roosevelt, Churchill, Montgomery, Chamberlain, Joe Kennedy and Hitler.  And the film makes reference to war-torn Syria and the massive problem of immigration along the way.


“It is a far more complex film than the original, and I hope will give everyone pause for thought about the troubled world in which we live.”

Produced by Sandy Lieberson
Directed & Edited by Tony Palmer

Macca: The Paul McCartney Story - Coming in 2017


A new production about to launch in major UK/ European theatres from 2017
Macca: The Paul McCartney Story 

Reuniting the cast of the Hit West End musical, ‘Let it Be’ and starring Emanuele Angeletti as Paul McCartney, this is a celebration of the life and music of a legend. The show includes all of McCartney’s solo hits along with a few Beatles favourites and a spectacular recreation of the ‘Wings Over The World' 1975-6 Concert Tour. 

Using state of the art visual media projection throughout, this show is unrivalled within the current theatre circuit today.

Experience the drama of “Live and Let Die”, the pathos of “No More Lonely Nights” and the nostalgia of “Band on the Run” alongside many, many more..



PRESS QUOTES
Angeletti has all the Macca charm one would hope for (Musical theatre review - London)

Emanuele Angeletti is an uncanny carbon-copy of Paul (The Telegraph)

Emanuele Angeletti has Paul McCartney’s mannerisms down to a T (The Guardian)

The brilliant Emanuele Angeletti. From the cheeky smiles to the foot tapping and nods to the audience, his interpretation of Paul is quite simply perfect. Along with the accompanying vocals of a captive audience, this moment defined Angeletti as one of the best, if not the best, musician to have performed as McCartney. (The low down magazine - Liverpool)

Saturday 23 July 2016

8 Days A Week film - September 15, 2016 - updated

Updated:  The link below takes you to the main site.  In the top right hand corner you can change the country to see what's happening in your country.

Ron Howard's authorized biography film "The Beatles Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years" will be screened in London on September 15th  Use this link to find out more about the film, the companion album (CD and Vinyl) and how to get your tickets.

It will release in the USA on September 15th as well but only in selected cinemas and then be available for streaming on Hulu.  Get tickets from these cinemas.

Sunday 17 July 2016

Legendary Beatles REVOLVER Cover Beatles in a brand new 2016 version

GoodTimes - the German magazine for music from the 60s to the 80s - is celebrating 50 years of REVOLVER, with five different cover pages of the Beatles.   Learn more from the press release below.
                                              ----
"It was 50 years ago today" when Klaus Voormann designed and completed the cover of the legendary Beatles album REVOLVER. And now, the artist has re-created his famous work once again, by exclusively working for the German music magazine  GoodTimes.

In the early days of August in the year 1966, the seventh Beatles album REVOLVER was released. Musically matured, the four musicians from Liverpool proceeded to say goodbye to the more lightweight Beat music that had established their world wide reign during  the 1960s. REVOLVER (featuring songs like “Eleanor Rigby“, “Taxman“ or “Tomorrow Never Knows“ as well as “Good Day Sunshine“ or “Yellow Submarine“) was revolutionary for the band. It also pointed the way and in fact turned out to define the style of a musical direction which later came to turn into Psychedelic Rock.

Matching the detachment and multi-layered character of the music was a task achieved by Klaus Voormann, a fellow friend and companion of the band from their Hamburg days. The musician and graphic artist, who was often called „the fifth Beatle“, has become a famous part of musical history by illustrating the legendary album with a cover that happened to be just as legendary. In his innovative and revolutionary black & white collage where he mixed line drawings and cut-outs, he enhanced the main motive  - the heads of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr – with highly detailed photo snippets in varied moods. Thus, Voorman revolutionized the era’s more plain and artless design of LP covers with simple photo shots of the artists, and he inititiated a truly massive innovative impulse in this artistic field.

This is how Klaus Voormann managed to capture the unconventional, complex vibe of this golden age of creativity, which also characterizes the music of this highly experimental album. The REVOLVER cover is the most significant work that he has ever created. For this, he was honoured with a Grammy award, and he inspired many colleages to dare and try new ways in cover design..

The now 78 year-old artist once again retreated to his workshop in Tutzing right by Lake Starnberg in order to newly re-design the REVOLVER cover for its golden 50-year jubilee. This is how this series of five graphic creations took shape, which will be exclusively issued on the July edition of the music magazine GoodTimes – in cover illustrations as well as posters.

"Needless to say, everyone here at the publisher’s office is proud and grateful that Klaus Voormann spontaneously took part in making this project happen", says Fabian Leibfried, the magazine‘s chief editor, who is determined to serve the music of the 1960s to the 1980s. "There will be five variations of the cover – each of the Fab Four on their own as well as all the four of them together. Respectively, the illustration on the cover matches the one on the giant poster in the centrefold of the magazine."

Starting on Friday, the 15th July 2016, the GoodTimes edition 4/2016 with the five issue variations will hit the shops. It will feature a comprehensive interview with Klaus Voormann on the history of the cover and all its consequences.

Contact:
GoodTimes – NikMa Verlag
Fabian Leibfried
Eberdinger Straße 37
71665 Vaihingen/Enz
Germany
E-Mail: goodtimes@nikma.de

Saturday 9 July 2016

New items just added to the Member Marketplace


Did you know that we have a member's marketplace on our website?  It is a fabulous forum that helps our those who have Beatles items to sell find buyers.

As one participant explained, he hates to part with his Beatles treasures but circumstances are forcing him to.  However, he wants to make sure it will go to someone who will treasure his memorabilia as much as he did when they were his. This forum helps him connect with like-minded fans and collectors.

New items are added all the time, check it out. You might just find that something special you've been looking for!

BBFC Magazine Issue 59 Out Now!

The July issue of our quarterly magazine is out now.  If you are a member, it is in the post.  Non members can order a copy from our website here.

Issue 59 (July 2016) includes:
  • The Beatles A Day In The Life
  • Coming Up Forthcoming Events
  • Tony Barrow 1936 - 2016
  • Henry McCullough 1943 - 2016
  • Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band - Tour Review
  • Media Watch
  • Beatle Boots
  • Paperback Writers
  • Try Some, Buy Some New Releases
  • BBFC Offers & Merchandise
  • As I Write This Letter
  • Crap Photo of the Month

Possible new Beatles release on coloured, shaped vinyl

We received an email this week telling us about this campaign to release a new Beatles  coloured, shaped vinyl single of "Cry for a Shadow" and said we would help spread the word.  Below is the message and a link to the funding campaign where you can learn more about the project led by Joe from Germany.

"For years I did a record label, putting out lots of different kinds of music. As close as I got to the Beatles in the heyday of my label many years ago were two Denny Laine solo CDs that I licensed from England for the German market, one of which featured Paul McCartney as a guest.

For the last several years, I have been winding the label activities down, but the final release on the label was supposed to be a Beatles vinyl project. Somehow though, it is just beset by bad luck, and is still not out.

"I was hoping you could announce the project on your site so that Beatles fans will know about it. I know the track is old and often released,  but to make up for that, I plan on making sure it gets put into a packaging that would make even the Beatles proud, with colored, shaped vinyl, a wonderful full color open up cover, as well as a Klaus Vormann licensed art on the inside, something that this track has not yet seen. The artwork you can also see on the site."
If this has piqued your interest, click here to go to the crowd funding campaign to learn more.

Saturday 2 July 2016

Two Chances to See the Trembling Wilburys in London in July


The Trembling Wilburys are playing in North & South-West London over the next 2 weekends! 
 
This Sunday (3rd) they're headlining the East Barnet Festival in Oakhill Park, EN4 8JS.Onstage: 7.45pm - 8.30pm. Free entry all day from 12 
noon.
 
http://www.eastbarnetfestival.org.uk
 
 
Then next Sunday (10th) they're back at the Half Moon Putney for their regular 6-month spot.
 
Doors open 8pm, onstage 8.30pm. Tickets £10 advance, £12 on 
the door.
http://halfmoon.co.uk/event?event=508957&date=2016-07-10%2020:00:0

The Trembling Wilburys: