Bruce will be appearing at the New Jersey Fest for Beatles Fans on March 23 – 25, 2012. He will be selling and signing copies of his latest book, “Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records,” and other titles that are still available. Bruce will be giving two audio/visual presentations and participate in a few panel discussions. His speaking schedule will be posted within the next few weeks. For information regarding the Fest, go to www.thefestforbeatlesfans.com .

498 Productions, based in New Orleans, wishes everyone a Happy Mardi Gras. Our current sales celebrating the Beatles first U.S. visit will expire at midnight on February 21, 2012, at the same time that the New Orleans Police Department rides horses through the French Quarter telling revelers that Mardi Gras has ended and it is time to go home. Today’s trivia questions deal with the Beatles Mardi Gras connection.

Questions:

What album did Paul McCartney record in New Orleans during the Mardi Gras season?

What was the name of the album, what year was it recorded and released, and in what New Orleans studio was it primarily recorded?

What song did Paul specifically record in celebration of Mardi Gras and on what single was it released as a B-side?

Bonus: What New Orleans musicians played on the song?

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February 14 marks the 48th anniversary of the Beatles first full day in Miami Beach. After being greeted by an estimated 7,000 fans at Miami International Airport the day before, the Beatles spent Valentines Day 1964 enjoying the warm Florida climate. Plans called for a morning photo session at the swimming pool of the Deauville Hotel, where the Beatles were staying. However, the Life magazine photographer was concerned about the mobs of fans hanging out at the hotel, so the session was moved to the pool at the house of Jerri Kruger Pollak, a retired jazz singer, who graciously prepared a luncheon buffet for the boys. In the afternoon, the group boarded the motor yacht Southern Trail, which was turned over to them, crew and all.

The boys soaked up the sun, with John, Paul and George also going for a swim. Paul later sat behind the yacht’s piano and played a bit of “Can’t Buy Me Love” for New York DJ Murray the K, who accompanied the group to Miami and shared a room at the Deauville (Room # 1218) with George for the first part of the visit. The group returned to the Deauville for a 6:00 pm rehearsal in one of the hotel’s lower level rooms. George checked out his new Rickenbacker electric 12-string guitar, while John played on George’s Gretsch Country Gentleman for a spell.

That evening, the group was treated to an American home-style meal (salad, roast beef, baked potatoes, green beans, peas and a strawberry iced cake for dessert) at the house of Sgt. Buddy Dresner of the Miami Beach Police Department. Sgt. Dresner provided security and companionship during the group’s stay in Miami. Sgt. Dresner’s three young children would have quite a story to tell their friends the following Monday about how they spent their Valentines Day! After returning to the Deauville, the Beatles and Sgt. Dresner headed to one of the hotel’s night clubs to see comedian Don Rickles, who made it a point to pick on the Beatles (“Look at this. A police sergeant guarding four Zulus when all over the city there’s fighting and burglary going on”).

After the show, John and wife Cynthia went off to bed (Room # 1211), while the others went to the Deauville’s other night club to see singer/dancer Carol Lawrence and comedian Myron Cohen. After the show, the remaining Beatles headed back to their rooms (Paul and Ringo shared Room # 1219). And that’s the way it was, Friday, February 14, 1964.

You can find out what the Beatles did on their other days in Miami Beach in the book “The Beatles Are Coming!”

And now, 498 Production’s sale honoring the Beatles first U.S. visit continues. Click here to read more about the sale

BRUCE SPIZER TO BE ON PBS’ HISTORY DETECTIVES

Speaking of the Deauville, Beatles author/historian Bruce Spizer was at the Deauville a few weeks ago taping an episode for the PBS program “History Detectives.” Bruce provided a tour of the places the Beatles went while at the Miami Beach hotel and discussed the importance of the Beatles on American culture and the music industry. This summer you can be like the girl in an Elvis Costello song and find yourself watching the detectives! The Beatles-themed show is tentatively set to air this June. Additional details regarding the show will be posted to the site as they become known.

TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTIONS

In keeping with the Deauville theme, today’s trivia questions are about the Ed Sullivan Show broadcast from the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach.

Who was the headliner for the show? (Hint: It wasn’t the Beatles, although the group did open and close the show.)

How much did the headliner and her production company get paid for the performance and how much did the Beatles get paid?

Approximately how many Americans tuned in to see the show?

From what room at the Deauville was the show broadcast?

Bonus Question: What were the six songs performed by the Beatles?

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Scroll down for this week’s trivia question about their arrival.

HOW TO CELEBRATE THIS WEEK

On February 9 at 8:00 p.m. be sure to relive the Beatles exciting debut on The Ed Sullivan Show by watching the DVD containing the show. Play the CD of “Meet The Beatles!” contained the  box set “The Capitol Albums Vol. 1” or, better yet, play the vinyl LP. Listen to the singles “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “She Loves You” and “Please Please Me.” Watch the DVD “The Beatles First U.S. Visit.” Read the book “The Beatles Are Coming!” If you are old enough, pretend you are once again a teenager living in 1964! To get into the spirit, read your old comic books (“Flash,” “Green Lantern,” “Justice League of America,” etc.) if your mother didn’t throw them away.

TODAY’S TRIVIA

This multiple part question pertains to the jet airplane that flew the Beatles from London to New York on February 7, 1964.

What was the name of the airline, the flight number, the type of jet and the name of the jet?

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FAB FAN MEMORIES – THE BEATLES BOND has been nominated for a 2012 Grammy Award in the spoken word category. The CD is hosted by Louise Harrison (sister of Beatle George Harrison) and features interviews with fans telling about their personal Beatles experiences. You’ll hear captivating stories by Rod Davis, Janis Ian, Phil Keaggy, Melissa Manchester, Ken Mansfield, Alan Menken, Bruce Spizer and Billy Swan as well as everyday fans.

The CD includes original songs and underscoring written and produced by myself and fellow band members of The WannaBeatles. Also featured are The Liverpool Legends performing Beatles favorites.

You can hear an audio sample at:

http://clicks.fanbridge.com/l.php?cid=798115&sid=182861834&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fabfanmemories.com%2F

The Grammy Awards show will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 12, 2012.

Beginning in 1963, the Beatles started a holiday tradition of recording Christmas messages for their fans. The recordings were edited and issued on flexi-discs through the Official Beatles Fan Club in London during the 1963 through 1969 holiday seasons. In 1970, the Fan Club compiled all of the previous Christmas messages on a long-playing album. In the spirit of the holidays, these trivia questions pertain to the Beatles Christmas recordings, with one for each of the 12 days of Christmas. The U.K. Christmas discs are covered in “Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records” at pages 325 – 334, while the U.S. records are discussed in “The Beatles on Apple Records” at pages 207 – 223.

1.  Who came up with the idea for the Beatles Christmas records?

2.  What two traditional Christmas songs are featured on the first Beatles Christmas record from 1963?

3.  What Christmas song opens the second Beatles Christmas from 1964?

4.  On the 1964 disc, which Beatle mockingly lets listeners know he’s reading from a script?

5.  During the third Christmas disc from 1965, the group repeatedly sings an off-key rendition of which Beatles song?

6.  What hit by the Four Tops do the Beatles sing in the 1965 Christmas disc?

7.  What is the name of the original Christmas song that opens and closes the Beatles 1966 Christmas disc?

8.  What original Christmas tune appears on the 1967 Christmas disc and was released during the Anthology project?

9.  Who was the first Beatle to design a sleeve for a Beatles Christmas disc and which two Beatles father and son teams contributed art to the covers of Beatles Christmas discs?

10.  Which Beatle read a story opening with “Wonsaponatime there were two balloons named…” on the 1968 disc?

11.  Who, at the request of George, sings a ukulele-backed version of “Nowhere Man” on the 1968 disc?

12.  What movie does Ringo shamelessly plug on the 1969 record?

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An excerpt of the interview will air on his live Beatles show “Every Little Thing” this Wednesday, December 7, 2011, 8-10 pm (est) on 88.7 WNHU, West Haven CT, which streams live at http://www.wnhu.net/ . He will also feature more of the interview in the syndicated version of “Every Little Thing” which airs on 8 other radio stations.

Parts 1 & 2 of the interview is posted on his website at http://www.kenmichaelsradio.com/

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What two songs, recorded in Paris, France, on January 29, 1964, were first issued in countries other than England? What were the first two countries to issue the songs, and on what records did they appear in those countries?

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What three songs recorded during the “Revolver” sessions were released in the United States nearly two months prior to being issued in the U.K. and on what album did they first appear in the United States?

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When Capitol Records needed help coming up with enough songs for a summer 1965 Beatles album, tell me what Lennon-McCartney song was supplied by EMI and on what U.S. and U.K. albums did the song first appear?

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What George Harrison song was released in the United Stated nearly two months prior to being issued in the U.K. and on what U.S. and U.K. albums did the song first appear?

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What two songs were recorded specifically for Capitol Records for U.S. release and on what records did they first appear in the U.S. and in the U.K.?

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What two songs recorded during the sessions for “A Hard Day’s Night” were released in the United States prior to being issued in the U.K. and what records did they first appear on in the United States and in the U.K.?

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Bruce at the New York City Ballet’s opening night for Paul McCartney’s “Ocean’s Kingdom” ballet.

Bruce Spizer with Mark Hudson at the New York City Ballet’s opening night for Paul McCartney’s “Ocean’s Kingdom” ballet.

BRUCE SPIZER, IS A BEATLES HISTORIAN AND THE AUTHOR OF, “THE BEATLES’ STORY ON CAPITOL RECORDS”, “THE BEATLES ARE COMING: THE BIRTH OF BEATLEMANIA IN AMERICA”, and “BEATLES FOR SALE ON PARLOPHONE RECORDS”, and five other Beatles books. He took the time to answer the following questions listed below.

Q: SHARON ABELLA: “What can you tell me that has rarely, if ever, been said about, “The Beatles”?

A: BRUCE SPIZER: “With so much already written about “The Beatles”, that is hard to do. I was fortunate to uncover some very interesting and little known facts when researching my books. I came across an interview made during “The Beatles” first U.S. visit in February, 1964, in which New York TV reporter Gabe Pressman asks Paul, “What effect do you think “The Beatles” will have on Western culture?” Paul is amused by the question and responds, “I don’t know. You must be joking with that question. It’s not culture.” When asked what it is, Paul replies, “It’s a laugh”. This shows the innocence of the times. While Gabe Pressman’s question now appears to be very astute, he was being sarcastic, as if to say, “Where do you think you will be in a few months?” But as we know now, “The Beatles”, have had a tremendous impact on Western culture.

I also uncovered the fact that CBS broadcasted a five-minute feature story on “The Beatles” on the CBS Morning News with Mike Wallace in November, 1963. No one, including, Mike Wallace, remembered the broadcast because President Kennedy was shot a few hours later.

“The Beatles” first U.S. single, “Please, Please Me”, was released on February 7, 1963, exactly one year prior to the group arriving in America for the first time. While the record was largely ignored at the time, “The Beatles” arrival exactly one year later, was national news.”

Q: SHARON ABELLA: “When did the John/Paul competition start?”

A: Bruce Spizer: “I would imagine that the competition between John and Paul was htere from the very beginning. When John first met Paul, he was impressed with Paul’s abilities. He had to decide whether to take Paul into his band and no longer be the most talented musician in the group, or decline to let Paul join the band and remain the group’s best musician. John chose to take in Paul because he knew it would improve the band.

There was always competition between John and Paul over getting the A-sides of singles. In the early days, John normally had the A-side, although some songs were true John and Paul compositions. John also insisted that songs be credited to “Lennon-McCartney”. This was done for the first two singles, but producer, George Martin, listed songs as “McCartney-Lennon” for the group’s first LP and the third single. At John’s insistence, all future records said “Lennon-McCartney”. It was a friendly competition in that John and Paul pushed each other to write better songs. When Paul came up with a great song like “Hey Jude”, John would admit it should be the A-side even though he initially wanted his “Revolution” as the A-side. Their competition brought out the best in them as songwriters.”

Q: SHARON ABELLA: How did it grow (before Yoko ever came in)?

A: BRUCE SPIZER: “It wasn’t so much that Yoko increased the completion between John and Paul, it was more a case of John electing to spend all of his time with Yoko, which meant he had little time for Paul. During the “Let It Be” project, there was very little competition for songs as John had only a few new songs to offer. For “Abbey Road,” John pushed for an album of separate songs, while Paul liked George Martin’s idea for a long medley or suite of songs. A compromise was reached where side one was separate songs and side two was dominated by a huge medley.”

Q: SHARON ABELLA: “Was Ringo ever replaced during the studio recording process by another drummer?”

A: BRUCE SPIZER:

“Ringo played drums during “The Beatles” first proper EMI recording session held on September 4, 1962. “Love Me Do”, and “How Do You Do It?” a non-Lennon-McCartney song, were recorded that day. Neither George Martin, nor his assistant, Ron Richards, were pleased with the drum sound, so Ron Richards brought in a session drummer, Andy White, when the group was sent back into the studio one week later, on September 11th. They re-recorded, “Love Me Do”, and recorded another Lennon-McCartney original, “P.S. I Love You.” Andy White played drums on both tracks, while Ringo played tambourine on “Love Me Do” and shook maracas on “P.S. I Love You.” The group’s first single used the version of “Love Me Do” with Ringo on drums coupled with “P.S. I Love You.” When the group’s first album was compiled, the version of “Love Me Do” with Andy White on drums was used.

During the recording of “The White Album” in 1968, Ringo temporarily quit the group after an argument with Paul over the drumming on “Back In The U.S.S.R.” McCartney played drums on that song, along with “Dear Prudence,” before Ringo returned to the sessions. Paul also played drums on “Wild Honey Pie,” an experimental piece he knocked out himself during the “White Album” sessions.

Paul was the drummer on “The Ballad of John and Yoko,” which was recorded entirely by John and Paul in April 1969. John was in a hurry to record the song, so he and Paul did it by themselves because Ringo was busy filming “The Magic Christian” and George was out of the country.”

Q: SHARON ABELLA: “Why didn’t Paul show up to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction?”

A: BRUCE SPIZER: “That is a question you’ll have to ask Paul.”

Q: SHARON ABELLA: “How did George Martin get involved?”

A: BRUCE SPIZER: “In addition to being a record producer, George Martin was the head of EMI’s ‘Parlophone’ label. Beatles manager, Brian Epstein, was referred to George Martin by Sid Colman, who was the general manager of a British publishing company set up by Capitol Records to handle U.K. publishing. After giving “The Beatles” an artist test on June 6, 1962, Martin began his association with the group. At the time, Martin did not know that “The Beatles” had been turned down by EMI’s two major labels, Columbia and HMV. ”

Q: SHARON ABELLA: Were decisions made by the four Beatles voting?

A: BRUCE SPIZER:

“All decisions of the Beatles were normally made with all four in agreement, though John and Paul were influential enough so that if the two of them were in favor of something, George and Ringo often capitulated even though they
did not necessarily agree. An example of this was the use of the Butcher photo on the cover of the album “Yesterday And Today.” John came up with the idea to use the photo for the cover and Paul thought it would be cool. Although Ringo and George did not like the idea, they did not formally object to its use. John did not always get his way. The song “Revolution” was re-recorded to get a faster version of the song for the single. John was unable to get the song “What’s The New Mary Jane?” on “The White Album.” The group was deeply split on the hiring of Alan Klein to manage Apple and the Beatles. Paul objected and never signed an agreement with Klein”.

Q: SHARON ABELLA: Who decided the final songs on the records?

A: BRUCE SPIZER:

“As the group’s producer and the head of the Parlophone label, George Martin was responsible for deciding what songs the group would record and what would end up on the records. Although he forced the Beatles to record “How
Do You Do It,” a song written by a professional songwriter, for the group’s first session, he never did so again, allowing the Beatles to chose the songs to record. He wisely recognized the group’s talent and saw no need to
select songs for them.”

Q: SHARON ABELLA: The order of the songs on the records?

A: BRUCE SPIZER:

“George Martin selected the running order of the songs on the group’s albums released from 1962 – 1966. By the time “Sgt. Pepper” was recorded, John and Paul were heavily involved in selecting the running order of the songs with
George Martin.”

Q: SHARON ABELLA: Besides the writer royalty, was everything else split equally?

A: BRUCE SPIZER:

“After Ringo’s brief probationary period with the band ended, all group income was split equally. John and Paul made more money due to songwriter’s royalties.”

Q: SHARON ABELLA: Where should I go on the Liverpool tour?

A: BRUCE SPIZER:

“The Cavern, John and Paul’s houses, Penny Lane, Strawberry Field, the church were John met Paul. Just walk around and get the flavor of the city. Also go to the Beatles museum.”

Q: SHARON ABELLA: Are you going to see Scorsese’s new documentary, “George Harrison: Living in the Material World”?

A: BRUCE SPIZER:

“Of course. I am looking forward to it. A great film maker doing a documentary on a great man and musician.”

Article by Sharon Abella