by Bob Spitz
They cut “There’s a Place”: “[Paul] was the owner of the soundtrack album of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, which is where the title phrase came from.” Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 95.
Paul had written down in the van: “I did this song going home in a car one night.” Beatles Book Monthly, 8/83, p. 6.
the second line was “useless”: Ibid.
Sitting on the living-room floor: M. McCartney, Thank U Very Much (picture), pages unnumbered.
they ran through the alphabet: “We went through the alphabet: between clean, lean, mean.” Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 93.
a galloping bass line: “I played exactly the same notes as he did and it fitted our number perfectly.” Paul McCartney in Beat Instrumental.
“for a pie and a pint”: Richard Langham in Lewisohn, Sessions, p. 24.
“We couldn’t believe it”: Ibid.
a “hack song”: Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 95.
“They just put their heads down”: “Brian was so proud of them. He told me they worked their asses off.” Author interview with Peter Brown, 12/9/97.
“someone suggested they do ‘Twist and Shout’ ”: Lewisohn, Sessions, p. 26.
“A real larynx-tearer”: George Martin in Anthology, p. 93.
Everyone knew they’d have to get it: “It’s not an easy number for any vocalist to sing, but we had to get it in one take.” Norman Smith in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 119.
“got it in one”: “I was ready to jump up and down when I heard them singing that.” Richard Langham in Lewisohn, Sessions, p. 26.
“dead chuffed”: “As it happens, we were very happy with the result—or to put it more eloquently, dead chuffed!” NME, 4/19/63.
“to give the boys some air”: Author interview with Bob Wooler, 10/30/97.
This was a trick they had practiced: “I used to see them backstage, practicing shaking their heads—on a count.” Author interview with Kenny Lynch, 1/16/98.
“Just a few weeks before”: Author interview with Colin Manley, 10/2/97.
drawing the biggest queue: “The queue outside on Mathew Street was amazing, larger than any I’d ever seen. The kids had been there all day, maybe all night.” Author interview with Bob Wooler, 10/30/97.
“a small piece of motorway”: Ringo Starr in Anthology, p. 83.
The NME Top Thirty: NME, 2/20/63.
Since breaking up with Dot Rhone: “I’d go out with Frank, who would give me a pound for the taxi home. But Paul would meet me, and we’d have the pound to spend.” Author interview with Iris Caldwell Fenton, 9/30/97.
“was berserk over [Iris]”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/4/97.
Disc, on the other hand: Disc, 2/23/63.
The bus was “a drag”: “No one liked it.” Author interview with Kenny Lynch, 1/16/98.
Before the opening bars: “We all got loud. Everyone was cheering.” Ibid.
CHAPTER 21: THE JUNGLE DRUMS
“Britain’s top vocal-instrumental group”: Melody Maker, 4/13/63.
“We want the Beatles!”: “All one of us had to do was go out there and they’d be screaming, ‘We want the Beatles!’ ” Author interview with Kenny Lynch, 1/16/98.
“all the people coming to the show”: George Harrison in Anthology, p. 90.
“have a walk through the streets”: Author interview with Kenny Lynch, 1/16/98.
“in the dressing-rooms”: Coleman, Lennon, p. 195.
the guesthouses: “The night staff were terrible—poor people.” Ringo Starr in Anthology, p. 86.
“It was always a bore”: Ibid., p. 90.
To fulfill an urgent request: “I asked them for another song as good as ‘Please, Please Me,’ and they brought me one.” Martin, All You Need, p. 131.
“Thank You Little Girl”: “We’d already written ‘Thank You Girl.’ ” John Lennon in Melody Maker, 4/19/63.
just “fooling around” on the guitar: Ibid.
The new tune came quickly: Talking about “From Me to You,” Paul said: “We have such a fairly easy job thinking up tunes.” NME, 5/10/63.
“It went to a surprising place”: Paul McCartney in Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 149.
“Paul and I had been talking”: John Lennon in NME, 5/10/63.
“very direct and personal”: “There was a little trick we developed early on… which was to put I, Me, or You in it, so it was very direct and personal.” Paul McCartney in Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 148.
“people can identify… with it”: Paul McCartney in NME, 5/10/63.
“From Me to You” was finished: “Before that journey was over, we’d completed the lyric, everything.” John Lennon in NME, 4/19/63.
Why not sing the intro?: Author interview with Ron Richards, 12/29/97.
Brian shared their dream: “Brian Epstein was putting pressure on George [Martin], who, in turn, was giving me a hard time.” Author interview with Roland Rennie, 8/7/97.
The stumbling block… Capitol: “When EMI bought Capitol, or bought the major position in Capitol, we had an agreement between us—that [with] any of EMI’s English artists… we had the right of first refusal, and the same in reverse.” Alan Livingston, Arena archives.
“The idea was that [Capitol]”: Author interview with Roland Rennie, 8/7/97.
“didn’t even hear the first Beatles record”: Alan Livingston, Arena archives.
the Beatles were “nothing”: “He said, ‘Alan, they’re a bunch of long-haired kids, they’re nothing, forget it.’ ” Ibid.
“a jazz man”: “Of course, the A&R guy… was a jazz man… who couldn’t see pop records anyway.” Paul White in ibid., p. 141.
“I wasn’t going to call [Dave] Dexter”: Author interview with Paul Marshall, 8/28/97.
“fell right to the bottom”: “I released the record about a month and a half after the English did and it fell right to the bottom.” Paul White in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 137.
NME broke the story: “The Beatles, yet to have a major British hit… have been snapped up for America by Vee Jay.” NME, 1/25/63.
Then, in the February 8 issue: NME, 2/8/63.
a small follow-up in Melody: “American star Roy Orbison is set for a three-week British tour.” Melody Maker, 3/23/63.
clocked somewhere around E: “He had refined his voice into a crystal instrument with which he can hit his E above high C.” Dalton & Kaye, Rock 100, p. 30.
always speed to fall back on: “Roy, who toured with Johnny Cash… was also devoted to speed and sleeping pills.” Amburn, Dark Star, p. 67.
A stone staircase swept up: Description of building—author interview with Shelagh Johnson, 10/29/97.
“Eppy’s Epitorium”: Author interview with Frieda Kelly Norris, 10/5/97.
“there are three groups in Liverpool”: John Lennon in Hit Parade, 4/63.
music “scene that could only find its counterpart”: “The Beat Boys!” Melody Maker, 3/23/63.
“idolized him”: “She only had the one son, and she idolized him.” Author interview with Frieda Kelly Norris, 10/5/97.
“Elsie felt they were taking him”: Author interview with Marie Crawford, 11/1/97.
the Harrisons and Jim McCartney “were thrilled”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/5/97.
Friends close to Louise Harrison: “Mrs. Harrison enjoyed it all.” Author interview with Frieda Kelly Norris, 10/5/97.
“She followed the Beatles as avidly”: Author interview with Arthur Kelly, 1/10/98.
“Jim was probably the Beatles’ biggest fan”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/5/97.
“showing blood”: “She was showing blood, and the doctor told her she had to go to bed.” Author interview with Dot Rhone Becker, 11/19/98.
“drank whiskey after whiskey”: “He insisted we drink whiskey after…” Paddy Delaney in Badman, Off the Record, p. 54.
a tall, “spunky” seventeen-year-old: Author interview with Virginia Harry, 8/10/97.
they’d been hanging out to
gether: “We didn’t know that Cyn was pregnant at the time.” Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/10/97.
Even with the Beatles: Goldman, Lives of John Lennon, p. 135.
“He had no shame”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/10/97.
Had it been a girl: “We’d already decided that if the baby was a girl she would be called Julia.” Hello!, 5/14/94.
“triumphant at the news”: Coleman, Lennon, p. 171.
“over-sensitive”/“moody”: Hello!, 5/14/94.
carping about Cynthia’s “willfulness”: Author interview with Dot Rhone Becker, 11/19/98.
“a perverse pleasure”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/7/97.
“didn’t even emerge from upstairs”: Coleman, Lennon, p. 180.
John turned up two days: Lewisohn, Chronicle, pp. 106–7.
Julian and Cynthia were still in the hospital: Coleman, Lennon, p. 171.
“Who’s going to be a famous little rocker”: C. Lennon, A Twist, p. 87.
“bloody marvelous”: Ibid.
“a miracle”: Hello!, 5/14/94.
Brian had insisted that John keep the marriage a secret: “It was wholly down to paranoia on Brian’s part about the private lives of his artists.” Author interview with Tony Barrow, 10/31/97.
Cynthia may have suppressed: “I saw the whole thing in a flash and I realized there and then that I’d have to close my mind to the situation or my relationship with John would be impossible.” Hello!, 5/21/94.
John “was beginning to feel trapped”: C. Lennon, A Twist, p. 87.
“But he never talked about Julian”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/10/97.
“Once the Beatles hit the pop charts”: Author interview with Johnny Byrne, 11/3/97.
“plenty of sparkle”: “Beatles Sparkle Again,” NME, 4/12/63.
“so-so melody”: Melody Maker, 4/13/63.
“came crashing”: NME, 4/19/63.
sales hit 200,000 copies: “Beatles Back with a Bang!”Melody Maker, 4/20/63.
“By now, the Beatle legend”: Melly, Revolt Into Style, p. 63.
“The Beatles could take it to the Americans”: “Beatles—One Out for Week,” Melody Maker, 3/16/63.
“Latest visitors from America”: “Screams Acclaim Beatles, Montez, Roe,” NME, 3/15/63.
“A couple of records in the charts”: Melly, Revolt Into Style, p. 68.
“They acted that way”: Author interview with Tony Barrow, 10/31/97.
“It was my chore”: Melly, Revolt Into Style, p. 69.
evicted Gerry Marsden from his perch: “Top Thirty,” NME, 4/24/63.
“highlight of the pop music year”: “Now 4 Extra Acts at NME Poll Concert,” NME, 4/19/63.
“more like that of a father”: Author interview with Tony Bramwell, 8/8/97.
“Clive took one look”: “George once told me a very revealing story.” Author interview with Bob Wooler, 10/30/97.
“He was in love with me”: Sheff, Playboy Interviews, p. 76.
“wanted to know if [she] objected”: C. Lennon, A Twist, pp. 87–88.
She was “hurt”: “I concealed my hurt and envy and gave him my blessing.” Ibid., p. 88.
“what a bastard”: John Lennon, 1970 interview, in Anthology, p. 98.
“stayed in the sun too long”: George Harrison in Anthology, p. 98.
“nothing would stand in his way”: Author interview with Bob Wooler, 10/30/97.
“a smart cookie”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 98.
“Paris of Spain”: Hans Christian Andersen, 1862.
“Where else may I have a gin”: Brian Epstein, private journal, 10/5/60.
“My God, how he ranted”: Author interview with Bob Wooler, 10/30/97.
“I watched Brian picking up boys”: John Lennon, 1970 interview, in Anthology, p. 98.
“It was almost a love affair”: Ibid.
“[John] and Brian had sex”: Goldman, Lives of John Lennon, p. 140.
“I let [Brian] toss me off”: Shotton, John Lennon in My Life, p. 73.
“John lay there, tentative”: “Brian and John undressed in silence.” Brown & Gaines, Love You Make, p. 94.
“something to build on”: Author interview with Peter Brown, 12/8/97.
“the homosexual thing”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 98.
CHAPTER 22: KINGS OF THE JUNGLE
“really had my backside kicked”: Dick Rowe in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 122.
“almost as good as our Roadrunners”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/8/97.
He took the next train back: “Well, I left him right on the spot, went down to London… and drove to Richmond”: Dick Rowe in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, pp. 122–23.
Gomelsky invited the boys: Wyman, Stone Alone, p. 127.
“full-bodied R&B” band: Hotchner, Blown Away, p. 91.
“Keith and Brian—wow!”: “I knew then that the Stones were great.” Ringo Starr in Anthology, p. 101.
both boys did nothing all day: Ian Stewart in Hotchner, Blown Away, p. 78.
“a little bit more radical”: John Lennon, 1974 interview in Anthology, p. 101.
“a cozy little setup”: Author interview with Tony Barrow, 10/31/97.
“the ins and outs of a dog’s dinner”: Author interview with Frieda Kelly Norris, 10/5/97.
“utter nonsense”: Mimi Smith, AGA (undated).
“Ritchie came in [the office]”: Author interview with Frieda Kelly Norris, 10/5/97.
Barrow also invented a national secretary: Norman, Shout!, p. 182.
“the world’s worst chain-smoker”: Tony Barrow, “The Girls They Like,” Beatles Book Monthly, 6/83, p. 8.
“undercover existence”: C. Lennon, A Twist, p. 94.
“For up to eighteen months”: Author interview with Tony Barrow, 10/31/97.
“We still can’t mention your marriage”: Ibid.
One journalist… “browsed through the pile”: Beatles Book Monthly, 6/83, pp. 8–9.
“a flop”: Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 115.
Cash Box pounced on it: Cash Box, 6/28/63.
“it was patently unfair”: George Martin, Arena archives.
“I was considered a traitor”: Ibid.
Parlophone exercised its option: EMI memorandum from L. G. Wood, 5/28/63.
Finally, on June 18: Brian Epstein’s journal.
John was descending into a black funk: Author interview with Pete Shotton, 1/19/98.
“out of my mind with drink”: John Lennon, 1972 interview, in Anthology, p. 98.
“sinking a fair bit of booze”: Tony Barrow, “What a Party,” Beatles Book Monthly, 7/83, p. 6.
“Bob has a sarcastic note”: Author interview with Bill Harry, 8/2/97.
“Come on, John, tell me”: McCabe & Schonfeld, John Lennon: For the Record, p. 94.
“tightly closed fists”: Beatles Book Monthly, 7/83, p. 6.
“Bob was holding his hands”: Author interview with Billy J. Kramer, 12/16/97.
“I was beating the shit out of him”: John Lennon, 1972 interview, in Anthology, p. 98.
Cynthia, who “was freaking out”: Author interview with Billy J. Kramer, 12/16/97.
“He arrived with a black eye”: Author interview with Rex Makin, 11/1/97.
“For my trouble”: Author interview with Bob Wooler, 10/30/97.
“I first called John in Liverpool”: Author interview with Tony Barrow, 10/31/97.
BEATLE IN BRAWL: Daily Mirror, 6/21/63.
“racing up and down the country”: “Backstage (and Elsewhere) with the Beatles, Dakotas,”NME, 7/26/63.
“girls were plucked”: “Fans Invade Homes but Boys Love ’Em!” NME, 6/21/63.
“nearly five thousand fans”: Melody Maker, 7/27/63.
The boys had to climb a scaffolding: “Beatles Paris Date, as EP Makes History,” NME, 7/26/63.
Publicly, the Beatles laughed it off: Melly, Revolt Into Style, p. 70.
“like persistent termites”
: NME, 7/26/63.
“Wave the Union Jack!”: NME, 7/5/63.
“It’s terrible,” John complained: “I wouldn’t buy it.” “Beatles Blast Own Hit Disc!” NME, 6/22/63.
sold an astonishing 150,000 copies: “We had orders for 40,000 within a half-hour.” “Beatles Blast Off!” Melody Maker, 7/20/63.
first EP ever to enter the Top Ten: “Survey by Derek Johnson,” NME, 8/2/63.
“Bad to Me”: “Billy J. Kramer—So Much Melody,” NME, 7/19/63.
“Tip of My Tongue”: Released on Piccadilly no. 7N 35137, NME, 8/2/63.
“answering song”: “I’d planned an ‘answering song.’ ” Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 96.
a “crummy idea”: Ibid.
“brilliant… one of the most vital [songs]”: George Martin in Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 125.
“Oh my God, what a lyric!”: Lewisohn, Sessions, p. 32.
“No one played it”: Author interview with Paul Marshall, 8/28/97.
“stone-cold dead”: Dave Dexter, Pritchard & Lysaght, The Beatles, p. 134.
“They didn’t pay anything”: Author interview with Roland Rennie, 8/7/97.
“Sometimes, you know, I feel”: “Close Up on a Beatle: Paul McCartney,” NME, 10/7/63.
“Beatles fever”: Melody Maker, 10/26/63.
“a staggering 235,000 copies”: NME, 8/16/63.
“sitting round a big fire”: “There’s nothing better, for me, than a bit of peace and quiet.” “Close Up on a Beatle: George Harrison,” NME, 8/16/63.
“I’m not really interested in sport”: NME, 8/9/63.
Ringo “didn’t have a large vocal range”: Paul McCartney in Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 148.
“If he couldn’t mentally picture”: Ibid., p. 152.
The boys had been on the way: “We’d go to his office and window shop on the way.” Miles, Paul McCartney, p. 154.
“Mecca”: “It was where all the guitar shops were.” Paul McCartney in Anthology, p. 101.
“Well, Ringo’s got this track”: Ibid.
“a throwaway”: “We weren’t going to give them anything great, right?” Sheff, Playboy Interviews, p. 145.
They played what they had: Wyman, Stone Alone, p. 150.
“So Paul and I just went off”: Sheff, Playboy Interviews, p. 145.