The Beatle Files, SPLHCO Newsletter #61, Vol. 1

==The Beatle Files==
~by Strawberry Sunshine~

....A section of reviews of any Beatles-related literature....I take requests! This week:

"Sun Prints" by Linda McCartney
Salem House Publishers/MPL Communications Ltd.:
Topsfield, MA, 1988/1989. Approx. 96 pages, $19.95

This book, by Linda McCartney, is broken into six parts-the foreword (by Linda), the introduction (by Robert Lassam), 'THE PLATES,' and two appendixes: Photogenic Drawing, The Cyanotype Process, and lastly, a bibliography.

The foreword talks of how Linda got involved in sun printing-which is a style in developing photographs. She writes of sun printing's quality and what really counts-the strength of a picture. Robert Lassam goes a bit into the history of it.

But 'THE PLATES' section is the most fascinating-this section is nothing but Linda's photographs, done in sun print style. They are beautiful, lovely, exquisite-the subjects range from animals to people to a little boy to toys and to a man we all know. :) I definitely recommend at least *looking* at the book if you can't or don't want to buy it. The photographs are so lovely that they are well worth your time. I'll give you two of my favourites to let you get a feel for what's in the book:

My second favourite picture in the book is entitled 'Brian Clarke' and it's sort of a headshot. It's not exactly centered on him, so he's slightly on the left, but it fits. His expression-the intensity of his eyes-Linda is simply amazing in the way she captured these moments.

My absolute favourite is one that may interest you all. :) It's called 'Face Painting' and depicts Paul, eyes closed, sitting and leaning back in a chair with a little boy (who may be James, but I'm not sure) on his lap, painting Paul's face like a clown. His mouth is already finished and the little boy takes his paint-crayon to Paul's right eye, hidden from the camera. The seriousness of the little boy is not unlike an artist who thinks he's on to something.

The expressions and feelings portrayed and captured in these pictures are simply amazing. A must-see....but if you can't shell out $19.95 right now, try getting this book through your local library. That's how I found it.

~Strawberry~

Questions? Comments? Requests? E-mail me! StrwbrySunshine@hotmail.com

New & Improved! My Beatles Site, Strawberry's Field

**The Beatle Files**
~Strawberry Sunshine~

.....A section of reviews of any Beatles-related literature....I take requests!

When I wrote my fifth Beatle Files article, I promised myself I would review the book my column's title closely parallels: "The Beatles Files." So here it is, at long last!

"The Beatle Files" by Andy Davis
Quadrillion Publishing Limited: New York, NY, 1998
Hardcover, 160 pages. $12 & up

Since this is quite a large book (text and otherwise), I will split it into two parts. This week I will review the Foreward through Chapter Three.

The foreward is by Barry Miles, Paul McCartney's official biographer and also writer of the recent book, "The Beatles: A Diary." He writes of the time The Beatles existed in: the time when 'newspapers still made news,' when everything was in black and white, and when the 'hippies smudged the sharp edges with psychedelic colours.' He compliments Andy Davis' good-picture sight and credits it to Mr. Davis' years working with the "Beatles Monthly Book."

The foreward is immediately followed by the introduction, which the author writes. He tells of the photographers and The Beatles as a group. And then he opens with.... The Photographers. The "Daily Mirror"'s top Beatles photographers were Victor Cranshaw and Alisdair MacDonald and they commented on what The Beatles were like as individuals and how "it got a bit heavy when they got their lady friends." They also spoke of photographing The Beatles themselves, commenting that after all the trouble of getting to a Beatles gig, you simply took what pictures you could, improvised with what you had. Film, after all, is quite inexpensive after being headed by such costly things as airfare and the like.

This book is made up of over four hundred "re-discovered" photographs of the Fab Four that belonged to the "Daily Mirror" archives. And Mr. Davis was so kind as to let us have a peek into what that dusty, far-placed box contained.

Chapter One: 1963. This chapter discusses The Beatles' rise to fame and their so-called "overnight success." The pictures are spread throughout quite generously and the text is not wanting, either. It includes Paul McCartney's observation that "we knew a year ago we were catching on" as The Beatles were being noticed by London's Fleet Street press. It discusses the Fleet's policy with new bands: 'four #1's and we cover you'-type of attitude. The Beatles proved themselves and were instantly devoured, by press and fans alike. This chapter also discusses the various ways the group got around safely, best described thus: "Other countries have industrial riots, army revolts. Britain has Beatles drives." And a suitable ending to the chapter is the "Daily Sketch"'s observation: "They have remained cheerfully sane in front of the distorted mirror of insanity."

Chapter Two: 1964. The French weren't too crazy about the Four and some walked out of a Beatles concert as they played "yet another song." But when The Beatles left, France had succumbed to Beatlemania. Quite a sweet victory after being followed about the town by mostly reporters and not shrieking fans. It was reported, quite dryly, that "exactly three girls asked for autographs."

The Beatles' TV appearances are discussed and depicted in fabulous photographs and "A Hard Day's Night" is gone through and reviewed as well. Topping the "New Musical Express" poll is also covered, with a nice spread. It goes on with the triumph of their first American tour. It also, amusingly, covers Prince Philip's misprinted remark that "The Beatles are on the wane." He sent a telegram to Brian Epstein, saying that he meant to say that "The Beatles are *away* at the moment." Towards the last few pages, John and Paul's attitude towards racial discrimination and segregation is discussed, with quotes from the pair. With segregation at shows, Paul sums it up in one word: "daft."

But Ringo is the Beatle who gets the last word, on a whole different subject:
"Eskimo-land seems to be the only place we haven't visited this year."

Chapter Three: 1965. 1965 opens positively: the world is going Beatle-crazy, citing the group in, as the book relates, world politics, anthropology, and horticulture. The Indonesian President is said to have ordered his guards to arrest anyone singing Beatles songs and a university professor simply says, "You can walk down any street of the most primitive village in a country where no one speaks English and hear the children chanting the words of the latest Beatles hit." And interestingly, musical experiments were performed on plants with The Beatles' music and "....radishes thrive on The Beatles." And this chapter ends with a theatrical flourish: the television special "The Music of Lennon & McCartney."

As an ending note, I counted approximately 270 pictures in these parts I have discussed. The book claims to have 400, but it looks as though there are a few more than that....

Come check out my Beatles site! Strawberry's Field

**The Beatle Files**
brought to you by *Strawberry Sunshine*

Before I finish with part two of "The Beatles Files," I want to say that if anyone out there is interested in Beatles store posters, displays, etc., stores like The Wherehouse have nice ones that they will be throwing out soon after the 14th. If you want them, simply call these stores up and tell them, and give them your name. Most of the time, they'll give you all this for free! Another thing, there is a Beatles-related article in this month's "U.S. News & World Report" that some of you may be interested in.
It's been a pleasure writing for and reading with you all and I'll be in the Field should you need me; Strawberry's Field.

"The Beatles Files" by Andy Davis, part two

Chapter Four: 1966. "Have you noticed how square The Beatles have become?" the chapter begins. The Beatles' first experimental year seems to have been hailed with mixed reviews from the critics, the "Daily Mirror" praising "Paperback Writer" and the "Sunday Mirror" saying that The Beatles "goofed" with the song. There is a very nice spread on George and Pattie Boyd's marriage and immediately after, the next subsection questions The Beatles' popularity, with a few comments from Mr. Allen Klein, who had told the press that he wanted The Beatles. The chapter closes with John smiling, saluting, and wearing round wire-framed glasses.

Chapter Five: 1967. The Beatles' "mode of dress" keeps the papers amused and another rather amusing thing on the same page is a short story of John's driving with Tony Barrow. The next two pages are a spread of John's psychedelic Rolls-Royce and the 'Sgt. Pepper' wagon for Julian. The "Sgt. Pepper" album and party receive their own spread, with the critics hailing "Sgt. Pepper" as an album that "reaches new frontiers in pop music." The next page, combined with Paul's LSD admission and "All You Need is Love," the critics are very pleased with the song, stating that The Beatles "are battling back again after much criticism." And it closes with "Magical Mystery Tour" and Paul saying, "The Queen's speech wasn't a gas either."

Chapter Six: 1968. The Beatles' image has changed some, with many events deemed 'negative' by the public. John and Paul fly to New York to promote Apple and there are a few beautiful pictures of Paul's brother Mike's marriage to Angela Fishwick, along with Paul and Jane's broken engagement. "Yellow Submarine" opens with Beatlemania evident as 10,000 fans wait for The Beatles to arrive, John and Yoko help The Rolling Stones in "Rock an Roll Circus," which closes the chapter.

Chapter Seven: 1969. John and Yoko are "denounced as the 'outstanding nutcases of the world'" and have started their peace campaign. Paul and Linda are married, with a spread devoted to them, John and Yoko are married just a few days later and stage the famous Bed-In, George signs an Indian religious group to Apple, Ringo stars in "The Magic Christian" with Peter Sellers and the "Mirror" chooses John as the Clown of the Year. It ends with a front page headline and a picture of Paul.

Chronology: It is broken down into years and days, reporting what The Beatles did and where and when, illustrated with even *more* pictures.

A very good book with beautiful pictures and something you can learn a bit from. The text is a bit negative with the critics reviews, but the text also gives credit to The Beatles whenever it is due. A very wonderful book....one I'd recommend for any Beatles fan.

Bye, y'all! Come visit me in the Field!

Copyright 1999: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Online!

Copyright 1999: Lissa Michelle Supler/Strawberry Sunshine

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