Beatles Related

Subcollections

Besides the collecting of "normal" records and memorabilia, which is the base of any Beatles collection, I'm also occupied in collecting records by artists who are sideways connected to the Beatles.

From my interest in this related material several subcollections have grown: Cilla Black, Harry Nilsson, Badfinger, Mary Hopkin, Peter & Gordon, Scaffold and Monty Python, just to mention a few.

Tributes

Through the years quite a lot of records with the Beatles as subject for songs have been released.

Many countries also had their own artists who made Beatles tribute records, sung for local markets in their own languages. Sometimes only a picture on the sleeve connected to the Beatles did the trick. Especially about 1964, during the "Beatlemania" period, many artists released their own Beatles tributes. These tributes were mainly direct love tokens to the Beatles but ironical versions have also been made.

Many of these tributes remained obscure and rather unknown and they were released in small quantities. The Carefrees were not an exception but their performance of "We love you Beatles" became rather well-known because of the use of this song in programs concerning The Beatles.  On the right a French EP.
Nowadays we still have artists who make tributes with Beatles as subjects. But, logically, the Beatles are nowadays most often seen from a nostalgic point of view.

For Others

Cilla Black as part of a Beatles related sub-collection speaks for itself. The direct connections of Cilla with Brian Epstein and the record company Parlophone are evident. The give away songs "Step inside love" and "It's for you"and her performance of "Yesterday" form a small sub-collection on it's own.

The EP shown on the left is of South African origin.

Peter & Gordon also belong to the row of artists who performed give away songs of Lennon & McCartney.
"Nobody I know" and "World without love" are well-known hits. And ofcourse "Woman" where McCartney as a writer used a pseudonym to show that the record could become a no.1 hit without anyone knowing that his name was connected to it.

Family & Friends

The material that Paul's brother Mike McGear released in the seventies forms quite a complete and nice part of my collection. At the time I was able to buy the then new material. The older material, for example his work with Scaffold, is up to now not complete. The first LPs by Scaffold are still missing.

The co-operation of the Beatles with the Bonzo Dog Doodah Band dates from the film Magical Mystery Tour. The Bonzos have a small part in the movie. The single "I'm the urban spaceman" of the Bonzos, produced by Paul, followed in 1968.
Monthy Python comes in when George Harrison produces the Monthy Python single "Lumberjack song" for release on single halfway the seventies.

In 1978 Neil Innes of the Bonzo Dog Band and Eric Idle of the Monty Python team found each other and co-operate in "The Rutles" project. The Rutles, was a filmed, perfect parody on the careers of the Beatles.

Eric Idle and Neil Innes and their connections also have my interest and as a sub-collection it's still growing. (slowly)

And Harry Nilsson

In the early seventies the relation Beatles versus Harry Nilsson started with his cover version of some Beatles' songs made into a medley. The relation came to involve and later on it was Ringo and John who made some contributions to albums of Harry Nilsson's.
Ringo's drums can be heard on several albums and later on John made his contributions to the "Pussy Cats" LP   The sleeve picture of "Pussy Cats" shows both guys, Harry and John, dressed up as "pussies".

The single shown here is from 1974 and is a track of the Pussy Cats LP. Single and LP were produced by John.

Harry Nilsson's LP "Pandemonium Shadow Show" is still to be found on my list of desiderata.

And .....covers

Beatles cover versions (Beatles songs performed by other artists) are surely related. Without Beatles no cover versions. Cover-versions within my collection have quite an important role. See my Covers page, or visit my database of Beatles Cover Versions.

Ofcourse these sub-collections are far from complete. Therefore it is always nice to add any new finds. Information is also welcome.