Early Beatles Around UK – review
Just when you think there really can’t be anything new out there that no one’s heard before, the Misterclaudel label’s Live Chronicle Series comes out with a newly acquired piece of unheard live Beatles audio for collectors, that is presented on this fine new 2 CD set (MCCD 128/129).
The selling piece here is the newly found live audio from Granada Cinema East Ham, London from November 9th 1963 that is presented in its correct chronological spot, between all other known early Beatles live performances in the UK from 1962 – 1964: from TV, video, newsreel, home taping Sources. The only items missing on this set are the full Empire Liverpool show (It’s The Beatles) and the Royal Variety Show, both from late ’63, as these have been released in upgraded sound on previous Misterclaudel releases.
This set is offered up in a 2 CD clamshell complete with a mini – reproduced “The Beatles Show” tour program, and a high glossy insert that on one side shows concert programs from the early years, early concert tickets and Cavern Club member’s cards, and on the other side are pictures from all the events the audio is taken from on this set, along with samples of early Beatles’ concert posters that are pictured. It’s another classy release from Misterclaudel.
DISC ONE:
Cavern Club Liverpool, 22nd August 1962
01. Some Other Guy (take 1)
02. Some Other Guy (take 2)
Nothing different here from what you’ve ever heard, though I’m convinced the different intro on “take #2” (from ANTHOLOGY video) was an overdub by Apple. The crowd is noisier and it’s the same performance! So where did Apple get this intro from of Bob Wooler’s? Are there more live Beatles Cavern records they’re sitting on?
Cavern Club Liverpool,5th September 1962
03. Some Other Guy
04. Kansas City (voice over)
05. Kansas City (voice removed)
Sounds as good as you have, but track #5 “Kansas City” (with Paul’s voice removed) sounds a bit smoother and less uncomfortable (not as tinny) than what Purple Chick released.
Cavern Club Liverpool (rehearsals), October 1962
06. I Saw Her Standing There
07. One After 909 (take 1)
08. One After 909 (take 2)
09. Cats Walk (take 1)
10. Cats Walk (take 2)
One of my favorite demo tapes of their entire career. A rare early peek into the beginnings of the band with Ringo on drums. Everything is a step up from anything earlier with Pete Best.
Granada TV Centre Manchester – “People and Places”, 29th October 1962
11. A Taste Of Honey
Nothing performance-wise to get excited about. I still wonder if this is a BBC radio performance?
Royal Albert Hall London, 18th April 1963
12. Twist And Shout
13. From Me To You
Fairly good recordings and ones I couldn’t find in my collection. Some minor drop-outs but even though the phrase “Beatlemania” wasn’t coined until about 6 months later, the audience certainly proves it was well under way. Lennon’s vocal on “Twist and Shout” is one of the most blistering ones ever captured.
Television Theatre London – “Pops and Lenny”, 16th May 1963
14. From Me To You
Surfaced not too long ago, but again, performance-wise, nothing to get excited about and marred by a female narrator.
Little Theatre Southport, 27th August 1963
15. Twist And Shout
16. I Saw Her Standing There (instrumental)
17. She Loves You
Not really live, but pre-recorded versions with oddly placed live overdubs to simulate a live concert filmed for The Mersey Sound television program. Actually very good performances committed to disc by the Beatles to mime to.
Val Parnell’s Sunday Night at the London Palladium, 13th OCTOBER 1963
Source A
18. From Me To You
19. I’ll Get You
20. She Loves you
21. Twist And Shout
Source B
22. introductions
23. From Me To You
24. I’ll Get You
25. She Loves You
26. Twist And Shout
27. closing theme
Source C
28. Paul’s introductions
29. Twist And Shout
Source D
30. I’ll Get You
Source C surprised me. Almost ANTHOLOGY quality (in which “I’ll Get You “is taken from). This Source I didn’t find in my collection. I hope there’s more of this Source to surface.
DISC TWO:
Granada Cinema East Ham, London, 9th November 1963
Source A
01. From Me To You
02. Unknown songs by opening acts
03. Introductions
04. I Saw Her Standing There
05. From Me To You
06. All My Loving
07. You Really Got A Hold On Me
08. Roll Over Beethoven
09. Boys
10. She Loves You
Source B
11. From Me To You
12. Unknown songs by opening acts
13. Introductions
14. I Saw Her Standing There
15. From Me To You
16. All My Loving
17. You Really Got A Hold On Me
18. Roll Over Beethoven
19. Boys
20. She Loves You
For collector’s this is the selling point of the entire set! From what I was told this newly found audio is Sourced from newsreel cameras or more than likely, outtakes from “The Early Beatles” documentary, (filming the Beatles from the audience). Almost every song is incomplete and extremely choppy. “I Saw Her Standing There” comes the closest to being full-length and has been partially available before. You can discern it’s them, but it’s not something you’ll put on for your listening pleasure. It’s another noisy female laden audience. It’s one for the completest and obviously if you are, you’ll need this! Both Sources presented are nearly identical. This is one of the few times they performed “You really Got a Hold On Me” live that was captured on tape. Unfortunately, the sound is poor to fair.
Winter Gardens Theatre Bournemouth, 16th November 1963
Source A
21. Introduction
22. From Me To You
From The Jack Paar Show broadcast in the U.S. I’m sure I would have laughed like his audience did, if this was the first time I was being shown as to whom the Beatles are.
Source B
23. She Loves You
This seems new to CD (though circulating on video) I think this is from a rebroadcast in 2004 on CBS Sunday Morning. Narration mars the music completely.
ABC Cinema Manchester, 20th November 1963
Source A
24. She Loves You
25. Twist And Shout
26. From Me To You (instrumental)
Source B
27. She Loves You
28. Twist And Shout
Beatles Come To Town newsreel. Fantastic, hot performances, marred by audio on the close-ups of female fans screaming. Otherwise, essential Beatlemania live performances. Both Sources nearly identical.
Elstree Studio Centre Borehamwood – “Morecambe and Wise Show”, 2nd December 1963
Source A
29. Opening jingle
30. This Boy
31. All My Loving
32. I Want To Hold Your Hand
33. Chat with the Beatles
34. Moonlight Bay
35. Ending theme
Source B
36. This Boy
37. I Want To Hold Your Hand
38. Chat with the Beatles
39. Moonlight Bay
Source C
40. All My Loving
41. I Want To Hold Your Hand
I’ve never had the inferior quality version of this show’s audio with the opening jingle and closing them, so it’s nice to have these included. I’ve only had a video Source on DVD. Source B taken from the ANTHOLOGY DVD. Source C “All My Loving” from YD’s “Hollywood Bowl Complete” and is nearly ANTHOLOGY quality, while “I Want To Hold Your Hand” is from the ANTHOLOGY CDs. These two sound nice back-to-back.
Empire Theatre Liverpool (audience source), 7th December 1963
42. This Boy (partial)
43. I Want To Hold Your Hand (partial)
44. Money (partial)
45. Twist And Shout (partial)
This is a new audience Source. Very bassy, and very incomplete. Most probably taped off the TV broadcast.
Val Parnell’s Sunday Night at the London Palladium, 12th January 1964
46. I Want To Hold Your Hand
47. This Boy
48. All My Loving
49. Money
50. Twist And Shout
51. Twist And Shout (instrumental)
52. Ending theme
The same fair quality tape that’s been available. I always thought this should have been a more exciting performance that it turned out to be. Though the version I have does not include the show band’s play out version of “Twist and Shout” and the show’s ending theme. Nothing to get excited about but it completes the audio for this show in my library.
This set sits nicely next to the other Live Chronicle Series sets by Misterclaudel (It’S The Beatles and Royal Variety Show and The Lost Online Master), giving you the most complete chronicling of their early live performances in the UK, in the best sound available.
Even though the “East Ham” live set is of poor quality, the Misterclaudel label continues to release audio that’s never been booted, and in my opinion it’s a very good reason to continue to support this label in a day and age when nothing new seems to be the norm.
Misterclaudel – MCCD 128/129
Reviewer: Howard Fox (aka Beatle Bob)
