Beatles – Page 2 – Motor City Radio Flashbacks

MUSIC BUSINESS | THE CHIPMUNKS DISCOVER THE BEATLES . . . AUGUST 29, 1964

Alvin, Simon and Theodore-and David Seville have their hottest selling album in years with the new “Chipmunks Sing The Beatles Hits”

The biggest-selling new album in the U.S. at this moment is a Liberty LP called “The Chipmunks Sing The Beatles Hits.” It was released less than two weeks ago, and has already passed the 250,000 mark.

According to Liberty executives it is the fastest selling Chipmunk product in its initial weeks since the little creatures’ first hit, “Witch Doctor”, about four years ago. Say Liberty spokesmen, “It is selling like a single.” The firm had ordered 250,000 jackets in front before the LP was issued. They have since ordered another 250,000 jackets.

Long in the works

Liberty Records CEO Al Bennett with Chipmunks creator Ross Bagdasarian. *(Photo: Music Business)*

The Chipmunks-Beatles LP has been in the thinking stage for a long time. A while back, the versatile and imaginative Ross Bagdasarian, whose record name is David Seville, did a takeoff on the English sound on a single record. He called the group The Bed Bugs. Not much happened with the record, mainly because teens aren’t interested in satire of their record heroes, but that’s when the idea to record The Chipmunks singing Beatles’ hits was born.

The Obvious appeal of the Chipmunks-Beatles LP is the power of the two names. In addition to that is the fact that the album is not a satire. The Chipmunks, those immediately identifiable electronic voices, sing all of the songs straight. This keeps them in good with their own youthful fans (often reckoned as ranging in age from three to seven) who also appreciate The Beatles. (Their appeal is much wider than that of The Chipmunks, ranging to the late teens, but it also reaches down to the tricycle and scooter set.)

Even before Bagdasarian started working on the Chipmunks album, requests were coming in from the field for Alvin, Simon and Theodore to do The Beatles hits. Since the album has come out and hit with such a tremendous impact requests are coming on from the field for the next album to be “The Chipmunks Sing The Dave Clark Five Hits” or the Rolling Stones or some other English group.

Even F. A. O. Schwartz

The Chipmunks LP is not only selling well in traditional record outlets and department stores and racks, but is getting action in outlets that do not usually carry records. F. A. O. Schwartz, the posh children’s toy store on New York’s Fifth Avenue, has ordered a substantial quantity of the LP. The Korvette chain has made the album a key display item. And Woolworth’s has made it the LP to be played on phonographs in record departments of its immense chain.

The most played bands in the album by the top radio stations to date are: “Do You Want To Know A Secret,” “All My Lovin’,” “Twist And Shout,” and “From Me To You.” However, at this time Liberty has no intention of issuing any of the bands as a single. “Why hurt our album sales?”, they ask.

Liberty-Imperial comeback

Smash sales of the Chipmunks-Beatles LP on Liberty is another giant step on the remarkable comeback trail of Liberty and its subsidiary label Imperial. Less than a year ago Liberty-Imperial was far down from its peak period of two and three years back. President Al Bennett had just bought the firm back from Avnet, the electronics firm that had purchased the company in 1962.

Since then Liberty has come back with hot releases with Jan and Dean’s “Dead Man’s Curve” and “Little Old Lady From Pasadena,” and Vic Dana’s “Shangri-La” and “Love Is All We Need.” On Imperial the firm came up with a smash with Johnny Rivers’ “Memphis.” On the album level Liberty has had solid acceptance with its new fall line, especially with its new Johnny Mann, Julie London, Martin Denny, and Si Zentner LP’s. The Johnny Rivers album “Memphis” Vol. II, is also doing very well. END

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Information, credit and news source: Music Business, August 29, 1964

A [Detroit Free Press] NEWSPRINT ‘BEATLES IN DETROIT’ FLASHBACK: AUGUST 14, 1966

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This Detroit Free Press article was digitally re-imaged by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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**THE BEATLES**! At the Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Saturday, August 13, 1966

STATIONS NO, NO BEATLE DISKS . . . . AUGUST 13, 1966

Lennon ‘Christianity’ Comments Uproars Controversy

NEW YORK — [August 13, 1966] The radio ban against playing Beatles’ records, which was begun last week by Tommy Charles and Doug Layton, WAQY, Birmingham, Ala., has spread across the country, with dozens of stations refusing to program the British group.

Cause of the controversy is a statement published in a British magazine and attributed to John Lennon. The statement follows: “Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that: I’m right and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now; I don’t know which will go first, rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was right, but his disciples were thick and ordinary.”

At a press conference held here late Friday (August 5), Brian Epstein, Beatles’ manager, said the statement was taken out of context. Epstein explained that Lennon meant “in the last 50 years the Church of England and, therefore Christ, had suffered a decline in interest.”

While the statement, confirmed by a Beatles’ spokesman, went virtually unnoticed in England, the reaction in this country was immediate.

Greatest impact has been in the so-called “Bible Belt,” which is mainly in the Southeast. But the ban has extended to other sections of the country. New York’s WABC has reportedly put Beatles’ records on the verboten list, but, at press time, the switchboard operator at the station said that not one of the station’s staff members could be reached.

B. J. Williams, disk jockey at KSWO, Lawton, Okla., called for a “Beatles’ bonfire” and broke the Beatles’ latest record while on the air.

In Milwaukee, WOKY music director King Kbornik said he would not ban the record until he had seen Lennon’s remarks in print. The extent of the ban is not known, but a majority of the nation’s radio stations will continue to program Beatles records.

The group is scheduled to play a concert in New York’s Shea Stadium Aug. 23. A spokesman for Capitol Records, which issues Beatles’ records under its logo in the U. S., said Lennon’s remarks were “quoted cut of context and misconstrued.” END

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Credit source information (as published): Billboard, August 13, 1966

DENVER — [August 12, 1967] KHOW, major Easy Listening format radio station here, is banning songs composed by the Beatles.

Hal Davis, general manager, passed down a memo last week instructing personnel “to play no compositions relating to this group. This radio station cannot condone such an attitude” — and referred to trip-taking by one in the group — “and will not give any further air play to songs with which they had any part. Please scratch all tracks on albums and dispose of all single records with music by the Beatles or any member of their group.” END

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Credit source information (as published): Billboard, August 12, 1967

A MCRFB Note: In lieu of the Lennon statement and controversy, did any top 40 stations in Detroit participated in banning Beatles’ record play? We marked two references (with red arrows) in the featured Detroit Free Press column, on the right.

The above newspaper article was digitally re-imaged by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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RECORD WORLD | THE BEATLES! ‘A HARD DAY’S NIGHT’ ADS: UNITED ARTISTS RECORDS, JULY 1964

From the pages of Record World magazine, ads dated, as noted. The featured United Artists Records 1964 ads was digitally restored and re-imaged in it’s entirety by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.

The American version of the album was released on 26 June 1964 by United Artists Records in both mono and stereo, the fourth Beatles album in the United States. The album went to number one on the Billboard album chart, spending 14 weeks there, the longest run of any album that year.United Artists rushed the album into stores over a month before the film’s US premiere; as a result, the Beatles had both the number-one album and number-one single in the country when A Hard Day’s Night opened on 11 August 1964.

All seven songs from the film, the first side of the UK album, were featured along with “I’ll Cry Instead”, which, although written for the film, was cut at the last minute. The American version also included four orchestral instrumental versions of Lennon and McCartney songs arranged by George Martin conducting an orchestra of studio musicians: “I Should Have Known Better”, “And I Love Her”, “Ringo’s Theme”, and “A Hard Day’s Night”. After EMI acquired United Artists Records, this album was reissued in August 1980 on the Capitol label, catalogue SW-11921.

Credit Source: A Hard Day’s Night (Album) | Wikipedia

Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

RECORD WORLD | DETROIT VISIT FOR THE BEATLES? . . . APRIL 3, 1965

In U.K., Gordy Slated to Personally Pitch Detroit for Beatles’ Second North American Tour

Detroit — Teenagers here may still be able to see the Beatles “in person” this summer.

International Talent Management Incorporated (ITMI), the booking agency arm of Detroit’s Motown Record Corporation, will attempt to add an appearance in Detroit to the tentative schedule already announced for the British foursome’s second American tour, which begins later in the year, Aug. 15. Berry Gordy Jr., Motown President, is currently in London and will meet with Beatles manager Brian Epstein to this end.

During their first visit to Detroit last September, the Beatles named many Motown recording artists, including the Miracles, the Supremes, as their personal favorite performers. The Beatles have also recorded many of the songs which had first reached popularity as recordings by Motown artists.

A spokesman for ITMI said, “If we are able to bring the Beatles to Detroit, it will be Motown’s way of saying ‘Thank you’ to Detroit; and to the teenagers of Detroit, for the constant support that they have given to Detroit’s recording artists.” END

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Information, credit and source (as published): Record World, April 3, 1965

**THE BEATLES** at the Detroit Olympia, Sunday, September 6, 1964.

BEATLES SUIT IN STATE OF LIMBO, CITY OF CHICAGO . . . FEBRUARY 15, 1964

Capitol Records Claim to Beatles Rights Against Vee-Jay Undecided in Windy City

CHICAGO — The Capitol–Vee Jay lawsuit over Beatles product was in what one attorney described as a “state of limbo,” with counsel for both sides due in Appelate Court last Friday (February 7) afternoon for further hearings.

Last Wednesday (February 5). the Appelate Court granted Vee Jay stay on Capitol’s injunction prohibiting Vee Jay from selling Beatles records.

The stay was issued pending Vee-Jay’s appeal and on the condition that Vee-Jay post a S30,000 bond. The bond was posted, but, meanwhile, Capitol attorneys filed a petition for rehearing.

The rehearing was scheduled for Friday (February 7). and the court held off approval of the Vee Jay bond pending the out come of the hearing. Vee Jay thus continued to be prohibited from shipping or manufacture Beatles records, though the situation could conceivably be different as this (Billboard) issue comes off the press. END

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Credit source information: Billboard, February 15, 1964

A MCRFB Note: For a recent post regarding this Billboard story GO HERE

BEATLES HEAT FLARE IN COURT . . . JANUARY 25, 1964

U.S. Recording labels Clash in Courts Over Claims to Beatles Recording Rights

NEW YORK — Vee Jay Records filed a motion in New York’s Supreme Court against both Capitol Records and Swan Records here Friday (January 17) seeking an injunction restraining the companies from manufacturing, distributing, advertising or otherwise of disposing of recordings by the Beatles.

The motion was brought before Judge Mullen in Supreme Court, who reserved decision of the case.

This case is of but one of many suits and countersuits being bandied about the courts over the sensational young singing group from Liverpool. END

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Credit source information: Billboard, January 25, 1964

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CHICAGO — The Beatles, the nation’s hottest recording property today, are becoming the object of the nation’s hottest lawsuits, at least as far as the record industry is concerned.

The rock-and-rolling English group has a series of singles and LP’s out on three labels — Capitol, Vee Jay and Swan. Each of the offerings is bounding up the national charts like Topsy.

And each is becoming involved in a series of suits and countersuits between the various recording companies involved.

Most confused are the nation’s dealers and one-stops, many of whom have received telegrams from one or more of the parties. noting that appropriate legal action would be taken if they persisted in selling the other’s product.

The matter is far from settled, but as of Billboard press time, Capitol was granted an injunction in Cook County Circuit Court (January 15) restraining Vee Jay from manufacturing, distributing, advertising or otherwise disposing of the Beatles’ recordings.

The Capitol injunction is good for 30 days and Vee Jay is slated to file an answer next Wednesday (January 22).

Vee Jay, meanwhile, has filed a suit seeking a similar injunction against Capitol and Swan, with a hearing slated for New York’s Supreme Court before Judge Saul Streit last Friday (January 17).

Under the Capitol injunction, “Vee Jay, its agents, attorneys and servants” are prevented from selling or advertising Beatles’ product.

Presumably, and according to Vee Jay sources, the injunction does not apply against dealers, one-stops, rack jobbers and even distributors who might already have the records in stock.

According to Jay Lasker, Vee Jay executive vice-president, “we’ve shipped an awful lot of records, more than Capitol.”

Capitol attorney, Sidney Zatz, however, has indicated that “steps could he taken” against dealers who persisted in selling the Vee Jay product, though he did not specify what this would entail.

The product causing all the fuss is:

Capitol, “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” a single, No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot 100 this week, and “Meet The Beatles,” an LP.

Vee Jay, “Please Please Me.” a single, and two LP’s, “Introducing The Beatles,” already distributed, and “The Beatles and Frank Ifield,” not yet shipped but waiting to go.

Swan, “She Loves You”, a single breaking into Billboard’s Hot 100 in position 69.

Neither Vee Jay nor Capitol is seeking damages as of this date, though a Capitol spokesman did not rule out the possibility of this taking place at a later date.

In its motion for injunction, Capitol claimed exclusive U. S. distribution rights to all recordings by the Beatles. The label accused Vee Jay of manufacturing and selling albums introducing the Beatles in violation of Capitol’s exclusive right.

Capitol contended in its suit that Vee Jay’s rights to the Beatles’ recording were canceled last August.

The suit notes that initially Vee Jay was licensed by Trans Global, a New York firm licensed to distribute EMI product. EMI had the original Beatles’ contract.

Capitol claims that Trans Global canceled its contract with Vee Jay August 8 because of non-payment of royalties. Trans Global allegedly relinquished its rights to EMI with the latter then turning them over to Capitol.

Vee Jay, meanwhile, contends that it has a five-year contract with the Beatles and that it is definitely not in default for failure to pay royalties.

Capitol’s suit notes that the label has spent 550,000 in extensive nationwide promotion of the Beatles’ recordings. END

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Credit source information: Billboard, January 25, 1964

The Beatles and Frank Ifield on Vee-Jay Records, 1963

CAPITOL SETS BEATLES’ LP YEAR-END PUSH . . . NOVEMBER 28, 1964

Capitol Records Slated to Release New Beatles LPs in U.S. after Christmas

HOLLYWOOD — Capitol is lining up Beatles material for a year-end sales splurge. Newest product in production is the LP “Beatles ’65,” which will be released the day after Christmas, featuring seven new tunes by Lennon-McCartney.

The LP being produced by Dave Dexter will follow the two-record special, “The Beatles Story,” out later this month. Dexter said the new LP will not be identical to same titled album to be released in England because the group’s latest single, “I Feel Fine“ backed with “She’s A Woman,” will not be included.

Despite the many British rock guitar groups which have followed the Beatles, Dexter feels the Beatles are immune to weakening sales action. Since they were the first mop-tops, he feels they have captured the “hearts” of teen-agers. But he does say that new groups have to develop a different sound since the guitar sound is not new any more. END

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Information, credit and news source: BILLBOARD, November 28, 1964

**THE BEATLES’ STORY** Capitol Records, released November 23,1964

MUSIC BUSINESS | BEATLES’ ONE-NIGHT DATES SELLING OUT 5 MONTHS IN FRONT OF SHOWS . . . MAY 9, 1964

This Is the Biggest Tour Ever

Nothing has ever happened like it before. This is the opinion of astute tradesters about the forthcoming Beatles tour.

Five months before the (Beatles) tour hits the road in August, promoters are selling out their one night stands to the armies of Beatles fans.

In Toronto, The Maple Gardens sold out its tickets to the Beatles September show in just a few hours. In New Orleans mail orders only in five days amounted to a $12,000 advance.

In Detroit, promoter Art Sheridan sold out the Liverpool Lads first show, has half sold the second (Sept 4), and is trying to convince the boys and manager Brian Epstein and GAC to let them do a third show. (P.S. They won’t).

Promoters are finding The Beatles the most saleable item since Elvis Presley. According to GAC spokesmen who are booking the four Liverpool lads, even Elvis didn’t sell out this far in advance.

The way the promoters are pushing the concerts are via a radio spot or two or a newspaper ad or two. And it works. Beatles fans apparently can’t get rid of their money fast enough, and the orders are pouring in.

In New York, where Bill Grumann of Limelight Productions is promoting the show at the Forest Hills L.I. Tennis Stadium August 28-29, reports are that both shows are already sold out too.

Promoters are paying a guarantee of $20,000 for weekday nights and $25,000 for weekend nights or 60 per cent of the net receipts, whichever is greater. These figures mean that a promoter has to gross close to $50,000 to break even.

At first this scared a lot of veteran promoters, who were trepidatious about The Beatles and concerned as to whether they would be as hot in August-September as they have been in January–February–March.

However, now that the lads are proving they can sell out the box office months before they come to town, many vet promoters are screaming for another chance. They are calling GAC and begging for dates. It’s too late for some of them, for most of the dates are filled, from California to New York and including Canada.

There appears to be little doubt today that The Beatles tour will gross over $2 million. For their end The Beatles stand a chance to take out $1 million. Seats are scaled at $3, $4, $5, with most of the orders for the $4 variety.

The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein arrived in New York from London last Friday to look over the tour scene, and to watch another act of his, Gerry and The Pacemakers, on CBS television’s The Ed Sullivan Show. All bookings for The Beatles tour are okayed by him, wherever he is. END

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Information, credit and news source: Music Business; May 9, 1964

MUSIC BUSINESS | GEORGE HARRISON TALKS OF ‘EIGHT ARMS TO HOLD YOU’ . . . APRIL 14, 1965

Beatles’ George Chimes On Set of Group’s Second Major Motion Picture Film

MUSIC BUSINESS (4/14/1965) — “We are really enjoying making ‘Eight Arms To Hold You.’ It is a knockout!” George recently told Music Business. “Our travels have taken us pretty well all over the world but in this our being our second film, we filmed in three countries-Nassau in the Bahamas, Austria and of course England.

“The film plot is very involved and totally different from our previous film, “A Hard Day’s Night.’ The opening night scene is devoted to a high priestess, played by Eleanor Bron, in an Eastern temple. According to sacrificial rites the priestess must wear a ceremonial ring but it has fallen into the hands of Ringo Starr. That’s where we come in!

The Chase Scene

**GEORGE HARRISON**. Photo shot from a scene in the Beatles’ second film, ‘*Eight Arms To Hold You*‘.

“Gangsters, hired by the cult, then chase us through the three countries mentioned, the first of which is England. Incidentally we filmed this part last and are in fact filming at the moment at Twickenham in Middlesex. In this part of the film chase scenes include a set with us fleeing down Salisbury plain in a television outside broadcast van!

“To escape we travel to Austria. Didn’t have any time to practice skiing, though. John was the only one who has ever tried his hand at it before. Unfortunately the script included a chase scene down a mountain slope on skis! So we were given a gentle but firm push and the film producer shouted ‘Action.’ Just as well it was only a short scene because we couldn’t keep upright for long!

“Austria was a dead loss as we couldn’t move from the village between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. because the only pass was closed owing to avalanches caused by melting snow.

“All we had time for was filming and had to get up at the unearthly hour of 5 a.m. to start. Who says it’s an easy life?

“The film script then demanded that we should go to the Bahamas, so off we were again, still being chased. I don’t think Ringo wanted the ring anyway! He’s got enough to last him a lifetime – every fan letter he gets has a ring in it and a ‘please wear it for me’ message! Fortunately he manages to get the ring off his finger and the film ends with another poor bloke being chased!

Confusing But Fun

“That’s the film plot – very confusing isn’t it, but we had a great laugh. I’d like to make films until I was pensioned off but I wouldn’t make them without John, Paul and Ringo. Filming is less strenuous than ballroom work but the hours are much longer and filming can become a drag when you have to spend three hours or more preparing a ten minute scene.

“I’d like to make a script myself but it would mean being off the scene for about nine months and I couldn’t afford that length of time. It might not be a good one anyway so I think it’s better for the professionals to do it.

“I’ve read the script for our next film, in which we play cowhands, and am really looking forward to making it. I’d like to take a week off before shooting commences and practice horse riding or it might end up like the skiing episode!” END

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Information, credit and news source: Music Business; April 14, 1965