THE BEATLES

"Pope Go The Beatles"

Excellent alternate mixes from Joe Pope's collection

Notes:
 “For almost a decade the fanzine "Strawberry Fields Forever" defined Beatle fandom. We were the first to hold a convention… the first to offer… the Decca Auditions… We even had what amounted to the world premieres of “Magical Mystery Tour” in its uncut form and “The Beatles in Tokyo.” If you were an SFF subscriber you were among the first people in the world to hear the “Royal Command Variety Show” in sound quality so crystal clear you felt you were on the front row! The list goes on and on….and on!… ” [Joe Pope in a letter dated Sept. 26th, 1987]

01 How Do You Do It
02 Blackbird
03 The Unicorn
04 Lalena
05 Heather
06 Mr Wind
07 The Walrus And The Carpenter
08 Land of Gisch
09 Octopus's Garden
10 Her Majesty
11 Golden Slumbers , Carry That Weight
12 You Never Give Me Your Money , Jam
13 Oh Darling
14 Maxwell's Silver Hammer
15 Something , Jam
16 You Never Give Me Your Money (With Bass Guitar)
17 Because (Instrumental)
18 You Never Give Me Your Money , Sun King , Mean Mr Mustard (Instrumental)
19 Polythene Pam , Bathroom Window (Instrumental)
20 Golden Slumbers , Carry That Weight (Instrumental)
21 The End (Instrumental)
22 Let It Be (Overdubs)

Notes:
 A second wave of Beatles nostalgia swept over fans in 1976 - even bigger than the one three years previous. Numerous factors contributed to this resurgence, led by EMI's ability (now that The Beatles' last contract with them had finally expired) to begin repackaging and promoting their back catalogue. Releases of the ROCK 'N' ROLL MUSIC double-LP and a reissue of the entire collection of Beatle singles (followed soon by the STAR-CLUB, HOLLYWOOD BOWL, and LOVE SONGS albums) along with Paul's first tour of North America ensured that the group were in the public eye more often than at any time since they disbanded.
 Bootleggers kept up with this public demand with several gimmicks - chiefly re-releasing the same tired material but in attractive covers, often pressed in "limited editions" (as if ALL bootlegs weren't limited) or on colored vinyl. Another new trend was the issue of several 45-RPM discs - both singles and EP's - in greater numbers than before or since, often distributed through fan clubs or magazines.
 The chief example of this marketing ploy was a series of 7" records distributed through Joe Pope's magazine "Strawberry Fields Forever". These singles, sold throughout 1976-1977, were quite a double-edged sword: while they offered important new material in good sound quality, they were expensive (all the material would have fit on a single LP and sold for less money), released as a series rather than simultaneously, and worst of all, pressed in colored vinyl which is ALWAYS inferior in fidelity. First up was a single which coupled "How Do You Do It" with "Revolution" (the "Smothers Brothers" version in best sound quality yet). "How Do You Do It" was the first Beatles' studio outtake to surface in a few years, and the tape originated in a syndicated RKO Radio broadcast.
 Just as exciting were the series of singles which gradually (two songs at a time) gave the world some idea of why Decca Records turned The Beatles down back in 1962. Eventually, 14 of the 15 Decca audition songs were issued as singles, but to hear the 15th track, one had to wait until 1978 when the entire tape was released on LP. By which time, most collectors had blown a good deal of money on the 7 singles. Apparently, Joe Pope attended some Capitol Records marketing seminars or something.