Welcome to the last offering from The Beatles Rarity in 2011.

Two years ago on Dec. 28, 2009, I featured George Harrison’s “Ding Dong, Ding Dong” in demo form as a BROW (Beatles Rarity of the Week), which you can catch here. I also mentioned it on last week’s VOW (Video of the Week), and that got me thinking about it. Since it is George Harrison’s only anthem for the new year, I thought I’d feature the finalized version and promo video for today’s VOW.

This festive track was released on an Apple single in time for the New Years’ festivities on Dec. 6, 1974, and also hails from George’s Dark Horse album released three days later. The lyrics have George telling us to “ring out the old, ring in the new” and we see him doing this in the video as he appears in various Beatle-garb, such as his gray collarless suit and Sgt. Pepper uniform. Since his former bandmate, Ringo Starr, plays drums on the track, we can see him in the video too. There are lots of other musicians, including keyboardist Gary Wright on piano, Ron Wood on guitar (credited as “Ron Would If You Let Him” on the Dark Horse liner notes), Mick Jones on guitar, Alvin Lee on guitar, and old friend Klaus Voormann on bass. Additional drums were on the record from long time friend and session man Jim Keltner. The horns you hear are played by Tom Scott. The spirit of Sir Frank Crisp is also credited.

Most of you likely recall that George had written a song called “The Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp” that appears on his All Things Must Pass album. Frankie was a lawyer, microscopist and horticulturist who was the former owner of the Henley-On-Thames mansion George was living in at Friar Park. He had purchased it in 1895 and died in 1919. When George purchased it in 1970, it had been in a state of neglect for 60 years.

Click the image above to play the video.

As I said before, this will be the last post for 2011, and I want to thank all reading (no matter when you’re reading it!) for being here. Just being here to read the posts, make comments and all of the input, feedback and encouragement I have received is what keeps things going on TheBeatlesRarity. I know I said that last year but it deserves a repeat. 2011 has been a very busy year on the site and I have great expectations for 2012 as well. Last year I mentioned new ideas for 2011 and they turned out better than I expected (with new successful additions such as Collectors Corner and the two Fab 4 Radio shows BROWCAST and Side Track Sunday). You can also continue to count on the old stand-bys (BROWs, Cartoons and VOWs). There will be plenty of more cool stuff like this in the new year too, if I have anything to do with it, so I hope you’ll stick around!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
See you here in 2012…

Here are some Amazon links to read more on, or purchase, some music related to this post:

1) Dark Horse 1992 CD remaster of original 1974 album, featuring “Ding Dong, Ding Dong”.

2) More Amazon links for any of your favorite Beatles-related music: The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.
Visit www.thebeatlesrarity.com for a new Beatles rarity each week, plus lots more!

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1. Beatles Rarity Of The Week – In My Life (Live from George Harrison 1974 NA tour) Welcome the the Beatles Rarity of the Week. During 1974,...

Welcome the the Beatles Rarity of the Week. During 1974, George Harrison made a few changes to update his life and career. First off, he separated with his wife of 8 years, Patti Boyd, who left George for Eric Clapton. Also, with the end of his contract with EMI in sight, he decided to found his own record label, Dark Horse Records, and spend some time with some of the acts he was interested in recruiting for the label.

In January 1976 with his previous contract obligations fulfilled, he was able to join the label himself. He also planned a new LP release which would also have the title Dark Horse, and set up the last two months of the year to support it with a full fledged North American tour.

With everything that was going on with George, he did not manage to begin recording the new record until September, leaving him little time before needed rehearsals in mid-October with his touring band. One song on the album was a cover of the Everly Brothers hit Bye Bye Love, with modified lyrics to parody George’s breakup with Patti, and even included her and Eric Clapton on the track. There was a large host of other musicians on the record (many of who went on the upcoming tour with George) to include Tom Scott (of the LA Express), Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Klaus Voormann, Willie Weeks, Jim Keltner, Gary Wright, Olivia Arias (future wife), Mick Jones, Andy Newmark, Alvin Lee, Nicky Hopkins, Robben Ford, Roger Kellaway, Max Bennett, Chuck Findley and Emil Richards.

Unfortunately, during the sessions, George came down with a serious case of laryngitis. But, due to the time constraints, he felt he had no choice other than to finish recording, despite his raw voice. When the album was released on December 9, 1974, critics soon became referring to it as “Dark Hoarse” in reference to George’s strained vocals. This limitation notwithstanding, good musicianship helped carry it through, and it peaked at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart on January 25, 1975.

By the time the tour kicked off on November 2, 1974, George’s voice had been given no time at all to recover, as is apparent in this week’s BROW, recorded on November 22, 1974 at the Tarrant County Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas. George clears his afflicted throat and then performs John Lennon’s Beatles classic, In My Life, with a slower horn-driven rhythm and philosophically modified lyrics that replaced a concluding verse line with In my life I love God more. Along with George, the core band included Robben Ford (guitar), Willie Weeks (bass), Andy Newmark (drums) and old friend Billy Preston (keyboards). The horns section included Tom Scott (horns), Chuck Findley (trumpet) as well as Jim Horn (saxophone), who is a name you may recognize from various liner notes from any of the four Beatles as solo artists. At the conclusion of the track George sends a blessing to John, Paul, himself and Ringo along with all of the “exes,” who at the time included not only Patti, but also John Lennon’s former wife Cynthia, the woman cited as the initial inspiration for the song.

George Harrison on tour, 1974

Want to make a suggestion for a future Beatles Rarity of the Week? If so, I will do my best to deliver, so let me hear from you. To browse for ideas, check out this search-able listing of thousands of Beatle-related recordings to choose from. Then let me hear from you here.

Here are some Amazon links to read more on, or purchase, some music related to this post:

1) Dark Horse (See all Classic Psychedelic Rock Music CDs) – original 1974 Apple George Harrison LP on 1992 re-issued CD

2) Rubber Soul (Remastered) (See all Rock Music CDs) – 2009 remaster of original stereo LP by The Beatles, including In My Life (with John Lennon vocal)

3) Additional Amazon links for your favorite Beatles-related music: The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.
Visit www.thebeatlesrarity.com for a new Beatles rarity each week, plus lots more!

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Welcome to The Beatles Rarity Of The Week.

By the end of 1971, Paul McCartney had a new band. The first Wings album was released on December 7th of that year and after the addition of a fifth member, Henry McCullough, the band was ready to take it on the road. The new album was called Wild Life and in order to capture the spontaneity of live performances on the record, five of the album’s eight tracks were first takes. Newcomer Henry McCulloch joined Wings late in 1971, after the album’s sessions and had previously been a guitarist with Gary Wright’s band Spooky Tooth. Now joining forces with bassist/guitarist Denny Laine (ex-Moody Blues), drummer Denny Seiwell and the McCartneys, WIngs was now up to full touring strength.

Wings Over Europe van, 1972

The first part of the tour kicked off in the U.K. in February 1972, making this the first tour to include an ex-Beatle, since The Beatles themselves toured. Paul and the band certainly didn’t think this was any reason for reminiscing though. There was not one Beatles cover performed on the tour, driving home the point that Wings was a new band in it’s own right. The U.K. dates were mainly universities (Nottingham, Leeds, Hull to name a few). For the second part of the 1972 tour, the band had acquired a customized van with which to tour Europe in July and August.

This week’s BROW gives us the show opener at the Pavilion in Montreux, Switzerland on July 22, 1972. Bip Bop, with composition credits by both Paul and Linda McCartney hailed from the new Wild Life album. There is also an acoustic version of Bip Bop by only Paul and Linda (and young daughter Stella giggling in the background) that is heard on the Wingspan compilation (see Amazon link below for more info). Although the recording from this show is not of soundboard quality, it still gives us a good idea of the energy behind Paul’s new band in these early days.

Paul McCartney & Wings in 1972 (L-R): Denny Laine, Denny Seiwell, Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney, Henry McCullough

Want to make a suggestion for a future Beatles Rarity of the Week? If so, I will do my best to deliver, so let me hear from you. To browse for ideas, check out this search-able listing of thousands of Beatle-related recordings to choose from. Then let me hear from you here.

Here are some Amazon links to read more on, or purchase, some music related to this post:

1) Wings Wild Life
– CD remaster of the first album by Wings, including the original studio recording of Bip Bop

2) Wingspan (Hits & History)
– Hits and History 2-CD compilation of Paul McCartney/Wings era key tracks, including an acoustic recording of Bip Bop by Paul and Linda McCartney

3) More Amazon links for any of your favorite Beatles-related music: The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

Visit www.thebeatlesrarity.com for a new Beatles rarity each week, plus lots more!

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Welcome to the Beatles Rarity of the Week. I’ve decided to deliver another classic selection from our legendary drummer, Ringo Starr. This time, instead of playing with John, Paul and George, he is backed by his 4th incarnation of the All-Starr Band. Ringo’s 4th All-Starr Band was probably my favorite line-up out of the current count of 11 All-Starr Bands and along with Ringo included:

1) Gary Brooker (Procul Harum) on keyboards and vocals,
2) Jack Bruce (Cream) on bass guitar and vocals,
3) Peter Frampton (Humble Pie and solo) on guitar, talk box and vocals,
4) Simon Kirke (Free, Bad Company) on drums and vocals,
5) Mark Rivera (Billy Joel Band) on saxophone, keyboards, backing vocals and everything else.

I had the pleasure of catching this All-Starr line-up in 1997 at the House Of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC and was lucky enough to get to greet Ringo and the band after the show. This performance of It Don’t Come Easy comes from the August 25, 1998 performance in Moscow, Russia and it was the show opener. In the beginning we hear Jack Bruce testing the mic and greeting the crowd and afterward we hear Ringo testing out a few Russian words on the audience.

It Don’t Come Easy was Ringo’s first top 10 hit single released after the break up of The Beatles. Released in April of 1971, it made it to number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Although the composition credit is solely to Ringo he likely had a good bit of uncredited help from George Harrison with writing the song. George also plays guitar on the original version along with Klaus Voormann on bass, and piano by Gary Wright. Tom Evans and Pete Ham from Badfinger participated in the backing vocals.

Ringo Starr in concert on Aug. 25, 1998 in Moscow, Russia

Additional note: Wikipedia has a complete listing of all of the impressive artists that have been a part of the All-Starrs at one time or another. Check this out here.

Want to make a suggestion for a future Beatles Rarity of the Week? If so, I will do my best to deliver, so let me hear from you. To browse for ideas, check out this search-able listing of thousands of Beatle-related recordings to choose from. Then let me hear from you here.

Visit www.thebeatlesrarity.com for a new Beatles rarity each week, plus lots more!

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Another highlight of mine from the 2010 Fest For Beatles Fans was getting a few photos and autographs from some of the stars and just hanging out.

KLAUS VOORMANN, an original member of the Plastic Ono Band, was reunited with most of the band for Yoko’s Birthday Concert in NYC in February (with Eric Clapton, Jim Keltner and Sean). His latest effort A Sideman’s Journey CD/DVD/Book, features Paul, Ringo, his old band Manfred Mann, Joe Walsh, Cat Stevens and many other friends. This is Klaus’ first ever solo CD and it was worth the wait. Klaus’ friendship with The Beatles goes back 50 years to the Hamburg days. Klaus is one of those few musicians who has performed and recorded with all four Beatles. He is a two time Grammy Winner including his album cover artwork for Revolver.

Happy Nat & Klaus Voorman, Aug. 2010, Fest For Beatles Fans

DENNY SEIWELL is one of the busiest session drummers in Los Angeles. In 1971, Denny was hired by Paul to join him on the Ram album session in NYC in 1971. Paul must have liked what he heard, as later that year, he was asked to join Wings. In the two years with Wings, he played on two of Paul’s biggest hits, My Love & Live & Let Die.

Happy Nat with Denny Seiwell, Aug. 2010, Fest For Beatles Fans

Denny Seiwell plays selections from the 'Ram' sessions at the Fest For Beatles Fans, 2010

LAURENCE JUBER is one of the finest guitarists on the planet. It is no wonder Paul asked him to join Wings in 1978! His guitar work on Back To The Egg was amazing. His new CD, LJ Plays The Beatles 2 was premiered in Chicago at the Fest.

Happy Nat with Laurence Juber, Aug. 2010, Fest For Beatles Fans

DENNY LAINE was a founding member of Wings (with Paul & Linda) in 1971 and remained a core part of the band until it broke up in 1980. Denny co-wrote Paul’s biggest solo hit in the UK – Mull of Kintyre. Denny, also a founding member of the Moody Blues, burst onto the scene in 1965 with his bluesy rock vocals on Go Now. Denny’s has a new CD called Storyteller.

Happy Nat with Denny Laine, Aug. 2010, Fest For Beatles Fans

MARK HUDSON Mark’s knowledge of the entire spectrum of music is truly remarkable. Plus, he is an admitted Beatlemaniac. During his 10 years as Ringo’s producer, Mark had the chance to work with Paul, George and dozens of other music legends. Mark also produced Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, and Ozzy Osbourne. Mark has a new CD out called, The Artist.

Unfortunately, this pic (below) came out a little fuzzy.

Happy Nat with Mark Hudson, Aug. 2010, Fest For Beatles Fans

Pictured (below) from left to right: Klaus Voormann, Mark Lapidos, Gary Wright and Walter Podrazik (author of All Together Now)

From a late-night party on 8/14/2010

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1987 was a terrific comeback year for George Harrison. With the release of his Cloud Nine album, which sported guest musicians Jeff Lynne, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Gary Wright and former Beatles bandmate Ringo Starr. The album was top 10 in the UK and the US, where it also went platinum. He also appeared at the Prince’s Trust concert that year along with Ringo, where they performed George’s Beatles classic While My Guitar Gently Weeps with Eric Clapton contributing on guitar, just as he did on the The Beatles White Album in 1968.

The first single off of Cloud Nine was the obscure Rudy Clark cover Got My Mind Set On You which George had wanted to record with The Beatles many years before. It quickly became a U.S. number 1 which is something George had not seen in 15 years. Here is a remastered account of the promo video looking just as “80′s” as when it aired on VH1 the first time.

Also, I have the site listed on BeatleLinks.net now so if you’d like to rate this site and maybe even give a review, the link is here. Thanks folks.
Visit www.thebeatlesrarity.com for a new Beatles rarity each week, plus lots more!

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This week’s VOW is to get you ready, in case you have a ticket to see Ringo this summer. His US tour is currently in progress. Back Off Boogaloo was Ringo’s second solo UK single and third in the US. It made it to #9 on the US Billboard charts and #3 on the UK Melody Maker charts. George Harrison produced the original single and plays guitar on it. It also has Klaus Voormann on bass and Gary Wright on keyboards. Of course, Ringo is on the drum kit. It has been rumored that Boogaloo was a nickname for Paul McCartney, and that the lines in the song Wake up meathead, don’t pretend that you are dead are directed at him. While this is plausible, given the dispute over Apple Records going on at the time, Ringo, in 1977, claimed only that the song was inspired by his late friend Marc Bolan (of T. Rex fame), who used the word a lot one night when they had dinner together, causing Ringo to dream up the song.

This clip was recorded live at The Genesee Theatre, Waukegan, IL with The Roundheads: Mark Hudson (guitars, harmonica, background vocals), Steve Dudas (electric guitar), Gary Burr (electric guitar, mandolin, background vocals), Mark Hart (keyboards, background vocals), Greg Bissonette (drums, background vocals) and Matt Bissonette (bass guitar, backing vocals).

Also, I have the site listed on BeatleLinks.net now so if you’d like to rate this site and maybe even give a review, the link is here. Kind words will make an even happier Nat.
Visit www.thebeatlesrarity.com for a new Beatles rarity each week, plus lots more!

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Ringo Starr has assembled his 11th All-Starr line up including: Edgar Winter, Gary Wright and All Starr newcomers Rick Derringer, Richard Page (Mr. Mister) and Wally Palmar (Romantics), and Gregg Bissonette returns on drums.

Ringo Starr

(dates subject to change):

Standard tickets

VIP ticket packages

June 24, 25 – Niagara Falls, ON – Fallsview Casino
June 26 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center
June 27 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
June 29 – Boston, MA – Bank of America Pavilian
June 30 – Westbury, NY – Westbury Theatre
July 2 – Easton, PA – State Theatre
July 3 – Atlantic City, NY – Caesar’s Circus Maximus
July 5 – New Brunswick, NJ – State Theatre
July 6 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theatre
July 7 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall — Ringo’s 70th Birthday
July 8 – Lancaster, PA – American Theatre
July 9 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavillion at Riverbend
July 10 – Atlanta, GA – Chastain Park
July 11 – Durham NC – Durham Performing Arts Center
July 13 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
July 15 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Arena
July 17 – Saint Augustine, FL – St Augustine Amphitheatre
July 18 – Biloxi, MS – Magnolia Ballroom At Beau Rivage
July 20 – Cleveland, OH – City Lights Pavilion
July 20 – Cleveland OH – Nautica Pavilion
July 21 – Canandaigua NY – Sands PAC
July 23 – Windsor, ON – Caesars
July 24 – Hammond, IN – Horseshoe Casino
July 25 – Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Show Room
July 28 – Calgary, AB – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
July 30 – Spokane, WA – Northern Quest
July 31 – Woodinville, WA – Chateau St Michelle
August 1 – Eugene, OR – Cuthbert Amphitheatre
August 3 – Saratoga, CA – Mountain Winery
August 5 – Rancho Mirage, CA – The Show At Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa
August 6 – San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay
August 7 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
Visit www.thebeatlesrarity.com for a new Beatles rarity each week, plus lots more!

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Welcome to this week’s BROW.

Last Tuesday Ringo Starr’s new CD Y Not was released and after a few listens, I have to say it does not disappoint. Many people have a tendency to judge Ringo by his mediocre releases from the late 1970′s or, dare I say, to be a bit age-prejudiced towards the guy. But my take on this is that his recent output has been good and this CD is probably the best thing he’s put out since, at least, Time Takes Time from way back in 1992. Paul McCartney plays bass on one track (Peace Dream) and duets with Ringo on a tune called Walk With You, which I’ve featured here. Aside from Paul, there is a healthy host of other musicians I’m sure you’ve heard of too, including Edgar Winter, Benmont Tench (of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Joe Walsh, Billy Squier, Dave Stewart (the Eurythmics guy), Gary Wright, Richard Marx and a few more. And for the first time ever, Ringo has had a hand in the production of the album. He co-produced it with his keyboardist Bruce Sugar.

One of the tracks on the CD is newly-recorded, but not new. Back in 1992, Ringo released a CD single in Germany that was not released in the UK or the US of the song Don’t Go Where The Road Don’t Go (lifted from his Time Takes Time album). There was a B-side on the single virtually unheard of outside of Germany called Everyone Wins. The song never saw release in the US or UK, and now the German release is also well out of print. A German friend of mine sent me a copy of the CD a few years back and the title is mistakenly listed there as Everybody Wins on the back cover. The new version of this b-side on Y Not features Benmont Tench, Gary Wright and Edgar Winter and is more keyboard-oriented, unlike the original version, which is more guitar-oriented and featured here on this week’s BROW. If you would like to compare with the newer version, pick up a copy of the new CD – Y Not?!

Don't Go Where The Road Don't Go German CD single released in August 1992

An aside: Benmont Tench may have also played on this original version of Everyone Wins too but that is not confirmed. It is known that he played on some of the other songs in the Time Takes Time sessions.

Want to make a suggestion for a future Beatles Rarity of the Week? Then let me hear from you. Read about more Beatles rarities and suggest one for me to post. You can begin by searching for different versions of specific tracks right here.

Visit www.thebeatlesrarity.com for a new Beatles rarity each week, plus lots more!

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