beatlesclubmanchester

Hello & welcome to our website

Hi,

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to everyone who visits our website. 

We've just spent a fantastic two days in the presence of Sir Paul McCartney. Well, a slight exaggeration, but we did see him on both days during our visit in Liverpool for the Northern charity premiere of 'Ecce Cor Meum'.

Wednesday 30th April 2008, the day beforet he Northern charity premiere of 'Ecce Cor Meum'.

We went over to Liverpool on the Wednesday (30/04) the day before the concert just to see if there was any sight of Paul during preparations for Ecce Cor Meum at the magnificent Anglican Cathedral, no sign of Paul but his security was there being shown around.

We decided to go to Lipa, and we were greeted by fellow Lipa Graduation regulars, Nick, Paul, Alison & Kevin who were convinced that Paul was due at or actually already inside the Lipa building.

Within 30 minutes at 1.15pm, Paul arrived by car but drove straight into Lipa, fans called for him to come to the gates to sign autographs but Paul pointed to his watch indicating he was late!

Within minutes two security men said that Paul wanted to sign autographs but the items would be taken into Lipa to be signed & returned around 5pm.   

We handed in our items & they were duly returned around 5pm, this was great but nothing compared to the following day.

(Signed Ecce Cor Meum)

Thursday 1st May 2008, the day of the Northern charity premiere of 'Ecce Cor Meum'.

We decided to head straight to the Cathedral & were greeted by Nick, Paul, Alison & Kevin, Brian, Phil, Danny & Pat!

Paul's security was again inside the cathedral. We (me & Phil Wilbury) decided to take a look outside and within 15 mins Paul's car arrived. It stopped at the gates & as it sped off towards the car park was pursued by fans including paparazzi, we didn't want any part of this so headed back into the cathedral.

We relayed our story to our fellow fans & almost immediately Paul appeared in 'trademark' trainers. Casually making his way to the front of the cathedral to the orchestra.

It was fantastic to be able to observe Paul at work then amazingly he turned & started to walk towards 'the gathered throng' (well we was in a cathedral!) Paul then addressed us (ahem!), explaining that he was here to work to prepare for tonights performance of Ecce Cor Meum  & he wouldn't be able to do the usual things like wave & sign autographs & could we respect this, could we respect this? Ofcourse we would, it was just a pleasure to sit there for 90 minutes observing the man at work!  

As the orchestra packed their instruments away and Paul was saying goodbyes to members of the orchestra he suddenly became aware that we were still there! He then started to walk towards us. At first there was a bit of a rush to get to the roped barrier but then Paul said "Don't push & we'll try & get  them all done". This seemed to calm everybody down. Paul advised he was only signing one item per person & when you had yours to please move away & let somebody else in & no photographs.

PAUL McCARTNEY SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS IN LIVERPOOL

The signing seemed to last for around 10 minutes, I've never seen Paul so relaxed, one to one jokes were aplenty. He duly signed for everybody as promised. Just before he came to his last autograph, a space appeared in front of him. I approached him again & held out a hand for a handshake. "All the best Paul & thanks" I said, as we shook hands, "Thanks" said Paul as he finished the autograph & turned to go bringing to an end a memorable afternoon in the presence of Sir Paul McCartney.

                                                                                                                           Eddie

THE STAR CLUB TAPES

(John & Paul @ the Star Club 1962)

When the The Beatles Live! at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany 1962 was released by the Bellaphon label in Germany in April 1977 it was expected to bring a lawsuit by the Apple Corps but because of German copyright laws fortunately the release couldn't be stopped.

The following month (25th May 1977) the double vinyl album was very bravely released in the U.K. through the Lingasong label. Apple immediately filed an injunction to prevent it seeing the light of day but the judge overruled the injunction stating that the tapes were of historical interest & this was clearly stated on the cover of the album.

It was an exciting release for Beatles fans who were now able to hear the legendary recordings of The Beatles Live at the Star Club 1962 with the added bonus that on the night these tapes were recorded by Kingsize Taylor (of Kingsize Taylor & the Dominoes) Ringo Starr was guesting as drummer to cover for Pete Best's absence. 

Ofcourse, the reality was that the sound quality of the recordings wasn't great but to hear the Beatles live in the Star Club was fantastic and we thank you judge!

The Beatles Live at the Star Club 1962 contained twenty six tracks but it was known that thirty or more songs were recorded and another four tracks originally released in the U.S.A. but not in the U.K. were later included on what became known as the  'Silver Album'.

Ofcourse what followed the 'official' releases was cheap repackaging after repackaging including 'Rare Beatles', 'Early Beatles' most with awful LP covers, two or three volumes, spelling mistakes in the song titles & a promise of superior sound quality! I bought most of them (D'oh!). 

The first Star Club release to feature all thirty releases on the same double album was Audiofidelity Enterprises 'The Beatles Historic Sessions' but even they had Stuart Sutcliffe listed on the cover as being on the recordings when unfortunately Stuart had died in April 1962.  

The first Star Club release on Cd was in 1985 by the Overseas label which brought together all the available Beatles Star Club songs under one great package!

Considering the importance of these recordings they're a real thorn in the Beatles side or should that be maggot in the Beatles Apple!

You see, Apple don't own the recordings  so every release is challenged in court, notice that no Star Club tracks were used on the Anthology Cd releases. Apple say that due to their poor sound quality the recordings show the Beatles in a bad light & if a music fan made these recordings their first Beatles purchase it could tarnish the Beatles reputation. What a load of bad Apples!

Just as the home recordings recorded in Paul's front room in 1961 which featured on  Anthology 1 & widely avaiable on bootleg are of historical significance so are the Beatles Live at the Star Club tapes complete with raw but exciting sound. Everyone starts somewhere!

Fast forward twenty-three years, thirty one years after their original release on  the German Bellaphon label & sadly Apple are back in court this time to stop a Cd release by Fuego Entertainment of further unreleased Star Club recordings.

Well c'mon Fuego! If you want my advice go to Germany & release them, they can't touch you there!   

Peace & Love

Eddie