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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "M. Madler" <mrmadler@mc.net> |
| Subject | Re: The Beatles' Helping 'Hand' |
| Date | Thu, 22 Jan 2004 09:13:09 -0600 |
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Jaimie Vernon wrote:
Capitol Canada jumped on The Beatles after the second single in '63
(Please, Please Me, I believe?). Head of A & R at the time was
ex-patriate Brit Paul White who knew the Beatles from their Cavern Club
days. It was a tough sell for him to get Capitol in LA to green light
the decision, but his persistance finally paid off.
The entire story appeared in a book 2 years ago called EMI Canada: The
First 50 Years by Canadian Music historian Nicholas Jennings....an
interesting read....alas, the book was only published and available to
EMI Music staff. My copy came to me through an insider as luck would
have it.
***There is a chapter about the Canadian Capitol Beatle singles in Bruce
Spizer's book, "The Beatles' Story on Capitol Records." Paul White was
interviewed for the book and said he "liked the group's fresh new
sound." (Although there is no mention he knew The Beatles from
Liverpool.)
"Love Me Do" was the first Candian Capitol single, selling a whopping 78
copies. "Please Please Me" fared a bit better with 180 copies. After
"From Me To You" tanked (500 copies), White said the company was giving
him one more chance to get a hit with a Beatles record. "She Loves You"
made it to the CHUM Hit Parade, as did "Roll Over Beethoven/Please Mr.
Postman" which peaked at #2.
Spizer's book also gives an abbreviated version of Marsha Albert/Carroll
James story, as well as a lot of background on Capitol's promo push for
the Beatles first visit to the States. He also provides fascinating
stories about the "Yesterday and Today" butcher cover album that puts to
rest long-standing myths about the cover.
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