Rare Beatles

The Beatles first visited West Germany in late 1960 when the group's line-up was still John Lennon Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe (who was to die tragically young) and drummer Pete Best. Playing in Hamburg either made or broke every Liverpudlian beat group that worked there out it was soon obvious to everyone that this was one group which would be going places. After returning to Liverpool in early 1961 to do a residency at the now-legendary Cavern Club, the Beatles nade a second trip to Ham burg in April 1961 during which visit they recorded several titles with Tony Sheridan for a German Record Company. It was during one visit to Hamburg that these tapes priginated and, as luck would have it, although Ringo Starr did not officially oin the group until August 1962, which was just about the time the Beatles were having their first recording sessions for MI, he happened to be sitting in' for Pete Best on the very night that Ted Taylor decided to make some recordings with his portable machine

No matter how many thousands of words were written about the Beatles, the only way for anyone tc appreciate their fu ll appeal is to listen to the music. It explains everything. The Beatles' music has nanaged to span every generation and as ambassadors of pop, no one is likely to beat them. The Star Club recordings tell all. The music is raw, vital and exciting and goes a long way to demonstrating why John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr became such musical legends. The numor, the sheer talent and the audience excitement almost hits you in the eyes .

Until now these tapes have been heard by no more than a handful of people but it is right that these Hamburg moments should be shared with the millions of Beatles fans worldwide. Four years ago the respected British pop music magazine Melody Maker reviewed the Hamburg tapes as they were ir their original state and declared that the music neither injured the reputations of the artists or insulted he intelligence of the listeners. The writer declared that the recordings were a "unique and important announcement"' of the most musical unit of the last decade. More than that they are history and orovide the best insight into the early life of the Beatles which most people had thought lost for good CHRIS WHITE London, March 1977

(on the back cover)

SIDE 1

• Be-Bop-A-Lula
• Long Tall Sally
• Your Feet Too Big
• I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry Over You
• Where Have You Been All My Life

SIDE 2

• Sheila
• Hallelujah I Love Her So
• Till There Was You
• Kansas City / Hey Hey Hey
• I Remember You

Compilation