Blowing the minds of every Beatles diehard is the eBay auction of a 1963 publishing acetate of the group’s song “What Goes On.” The song — which eventually was credited to John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr for Ringo’s 1965 Rubber Soul vocal spotlight — was originally recorded in a far different form on March 5th, 1963, the same date as “From Me To You.” Unfortunately, with that session tape forever lost, no one had known what the original version of the song — purported to be among Lennon’s first compositions — sounded like. The new 32-second demo features Lennon on guitar and lead vocals, McCartney on the high harmony, and includes a completely different verse — both lyrically and musically. As of press time, the acetate has 28 bids and is priced at $9,201. The auction ends on October 1st.
George Harrison‘s original sitar will go under the hammer on Thursday (September 28th). Harrison who bought the instrument in early-1965 from a music store called India Craft on London’s Oxford Street, famously used the instrument on the Beatles‘ groundbreaking Rubber Soul track, “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown).” According the BBC, “the Indian string instrument, crafted by a well-known music shop in Kolkata, was later gifted to (George Drummond) a friend of Harrison’s first wife, Pattie Boyd.” The sitar is expected to sell for about $50,000.
The producer of Paul McCartney‘s upcoming album had a few choice comments about the sessions for the former Beatle‘s 24th mainstream collection. Greg Kurstin, best known for his work with Adele, told Entertainment Weekly: “All I can say is that when he brings songs to the studio, it blows my mind that he’s still coming up with the most amazing songs. I feel like he’s topping himself.” According to a concertgoer that was interviewed by McCartney’s film team: “I was interviewed about his concert legacy. When the interview was over I asked about the new album. The guy told me he (Paul) is finishing the album now and it would be released sometime in 2018.” (Macca-News.Blogspot.com)
Yoko Ono has put a stop to the sale of a lemonade called “John Lemon.” The polish beverage company has agreed to change the name of the drink to “On Lemon” and must sell its entire stock of “John Lemon” drinks by the end of next month. The company had used John Lennon‘s likeness in an outdoor mural advertising the drink, used Lennon’s signature “granny glasses,” and the phrase “Let It Be” in various ads. According to The Guardian, Ono’s lawyers said, “the lemonade infringed the trademark of her late husband’s name and his personal rights. They claimed damages in the range of $5,949 a day and asked the court in The Hague, the Netherlands, to determine damages.”
