About this event
BBC’s Bob Harris and author/music journalist Colin Hall are setting out on an intimate speaking tour based around their mutual love and appreciation of The Beatles, including a previously unheard interview with Lennon/McCartney from Bob’s archive.
Harris and Hall tell of how Lennon, McCartney, and to a lesser extent Harrison gifted their tunes to others.
By 1963, Lennon and McCartney had written so many songs they simply couldn’t all be accommodated on just Beatles releases. So, it made good artistic and economic sense to offer them to other artists for recording. The Merseybeat boom of 1963-64 gave them a tailor made outlet.
This is the story behind those songs; the hits, the misses, and the demos that the group never released. This is “the songs The Beatles gave away”.
Among the many recipients of these songs were Cilla Black, Billy J Kramer, Tommy Quickly, and let’s not forget, The Rolling Stones who were bequeathed ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’ – a tune from a teenage McCartney, that was finished within 20 minutes in the studio as The Stones were recording!
‘Whispering’ Bob Harris OBE has been at the heart of UK music for the best part of fifty years. He has established a worldwide reputation as one of the most trusted and influential broadcasters of his generation – described by Radio Times as “one of the greats of British contemporary music broadcasting” and by The Mail On Sunday as “a national treasure”.
Colin Hall has, for the past 20 years, been the custodian at John Lennon’s childhood home ‘Mendips’ (guiding the likes of Bob Dylan, Yoko Ono, and James Taylor around the property). He has written two books on the Fab Four and presented a BBC Radio 4 documentary with Alexei Sayle titled ‘The Lennon Visitors’. Incredibly, Colin was in the audience at the village fete where John was first introduced to Paul!
Together, Bob and Colin have worked on several projects together, including the upcoming film Pre Fab! (which focuses on the Fab Four’s early days as The Quarrymen), a BBC production of ‘The Songs The Beatles Gave Away’, and 2007’s Sony Award winning ‘The Day John Met Paul.’
Pre show suppers
Meals are served from 6pm. A two-course meal is just £13. Mains are £10.50. Desserts are £3.50. Each menu has meat and vegetarian options, and Lesley takes special dietary requirements into account. Advance booking is necessary. To book your meal, email lesleyskitchenltd@gmail.com or call 07525 622662.
