THE BEATLES - ALF TOGETHER NOW

ALF TOGETHER NOW

(CD 2001 SPANK SP-148)

1. The Machine Clicks On
2. If I Fell (No. 1)
3. If I Fell (No. 2)
4. If I Fell (No. 3)
5. If I Fell (No. 4)
6. If I Fell (No. 5)
7. ("are you in Coventry?")
8. Don't Bother Me
9. (Tape Noise)
10. Instrumental (No. 1)
11. (Tape Noise)
12. Instrumental (No. 2)
13. Michaelle
14. Instrumental (No. 3)
15. Instrumental (No. 4)
16. Instrumental (No. 5)
17. Three Coins In A Fountain
18. (Tape Noise/Singing Nursery Rhymes)
19. Rockin'/Rollin' (Backing Track, No. 1)
20. Rockin'/Rollin' (Backing Track, No. 2)
21. Rockin'/Rollin' (With Norm)
22. (Listening to the radio)
23. Rockin'/Rollin' (vocal)
24. Piano/Drum Instrumental
25. Please Mr. Postman (No. 1)
26. Please Mr. Postman (No. 2)
27. It Won't Be Long (No. 1)
28. It Won't Be Long (No. 2)
29. (listening to the radio)
30. Love Me Do (BBC)
31. (readings)
32. (tape noise)
33. Tammy (singing along with the radio)
34. Over the rainbow (singing along with the radio)
35. Asking Directions #1
36. Asking Directions #2
37. Asking Directions #3
38. Asking Directions #4
39. listening to a record and talking
40. disctored voice
41. Rockin'/Rollin'
42. Hello Little Girl (the fourmost - recording session, No. 1)
43. Hello Little Girl (the fourmost - recording session, No. 2)
44. Hello Little Girl (the fourmost - recording session, No. 3)

Booklet Notes:

500
An Interesting Reel-to-Reel Tape Recording Made by The Beatles in A Studio
Control Room at EMI Abbey Road, July 1963, the recording made externally
during a recording session by The Fourmost, with producer, George Martin,
and engineer Norman Smith, and, appearing towards the end of the sequence,
George Harrison and Ringo Starr, The Fourmost recording 'Hello Little Girl'
given to the group exclusively by Lennon, the composer, The Fourmost recording
another song, probably 'Little Egypt' (never released), and Billy J. Kramer
recording at Abbey Road, and two alternative, unreleased takes of 'Mr. Postman'
and two alternative, unreleased, takes of 'It Won't be Long'

The recording of 'Hello Little Girl' by The Fourmost took place on 24th July 1963,
halfway through The Beatles week long residency at Weston-super-Mare. It would appear,
therefore, that The Beatles left Weston-super-Mare on the morning of 24th July, attended
the recording in the afternoon, then rushed back again to appear on stage for their first
house at about six o'clock the same evening.

This, together with lots 501, 507, 515 and 525 compile tape recordings made by The Beatles
in 1963/64 on a portable machine which they carried with them. The recordings include George
Harrison composing his first song 'Don't Bother Me', several attempts by John Lennon alone
at recording 'If I Fell' and the group in conversation, at play and in the studio.
These five lots are sold without copyright.
Ł5,000-8,000
501
An Important Reel-to-Reel Tape Recording Made by The Beades, 1963 comprising John Lennon
and Paul McCartney singing 'Tell Me True' and 'Over The Rainbow', McCartney instrumentals,
'Michelle' instrumental (presumably played by Paul McCartney), 'Three Coins in a Fountain',
nursery rhymes with a child (possibly Ruth and Paul McCartney), and John Lennon and Paul
McCartney singing 'Rockin' and Rollin'
Ł15,000-20,000

507
An Important Reel-to-Reel Tape Recording Made by John Lennon, early 1964, comprising several
attempts by John Lennon at a demo recording of 'If I Fell', taped solo by Lennon in a non-studio
location. in this recording Lennon experiments with different keys and guitar patterns
Ł10,000-12,000

525
An Amusing Amateur Reel-to-Reel Tape Recording Made By The Beatles, July 1963, comprising George
Harrison, Paul McCartney and Gerry Marsden (joined near the end of the sequence by John Lennon)
reading from The Bible in their own and assumed voices, together with the hymns 'The Lord Is My
Shepherd' sung by John Lennon and 'There is a Green Hill' sung by the assembled company, followed
by Gerry Marsden in a vehicle asking passers-by for directions to various places in the town,
towards the end of this section it becomes apparent that George Harrison and John Lennon are also
with Gerry Marsden

This tape was recorded at Weston-super-Mare during the week of 22-27 July 1963 when The Beatles
and Gerry and the Pacemakers shared a twice-nightly six-day concert residency at the town's Odeon
Cinema. Both groups stayed at The Royal Pier Hotel and the recording could have been made in one
of the hotel bedrooms reading from a Gideon Bible
Ł5,000-8,000

515
An Important Reel-to-Reel Tape Recording Made by George Harrison, mid-1963, comprising George
Harrison composing his first ever song, 'Don't Bother Me' together with guitar exercises, recorded
in a Bournemouth hotel room in August 1963
Ł10,000-12,000

Alf Bicknell, the Beatles' former chauffeur, was responsible for this year's highlight five
reel-to-reel tapes given him by John Lennon on clearing out the limousine. After the auctioneer
had read a statement from EMI and Apple that anyone making bad use of the recordings (and we all
know what that means) would be heavily proesecuted, bidding could start on the tapes, proclaimed
to be worth some Ł 60,000.
Lot 500 contained two different takes each of 'It Won't Be Long' and 'Please Mr Postman'
(estimate Ł 5000-8000, sold for Ł 5200).
Lot 501 had two unreleased songs by Paul, 'Tell, Me True' and 'Over The Rainbow', an
instrumental of 'Michelle' and John and Paul doing a song called 'Rockin' And Rollin'
(est. Ł 15-20,000, sold for Ł 11,500). Lot 507 had several takes of John experimenting
with 'If I Fell' (est. Ł 10-20,000, sold for Ł 6500); lot 515 contained George playing guitar
excercises and composing his first song 'Don't Bother Me' (est. Ł 10-20,000, sold for Ł 7500);
lot 525 has John, Paul. George and Gerry Marsden reading from the Bible and singing the hymns
'The Lord Is My Shepherd' and 'There's A Green Hill Far Away', as well as putting on comic
voices to ask bemused residents of Weston-super-Mare the way to the golf course (est. Ł 5000-8000,
sold for Ł 5500). Mr Bicknell has every reason to be satisfied with the result, which will enable
him to publish his upcoming book.

The recordings on this disc once belonged to The Beatles' chauffeur, Alf Bicknell. While we have
plenty of informal tapes of the later Beatles (the "Get Back" sessions, for instance), these are
much more uncommon for the early 1960's. Portions of these tapes were previously available on
"The Garage Tapes" and "Maybe You Can Drive My Car," but all of the available recordings ALF have
been gathered together here, and most of the material is of significantly better quality than those
two discs.
As for the performances themselves, there's little to say. "Don't Bother Me" was recorded sometime
between August 19th and 24th, 1963, as George was composing the tune. "Rockin' / Rollin'" seems to
have been a very early attempt at home double-tracking (as a bonus. we've added a stereo version of
this, which was originally included on "Anthology +"). "If I Fell" comes from early 1964, and is a
very rare surviving example of a John Lennon composing tape from this era. In addition to the home
demos, there are some off-line "in the studio" recordings here as well - most significantly, outtakes
of "Please Mr. Postman" and "It Won't Be Long," from July 30th, 1963 which appear nowhere else.
Wrapping things are are some audio verite tapes of the Boys (and Gerry Marsden) goofing on passersby,
singing along with the radio. and offering some rather twisted Bible recitations.
Admittedly, this material isn't the best of quality, but this is, most certainly, the best quality
version of this tape to surface. We hope you enjoy this audio time capsule of the early Beatles.

Steve's Beatles Page Š 2001