Not long after posting our annual Christmas podcast, I found out that friend of The Squire (and personal friend too boot), Darryl Bullock had passed away. I had got to know to know Darryl through our shared love of what can be best described as ‘outsider’ music, or at worst, just terrible tunes. Over time, we bonded over our shared love of The Beatles as well as Laurel & Hardy.
It has taken me some time to come to terms that he is not there on the other end of the phone to share a new ‘bad’ record I have come across, or to check my information on a piece of music or band that I have been writing about is correct.
I wanted to mark his passing and do something to remember him by, so I have compiled a rarities set from arguably his favourite band, The Beatles. This is a companion piece to the original UK ‘Rarities’ LP that initially came as part of the ‘The Beatles Collection’ box set in 1978.
It amazes me still that a band such as The Beatles would still have enough material knocking around that was officially rereleased that could still be considered to be rare. With the numerous re-issue programmes they have put out since the mid 90s, you would have through that they would have been rereleased but it would seem not. A good starting point was the B-Sides to the 90s singles, ‘Free As A Bird’ and ‘Real Love’ that came out as part of the ‘Anthology’ programme. I did not want to include any of these B-sides if they had been subsequently released e.g. the live version of ‘Baby’s In Black’ from the ‘Real Love’ single came out later on the 2016 version of ‘Live At The Hollywood Bowl’ album.
I also included two additional songs as a bonus single (as it were) as I thought this would come out as an LP, so I would have to work with the time constraints that format gave me. I also did not want to include any songs on the rarities discs I compiled back in July of 2020 (https://www.thesquirepresents.co.uk/the-beatles-the-long-winding-road/).
I am sure that Darryl would seen this and gone “you could have included such and such, or this would have been a better choice”. My thoughts go out to all those who knew Darryl. I miss him greatly.
Side 1
- I Saw Her Standing There
- Devil In Her Heart
- All My Loving
- This Boy
- I Feel Fine
- And I Love Her
- Eight Days A Week
Side 2
- Help!
- Yellow Submarine
- Here, There & Everywhere
- I Am The Walrus
- Free As A Bird
- Real Love
Bonus Single
- Christmas Time (Is Here Again)
- Movie Medley
I Saw Her Standing There (Take 9) – Taken from ‘Free As A Bird’ CD
The count from this version was used on Take 1, which was released on the ‘Please Please Me’ album.
Devil In Her Heart – Taken from ‘Baby It’s You’ 7”/CD
To promote the release of the ‘Live At The BBC’ album in 1994, an EP came out over six months earlier. What was a nice touch was that each of the four songs featured a lead vocal from one of the individual Beatles. At the time. only the title track would come out on the parent album. ‘Boys’ and ‘I’ll Follow The Sun’ would eventually see the light on 2013’s, ‘On Air – Live At The BBC Volume 2”, but ‘Devil In Your Heart’ is still unique to the original EP release.
All My Loving (Hi-Hat Intro) – Taken from Please Please Me (West German Version)
A slightly longer mix of the song featuring a hi-hat introduction.
This Boy(Takes 12 & 13) – Taken from ‘Free As A Bird’ CD
Two incomplete takes that both break down in laughter.
I Feel Fine (Whispered Intro) – Taken from 1962-1966 (1973 Version)
Virtually identical to the true stereo mix of the song which has the whispered words ‘low enough’ spoken at the beginning of the track.
And I Love Her (Stereo Extended End) – Taken from Something New (West German Version)
This extended mix of this song repeats the riff from the end of the song six times instead of the usual four.
Eight Days A Week – Taken from +1
This 2015 remix does not have the fade in that the store common version has.
Help!
Taken from the US soundtrack album for the film, ‘Help!’, this includes an instrumental introduction that is based on the James Bond theme.
Yellow Submarine – Taken from ‘Real Love’ CD
This includes a Ringo spoken word introduction with marching sound effects. The other sound effects were mixed higher in this version.
Here, There & Everywhere– Taken from ‘Real Love’ CD
A combination of take 7 (with a mono mix of the basic track with a McCartney guide vocal) with harmony vocals from take 13 superimposed added at the end.
I Am The Walrus – (US Mono Single Version)
This includes an extra bar of music before the lyrics, “yellow matter custard”.
Free As A Bird (2015 Remix) – Taken from +1
This remix cleans up John Lennon’s vocal with better technology for completing the task than was available in 1994 when the original version was prepared. Other changes were to push McCartney’s lead vocal more prominently in the second verse and a different version of Harrison’ lyric from ‘life’ to ‘love’ as well as Lennon saying ‘turned out nice again’ which was switched to play the correct way around. It was played backwards on the 1994 recording.
Real Love (2015 Remix) – Taken from +1
This remix cleans up John Lennon’s vocal with better technology for completing the task than was available in 1995 when the original version was prepared. The harmonium and harpsichord are more prominent in this mix as well some additional lead guitar phrases and drum fills.
Christmas Time (Is Here Again) (Edit) – Taken from ‘Free As A Bird’ 7”/CD
A unique edit of this track that originally appeared on a fan club flexi disc in 1967. After the song fades out, it includes some of the speech taken from 1966 Christmas disc and then a poem from the 1967 recording.
Movie Medley
It was a bit of a thing back in the late 70s and 80s to cut and paste several songs together with a similar drum beat in the background. This originally came out in conjunction with a compilation of Beatle songs taken from song of their films called ‘Reel Music’. This was initially only a US released as Parlophone UK thought it was “tacky”. However, import copies were selling in good numbers so they eventually relented and it would be a reasonable hit on both sides of the Atlantic. It seems that Apple Records have tried to forget this ever existed, as it did not appear on 2019s ‘The Singles Collection’. However, it did appear in the 1982 equivalent.
The cover is based upon the original Beatles ‘Rarities’ compilation (UK version) from 1978. My skills are not good enough to replicate sleeve exactly I’m afraid. This is as close as I could get.