![Alf Together Now]( "Alf Together Now")
Alf Together Now
The Beatles
(CD 2001 SPANK SP-148)
http://www.vigotone.com/spank/spank148.htm43 Tracks - Total Time: 69:20
1. (the machine clicks on) (0:05)
2. If I Fell (No. 1) (0:13)
3. If I Fell (No. 2) (2:34)
4. If I Fell (No. 3) (0:30)
5. If I Fell (No. 4) (0:39)
6. If I Fell (No. 5) (0:11)
7. ("Are you in Coventry?") (0:04)
8. Don't Bother Me (5:30)
This "missing" section is here. From here, the numbering doesn't match the cover....
9. Instrumental #1 (0:26)
10. (tape noise) (0:05)
11. Instrumental #2 (2:29)
12. Michelle (1:01)
13. Instrumental #3 (0:11)
14. Instrumental #4 (1:23)
15. Instrumental #5 (1:07)
16. Three Coins In A Fountain (1:35)
17. (tape noise / singing nursery rhymes) (1:51)
18. Rockin' / Rollin' (Backing Track, No. 1) (0:58)
19. Rockin' / Rollin' (Backing Track, No. 2) (0:16))
20. Rockin' / Rollin' (With Horn) (1:48)
21. (listening to the audio) (0:35)
22. Rockin' / Rollin' (Vocal) (1:12)
23. Piano / Drum Instrumental (1:41)
24. Please Mr. Postman (No. 1) (2:15)
25. Please Mr. Postman (No. 2) (2:35)
26. It Won't Be Long (No. 1) (2:23)
27. It Won't Be Long (No. 2) (1:58)
28. (listening to the radio) (0:18)
29. Love Me Do (BBC) (1:24)
30. (Bible readings) (10:00)
31. (tape noise) (0:04)
32. Tammy (singing along with the radio) (0:40)
33. Over The Rainbow (singing along with the radio) (1:24)
34. (asking directions #1) (1:22)
35. (asking directions #2) (2:24)
36. (asking directions #3) (2:48)
37. (asking directions #4) (1:58)
38. (listening to a record and talking) (4:36)
39. (distorted voice) (1:26)
Bonus Tracks:
40. Rockin' / Rollin' (stereo mix from "Anthology +") (1:37)
41. Hello Little Girl (The Foremost - recording session, No. 1) (1:51)
42. Hello Little Girl (The Foremost - recording session, No. 1) (0:40)
43. Hello Little Girl (The Foremost - recording session, No. 1) (1:13)
Liner Notes:
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 have been gathered 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 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 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 of this tape to surface. We hope you enjoy this audio time capsule of the early Beatles.
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 prosecuted, bidding could start on the tapes, proclaimed to be worth some Ј60,000.
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. Ј15-20,000, sold for Ј11,000). Lot 507 had several takes of John experimenting with 'If I Fell' (est. Ј10-20,000, sold for Ј6500); lot 515 contained George playing guitar exercises and composing his first song, 'Don't Bother Me' (est. Ј10-20,000, sold for Ј7500); 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. Ј5000-8000, sold for Ј5500). Mr. Bicknell has every reason to be satisfied with the result, which will enable him to publish upcoming book.
