It Was 56 Years Ago Today
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The Beatles played Litherland Town Hall. In the audience was 17 year old Billy J. Kramer (then William Ashton) According to him, Stu Sutcliffe was on bass, not Chas Newby, as had been written in other accounts. He describes how when the Beatles came out, everyone stopped and went to the stage to listen. Mark Lewisohn puts this night as the true beginning of their fame in Liverpool, as well. I'm reading Billy's autobiography Do You Want To Know A Secret that he signed to me at the Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans (a friend actually got it for me, I wasn't there) So far, very interesting insider accounts!
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Please tell us more!
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John Lennon suggested the middle initial J. A fan getting Billy's autograph for the 2nd time, showed him his first signature and on the page next to it in the autograph book was the signature "George J. Harrison!"
He was the first person to have a #1 hit with a Lennon/McCartney song (other than the Beatles themselves of course) with Do You Want To Know A Secret? They also gave him I'll Be On My Way, I'll Keep You Satisfied, From A Window and Bad To Me. The book is only 169 pages and I'm on page 44 (March 1963) -
Here's a fun fact I didn't know: Billy had a cold and had a hard time singing the high end-note of From A Window, so Paul sang it with him! Both Paul or John would always be in the studio at Abbey Road to oversee the recording of the songs they gave Billy.(whichever one was the principal author)
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Oh, and when people would ask "What does the J stand for?" John told Billy to tell them "Julian." At the time Billy didn't know John was married, let alone that he had a son by that name!
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Nancy R:
The Beatles played Litherland Town Hall. In the audience was 17 year old Billy J. Kramer (then William Ashton) According to him, Stu Sutcliffe was on bass, not Chas Newby, as had been written in other accounts.
Stuart was in Hamburg between 17th August 1960 and 20th January 1961, which is when he flew back to Liverpool for a couple of months. The Beatles played Litherland Town Hall several times during that two month period with Stuart back on bass. But it was Chas Newby who played with the group on 27th December 1960. After 56 years, its understandable that Billy would confuse the shows.
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Kestrel:
Nancy R:
The Beatles played Litherland Town Hall. In the audience was 17 year old Billy J. Kramer (then William Ashton) According to him, Stu Sutcliffe was on bass, not Chas Newby, as had been written in other accounts.
Stuart was in Hamburg between 17th August 1960 and 20th January 1961, which is when he flew back to Liverpool for a couple of months. The Beatles played Litherland Town Hall several times during that two month period with Stuart back on bass. But it was Chas Newby who played with the group on 27th December 1960. After 56 years, its understandable that Billy would confuse the shows.
Well, he seemed absolutely sure it was Stu, but if your dates are correct, then he's mistaken and probably remembering a different show.
Thanks for the info. -
Nancy R:
Kestrel:
Nancy R:
The Beatles played Litherland Town Hall. In the audience was 17 year old Billy J. Kramer (then William Ashton) According to him, Stu Sutcliffe was on bass, not Chas Newby, as had been written in other accounts.
Stuart was in Hamburg between 17th August 1960 and 20th January 1961, which is when he flew back to Liverpool for a couple of months. The Beatles played Litherland Town Hall several times during that two month period with Stuart back on bass. But it was Chas Newby who played with the group on 27th December 1960. After 56 years, its understandable that Billy would confuse the shows.
Well, he seemed absolutely sure it was Stu, but if your dates are correct, then he's mistaken and probably remembering a different show.
Thanks for the info.I have trouble remembering the sequence of events in my life (especially if they occurred close together) after 6 years let alone 56 years.
I suspect that Billy attended several shows at the Litherland Town Hall over those few months and understandably is mis-remembering the date(s) he saw Stuart play. That doesn't explain why he doesn't remember Chas Newby* of course but.....well, 56 years is a long time. * Chas has been interviewed where he talks about his short period with the Beatles including the Litherland concert. -
Oh he remembers Chas Newby, and even says in the book that others have said it was Chas that night, but adamantly says it was Stu on Dec. 27, 1960. Oh well! Yeah, I know what you mean about remembering things - and the book is incredibly detailed with names, dates, places, etc. He had a writer assist him and I'm sure the guy had to do a lot of research.
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Nancy R:
Oh he remembers Chas Newby, and even says in the book that others have said it was Chas that night, but adamantly says it was Stu on Dec. 27, 1960. Oh well!
To be fair to Billy, he was there and I wasn't so maybe he is right. Perhaps Stuart flew home for Christmas and played a one-off with the Beatles that night? Maybe Chas was playing that night too so they had six in the line-up? I guess its not that important but it is interesting.
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Would love to have a time machine and go back to that night (and stick around for a few years to watch Beatlemania unfold!)
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Nancy R:
Would love to have a time machine and go back to that night (and stick around for a few years to watch Beatlemania unfold!)
I'm with you Nancy, lets go see every Beatles show they ever did! Lets also hang out with them backstage.
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jl4761:
Nancy R:
Would love to have a time machine and go back to that night (and stick around for a few years to watch Beatlemania unfold!)
I'm with you Nancy, lets go see every Beatles show they ever did! Lets also hang out with them backstage.
First we have to turn ourselves back to 18 year olds!
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or just invisible people!!
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Nancy R:
jl4761:
Nancy R:
Would love to have a time machine and go back to that night (and stick around for a few years to watch Beatlemania unfold!)
I'm with you Nancy, lets go see every Beatles show they ever did! Lets also hang out with them backstage.
First we have to turn ourselves back to 18 year olds!
I act like I'm 18 years old now, so going back to 18 years old shouldn't be a problem!
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sunspark:
or just invisible people!!
Yeah but Nancy R might want to kiss all of them!
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jl4761:
sunspark:
or just invisible people!!
Yeah but Nancy R might want to kiss all of them!
Not just kiss!
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Nancy R:
jl4761:
sunspark:
or just invisible people!!
Yeah but Nancy R might want to kiss all of them!
Not just kiss!
I know, you want to sleep with all of them too! At least I get to watch!
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jl4761:
Nancy R:
jl4761:
sunspark:
or just invisible people!!
Yeah but Nancy R might want to kiss all of them!
Not just kiss!
I know, you want to sleep with all of them too! At least I get to watch!
Who said you could watch?
And only Paul and John appeal to me in that way. 
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Nancy R:
jl4761:
Nancy R:
jl4761:
sunspark:
or just invisible people!!
Yeah but Nancy R might want to kiss all of them!
Not just kiss!
I know, you want to sleep with all of them too! At least I get to watch!
Who said you could watch?
And only Paul and John appeal to me in that way. I'm invisible, REMEMBER! You won't even know I'm there! You mean George and Ringo are not going to participate in the orgy festivities with John and Paul? Poor George and Ringo are going to feel neglected.
