#1jun

Top Ten Club Hamburg-Altona 136, Reeperbahn Germany

1st June

Dear Bob, 

It’s just as well we have parents who attend the ‘rock’ shows at Liverpool, otherwise would never get to finding out what is going on at home! I know you are very fond of the sarcasm, so that is why [obscured*] ‘Wonderland by night’, approached us and said, saying “are you English,” to which we replied, replying, “only if you pay us 10 marks each!” We didn’t see him again! Another man came up and spoke, speaking, “I am Bert Kaempfert, play some original tunes please.” We then played some original tunes [♫♩♬?𝄞]  Afterwards he said, “Those tunes were original, come to this address tomorrow, [giving us a card] and speak to Mr. Somebody or Other.” A few days later another man came to see us and said, saying “You can have a contract with ‘Polydor’ record company if you come and sign the contract on Monday.” So now Bob, you know the story how the BEATLES got a contract to make records [applause]. Bert Kaempfert is our producer or A&R man, and he has yet to decide what we are to do. He particularly liked one of our home-made instrumentals, which I think he intends us to record first, but we don’t know if it will be coupled with a vocal, or another able to get them at ‘Nems’. Who knows!  Apart from that, nothing worth mentioning has happened, so I will close for now. Give all fans of ours, our regards, and we hope to be home the first week in July, if nothing else crops up.  Also regards to:- Vick - Sam - Ray McFall - Brian Kelly - Rory + The Hurry-canes - Gerry + The Pacemakers - Big 3 - Dominoes - Seniors - Cliff Roberts - and that very special friend of MINE “HIS LORD JUSTICE FARON”.  Hoping you are fighting fit, - try and write soon, all the best from George [Harrison] Beatle No. 3.  [Excuse everything as I am very illiterate!]

This is a letter from George sent to Cavern DJ, Bob Wooler, dated the 1st June 1961. The letter was found in a lock up after Bob Wooler died and was some of the memorabilia bought by The Cavern Club. This replica is from the new Cavern 60th anniversary book which was sent to me (a little early!) by a good friend of mine who works for The Cavern. Quite out of the blue and quite aptly it arrived last Wednesday, the 29th November, a rough day every year for all George and Beatles fans - but it cheered me up a little bit to read the words of 18 year old George and how he describes himself as “Beatle No. 3″ - just another reason to love him oh so much. 

* I couldn’t read this bit from the photos. I will check the original and edit later. EDIT: Still can’t read it. I think there’s a line in between which is illegible. EDIT2: The song mentioned is. ‘Wonderland by Night’ as that was Bert Kaempfert’s big hit - it knocked a Elvis single off the top spot in the US. 

Please excuse the photos too, I will scan it properly when I have time later! 

“I think that everybody owes it to the world to prove they have pubic hair. You've done it, and I tell you that I applaud you for it.”

[Satirical cartoonist, Al Capp, arguing with John at Bed Peace, Montreal, ahead of the recording of Give Peace A Chance]

“If you watch some of the great footage in Imagine you see the cartoonist Al Capp. He comes into the bed-in and he's really bitter. He's a wicked old git, but John's brilliant with him. John really wants to deck him but you can see he controls himself. I think John behaved very well there, because the guy is actually slagging off Yoko – and that's one thing you don't do. You don't slag off someone's missus – that's tribal time, isn't it? I think John was very good. It was: 'Let's not sink to his level.'”

[Paul, Anthology]