Beatlemaniacs: The World Of Beatles Novelty / Var Beatlemaniacs: The World Of Beatles Novelty / Var CD

Beatlemania's incredible impact on the world is displayed in all it's fun-filled glory on this long-awaited compilation of rare Beatles novelty and tribute 45s devoted to the Fab Four at the peak of their fame. The first legitimate CD of it's kind, it brings to life the merchandising madness of those years. Even before the Beatles conquered America, a growing inventory of Beatles guitars, drums, lockets, belts, badges, jigsaw puzzles, bedspreads, trays and confectionary was flooding the market. The one area of exploitation over which the Beatles exercised no control was the novelty/tribute record and here, the American record industry had a field day. Here are 24 of the best. The monumental mega-booklet - one of the most ambitious ever attempted by Ace with eye-catching period-style cover art by Phil Smee - is in itself a masterpiece, full to bursting with dozens of rare pictures, ads and label shots woven within a 13,000 word note combining the rise of Beatlemania with the tales behind each of the 24 records. Compiled and annotated by Rob Finnis.

1. John, Paul, George ; Ringo - the Bulldogs 2. I'll Let You Hold My Hand - the Bootles 3. Like Ringo - Dick Lord 4. We Love the Beatles (Beatlemania) - Vernons Girls 5. Beatle Crazy - Bill Clifton 6. A Beatle I Want to Be - Sonny Curtis 7. The Beatles Are in Town - the Fondettes 8. My Beatle Haircut - the Twiliters 9. A Letter to the Beatles - the Four Preps 10. You Can't Do That - (Harry) Nilsson 11. Please Please Me - Link Wray ; Raymen 12. Only Seventeen - the Beattle-Ettes 13. John, You Went Too Far This Time - Rainbo 14. I Dreamed I Was a Beatle - Murray Kellum 15. The Beatle Bounce - Bobby Comstock ; the Counts 16. What's Wrong with Ringo? - the Bon-Bons 17. Saint Paul - Terry Knight 18. Beatles, Please Come Back - Gigi Parker ; the Lonelies 19. Stamp Out the Beatles - the Hi-Riders 20. Beatlemania - Donnie Rae ; the Defiants 21. We Love You Beatles - the Carefrees 22. Beatle Fever - Bret ; Terry 23. I Want to Be a Beatle - Bobby Wilding 24. The Ballad of Paul - the Mystery Tour