Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/19/03

Update (10/19/03) from our Beatles News Briefs section

- Update: Ed Sullivan DVDs being released commercially: A question answered.

- Paul and Heather news: Link to webchat transcript.

- Quick news links: John and Paul "Double Fantasy" reunion?

- Read the latest Beatle Bits blogs (#25 & #26) by Terry Ott

Apple lawsuit may already be haunting the Fabs...

In Friday's updates, you'll notice the item about Apple Computer's announcement that its popular iTunes music file-sharing service is headed for Windows. (It was only available to Macs previously.)

Well, you can bet one group you'll probably never find there will be the Beatles.

Since the suit was filed, Apple Computer hasn't backed down in its stand that maybe it's time the original arrangement, in which Apple Computer wasn't supposed to get involved with music, be changed.

Not more than a day after it became known through a BBC report that the Beatles weren't going to do online sharing services, Apple Computer stings 'em with the announcement about the iTunes expansion.

It's beginning to look like the Fabs' strategy has misfired. After all, the Beatles' music would have given any file sharing service an instant key to success. And iTunes has been the most popular one since the original Napster, which, as we all know, was free. iTunes isn't -- and that's what makes its success all the more interesting.

By the way, one of those present via video for the iTunes announcement was .... Mick Jagger. The Rolling Stones aren't getting left out of this cash cow.

And maybe the Fabs won't either. Maybe, they figure, one of the services, even iTunes, will now come begging for the Fabs to join in. And the Fabs' price won't be cheap, certainly.

But if that's not the case, it'll be interesting to see where this leads.

And meanwhile, the Fabs' files can be found all over Kazaa and the other not-so-legal file sharing services.

To quote spokesman Geoff Baker, "We have no plans at the moment to go online ... I do not think there is any reason for it at all."

Don't look now, Geoff, but it's looks like you're already there, whether you know it or not.

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/17/03

Update (10/17/03) from our Beatle News Briefs page

- Japan to re-release Beatles albums on vinyl

- "Lennon Legend" DVD news: A look at the cover.

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: A bit of a preview.

- Ringo Rama news: Deluxe re-release set planned for Christmas: Bonus track correction

- Update: Beatles say music won't be online: No iTunes for Fabs.

- Quick news links: Mayor uses Fabs in election campaign

- Read the latest Beatle Bits blog by Terry Ott

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/16/03

Update (10/16/03) from Beatle News Briefs

- Paul and Heather to conduct webchat Thursday morning (U.S. time)

- John Lennon to give his regards to Broadway: Musical planned

- "Lennon Legend" DVD news: Yoko attends DVD premiere

- Update: Beatles say music won't be online: Comment from Mac publication.

- The Concert for George news reports: German release date.

- Ringo Rama news: Deluxe re-release set planned for Christmas: Bonus tracks.

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: Letting it be.

- Magazine alerts: paulmccartney.fm

- Quick news links: Hawaiian Beatle museum

- Read the latest Beatle Bits blog by Terry Ott

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/15/03

Update (10/15/03) from Beatle News Briefs

- Beatles say music won't be online

- BBC listeners dig up rarities by Beatles and others

- The Concert for George news reports: CD coming, too.

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: More debate.

- "The Beatle Years" -- upcoming shows

- Update: Paul to lend voice to Brazilian soap opera: Another report.

- Paul and Heather news: Webchat Thursday.

- Magazine alerts: Hello!

- Quick news links: Andrew Gold meets the Fabs

- Read the latest Beatle Bits blog by Terry Ott

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/14/03

Update (10/14/03) from Beatle News Briefs

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: More debate.

- The Concert for George news reports: Movie ad.

- Paul and Heather news: That pregnant glow.

- Update: Paul to lend voice to Brazilian soap opera: First chapter report.

- George Harrison: In memoriam: It's no surprise.

- Magazine alerts: Rolling Stone, Word

- Quick news links

- Read the latest Beatle Bits blogs (#21) by Terry Ott

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/13/03

Update (10/13/03) from Beatle News Briefs

- Elvis beats Beatles in list of top rock moments

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: More debate.

- The Concert for George news reports: UK theater list.

- George Harrison: In memoriam: New website surprise

- Update: Site of first US Beatles concert to be demolished?: Where to write

- "Breakfast With the Beatles," hosted by Dennis Mitchell -- the latest show online

- Magazine alerts: Hello!

- "Breakfast With the Beatles" KLSX-FM/Los Angeles playlist

- Quick news links

Read the latest Beatle Bits blogs (#19 and #20) by Terry Ott

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/11/03

Update (10/11/03) from Beatle News Briefs

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: More debate.

- The Concert for George news reports: Another UK eyewitness report from the movie premiere.

- Update: A birthday special: What would John have done?: New opinion

- "The Beatles Show" radio show -- upcoming shows

- Update: Beatles chart news

- George Harrison: In memoriam: Memorial plans still discussed in Henley

- Quick news links: More Andrew Gold Fab pics

- Read the latest Beatle Bits blog by Terry Ott

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/10/03

Update (10/10/03) from Beatle News Briefs

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: First track details.

- The Concert for George news reports: Another UK eyewitness report.

- Read the latest Beatle Bits blog by Terry Ott

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/9/03

Update (10/9/03) from Beatle News Briefs

- A birthday special: What would John have done?

- The Concert for George news reports: UK premiere eyewitness report.

- Update: Paul tricked by Canadian DJs: Story link

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: Is this Paul's project?

- Paul and Heather news: Please don't ever change.

- Quick news links: Andrew Gold meets the Fabs

- Read the latest Beatle Bits blog by Terry Ott

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/8/03

Update (10/8/03) from Beatle News Briefs

- Paul tricked by Canadian DJs

- Tony Sheridan Beatles material to be released on DVD

- The Concert for George news reports: Theater showings to end.

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: Heavy advance sales on Amazon.

- Pete Best Band news: Next U.S. tour.

- Forthcoming DVD releases: Review of "Around the World"

- Stella wedding news: Sister takes pics

- Read the latest Beatle Bits blog by Terry Ott

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/7/03

Update (10/7/03) from Beatle News Briefs

- The Concert for George news reports: More reviews.

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: First news reports.

- Update: Beatles '64 Washington, D.C. concert headed to DVD: A review and a link

- The Beatle Years: upcoming shows.

- Paul and Heather news: Link.

- Quick news links: Paul's sonnet to be auctioned

- Read the latest Beatle Bits blog by Terry Ott

It's a boy??

Friends have let slip that the baby due for Paul and Heather Mills McCartney is a boy, according to the British tabloid paper the Sun.

The paper quotes an unnamed friend as saying, "Heather told me that she and Paul were having a boy. She's thrilled. Well, they both are. She can't wait to be a mum. She's very excited and has been out buying baby clothes." (Thanks to Franco Alvear.)

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/6/03

Update (10/6/03) from Beatle News Briefs

- The Concert for George news reports: More film reviews.

- Update: Ringo selling live CD of Casino Rama show: When it will be shipped.

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: More discussion, link.

- Paul and Heather news: Link

- George Harrison: In memoriam: Online tribute

- Update: Report: Paul fires Geoff Baker, then says it's a joke: A new wrinkle on the Blaine visit.

- Update: Paul tour news (and reviews from previous shows): Dublin 2003 review

- "Breakfast With the Beatles," hosted by Dennis Mitchell -- the latest show online

- "Breakfast With the Beatles" KLSX-FM/Los Angeles playlist

- Magazine alerts: People

- Quick news links: Australia remembers the Fabs; Chuck Berry's favorite song

- Read the latest Beatle Bits blog by Terry Ott

The Concert for George film...

We put our thoughts on the movie on the site.

In short ... GO SEE IT!

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/5/03

Update (10/5/03) from Beatle News Briefs

- The Concert for George news reports: Our review, your reviews and links.

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: More discussion.

- Update: Beatles chart news

- Magazine alerts: Beatlefan

- Quick news links

- Read the latest Beatle Bits blogs (#10, #11 and #12) by Terry Ott

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/3/03

Update (10/3/03) from Beatle News Briefs

- Ringo Rama news: What the deluxe set won't have.

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: More discussion.

- The Concert for George news reports

- "The Beatles Show" radio show -- upcoming shows

- Quick news links: Mixing Paul.

- Read the latest Beatle Bits blog by Terry Ott

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/2/03

Update (10/2/03) from Beatle News Briefs

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: Sales brochure info.

- The Concert for George news reports: Movie review links

- Paul tour news (and reviews from previous shows): A new review of a 2002 show.

- "The Beatles Show" radio show -- upcoming shows

- Quick news links: "Imagine" the new CD.

- Read the latest Beatle Bits blog by Terry Ott

Remember Nov. 18...

It looks like Nov. 18 will be a huge day in Beatle merchandising. As of now, "The Concert For George" DVD, the Beatles' "Let It Be ... Naked" and the "Lennon Legend" DVD will all hit the streets that day in the U.S.

As any good businessperson will tell you, it's not a great idea to compete against yourself this way. Is this some sort of marketing test to put a little Beatle power in the marketplace?

The key to which one does best in sales will be the one that is the most anticipated. We think it'll be a virtual tie between "Concert For George" and "Let It Be ... Naked," with CFG having a slight edge because of all the LIB boots over the years. But we'll have to watch those sales figures closely.

With Beatle projects controlled so tightly by the Fabs and/or their familes, we wonder how Nov. 18 managed to become the release date for all these projects. Is there a battle for control going on among the principals? Or was this just another example of the disorganization in Apple that we've seen so many times?

You know, come to think of it, there's still enough time to add something else for Nov. 18. How about you, Paul and Ringo?

Abbeyrd Beatles Page news headlines for 10/1/03

Update (10/1/03) from Beatle News Briefs

- The Concert for George news reports: List of theaters showing "The Concert For George" film

- "Let It Be" . . . finally?: Cover pic confirmed

- "Lennon Legend" DVD news: Official press release with release date, details.

- "Breakfast With the Beatles," hosted by Dennis Mitchell -- the latest show online

- Quick news links: New Klaus Voormann book