SPILL BOOK REVIEW: PIERS HEMMINGSEN – THE BEATLES IN CANADA: THE EVOLUTION 1964-1970

PIERS HEMMINGSEN – THE BEATLES IN CANADA: THE EVOLUTION 1964-1970

HEMMINGSEN PUBLISHING

BOOK REVIEW BY AARON BADGLEY 

The Beatles in Canada: The Evolution 1964-1970 is a hefty book (over 600 pages) both in size and information. The focus is on Canada and The Beatles in the 1960s. It is a mammoth undertaking, but Piers Hemmingsen is up for the challenge. Hemmingsen is the expert on The Beatles in Canada (actually he is a Beatles expert on all things Beatles), and he provides detailed accounts of unique Canadian Beatles history. As a collector since his youth, he has amassed a truly remarkable archive of The Beatles in Canada. Following on the heels of his first book, 2015’s The Beatles In Canada – The Origins Of Beatlemania, Hemmingsen moves forward from the start of Beatlemania to the sad day when The Beatles split at the end of the 1960s.

Let’s be clear, you do not have to be Canadian to enjoy and learn from this book. What makes this book indispensable and essential for any Beatle fan is that The Beatles experience existed outside of the U.S.A. and the U.K. The Beatles were becoming established in Canada (as evidenced by the numerous Canadian radio charts that Hemmingsen sourced certainly demonstrate), when they hit Ed Sullivan’s stage and Beatlemania was in full bloom. But thanks to one key individual at Capitol Records, Paul White, The Beatles had a very special relationship with Canada, perhaps because of being part of the Commonwealth.

It is fascinating to read about how the tapes and masters are sent to Canada, records pressed in Canada, both on Capitol and Apple, and the sleeves, both for albums and singles, manufactured here in Canada. Hemmingsen’s research is nothing short of spectacular to uncover information about release dates, pressings, and the like. He also explores how they were marketed and sold in Canada, including information on the Capitol Records Club (think Columbia House). He also goes into details for all the times The Beatles (together or solo) visited Canada. Sure, we all know that John Lennon met with Pierre Trudeau, but how much do you really know? Hemmingsen provides groundbreaking information, bringing to light never before known facts.

The book is illustrated with astounding photos, many exclusive and never before seen, that help tell the story. The photos of labels, ‘hype’ stickers for albums, and even The Beatles with Miss Canada are all laid out beautifully in this book. Newspaper articles and advertisements help illustrate the story. The book is also illustrated with personal accounts, by Hemmingsen and others, who write about the impact of The Beatles, their music and their legacy. I was more than a little surprised to read that U.K. mono copies of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Two Virgins (one of the rarest albums) were sold in Canada. And that is the beauty of The Beatles in Canada: The Evolution 1964-1970, I cannot count the amount of times when I said, ‘I didn’t know that’.

The Beatles in Canada: The Evolution 1964-1970 is extremely well written, and although it is heavy in weight, I found it impossible to put down. There is a CD included as well with many never before heard press conferences and music, most from Hemmingsen’s personal collection. I cannot say enough good things about The Beatles in Canada: The Evolution 1964-1970. As a Beatle fan myself, one becomes jaded when reading a new book because it seems there is so little left to uncover about The Beatles, but Piers Hemmingsen has carved out a whole new zone about them. His knowledge and depth of research is demonstrated in this lavish and incredible book. It is the ideal book for any serious Beatle fan, around the world. Special editions of the book are available at www.thebeatlesincanada.com.

ISBN-10: 0987829335
ISBN-13:‎ 978-0-9878293-4-4