The Old Grey Whistle Test presenter, Bob Harris, and former custodian of John Lennon’s childhood home, Colin Hall, are heading to Quay Arts in Newport this April.
The due will be talking about their love of The Beatles, and songs which Sir Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison penned for other artists, including Cilla Black’s top 10 hit Step Inside Love, Peter and Gordon’s transatlantic chart-topper A World Without Love and Jackie Lomax’s debut single Sour Milk Sea.
Colin Hall says,
“First and foremost I hope people will enjoy their evening with us and hopefully discover something new about The Beatles.
“Our remit is to delve into an often-overlooked aspect of the story of the Fab Four. That aspect is, of course, songs John, Paul and George wrote at the time but chose to give to other artists to record rather than record with The Beatles.
“Bob and I not only trade stories people may not have heard before but along the way we call upon eye-witnesses such as Sir Paul himself, Sir George Martin, Cilla Black and George Harrison together with clips from the songs themselves.”
The inspiration
The stage production was inspired by the Bob-hosted BBC Radio 2 documentary which featured interviews conducted by Colin, and Colin’s latest book of the same name.
Bob has interviewed all four members of the Fab Four including putting the questions to John for cult BBC2 series The Old Grey Whistle Test.
Head over to YouTube to watch his interview with John.
Colin’s connection to The Beatles
Colin has also interviewed Sir Paul and for nearly 20 years was custodian of John’s childhood home in Liverpool welcoming the likes of Mark Hamill, Debbie Harry, and Yoko Ono.
His BBC Radio 4 featured book The Songs The Beatles Gave Away, which includes a preface from Bob, was recently awarded Best of British book of the month.
“The world’s greatest Beatle authority”
Bob and Colin have also worked together for Sony-winning BBC Radio 2 programme, The Day John Met Paul.
Bob says,
“Colin is perhaps the world’s greatest Beatle authority.”
Chris Martin says,
“Bob Harris is a straight-up legend.”
While Robert Plant remarks,
“His excitement and love of music and his infectious enthusiasm to bring his audience the rhyme, reason and sounds of a new world is a work of heart.”
Where and when
The Songs The Beatles Gave Away take place at Newport’s Quay Arts from 7.30pm on Saturday 20th April.
Tickets are £20 advance or £23 on the door and available from the Quay Arts website or by calling the Box Office on (01983) 822 490.
News shared by Tayla on behalf of Quay Arts. Ed
