Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Sorry if this one has been posted already.

Cool photo of George at the Empire State bldg from his trip to the US in 1963.
I love how no one seems to even notice him. How things would change the following year!

I stood in that exact spot in 1965.

VERY cool shot!.... George came to US in the fall '63 to visit sister Louise Harrison Caldwell, in Benton, Ill. Only Beatle to be in US pre-Beatlemania.

http://illinoistimes.com/article-10994- ... -here.html
While here he also did an interview on a radio station in West Frankfort, bought a Rickenbacker guitar in Mt. Vernon, jammed with a local band at a VFW Hall in Eldorado, bought records at a Benton music shop, hung out with coal miners at a Bocci Ball Club, lost (and recovered) his wallet, and turned heads and hearts with his “mop-top hair” and Liverpool accent.

http://www.neatorama.com/2013/09/25/The ... t-America/
A local four-man band called The Four Vests were scheduled to play a four-hour gig at the VFW club in Eldorado. Gabe McCarty was a member of the band and asked George if he wanted to come along and see them play. George agreed to attend and contentedly watched the band's first set.

Then after being introduced to the large crowd as "the Elvis Presley of England," George took over the lead guitar for the band's second set. the Four Vests' lead guitarist handed his guitar over to George and graciously sat down at a table to watch. George sang and played lead guitar on Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" and Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart." According to his sister Louise, the crowd, who had previously been quiet, stomped their feet, applauded, and whistled wildly as George played.

After the 40-minute set was over, someone in the crowd came over and told George that "with the right breaks, you could really go places." The Four Vests were approached by excited audience members who advised them to "sign up that guy who auditioned for you."

Start listening at 10:20



Louise Harrison's voice at beginning


I hadn't realized that George made the trip with his brother Peter, who (likely) was the one who snapped the photo on Empire State Building. “No, I’ve never had a bed and breakfast, and I wouldn’t want to be making other people’s bed and breakfast every day anyway!”

Not sure of the date - is that a harmonica mount he's fiddling with?

It looks like a small music stand he mounted to the guitar!

09/30/1964?

Melma wrote:...is that a harmonica mount he's fiddling with?

Wouldn't one of those sandwich holders have a rounded end to wrap around your neck?

THAT was AWSOME!

Thanks and here's another take on that beautiful song...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb9VUx-0_vk

R.I.P. John Lennon

"THAT was AWSOME!"

Cheers, if I win the v59 I'm bidding on then I'll have to get off my butt and do some more.

PS. only reason I asked about the date of the John picture was it looked a little later than most appearances of that guitar, so yeah!

I agree..... that is the original 325, having been painted black: If the last appearance of that guitar was the '64 Ed Sullivan show then that raises questions since the photo with John and the harmonica holder is definitely after that.

Best I can tell, John used various harmonica (and harps), all Hohner. But he definitely did not use the harmonica holder until (influenced by Dylan) 1965 (possibly very late 64): As for the polka dot shirt, that was seen around the time of filming Help! which took place in late Feb to mid April 1965.

.... and even Ringo got into the act
So, I think the original pix of John with his old repainted 325 was taken in 1965. He must have traveled with it but not used it for the actual gigs.

Hey Brammy, always such awesome stuff!

Check out page 51 of Lewisohn's Recording Sessions. Looks like the same photo to me...

Babiuk's Beatles Gear page 145 talks about some of this as well.

I remember when kids started wearing those shirts at my school!