'Yellow Submarine' Book Available For Free

Following the recent first anniversary of The Beatles catalog's worldwide digital exclusivity on the iTunes Store® (www.iTunes.com), an exclusive Beatles 'Yellow Submarine' book that lets readers tap their iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to immerse themselves in the legendary film's colorful sights and sounds is available for free download on Apple's iBookstore worldwide starting today. The iBookstore is available via the free iBooks App for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, and at www.iTunes.com/iBookstore.

The iBookstore's exclusive 'Yellow Submarine' book takes the reader on a kaleidoscopic, music-filled journey with The Beatles to an underwater dreamland featuring animated illustrations and text from the 2004 book, 14 full-color video clips from the original 1968 film, audio clips of classic Beatles hits and Sir George Martin's original score, original dialogue from the film, "read aloud" functionality to follow along as actor Dean Lennox Kelly narrates, as well as interactive features that let you tap the story's wild array of butterflies, starfish and sea monsters to make them come alive. A video trailer for the book is available for free streaming starting today at www.iTunes.com/TheBeatles.
The vibrantly illustrated book was designed by Fiona Andreanelli using Heinz Edelmann's original artwork from the film, and its story has been adapted by Charlie Gardner from the film's original screenplay, co-written by Lee Minoff, Al Brodax, Jack Mendelsohn and Eric Segal.
Inspired by The Beatles' song of the same name, 'Yellow Submarine' dives 80,000 leagues beneath the sea to Pepperland, a musical paradise where Sergeant Pepper's band plays on until the music-hating Blue Meanies invade, sealing the band inside a music-proof bubble and leaving it a silent wasteland.  But Old Fred, captain of the Yellow Submarine, escapes to Liverpool and persuades Ringo - with a little help from his friends John, Paul and George - to join him on a magical adventure to return music and love to Pepperland.
Since first launching worldwide on November 16, 2010, The Beatles' exclusive digital releases on iTunes now include the band's 13 legendary remastered studio albums, a special digital edition of the GRAMMY®-winning 'Beatles Stereo Box Set,' the two-volume 'Past Masters' compilation, the classic '1962-1966' ('Red') and '1967-1970' ('Blue') collections, the GRAMMY-winning 'LOVE' album and 'All Together Now,' the feature-length documentary about the making of The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil®, the band's remastered 'Anthology' music collections, and the record-breaking '1' hits collection.
The Beatles have now sold over ten million songs and over 1.8 million albums on the iTunes Store worldwide.
www.TheBeatles.com
SOURCE Apple Corps Ltd.

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Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/09/4111478/exclusive-beatles-yellow-submarine.html#ixzz1gQrVpgQq

R.I.P John

Today marks the 31st anniversary of John Lennon's death. His music, words and influence are still a major part in our world. John will always be an inspiration to his fans. Quoting famously from John's song Imagine....

"You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one."


We miss you John...Rest in Peace


The Beatles Blogger

Houston Beatles fan pays over $485,000 for George Harrison's Aston Martin

By NBC News

LONDON -- An Aston Martin once owned by George Harrison sold for $485,000 (310,000 pounds) at auction Wednesday, according to NBC News, citing British Press Association reports.

Facundo Arrizabalaga/AFP - Getty Images

An auction staff member polishes an Aston Martin DB5 that belonged to the late Beatle George Harrison. The car fetched over $480,000 at the Coys' True Greats Auciton on Wednesday at the Royal Horticultural Hall in London.

The former Beatle ordered the platinum silver DB5, which had a black Connolly leather interior, in 1965.
He packed the car with top-of-the-range extras, including chrome wire wheels with Avon tires, a heated rear windscreen, a radio and Britax safety belts.
Harrison's former wife, model Pattie Boyd, was recently photographed with the car when it was shown at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London.
It was sold to a Beatle and Aston Martin fan from Houston, Texas, who wished to remain anonymous.
The lot was part of auctioneer Coys' True Greats Auction at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster, central London.
Auctioneers said the car had just over 22,000 miles, ran well and showed no sign of "major mechanical maladies."
Chris Routledge, managing director of Coys, said: "There was a battle royal for this car which went for some 50,000 pounds ($78,000) over its estimate."
The sale price does not include a 15 percent buyer's premium.

Paul McCartney: 'I felt sick the first time the Beatles played Wembley'

Paul McCartney has spoken about his history of pre-gig nerves, revealing that he felt like quitting playing live as he was so nervous before The Beatles performed at Wembley Arena.

McCartney is currently in the middle of a European arena tour and also said that he still feels like he has to win some of the crowds over.

Speaking about his record of pre-show nerves, he told the Daily Mirror: "The first time we ever played – pre-Beatles – I screwed up. So I never played lead guitar again. When the Beatles did Wembley (Arena, then known as the Empire Pool) for the first time (in 1963), I felt sick. I thought, 'I’ve got to give this up.'"

McCartney added that even now he encounters crowd members who are "just standing there", but added: "We always manage to get them back in the end."

The singer also spoke a recurring nightmare he still has about where he is performing with The Beatles and people start walking out of his gigs.

He said of this: "I'm with The Beatles and it’s going great, then people start leaving. I turn to the others and go, 'Oh God! 'Long Tall Sally' – that’ll get them back'".

McCartney plays the first of three UK arena shows he has booked for this month tonight (December 5). He appears at London's O2 Arena tonight, at Manchester's Evening News Arena on December 19 and plays a homecoming show in Liverpool at the Echo Arena on December 20.

Check NME.COM tomorrow (December 6) for a full report of tonight's gig at London's O2 Arena.