Huge Beatles collection goes on auction
Maybellene (1955), Berry’s first single, sounds like nothing that came before it, and the key ingredients are all in place — revved-up guitar, clever language (“as I was motorvatin’ over the hill”), girls and cars. Based on Ida Red, a 1938 Western Swing hit for Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, the new title and beefed-up rhythm section were the ideas of producer and Chess Records co-owner Leonard Chess.
No one before Berry thought to write a pop song about the headaches of paying bills or losing your change in a pay phone. In his 1987 autobiography, he wrote that the lyrics of Business (1956) were “meant to describe most of the kinds of hassles a person encounters in everyday life”. The chugging, rapid-fire vocal delivery would inspire Dylan’s breakthrough word salad
and when Berry won the first PEN New England Song Lyrics of Literary Excellence Award in 2012, Dylan sent a congratulatory note saying: “That’s what too much monkey business will get ya.” PARIS: A vast collection of rare Beatles vinyl records, photos and other paraphernalia went on auction here on Saturday.
Beatles aficionado Jacques Volcouve began his collection in 1967 with the album, A Hard Day’s Night. Decades later, it has grown to include nearly 15,000 records and more besides.
“Starting from 1967, I gave myself an absolutely impossible mission: own everything concerning the Beatles,” Volcouve said.
The 60-year-old has decided to auction off his collection to fund his retirement.
Among the 332 lots up for auction was the disc Tony Sheridan and the Beatles: My Bonnie signed by Paul McCartney and George Harrison, with an estimated price of €6,000 (RM28,600) to €10,000.
A lot of 11 alternate cover photos for the Grammy-winning Sergeant Pepper Lonely Hearts Club album is expected to go for €10,000 to €15,000. Reuters