The Beatles 1966 Toronto Press Conference Vintage Reel-to-Reel Recording.... (Total: 16 Items)

Description

The Beatles 1966 Toronto Press Conference Vintage Reel-to-Reel Recording. This high-quality reel-to-reel tape features approximately 15 minutes worth of audio from the Beatles' famous August 17, 1966 press conference in Toronto, where John Lennon was asked for only the second time publicly about his comment that The Beatles were "more popular than Jesus." The comment went unnoticed in England, but when it was reprinted in the US five months after the fact (on the eve of their final American tour, no less) it created a massive uproar. The discussion at the press conference is as follows:
Q: This question is for John. Which question do you dislike being asked the most?
JOHN: At the moment, the one they're all asking when we first get in about the statement I made.
Q: Could you tell us about that?
JOHN: Uhh, well, you... [laughter] Well, I mean, you ask me what you want to know about it, and I'll tell you. I'm just going to go over it and over it.
Q: This has been asked before -- What did you really say? Was this taken out of context?
JOHN: The words themselves weren't out of context, 'cuz they were from an article. The article was out of context 'cuz it was taken from the paper and from England, you know. That's how it was out of context.
Q: Do you feel this has hurt your image in any way?
JOHN: Uhh, no.
PAUL: It's been straightened out, I think.
JOHN: With a few people, you know, but I don't think I mind about them.
The tape was recorded by the consignor with a microphone placed directly in front of Lennon. The tape is currently one of only two known surviving original copies of the press conference, with this specimen thought to convey the better sound quality, thanks to the microphone placement and use of equipment that was top-of-the-line in '66.
This fabulous Fab Four document is accompanied by 14 b&w photos of the event and subsequent concerts, all in Very Fine to Excellent condition. Go to HA.com/7022 to view the photos and for a closeup of the reel to reel.

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