A collection of unpublished recordings of music, interviews and stories about the Beatles from 1963 to 1966. The Ron Howard film sort of analyzes how John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr came together to become this extraordinary phenomenon – the Beatles.
The bonus disc (Disc Two – Special Features) contains about 100 minutes of additional material.
Track list:
1. Music and words / Words and Music (24:14)
John, Paul, George and Ringo reminisce about the songwriting and music influences of their parents’ generation. Lennon and McCartney share their experience of writing songs for other artists, talking about what the Beatles were like as individuals and as a group as innovators. Featuring Howard Goodal, Peter Asher, Simon Shama and Elvis Costello. The interview with Paul and Ringo is not shown.
2. Early Clues To A New Direction (18 minutes)
A special story telling about the Beatles as a group, about the humor in their songs, about the influence of women on their lives and on their work in the early period, about the group as a musical movement. Featuring John, Paul, George and Ringo, as well as Paul Greengrass, Stephen Stark, Peter Asher, Malcolm Gladwell, Sigourney Weaver, Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Curtis, Elvis Costello and Simon Shama. Again, the interview with Paul and Ringo is not shown.
3. The Beatles in concert / The Beatles Live 1963-1965 (11:59)
Five excellent but rarely heard full-length Beatles songs from a live concert – Twist and Shout / Twist and Shout (ABC Cinema, Manchester, 11/20/1963) (1:26)
She Loves You (ABC Cinema, Manchester, 11/20/1963) (2:24)
Can’t Buy Me Love (NME Music Awards, Empire Pool, London, 04/26/1964) (2:21)
You Can’t Do That (Festival Hall, Melbourne, 06/17/1964) (2:44)
For help! /Help! (ABC Theatre, Blackpool, 08/01/1965) (3:04)
4. Liverpool / Liverpool (11:41)
The work of the early period in Liverpool in the late 50s and early 60s is colorfully told by those who worked closely with the group at that time. They are fan club secretary Frieda Kelly, Allan Williams, first manager, and Leslie Woodhead, award-winning documentary filmmaker.
Additional plots:
– Three Beatles Fans (8:20)
– Ronnie Spector and The Beatles (4:02)
– Shooting “A Hard Day’s Night” (5:53)
– The Beatles in Australia / The Beatles in Australia (4:17)
– Recollections of Shea Stadium (3:43)
– The Beatles in Japan / The Beatles in Japan (5:12)
– An alternative opening for the film (3:06)
Thanks / Credits (4:04)