The Beatles and Some Other Guy

August 22, 1962

Beatle fans have seen it a million times.  A short poor-quality clip of the Beatles playing "Some Other Guy", a Leiber-Stoller song, on stage at the Cavern.  The video is recorded by the UK's Granada TV a privately owned network, based in the North of England.  Granada was an alterrnative to the government run BBC.  It is kind of wonderful how the Beatles story has gone for years with mostly snapshots and conflicting reminiscences to document it and then,as they impinge more and more on the public consciousness, we get better glimpses into that past.

Today is one of those days.  The very first sound+pictures film of the band that has come down to us is made today.  Our closest approach to what the audience sees and feels at a pre-fame Beatles performance.  The quality leaves something to be desired.  Still, it is one of the most precious 2 minutes of film to every Beatle fan.  And it was 50 years ago, TODAY!

Paul looks a bit nervous, John supremely confident. George's duojet carries the musical backing. Ringo Starr joined the band only a few days ago and hasn't even had time to adjust his hairstyle. If you listen carefully, at the end of the film, you can hear a fan shout at the stage "We want Pete!".


The original unedited footage is available here.

And John Lennon is scheduled to become a married man tomorrow.