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Fantastic Story Of The Steam Driven Banana
After Mike Berry had seen the band Legay at the Flamingo Club he invited songwriter Robin
Pizer to have a talk with him and Hal Sharper of Sparta Music Publishing. Pizer ultimately
had the opportunity to have his superb song No­One published by Sparta, and Fantastic Story
Of The Steam Driven Banana by Apple. Both songs, with the B­side published by Apple
Publishing, were released in February 1968 on Fontana (TF 904) in the UK. After the Ways
And Means single had probably already represented a collaboration between Sparta and
Apple, this was the second and final single published together and also without success. Mike
Berry would keep up his friendship with Sharper and would rejoin Sparta in the summer of
1968.
UK: Fontana TF 904 with company sleeve
Advertisement for the Barn
Barbecue Dance featuring
Legay
While in the TVC studios drawings continued
to be made diligently for Yellow Submarine, the
Beatles met on 25 January to appear in front of
the camera at Twickenham studios for the final
scene. They did not need to concern
themselves with the voice synchronization.
That work was done by voice artists who used
exaggerated Liverpudlian accents. John Clive
synchronized Lennon; Geoffrey Hughes,
McCartney; Peter Batten, Harrison and Paul
Angelis, Starr. After Batten was arrested as a
deserter from the British Army during the
recording, Angelis took over George's role. Also
present to voice the part of Old Fred was Lance
Percival, who had already performed as Paul
and Ringo in the animated series. In 1967,
Percival had also recorded The Maharajah Of
Brum with George Martin. The song was a
parody on the ‘Indian wave’ and concerns the
owner of a curry restaurant in Birmingham. To
make the piece (that is very reminiscent of
Martin's productions with Peter Sellers) sound
more Indian, the producer used a sample from
George Harrison's tambura from Tomorrow
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Signatures of Lance Percival
(Old Fred), John Clive (John
Lennon) and Geoffrey Hughes
(Paul McCartney) and Percival's
The Maharajah Of Brum
(Parlophone R 5583) featuring a sample of George Harrison's tambura from Tomorrow
Never Knows.
Never Knows! The Maharajah Of Brum was
issued as a single with Taking The Maharajah
Apart on the B­side on 31 March 1967
(Parlophone R 5587).
Had it been up to George Harrison, the Beatles
would have traveled to India to study
transcendental meditation under Maharishi
Mahesh Yogi after Epstein’s death. However,
McCartney pushed for Magical Mystery Tour to
be made, after which George’s own project
Wonderwall was waiting. The trip to India was
now definitely scheduled for mid­February. But
before that, George’s project would have to be
completed and a new Beatles single recorded.
Ringo also was close to his first solo
appearance on Cilla. Mixing for Wonderwall
Music began on 31 January 1968 and went on
for two weeks. On 11 February (the same day
the Beatles recorded Hey Bulldog) George
finally finished work on Dream Scene. Used
were the parts recorded in India, Swordfencing,
Backwards Tabla and Backwards Tones, plus
recordings of Tommy Reilly’s harmonica and
John Barham’s flugelhorn, both probably from
the December 1967 sessions. However, the
Beatles Book Monthly mentioned a session with
Reilly and The Fool on flutes on 2 or 3
February.18 The finished piece is clearly the
most lavish track on Wonderwall Music and
partly precedes later tracks like Revolution 9.
The long hours clearly paid off! On the whole,
Wonderwall Music was a wonderful mix of
Western and Eastern music; the late
psychedelia of the album can certainly be
regarded as a link between Sgt Pepper and the
White Album, for which most of the writing
would largely soon be done in India. But
apparently it was not clear from the beginning
that George’s music would appear on an LP. Joe
Massot shot Wonderwall on an extremely tight
budget and could only afford to pay George £
600 for the music. Harrison, however, had
expenditures adding up to £ 15,000. Ultimately
Massot did not acquire the rights to the music ­
these went to Northern Songs 19 – and George
released the LP on 1 November 1968 as the
18
see Beatles Book Monthly, April 1968, page 11
19
British first pressings have an Apple Publishing credit but the Wonderwall tracks were definitely part of Northern Songs'
catalogue. See also Southall & Perry, page 207
143
first ever album on the Apple label. Klaus
Voormann initially was approached to take
care of the cover artwork, as reported by The
Beatles Book Monthly in March 1968 20, "but the
implementation of my ideas," says Klaus, "was
so extensive and complex that doing so despite
'Beatle George' was just not financially in the
frame."21 He still has the concept in mind: "It
was a fantasy Asian face printed with
transparent inks on transparent plastic in a 45
degree
angle.
The
inner
shell
also
complimented the face. If this inner casing was
pulled out, parts were on the back also again
from the face. Thus, there were new colors and
yet another variation of the face. All very
mysterious and mystical. Very important for a
job: Since this Wonderwall cover attempt I
make especially sure that before you start to
deal with the task, the briefing is as detailed as
possible. Order not to waste time wasted with
the wrong approach."22 In the end, the artwork
was much more basic and not created by Klaus
Voormann. The painting on the front cover is
by Bob Gill and is slightly reminiscent of
Magritte. The back cover shows the Berlin Wall
and was edited by John Kelly and Alan
Aldridge, the latter was soon to publish the
famous Beatles songbook. The LP came with an
insert with session information. The photo on
the insert was shot by Astrid Kirchherr, then
Astrid Kemp and wife of Gibson Kemp (ex­
Paddy, Klaus & Gibson): "Because George
[Harrison] kept bugging me, I once made a
[picture for] the inner sleeve cover for his
Wonderwall LP. At the time I said to him, I can
not photograph you, I don't have a camera.
And he said: Astrid, all I have to do is click my
fingers and you can choose whatever camera
you want. It'll be here in half an hour! George
asked me if I wanted to photograph again. He
would set up a studio for me in London. But I
was still so unsure and I said no."23
Wonderwall Music
The album was completed when George set off to India on 15 February once again to meditate
with the other Beatles in Rishikesh. The day before, all the songs were registered. The finished
album had the following track list:
Side 1: Microbes, Red Lady Too, Tabla And Pakavaj, In The Park, Drilling A Home, Guru Vandana,
Greasy Legs, Ski­ing, Gat Kirwani, Dream Scene
Side 2: Party Seacombe, Love Scene, Crying, Cowboy Music, Fantasy Sequins, On The Bed, Glass
Box, Wonderwall To Be Here, Singing Om
A tape box shown in the booklet of the 2014 remaster of Wonderwall Music reveals that Ken
Scott had previously mixed another version of the album on 2 February. The track list of side 2
of that version was as follows:
Party Sequence, Love Sequence, Crying, Cowboy Music, Fantasy Sequence, Piano And Trumpet, On
The Bed, Red Lady, Vocal, Flute and Organ
The track list of side 1 is unknown. It's striking that most tracks still have working titles. Piano
And Trumpet most certainly is Dream Scene. This leads to the conclusion that a completely
different mix without the 11 February overdubs is in existence. As was customary at the time
Wonderwall Music was mixed both in mono and stereo, and in some cases with drastic
differences. It is definitely worth listening to the rare mono mix. This mix is on the bootleg CD
APCOR 1 which is well worth purchasing unless one can get his hands on the extremely rare
mono pressing. This CD also contains some of the pieces only heard in the film, but these are
20
see Beatles Book Monthly, March 1968, page 5
21
Authors interview, 3 July 2012
22
Authors interview, 5 July 2012
23
http://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/pop/astrid­kirchherr­ich­fotografiere­ohne­kamera/1902572.html (as per 7 September
2012)
144
→ CONTD/ 168
fully represented on the bootleg The Alternate Wonderwall (Pear Records PDP 016).
Overview of all recorded tracks and their availability
22 November 1967
India (aka Fool's Dance)
Bootleg CD The Alternate Wonderwall
December 1967 with Aashish Khan and Mahapurush Misra
Tabla And Pakavaj (Stereo)
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Tabla And Pakavaj (Mono)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
Gat Kirwani (Stereo)
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Gat Kirwani (Mono)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
Love Scene (Stereo)
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Love Scene (Mono)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
11 to 31 December with the Remo Four
Red Lady Too (Stereo)
Red Lady Too (Mono)
Drilling A Home (Stereo)
Drilling A Home (Mono)
Drilling A Home (Version 3)
Party Seacombe (Stereo)
Party Seacombe (Mono)
Greasy Legs (Stereo)
Greasy Legs (Mono)
Cowboy Music (Stereo)
Cowboy Music (Mono)
Dream Scene (Outtake)
Glass Box (Stereo)
Glass Box (Mono)
Wonderwall To Be Here (Stereo)
Wonderwall To Be Here (Mono)
Commercials
In The First Place
In The First Place (Movie Mix)
In The First Place (2014 Mix)
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
Bootleg CD The Alternate Wonderwall
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
DVD Wonderwall
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
Bootleg CD The Alternate Wonderwall
CD­Single In The First Place
CD­Single In The First Place
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
December with the Remo Four and Peter Tork
Drilling A Home (Version 2)
Mother
Bootleg CD The Alternate Wonderwall
Bootleg CD The Alternate Wonderwall
Probably 20 or 31 December with the Remo Four, Eric Clapton and Ringo Starr
Ski­ing (Stereo)
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Ski­ing (Mono)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
Ski­ing (Movie Version)
Bootleg CD The Alternate Wonderwall
Are You In A Hole
Bootleg CD The Alternate Wonderwall
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An autograph card signed by the Remo Four at the Star­Club in Hamburg
© Peter Paetzold
9 to 12 January 1968 with Indian musicians
Fantasy Sequins (Stereo)
Fantasy Sequins (Mono)
Crying (Stereo)
Crying (Mono)
Microbes (Stereo)
Microbes (Mono)
Wonderwall
In The Park (Stereo)
In The Park (Mono)
Guru Vandana (Stereo)
Guru Vandana (Mono)
On The Bed (Stereo)
On The Bed (Mono)
On The Bed (Movie Version)
Singing Om (Stereo)
Singing Om (Mono)
Butterflies
Factory Wedding Scene
Through The Wall
On The Roof
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
Bootleg CD The Alternate Wonderwall
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
Bootleg CD The Alternate Wonderwall
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
Bootleg CD The Alternate Wonderwall
Bootleg CD The Alternate Wonderwall
Bootleg CD The Alternate Wonderwall
Bootleg CD The Alternate Wonderwall
12 January 1968 with Indian musicians
The Inner Light (Take 2, false start, mono)
The Inner Light (Take 3, false start, mono)
The Inner Light (Take 5 partial, mono)
The Inner Light (Take 8, mono)
DVD Living In The Material World
DVD Living In The Material World
DVD Living In The Material World
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
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Almost Shankara (Take 1, mono)
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Note: Strictly speaking all 12 January tracks should be considered Beatles recordings but as
they were taped during the Wonderwall sessions they are included here. It was previously
believed the Beatles enhanced take 5 of The Inner Light. Outtakes released on the DVD Living
In The Material World and on the 2014 remastered Wonderwall Music reveal that their vocals
were actually added to take 8.
11 February 1968 (started on November 22, 1967)
Dream Scene (Stereo)
CD Wonderwall Music (2014 Remaster)
Dream Scene (Mono)
Bootleg CD APCOR 1
The release of the LP
In England, the album was released in mono (Apple APCOR 1) and stereo (Apple SAPCOR 1)
on 1 November 1968 without charting. The release numbers suggest that it is this is a proper
Apple release, thus EMI had no interest in releasing the album as part of the Beatles' record
deal via Parlophone. Stereo pressings exist with both a reference to Apple Publishing as well
as to the correct Northern Songs on the labels. This is because George was still under contract
with Northern Songs at the time of copyrighting the songs on 14 February 1968, but with
Apple Publishing at the time of the album’s release. Additionally, some label variations exist.
In the early Seventies, the stereo LP was released again with the same catalogue number, with
a bright green apple on the label.
In the U.S., the LP was not released until 2 December 1968 and only in stereo (Apple ST­
3350). As the album was released months before the film (and practically no one had had the
opportunity yet to see the film) many buyers did not regard it as a soundtrack and were
expecting Harrisongs, which explains its relative success. The LP quickly rose into the
Billboard charts, where it got to #49. In the Record World charts Wonderwall Music even
reached the 33rd position. Pressings exist from both the Los Angeles and Scranton plants.
Furthermore a number of copies were released with reversed covers. In the U.S. Wonderwall
Music was also released in several tape formats: Apple 8XT 3350 on 8­track and Capitol 0989
on playtape ­ a short lived kind of EP tape including only Microbes, Red Lady Too, Love Scene
and Crying. Wonderwall Music was also released in Canada as Apple ST­3350. With some
delay, the album appeared in 1970 in Argentina with the translated title La Pared Maravillosa
both in mono (APCOR 1) and in stereo (SAPCOR 1). Interestingly, for the stereo LP the Apple
labels for All Things Must Pass and Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band LP, which were issued around
the same time, were used. A rare pressing comes from Mexico with the translated title Muro
Fantastico (SLEM­137). A third Latin American pressing appeared in Peru, but this time
without the translated title (Apple ELD­1817). In Germany, the stereo LP (Apple/Hör Zu
SHZE 250) appeared in November 1968 where it reached an amazing 22nd place. First
pressings came with or without a red Hör Zu sticker, while the second pressing had the new
Hör Zu logo in the shape of a stylized TV logo and was available from approximately 1973
onwards. In addition to the insert a 4­page booklet was added. Also, the LP was released in
1969 with a standard EMI release number with Apple logo on the front cover (Apple 1C 062­
90 490). Wonderwall Music was also released in Italy, France (imported copies from the U.K.)
and the Netherlands, all with release number SAPCOR 1. In Italy, the LP was issued with a
standard EMI serial number (Apple 3C 062 90490) while in France domestic pressings were
issued as Apple SAPX 34085 and later as Apple 2C 062­90490 as well as Apple 2C 066­90490.
The album was also available in South Africa (here with the statement "Various Artists" on the
label), Australia and New Zealand with the release number SAPCOR 1. In Japan Wonderwall
Music came out as Apple AP­9729 on red vinyl with a 4­page booklet based on the inlay "glued
147
in". The LP came with a ¥2,200 obi. There was also a red vinyl promo with a white Apple
label. The record was reissued as Apple EAP­9031X on black vinyl with a new obi. Along with
the "glued in" booklet this release came with a poster. Furthermore a minor label variation
exists.
British advertisement for Wonderwall Music
148
1
2
UK: (1) Mono Apple APCOR 1 with inlay (2) Stereo Apple SAPCOR 2 with inlay
Label credits for Northern Songs and Apple Publishing
149
A British release sheet for Wonderwall Music © Arno Guzek
150