Original 1966 Beatles Audio Recording at Auction Aug. 29 A previously unknown audio example of the entire Toronto concert as a 2 hour and 20 minute documentary detailing one family's experience at the final concert appearance of the Beatles in Canada.
assignment with style and
enthusiasm. Elaine fills in as lead singer and stage spokesperson for these 15 surviving minutes of their
show. “Dad” seems impressed enough to record full songs, and only a cover of Cannibal & The Headhunter’s
“Land of 1000 Dances” and an absolutely microscopic fragment of “What I’d Say” are truncated. Along
with the inescapable hits (”Be My Baby” and “Walking In The Rain”) Estelle Bennett is handed the mike to
deliver a heartfelt “Will You still Love Me Tomorrow?” Before the opening riff of “What I’d Say”, Elaine
seems to indicate that this will be their final song....whether or not, it was the last recorded by the
Ronettes on this tape. At around 1hour, 16 minutes we encounter the lull before the storm.
Along with the inescapable hits (”Be My Baby” and “Walking In The Rain”) Estelle Bennett is handed the
mike to deliver a heartfelt “Will You still Love Me Tomorrow?” Before the opening riff of “What I’d Say”,
Elaine seems to indicate that this will be their final song....whether or not, it was the last recorded by the
Ronettes on this evening. At around 1hour, 16 minutes we encounter the lull before the storm. The next
four minutes comprise of Dad interviewing several fans about why they came to see the Beatles and also
a rare conversation with a member of The Saint John’s Ambulance Crew, charged with reviving ailing fans.
The non-sensationalist approach employed by our host and narrator stands in stark contrast to other audio
documents such as “The Beatles Blast At Shea Stadium As Described By Erupting Fans”) and makes a
fascinating listen. After a a brief (but complete) stage introduction, The Beatles take the stage to tune up...
they hit the opening chord to “Rock And Roll Music” at about 1hour, 22 minutes into the tape.
The Beatles set: Rock And Roll Music (complete 1:30) / She’s A Woman (complete 2:47) / If I Needed
Someone (complete 2:24) / Daytripper (complete, 3:00) / Baby’s In Black (cut, 2:16) / I Feel Fine (cut, 2:06) / Yesterday (complete 2:10) / I Wanna Be Your Man (complete 2:11) / Nowhere Man (complete 2:08) /
Paperback Writer (complete, 2:06) / Long Tall Sally (complete, 1:58).
No matter what the sound quality, there’s something awe-inspiring about hearing a newly discovered
Beatles concert. Nuances and minutia transform the predictable set list into something fresh and dynamic.
Phase issues abound, reducing several songs to average audience tape levels (think of an Essen, Germany
type of listening experience), however this improves greatly on tracks like “If I Needed Someone”,
“Yesterday” and “Nowhere Man”, elevating them near to Tony Barrow/Candlestick tape levels. The stage
banter is remarkably clear (especially Paul) and the overall quality of performance stands in contrast to the
traditional condemnation of the ‘66 live show as being ragged and uninspired. The plodding, out-of-tune and
exhausted Beatles from Tokyo are re-energized by the Toronto audience and are clearly enjoying themselves.
The thirty minute set is brought
