Various Artists - Beatlemaniacs: The World Of Beatles Novelty Records - Music & Performance - CD

Beatlemania's incredible impact on the world is displayed in all it's fun-filled glory on this long-awaited compilation of rare Beatles novelty and tribute 45s devoted to the Fab Four at the peak of their fame. The first legitimate CD of it's kind, it brings to life the merchandising madness of those years. Even before the Beatles conquered America, a growing inventory of Beatles guitars, drums, lockets, belts, badges, jigsaw puzzles, bedspreads, trays and confectionary was flooding the market. The one area of exploitation over which the Beatles exercised no control was the novelty/tribute record and here, the American record industry had a field day. Here are 24 of the best. The monumental mega-booklet - one of the most ambitious ever attempted by Ace with eye-catching period-style cover art by Phil Smee - is in itself a masterpiece, full to bursting with dozens of rare pictures, ads and label shots woven within a 13,000 word note combining the rise of Beatlemania with the tales behind each of the 24 records. Compiled and annotated by Rob Finnis.