How Robin Hood Helped Then Robbed The Beatles.
In which I examine the connection between the man in green and the Fab Four, read a new Beatles book, and discover the Man of Steel’s Beatles connection
While working on the recent episode on The Forgotten Beatles podcast on Beatles producer George Martin I was reminded of the fact that as head of Parlophone, Martin signed singer Dick James (above), to a recording contract, and reached no. 14 with James's theme from the TV show The Adventures of Robin Hood.
Dick James was born on 12 December 1920 in the East End of London. In his early teens he sang with North London dance bands, and was a regular vocalist at the Cricklewood Palais by the age of seventeen. James joined the Henry Hall band, and made first radio broadcast in 1940, but joined the Army in 1942. After World War II he continued to sing with leading bands, and was a part-time member of The Stargazers, a popular early 1950s vocal group.
Around this time he was also contracted as the vocalist on the theme tunes for several popular British TV shows including The Adventures of Robin Hood (which ran from 1955 to 1959). It was during this period that he became friends with George Martin.
With the decline in the popularity of the big-band sound and the rise of rock and pop James’ singing career started to fade and in 1958 he made the switch to music publishing when he joined Sidney Bron Music as a song-plugger, but decided to leave and started his own company Dick James Music in 1961.
In 1963 when Brian Epstein was looking for a publisher to represent The Beatles second record, Please, Please Me, Martin suggested that he talk to Dick James. James immediately impressed Epstein when he called a TV producer and played him the single down the phone, securing the band's first nationwide television appearance.
Epstein and James then formed Northern Songs Ltd. in 1963, along with John Lennon and Paul McCartney, to publish Lennon and McCartney's original songs. At first this was an amicable arrangement that seemed to suit everyone, until he sold Northern Songs in 1969 without offering the band an opportunity to buy control of the publishing company.
James profited handsomely from the sale of Northern Songs and Lennon & McCartney lost control to the rights to their own songs.
Alan
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The Savage Young Beatles
The guys in the band were back on stage recently at The Woodlands in Widnes for what was described as a “boss gig.” Thanks to all who turned out for a rocking evening. You can see a short clip on the group’s Instagram account.
THE SAVAGE YOUNG BEATLES will be making a return appearance at the excellent Abbey Road On The River festival.
This year’s festival will be held in Jeffersonville Indiana from May 22 to 26.
If you haven’t been to an AROTR event I highly recommend it.
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to join the festivities this year due to some long-standing travel plans around an upcoming book launch.
You can find out more at the festival’s website
And here’s a taster of The Savage Young Beatles on stage at a previous AROTR
Podcast Updates
The latest Forgotten Beatles episode is now live on the Before They Were Beatles podcast feed and can be found on your favorite podcast platform, or directly right HERE.
This month the spotlight falls on The Fifth Beatle - producer, mentor, innovator, and musician Sir George Martin
Beatles Books From My Shelves
“John & Paul: A Love Story In Songs” by Ian Leslise
You think it would be impossible to come up with a different way to tell the story of The Beatles, but Ian Leslie manages it here by focusing on the creative and personal relationship at the heart of the group, and using the examination of specific songs to drive the narrative.
If you know your Beatles history there isn’t too much new here (and a few factual errors), but it’s the insights of the development of John & Paul’s interdependent relationship where the text really shines.
I didn’t always agree with the interpretation of the songs discussed, but I will now listen to them with a slightly more informed perspective
The Beatles in Comics
Superman’s Pal: Jimmy Olsen #79
DC Comics - USA
September, 1964
“The Read-Headed Beatle of 1,000 BC”
Script: Leo Dorfman
Art: George Papp
Another indication of just how pervasive the influence of The Beatles was by 1964, with even the mighty Man Of Steel being aware of them. Interesting to note his invoking just how popular Ringo was with the American audience at this time.
In the third story in this issue Superman’s pal, photographer Jimmy Olsen is tricked into transporting himself and a futuristic villain into the far past, where Jimmy soon teaches them a new sound before being rescued by Superman. Note that The Beatles themselves only appear in a cameo seen on a TV screen.
Rock out to our BTWB Playlists
If you would like to listen to full versions of the songs mentioned in either the main Before They Were Beatles podcast, or the new Forgotten Beatles series you can now find them on my new YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@AlanPorterWriter
Or you can check out the Before They Were Beatles playlist on Spotify at
What Else Is Alan Working On?
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See you next time.
Alan J. Porter
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