About this Collection

This Beatles Covers Collection originates in the early seventies. As all Beatles collections it started relatively small with the regular LP's, singles and EP's.
Because of an interest in music the collection soon expanded in several directions, and some classical and other worthwhile performances of Beatles songs where added. This was the beginning of collecting more and more interpretations of Beatles songs.

Around 1995 the collection of items that contained Beatles Cover Versions needed structure and a dedicated database, including track information, was made.
This, again, was replaced in 2005 by a web-based version wich has been restructured in 2016 for mobile visiting.

 

 

Rifkin
Hollyridge Strings

Cover Versions

The here collected Cover Versions are just a reflection of what is, or was, available on physical formats such as vinyl and CD. Pure digital formats like MP3 or streaming audio are not represented, these are not visible nor touchable.
Besides the lack of the modern formats, vinyl as well as CD and DVD are still being made and newly released.

These physicaly available Cover Versions seem to be endless in volumes.

Cilla Black, EP South Africa
Peter & Gordon, Nobody I know, Dutch single

Tributes

Within a Cover Versions Collection such as this it is possible to distinguish several sub-collections, all with some kind of extra tribute to Beatles.
Some are a tribute to a Beatles original cover sleeve, others, on the contrary are a parody on the original art work.
Again, others have special subjects like the 'Mop Top' haircut.
Especially in the early years of the Beatles many artists tried to get their share out of the Beatles's success but tributes like these are still made.

The tributes shown here all have at least one Beatles Cover Version on them.

Liverpools, Dutch single
Les Compagnons de la chanson, Yellow Submarine French language

In their own language

Many countries had their own industry of releasing Beatles songs in their own native language(s). It was a way for local artists to still have some hits against the overwhelming english language hits of the Beat Group invasion. Dutch language Beatles Cover Versions later were called "Kievers".

As this collection originates in the Netherlands, a special part of the tributes is dedicated to these 'Kievers'.
'Yellow Submarine' became a much translated song. In 1966 Dutch entertainer Wim Kan translated it as 'Jelle Sal Wel Sien', but also titles like 'De Gele Soepterrien' could be found. The Wim Kan cover version became well known but most of the translated cover versions were made in very small amounts and remained quite obscure and unknown.

De gele soepterien
Wim Kan, (Yellow submarine) Dutch laguage

A moment of fame

September 27, 1976 Wings held a concert in Munich, Germany.
Beatles Unlimited magazine staffmembers wanted to see Wings in concert but were also keen on getting an interview, or at least, some special pictures for the international magazine.

The concert was booked, a car, a Volkswagen Bus, was hired for one day and off we went. From Amsterdam to Munich, twelve hours traveling to visit this concert.
Inmediatly after the concert had ended we tried to get in touch with McCartney but only saw him quickly leaving the Munich Olympiahalle. A dangerous car chase followed but we managed to see Paul and Linda arriving at the Hilton Hotel. It resulted in a picture but not the so hoped for short interview.
Anyway, we were thrilled and did not bother about the twelve hours back in the middle of the night.

Wings München 1976
Front, from left to right: Evert Vermeer, Linda McCartney-Eastman, Paul McCartney, Raymond Richard, Fenno Werkman, Hillebrand Peerdeman.
The guy Behind Paul and Linda was not connected to Beatles Unlimited. (Photo: Johan van de Bunt, Apeldoorn / Beatles Unlimited Magazine 1976 nr. 9)

(See magazine page)