yeah yeah yeah
A BUTCHER'S #27
A BUTCHER’S hook/look (Cockney rhyming slang)
Just a note here - most of you are receiving this as an email. I recommend installing the Substack app (free) on your phone. It’s easier, works well and looks better! There are a lot of authors and interesting stuff out there for you - have a look around at other people’s offerings.
Uh huh huh
Yes, I did put the Elvis stamp upside down, but I had not intended to have the letter ‘Returned to Sender’ for whatever reason - the result is too good! (uh huh huh)
she loves you
The Beatles were just there, all around me. My older brother brought the singles home along with the likes of 15 year old Twinkle’s ‘Terry’ (if you don’t know it, have a listen - an English ‘leader of the pack’ teenage death story). But it was The Fab Four records that were sung in the car on family trips. It’s staggering to think what a massive influence they had on Brits of all ages, including this one.
Stephen’s book about the Beatles
‘She loves you’ was released in August 1963. I was 5 when I made this book in 1964. I’ve cleaned it up a bit and added a cover with a transcript of the content, since some parts are a little wonky and need a bit of help deciphering. It’s a sweet little book, clearly done in stages at primary school - you notice my spelling and drawing skills improve dramatically as it goes along.
Of course I’d love to get a copy to Sir Paul! If anyone out there knows someone who happens to know him, or can think of a way, let me know!
I started this substack mini-mag as an interesting alternative to Instagram - I’m now up to A BUTCHER’S #27!
and do you lick the betles?
This is a preview of the book soon to be available. I have some copies and in the style of radio station WFMU, I’m offering it this month as a little premium for those of you who want to support A BUTCHER’S with a paid subscription - I thank you again if you’ve already subscribed! (Due to the current state of the Post Office, it’s for US only, sorry!)
You’ll be able to buy the book soon on my site. It’s on its way. In a bit.
new sound
I didn’t have one of these back then, but my friend Paul down the road did. Instant flashback when I saw it in my friend Oliver’s vintage shop The Quality Mending Co. on the Bowery.
Besides being the only place with a preview of the Book about the Beatles, he has all sorts of great vintage stuff - @qualitymending on Instagram. Band T Shirts, clothing, guitars and his own line of sunglasses - New York Eyerish
mop tops
Here’s another from the Weegee (Arthur Fellig) exhibition at ICP. After photographing endless murder and crime victims in New York, he moved to Hollywood, started photographing celebrities and also doing some pretty mad experimental work - with what he called his “elastic lens,” using an assortment of warped plastic, prisms, wire mesh and heat-distorted glass.
Although these photos seem a bit goofy today, back then they were so different, they proved to be pretty successful for Weegee. As he said - “I first started taking these unusual and funny pictures as an escape from the world of naked reality… their originality was such that they sold like hotcakes.”
Gary asked me why he was called Weegee - it’s a phonetic rendering of the word “Ouija,” Why you ask? - it’s as in ‘he must have a ouija board to always get to a crime scene before the police arrive’. In fact he had a short wave radio turned into the police frequency in his car.
reach for the sky
A very English postcard I’ve had since the 80s - it was a long time before I noticed the names of these beach donkeys. John must have gone for a wander.
Nice guitar