14 April 1966: Beatles' Records

    One day before its official release date, The Beatles got their hands on a copy of the new album by their friends The Rolling Stones. In photos taken by Beatles Book Monthly photographer Leslie Bryce during a session to record vocals and bass for 'Paperback Writer' and the backing track for 'Rain' on 14 April 1966, John and Paul can be seen holding Aftermath (released on Decca Records). The cover of The Stones' fourth UK album seems to me to owe its inspiration to Robert Freeman's cover photo for With The Beatles (which in turn was inspired by photos Astrid Kirchherr took of John and George in April 1962).

    Meanwhile, George checked out another Decca disc - a 45 RPM record in a non-picture Decca sleeve. This was the recently released single by their comedy heros Peter Cook & Dudley Moore 'Isn't She A Sweetie' b/w 'Bo Dudley'. The B-side was a comedic pastiche of African American singers such as Bo Diddley and a word play on Moore's first name.

    The Beatles famously auditioned for Decca Records on 1 January 1962. Although Decca did not completely reject the group, they also did not offer them a full recording contract. Instead, the group were offered a meagre distribution deal if they wanted to record independently with Decca producer Tony Meehan. In the end it was Brian Epstein who rejected Decca's offer, holding out for something better for 'his boys'. In a strange twist of events, as the story goes, George Harrison found himself co-judging a beat group contest at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on 10 May 1963 alongside Decca's A&R manager Dick Rowe. Supposedly, George urged him to sign the Rolling Stones and not to make the same mistake Decca had made, by passing on The Beatles, again. The Beatles had first seen The Stones the previous month and, although pitted against each other as rivals by the press, became good friends as the decade unfolded.