The Beatles were interviewed countless times by journalists, reporters and radio DJs from all over the world. During their North American tours, The Beatles got to personally know several American radio DJs who traveled with them from city to city interviewing them any chance they got. One such DJ was Paul Drew from Atlanta's WQXI-AM.
(Paul Drew interviewing George backstage at the Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon, 22 August 1965)
Paul, George and Ringo were first interviewed by Drew on a transatlantic phone call while rehearsing for the Around The Beatles TV special on 27 April 1964. Drew then got to know them as he traveled with them on the 1964 and 1965 North American tours. Drew also interviewed The Beatles in London during rehearsals for Another Beatles Christmas Show in December 1964 and while filming Help! in the Bahamas in 1965. He even introduced them as they took the stage at Atlanta Stadium on 18 August 1965. Drew became friendly with The Beatles, especially George whom he kept a correspondence with between tours. In addition to the exchanged letters, Drew also sent The Beatles new American record releases he thought they would enjoy. In thanks, George arranged for an Italian-made 1966 red Vox Bobcat electric guitar (supposedly used by him and John in the studio) to be signed by all four and given to Drew (he held onto it until auctioning it off in 2022).
(George with Paul Drew at the Warwick Hotel, NYC, before heading to Shea Stadium, 15 August 1965)
A letter George hand wrote to Paul Drew on 2 November 1965 (sent at 3:30pm two days later) survives. In the letter (below), George thanks Drew for the latest collection of records he sent over. These records, as detailed below, became part of George's and Ringo's personal collections. George and The Beatles were at this time nearing the end of recording sessions for Rubber Soul.
The first record George mentioned as a 'knockout' was Otis Redding's recently released Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul LP. Released on Volt Records (the sister label to Stax), this album featured two of Redding's most famous songs 'Respect' and 'I've Been Loving You Too Long' as well as a variety of covers of songs written by the likes of Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson and The Rolling Stones.
As George wrote the letter, he listened to another album Drew sent. Released on Motown, this was saxophonist Choker Campbell with his 16-piece band doing a variety of instrumental cover versions of Hits Of The Sixties! All the songs were originally performed by fellow Motown artists The Supremes, Martha & The Vandellas, The Four Tops, The Miracles and Marvin Gaye - all favourite artists of The Beatles. Indeed, George said in the letter, 'It's not bad, but I do prefer the vocal versions of most of these tunes.'
Finally, George said he would be seeing Ringo later that same day and would give him a record Drew sent especially for The Beatles' drummer. The album Flowers On The Wall by The Statler Brothers was not released until 1966, but the title song was a Top 10 hit in the US at the same time The Beatles' 'Yesterday' was at number one in October-November 1965. That means that Drew either sent the single or had an advanced copy of the LP, both released in the US on Columbia. The Statler Brothers' Country-styled Pop songs would have appealed most to Ringo.
As a little bonus, George asked Drew if he had heard Sounds Incorporated's latest single 'I'm Comin' Through', which they had recorded in LA while on tour with The Beatles in August 1965. Released on Columbia in the UK and Liberty in the US, the song was written by none other than Billy Preston!
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