Original 1966 Beatles Audio Recording at Auction Aug. 29 A previously unknown audio example of the entire Toronto concert as a 2 hour and 20 minute documentary detailing one family's experience at the final concert appearance of the Beatles in Canada.
The ambient noise; crowds sounds, traffic, hawkers selling programs, lend an immediacy to the event not
found elsewhere among known Beatle audience tapes. Dad fills pre-concert downtime by interviewing
anyone at hand...fans, police and even the St. John’s Ambulance crew, describing nearly every step he takes
within the Maple Leaf Gardens. At about 6 minutes he’s found his seat and one can hear “Rubber Soul”
being played over the house PA. At about 9 minutes a stage announcer plugs “Toronto Sound”, an early
outdoor rock event featuring 14 Canadian bands. The announcement echoes through the unfilled arena.
Rubber Soul plays on as Dad and Mom describe the crowd slowly filling the Gardens, peppering their
observations with commentary ranging from long hair to the minimalist (complete lack of) stage props.
“Once the bloom is off the rose, you never get it back.” Dad warns Brian Epstein, later he admits that The
Beatles generate so much excitement, no additional stage show was needed. By 8:30 the arena is filling up
and at the 23 minute mark the host DJ makes his pre-show announcements and introduces The Remains.
Remains set: Hang On Sloopy (60 seconds) / Like a Rolling Stone (48 seconds) / Why Do I Cry (40 secs)
I’m A Man (appears to be complete 3 minutes). Barry & The Remains are Boston rock legends. Inspired by
seeing the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, four Boston University undergrads (Barry Tashian, Bill Briggs, Vern Miller &Chip Damiani) formed a rock unit that took The Hub by storm. In December of 1965, they scored an
appearance on Sullivan and followed it up by opening for the Beatles US ‘66 Tour. In addition to playing
their own set, they served as backing band for Bobby Hebb and The (Ronnie-less) Ronettes. On these
partial recordings the sheer volume of The Remains makes a powerful impression. A punky segment of
“Hang On Sloopy” gives way to an amped-up slice of “Like A Rolling Stone” (both tracks still in the
Remains set today) before the sole original of the set, a truncated “Why Do I Cry”. The song that survives
most intact is a cover of “I’m A Man”, revealing the band’s blues influences to be more Stones than Beatles.
Despite the cuts in the recording, Barry Tashian’s stage introductions are preserved before each song. At
33 minutes the stage announcer describes how the Remains drummer N.D. Smart took a pratfall leaving
the stage...and introduces Bobby Hebb.
Bobby Hebb set: Crazy Baby (1:20) / For You (46 seconds) / Good Good Lovin’ (1:12) /
Mojo Workout (cuts, 2:24) / Sunny (complete w/ closing vamp, 5:19). The Remains re-took the stage to back
the act with the biggest current hit record on the tour; Bobby Hebb. Nashville-based Hebb had hit #1 with
“Sunny” only weeks before this recording was made (July 26. 1966) and the record was well on it’s way to
classic status, being awarded the #25 position on BMI's Top 100 Songs of The
