Hi everyone,
A few months ago when last I was in London, I came into possession of what I’m told is the only copy in existence of the agreement assigning US/Canadian publishing rights for “I Want To Hold Your Hand” to Duchess Music, for the price of one shilling (that’s about a quarter, I think, in 1964).
I don’t pretend to have enough understanding of the labyrinthian ways of cross-border music publishing to know how this worked or the implications thereof for Lennon/McCartney. But I can say that it was certainly a thrill — as it always is — to hold in my hands an original piece like this, and I’m grateful to have had the experience of doing so.
But as much as I love holding a piece of Beatles history in my hands, I also recognise that this document is in, an important way, not mine to keep — especially given it’s directly related to Paul and John’s lifelong quest to regain what should be their rightful control of the songs they wrote together.
Sadly, I don’t have the power to undo the damage done by exploitative publishing contracts — would that I did. But over the past week, I’ve completed arrangements to put this document into the hands in which it more truly belongs. I hope its rightful owner finds a tiny bit of healing in its return, even if it doesn’t change the overall situation.1
This is not a story I’d normally publish on The Abbey. I’m telling you about it only because there’s a second moral imperative to be considered.
Documents like this are part of our shared history. As such, I believe that this publishing agreement should be accessible to scholars, researchers, and anyone else who might be interested. So while I’m still officially its keeper, I’m posting the photographs of the document here.
Until next week.
Peace, love, and strawberry fields,
Faith 🍓
I’m aware that the rights to the early songs, including “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” have reverted to Lennon/McCartney automatically by law. I’m speaking here of the larger issue that it shouldn’t have taken sixty years.