The Beatles – With The Beatles (1963)

You might have heard of these lads from Liverpool; they were quite big in the 1960s, unlike me, who was quite small in Liverpool in the 1960s.

My nana and grandad lived just around the corner from the McCartney house in Forthlin Road, and my dad once claimed to have been round there in the very early 60s when an excited young Paul rushed across to my lovely Auntie Val, his sister, yelling "Val, Val, we're gonna be on the telly!"

Like in every 1960s family in south Liverpool, tales of family links to the fab four have been mytholigised, but there's no doubt Val and Paul were acquainted. I'm not sure the chronology of my dad's tale works, but I'll share such tales over a pint whenever asked. I've previously spoken about having found it difficult to love the Beatles' music but in my dotage, I think it's important for me to listen properly. So, if it's in the charity shop, I'll snap it up.