NILSSON: the true one: Foto-Fi Four - The Beatles arrive in America!

The Beatles arrive in America!

STAND UP AND HOLLER by the Foto-Fi Four
(one of Harry’s pseudo in early days)

"Films of the BEATLES and a new song STAND UP AND HOLLER", that’s how the text on the back sleeve begins.

And a little further they claim : "Sing along with the new hit STAND UP AND HOLLER that was specially recorded for this film by the FOTO-FI Four" ...that should be Harry's pseudo for the occasion.

The Beatles came first to the USA in February 1964, to promote their upcoming USA tour by an appearance in the Ed Sullivan Show, two concerts in Carnegie Hall and at the Washington Coliseum. Their arrival at the airport, some press conferences and their concerts were filmed.

Harry, 22 years old, writes and sings this single as a Beatles tribute in a kind of Hey Bo Diddley style. A song released in August 1964 and co-written with another songwriter John Marascalco (co-author of classics like Good Golly Miss Molly, Rit It Up...).

Harry recorded several songs by songwriter John Marascalco at a demo session for Scott Turner in 1962. He recorded and co-authored several songs with him; these were released as singles under Nilsson's pseudonym Bo Pete.

The four-part vocals were recorded by Nilsson through multitracking.

An additional track added the harmonizing screams of backing vocalists, probably from Beach Girls, a girl group that had supported the Bo Pete record Baa Baa Blacksheep.

The single was packaged with an 8mn film reel of footage with The Beatles arrival in America in February 1964 (Ed Sullivan Show, Carnegie Hall, Washington Coliseum), so you could put them together to have images and music simultaneously.