Beatles Red & Blue Albums

The Story

The iconic balcony photos, both for the Red and Blue compilations and for the debut album Please Please Me, were taken by Angus McBean on the central staircase of EMI House, at 20 Manchester Square, in 1963 and recreated in 1969. The photo was taken from below, with the photographer lying on his back at the entrance of the building. The original building was demolished in 1995, but the handrail of the famous staircase survived and is believed to now belong to Paul McCartney himself, kept in his personal studio.

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