Who were The Beattle-ettes?

Cafe Society
1

Beatle-Ettes, ‎– Only Seventeen -Now We’re Together-1964 Jubilee ‎– 45-5472 - YouTube
I am looking for any information on this early 60’s Beatles tribute band, especially who did the vocals.

2

Apparently all anyone really knows for certain is they were produced by George “Shadow” Morton on Jamie Records just before his breakout success with the Shangri-La’s. There is speculation that the Beatle-ettes and the Shangri-La’s may well have been the same band, or at least shared members.

Here are photos of the two bands, you can decide any resemblance for yourself (Beatle-ettes on top, Shangri-La’s below):


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Only their hairdresser knows for sure.

4

The Shangri-La’s wiki page says that they are not associated with the Beattle-ettes. Also, they couldn’t have become The Shangri-Las after first being The Beattle-ettes because the former started in 1963, and the latter in 1964.

5

The single was released in 1964. That doesn’t mean they didn’t exist until 1964.

But anyways the wiki-referenced Dicrography page says:

The Beattle-ettes possibly may have contained members of the Goodies ( aka The Bunnies) .

I’ve found nothing on The Goodies or The Bunnies.

6

They have a presence on Facebook.

And a connection to Shadow Morton.

https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/240816307_3942499902521605_5047681862022194103_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=Pe0gCGgs13gAX-TrQG-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfDtGECl6qFtO_ZYzdLFCCsYdkZLlghKDPB0HtrMK6453Q&oe=63CF852C

https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/240834598_3942499919188270_6595091705640304510_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=YEO-soe2k3IAX_beJJJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AfCs9DPshIiuzF9k8gGoZAAXWpnY4RAINCyxDJGbs_HH0g&oe=63CF6717

7

Look at that! Maybe someone could just ask them.

8

I have no answer to the OP. But I read somewhere (possibly the Hunter Davies biography of the Beatles) that the Beatle-ettes recorded a ‘response’ song called “Yes You Can Hold My Hand”.

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Yep. 45 rpm: The Beatlettes - Yes!!! You Can Hold My Hand - 1964 - YouTube
Also, The Teen Bugs did another song with the same title: The Teen Bugs - “Yes, You Can Hold My Hand” ( 1964 ) - YouTube

10

That sure ain’t the Shangra-Las. And it sure isn’t something Shadow Morton would own up to. The song writer and producer is Bob Gallo; a guy in the business long enough to rack up a number of credits in the 1960s and 70s but none memorable enough for him to warrant a Wikipedia entry.

11

OMG!!! He’s the guy who got Pete Best into a studio and released an album in 1966 called, Best of the Beatles!