I HAVE been reviewing Beatle bands for nearly three decades now and I have seen every variation of the Fab Four possible, from a Japanese band called The Parrots - who spoke no English but were word perfect with the songs and suits.

I also caught a Mexican tribute band called John, Paul, George and Gringo - only joking, but you get the picture.

So I am always curious about a new Beatle show.

This production is NOT a musical, but more like the concert The Beatles never gave with the timeless numbers from the Cavern to the Apple rooftop.

There are 40 of them in two hours 20 minutes. There's an interval to allow you to get your breath and still marvel at how four lads from Liverpool could create such a catalogue of songs for a global audience.

The show has ten 'Beatles' to chose from - and on the Liverpool run Paul Mannion as George was a highlight with a stunning version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

Paul has been a Backbeat Beatle too - and it shows.

Macca played by Emanuele Angeletti has been Beatling since his early years in Italy.

Michael Gagliano's John was fine but his irritating tomfoolery was overdone.

An on stage synthesiser man took the place of the orchestra and the other sound effects the Beatles used to such great effect.

The show had a real American feel with huge screen backdrops to some of the songs - notably Penny Lane.

I was hoping for the story of The Beatles inter-spaced, but instead we are treated to adverts from the sixties on huge telly screens and a brief narrative of their rise to fame.

The dialogue, happily, is brief as these are musicians - not actors and their accents are simply not Scouse and nasal enough to convince us otherwise.

But when they sing and play to perfection you can forgive that.

An acoustic set illustrated how they had got the harmonies right.

The audience were on their feet for most of the second half and joined in when the individual fake fabs called for participation.

George Harrison himself was bemused by the tribute bands that had sprouted since the Beatles split in 1970.

Yet he recognised many were making a good living out if it and many tribute acts lasted longer than the eight year career of The Beatles.

Happily, it's not a Ben Elton collaboration such as We Will Rock You or any Abba show which never really sway from just playing the songs from The super Swedes.

If you want to hear the Beatles songs played in a huge jukebox atmosphere setting this for you I am still waiting for the real musical about their incredible achievement to be made.

For now I will watch The Beatles Anthology video and play the music.

Let It Be is a slick tribute concert performance - in a theatrical setting that makes you daydream about what if may have been like had the real fabs played one last gig.

7/ 10 Moptop Memory Lane