Book Description
A fascinating memoir featuring never-before-told stories from Beatles recording engineer Geoff Emerick—the industry legend who made music history by crafting the groundbreaking sound of the group's most famous records, including Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, and Abbey Road
Geoff Emerick was only fifteen years old when he began working with the Beatles as assistant engineer for their early classics “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You.” Incredibly, at the age of nineteen, he was promoted to full engineer, taking the helm for the group's groundbreaking album Revolver. Ten months later, he joined forces with the Beatles for the recording of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, hailed by Rolling Stone as the greatest album ever made. In their constant quest for experimentation and new sounds—and despite the technical limitations of the pre-digital age—Emerick developed a slew of innovative recording techniques, many of which are still in use today.
In Here, There and Everywhere, Emerick tells his story for the first time, taking the reader through the hallowed (though somewhat dingy) corridors of Abbey Road Studios to give rare insights into the Beatles' unique creative processes and personalities and provide a behind-the- scenes look at how the greatest band of all time made their greatest records. As Emerick describes the Beatles' transformation from wide-eyed Liverpool teenagers into tour-savvy professionals, he provides a startling picture of the Fab Four. Fascinating and moving, Here, There and Everywhere illuminates the creative tensions within the band that fueled their early success, but would ultimately lead them to record in separate studios while the partnership was disintegrating.
“We all owe some debt to Geoff Emerick's self-effacing work as an engineer and producer . . . there is very little that any group of scruffy musicians can throw at him that he cannot put into some kind of good sonic order. I feel fortunate to have worked with him.”
—Elvis Costello
Customer Reviews:
He should know; he was there.......2007-09-28
Few accounts of history are more accurate than the first-hand kind, and that is what we have with Mr. Emerick's outstanding book. To his credit, this thoroughly British gentleman focuses on what he actually saw versus what is commonly known about the Beatles. His tone is respectful, but he does not shy away from saying what he thinks based on what he saw and how he was treated. Mr. Emerick went on to engineer and produce some great acts, which I hope are the subjects of a future book. And consider this: When I was 19, I was just learning to tie my shoes. He was engineering the "Revolver" album!
Class Act.......2007-09-17
I couldn't put this book down....what a fascinating first hand account of one of the most infuential musical experiences in modern history. I think you will find it particularly interesting if you write and record music, as Geoff's recollections are incredibly detailed and specific. It's truly unbelievable that he could remember so much of what happened in such picture perfect detail, and it is a lasting testament to critical and often unsung heroics of the worlds best audio engineers. Howard Massey did an excellent job helping Geoff make this material completely accessible to the lay person and fan as well. When I proposed to my wife in 2002 I wrote a symphonic piece and surprised her at Capitol Records in Studio A, where we recorded it live (I proposed afterwards). While they were mixing the music we took a tour of Capitol Records, and when we returned there was a gentleman in the studio playing the most beautiful music on the grand piano. We listened for awhile, then entered to studio and spoke with him for almost half an hour. What a lovely man, and what great music. That was Geoff Emerick. Perhaps someday we will hear you on the other side of the glass young man:)
Thanks so much for sharing your amazing life with us Geoff. As I sit at my grand piano in Maui I can't thank you enough for the inspiration. Warmest aloha from Maui, Tim & Michele Heile
Here, There and Everywhere.......2007-09-03
Geoff Emerick was there for the creation of the Beatle sound. It is well written with enjoyable person information.
Interesting book.......2007-09-01
I picked up this book to find out why the Beatles are so good, and I found all the answers I was looking for. This book gave terrific insight to all four beatles and the camp that surrounded them, though my patience did wear thin towards the end- Emerick favors Paul, tends to repeat himself a little bit, and shows a little disdain towards Lennon and George Martin. That being said, I really thoroughly loved the book as a music student and an audio engineering student, but any fan of music should read this to get a glimpse of the thrilling world that creates the music we all love. I love understanding the context to the music I listen to, and if you do too you'll really enjoy this book.
I'll read this one again, soon!.......2007-08-29
My favorite Beatles related book to date. Geoff Emerick and Howard Massey captured a straight forward account of The Beatles in the studio from beginning to end. Added bonus includes Paul's sojourn in Lagos recording Band on the Run. The interesting happenings their, were not in the studio.
Average customer rating:
- Great Book - Great stories.
- An amazing book
- Only Book You Need
- Everything Beatles! By the Beatles! What could be wrong?
- THE BEST CHRONICLE OF THE BEST ROCK AND ROLL BAND: THE BEATLES AGAIN!!!
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ASIN: 0811826848
Release Date: 2000-10-05 |
Book Description
Created with their full cooperation, The Beatles Anthology is, in effect, The Beatles' autobiography. Like their music, which has been a part of so many of our lives, this landmark release is warm, frank, funny, poignant and bold. At last, here is The Beatles' own story. Each page is brimming with personal stories and rare, vintage images. Includes over 340,000 words and over 1300 images, including unseen photographs and personal memorabilia.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book - Great stories........2007-05-22
The only negative is the size of the book. There should be a smaller hardcover or paperback edition. The content is superb and a great coffee table book, but it's difficult to curl up with this book in bed.
An amazing book.......2007-05-13
I really liked Anthology. Not because it told the basic story, which I already got from other biographies. What makes this book really valuable is that it gives the view from inside the eye of the hurricane.
I mean, what's it like when the world starts screaming in your face?
Telling moments... There's a snapshot of John and Paul clutching their guitars as they head onstage for a concert, but their eyes are grim and tired. Paul is holding up his guitar like he needs a shield to ward off a punch to the face. It's a rather frightening photograph, and you feel sorry for them.
Or you wonder, what was George Harrison thinking, when he set off on a stroll through Height-Ashbury - that no one would notice him?
Or you sense, how much fun they seem to have had touring Australia.
Or their "family photos" from vacation trips... about as boring as anyone's photos. Except it's them. THEM.
The book seamlessly works fresh material from the three Beatles (and a few others) with parts of old John Lennon interviews, so it all reads smoothly, like it was all done at once - really great. The book is a fascinating trip all over again... I read it for two days through and hardly put it down.
Only Book You Need.......2007-05-11
As a hard core Beatles fan I can recommend many books,but if I had to recommend only one it would probably be this one. This is a complete,definitive biography,told in their own words. Not surprising that they should feel the need to do this. With all the tabloid fiction out there, I'm surprised they didn't do this earlier. I'm also not surprised that some people are calling it incomplete, saying that this seems to be their version of the story that they want put out. Could it be because this IS the actual true story about them? No really! Do they mean to imply that they ( the Beatles) actually know more about this subject (the Beatles) then some idiot who met them twice, or (maybe not at all) and decided to make some money by writing a second rate book? The audacity! This book tells the story from birth to break up. There is no filler, just facts. And it is told in their own funny,matter of fact,no nonsense way.
Of course the music is the spotlight. Each album is gone over with a fine tooth comb and you are lifted right into the atmosphere, and events unfolding behind the scenes that made each album special. Actually everything they talk about,from their childhoods to Beatlemania seems to lift you right into the scene. This is helped by the gorgeous pictures, almost all of them from their personal collections. Even if you are illiterate you will want this book just for the pictures. By the way, John's quarter of the story is told through interviews. Thank goodness he gave so many. Some of the pictures even have his written comments scrawled on them,showing us exactly how he felt at the time. There are hundreds of pictures of documents, handwritten play lists, handwritten lyrics, notes, hotel and restaurant bills,lists of concerts (again with John's handwritten comments about what was going on.) These guys kept everything! I can't beleive that Paul and Ringo actually kept plane and hotel receipts from a long ago trip to Greece with Jane Asher and Maureen Cox.(at that time,the future Mrs. Starkey) There is even a document at the top corner of one of the pages, (I bet a lot of people missed it) which refers to the request for some lice removal medicine to be delivered to one unfortunate Beatle's home. Of course they are NOT talking about head lice,and having read Peter Brown's pointless,vindictive book,The Love You Make,I know that this may have been Paul's way of saying,'Yes it's true but Epstein's creepy,lackey had no right to put it in a book (and make lots of money). Or maybe I read it in that other rag, Yesterday by Chet Flippo. I had the misfortune of reading both books. Don't make the same mistake.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind reading juicy,personal stuff as long as it's true and not embellishment. And there are plenty of interesting,sexy, stories,and stories of John's craziness but coming from their mouths, I know they are true. Except for that peeing on nuns story. Really John! George says it never happened and I beleive him. This book is like a huge memoir. A personal scrapbook and photo album. You will enjoy it's beauty,candidness, and it's entertaining style. And it's not true that most of these stories have been told before. I've read hundreds of books on the Fabs and 90% of this book is fresh, especially the early years. While you're at it, get the Anthology DVD set also. It's completely different from this book! Talk about quality, and value for money! Something that's always been important to the Beatles.
Everything Beatles! By the Beatles! What could be wrong?.......2007-05-09
Take 4 guys from England that changed the world of music forever and have them tell the story of their meteoric rise to fame and dominance of the music industry for decades and what do you have? THE BEATLES ANTHOLOGY.
John, Paul, George and Ringo made the music that we listen to today what it is. Without the British Invasion, we would never have had the development of rock and roll as it is today. Elvis and the Beatles, they are the fathers of rock and roll. This is half of that story.
The Anthology is a great compilation of photos, album covers, artwork, lyrics, personal stories, articles and everything else Beatles. If you like the Beatles, then this is the source for every bit of information about the first super-group. You can probably find other books out there about the Beatles, but this was written by the fab four; you really can't go anywhere else to get the information you get in this book.
This is a must have for any Beatles fan. A must have for anyone that appreciates the history of music and rock & roll. Well, this is just a must have.
What more can I say? The Beatles were the original. Their story is great, their music is great, this book is great. Fact, period, end of story.
THE BEST CHRONICLE OF THE BEST ROCK AND ROLL BAND: THE BEATLES AGAIN!!!.......2007-01-10
WoooW!! What an elaborated and extensive material about the best band in the world! this book has every moment, every day, every story about the greatest John, Paul, George and Ringo told by themselves; this book is an invaluable work and every people who likes every kind of music has to buy it! I recommend it especially for the young people who begin to play music and former musical groups with their friends, I'm sure everyone will love this book. THE BEATLES SHOKING ALL THE WORLD AGAIN!!!
Book Description
"George," he said, "I don't know if you'd be interested, but there's a chap who's come in with a tape of a group he runs. They haven't got a recording contract, and I wonder if you'd like to see him and listen to what he's got?""Certainly," I said, "I'm willing to listen to anything. Ask him to come and see me." "O.K., I will. His name's Brian Epstein...."All You Need Is Ears is the story of George Martin, the man who spotted the Beatles' talent, who recorded and produced them from the start, and who brought their musical ideas to life. In this witty and charming autobiography, he describes exactly what it was like to work in the studio with the Beatles--from the first audition (and his decision to scrap Pete Best on drums) to the wild experimentation of Sgt. Pepper (complete with sound effects, animal noises and full orchestras in evening dress at the direct request of Paul McCartney).This is a singular look at the most important musical group of all time, and how they made the music that changed the world: No other book can provide George Martin's inside look at their creative process, at the play of genius and practical improvisation that gave them their sound; it is an indispensable read for Beatle lovers and anyone interested in the music world.
Customer Reviews:
Posted Bio.......2007-04-04
Just to point out --
The biography posted is for George Martin, the sci-fi writer,
who isn't the same person (as far as I know!) as the Beatles'
producer. FYI.
A good book that should have been great.......2007-03-05
George Martin was the 5th Beatle. He gave them their first break after they had been turned down by all the labels. Without the break he gave them, Martin muses that the Beatles may have just given it up and gone their separate ways. Apparently George Martin was the only one around that was willing to take a chance on these scruffs from Liverpool that would chane the world.
It seems that Paul was the one Beatle that could have made it on his own, but if not as on of The Beatles, then as what? Could he have been a backup for Tony Sheridan, or a bass player for Little Richard? Thankfully, we will never know. Would the other Beatles have likely gotten working class jobs, and/or just self-destructed? As always, the whole was greater than the sum of its parts.
It is hard to imagine a world without the Beatles, but that just underscores the importance of George Martin in giving them their lucky break. George Martin played all positions with the Beatles, except for vocalist. He produced, directed, arranged, and even played piano and harpsichord on many records. He brought that classical influence of strings and horns into the Beatles music, starting with Yesterday. Any die-hard fan will want to read this book, however, beware: it is diluted a bit with stories about other recording artists that have little relation to the reason why I bought the book in the first place, i.e., The Beatles. Nevertheless, it does have a few anecdotes that have not been seen elsewhere, so yes, it is worth buying and reading. You can always skip the parts that you don't care about.
George Martin is very informative on the evolution of multitrack recording technology, so that should be of interest to anybody that wonders how they got all those "layer cakes" out of the primitive equipment of the day.
I enjoyed the book immensely, but I think George Martin could have done better given his intimate knowledge of one of the greatest cultural phenomena of all time. Sometimes he seems a little aloof in the book, as if he hardly cares, but it is probably just old-school English understatement at its best, or maybe a futile attempt to downplay that he is probably their biggest fan, if not one of their oldest.
On a side note, it is too bad that George Martin was never rewarded financially (at least up to 1979 when this book was published) on a level that would have been commensurate with the important role he played in not only discovering, but also developing the greatest band of all time. As always, the Beatles come off as cheap, uncharitable and self-indulgent on this score. As the book explains, Martin was offered some royalties under the table, (as a kickback from an unscrupulous publisher) but he never compromised his ethics. Eventually I'm sure he made a nice living through his long association with the Fab 4, but not what one might expect, according to the book, at least up to 1979. A lot has happened in the financial world of The Beatles since this book was written, including the huge Vegas production of Love, in which Martin played an integral role along with his son, Giles. It's nice to see a music producer that is more driven by quality and innovation than the lowest common demoniators. I wish we had more like him.
My rating says 3 stars, but that was a mistake. I really gave it a 4.
Beatles.......2007-01-18
A must read for anyone involved in the making of music as it pertains to production and recording. It however exhibits George Martins conservative nature and is someone bias from his perspective. A much superior book is Here,There, and Everywhere by Geoff Emerick. It is the same subject matter but much more detailed and objective.
Okay but not all that I wanted.......2007-01-05
I wish there were more technical specifics in the descriptions of various sessions. Sir George gets you into Abbey Road studio #2 and lets you know about his experiences with various artists.
George Martin REVEALED!.......2006-09-03
This is a truly amazing book. I had just finished reading "Here, There and Everywhere" by Geoff Emerick (the Beatles recording engineer) and decided I wanted to know more about George Martin, their producer. It was a great decision because the introspect gained from reading both of these books together tells a big picture that I before could only guess at.
George's personality really comes out in this book and it makes it far easier to understand what went on during the Beatles many many recording sessions. It has been said that the producer is a major contributer to the outcome of any project and this book definately confirms and educates about that process.
It is an easy read and the edition that I purchased has fairly decent sized type and makes it easy on the eyes. It is a paperback and tucks easily into your daybag or briefcase for those times when you can read a few minutes - but if you are like I am - you may devour the whole thing in one seating!
The early life of George Martin is also detailed in this book with it's different perspective of growing up in Britain. I had no idea that George Martin was in pop music groups as he was growing up and that came as a terrific surprise. I might have known, though.
The classical side of George Martin comes out strong also. This came into very significant play as he produced the Beatles.
Great book. Don't hesitate to buy this!
Book Description
A fully updated and revised edition of the classic album-by-album, song-by-song study of the Beatles.
A unique combination of musical analysis and cultural history, Tell Me Why stands alone among Beatles books with its single-minded focus on the most important aspect of the band: its music. Riley offers a new, deeper understanding of the Beatles by closely considering each song and album they recorded in an exploration as rigorous as it is soulful. He tirelessly sifts through the Beatles discography, making clear that the legendary four were more than mere teen idols: they were brilliant innovators who mastered an extremely detailed art. Since the first publication of Tell Me Why in 1988, new primary source material has appeared--Paul McCartney's authorized biography, the Anthology CDs and videos, the complete Parlophone-sequenced albums on CD, the Live at the BBC sessions, and the global smash 1. Riley incorporates all the new material in an update that makes this a crucial book for Beatles fans.
Customer Reviews:
Getting the Beat out of the Beatles.......2007-05-03
I did not like the Beatles when I first heard them in high school, but by the time Sgt. Pepper came out, I had matured enough to discover that they were a very special phenomenon. Now there are so many books about them that it is hard to know what to read to get the best sense of their contribution to music. I recommend Tim Riley's book for that purpose. The best thing about this book is that it will increase your sensitivity to the Beatles creative art as you listen to their songs. If you pay attention, you will be able to hear the way Paul brings the bass in to support the lead guitar or to counter the drums. You can hear how Ringo changes the beat in accord with what the song is trying to convey, and you have a better sense of how the words and music work together.
As other reviewers have noted, it does require some knowledge of music, notably chord theory, to understand some of the details, I do not think it is entirely necessary. I know just enough about chords to understand major and minor changes and what they mean to the music, but I get lost when he goes into descriptions of the tonic and dominant. You will also need to know a lot about percussion, because he refers not generally to Ringo's drumming, but to what he is using (high hats, tom-toms, snare, etc.). It is clear from this book that Ringo contributed more to the group than he is usually credited with doing. He is the one, according to Riley, who was able to subdue his ego and try to keep everything together with his beat and ability to complement everyone else.
Riley likes John Lennon the best and tends to favor whatever Lennon did, albeit not uncritically. He gives Paul a rougher time, putting down any song that lacks an edge or an angle as another "silly love song" unless it rises to the level of a standard such as "Yesterday." Unlike other reviewers, I did not find his analysis of George Harrison's contribution to be all that insulting, but I do think he understated Harrison's contributions as a forward looking instrumentalist. Riley has a low opinion of the vocal abilities of both Starr and Harrison, but it is true that both (and a lot of other singers) suffer in comparison to both Lennon and McCartney, whose vocalizing was overshadowed by their composing talent.
You also need to understand that he is writing his opinions of the meanings of the lyrics and the reasons the Beatles did certain things musically. His bias shows clearly. He admires the group and his disappoint over some of their less than stellar creations is palpable. It is a very high standard that they set for themselves and, although Riley acknowledges the timeless nature of their best work, he is scathing in his criticism of their more mediocre efforts. Bruce Greenfield's review is correct in saying that Riley pontificates a bit too much. I also found it irritating that he claims to know exactly what the lads were trying to do with each note and word. Again, these are only Riley's opinions. Another problem I had with that is that he goes into great detail on the songs he likes and admires, but if a song does not measure up to that, he will give it a sentence or two, dismissively.
I found value in the book from his ability to explain some of the innovations the Beatles developed from the very beginning of their career. A few of these are almost common knowledge to rock fans, such as the use of feedback at the start of "I Feel Fine" to George Harrison's introduction of the sitahr. There are some very good insights that never occurred to me, though. Riley points out that the lyrics to "She Loves You" break new ground in that although it is sung in the first person, the singer is speaking to a friend rather than to the listener. Their music conveys a sense of excitement and joy in carrying this good news. Another example is from McCartney's bridge in "Day in the Life," which is marked by a quicker sharper beat from Ringo. Riley notes that this beat evokes the "corporate precision" of every day life, but notes that while this may seem like waking from Lennon's nightmare verses, it becomes hard to tell who is singing about the real nightmare.
You really have to listen to the song while reading the book and even then, it is often hard to hear what Riley is writing about. He devotes a lot of words to explaining how different sounds come from the right, left or center in stereo, but I found it hard to detect these even after numerous playing. Perhaps, as others have pointed out, it is very hard to hear without the 1982 masters.
Riley uses the albums that were originally issued on Parlophone and neither the US Capitol releases (which were a greedy manipulation of the buying public while sacrificing the art of the Beatles created in sequencing the songs) nor CDs. Younger readers will have difficulty relating to his idea of endings and beginnings of vinyl sides, which CDs have rendered meaningless.
In the second edition, Riley gives a bow to Mark Lewisohn's book "The Beatles Recording Sessions," which is a description based on Lewisohn's hearing of all of the Beatle's master tapes. This book has its own insights and I would recommend it as a less harsh book than this one. Riley did not have the use of Lewisohn's book in writing "Tell Me Why," and it is clear that he would have benefited from it. The two authors disagree on a number of points so it would is useful to have the balance of their opposing views.
A Celebration of The Beatles' Music........2007-04-05
I loved this book. I don't know why so many people seemed to have a problem with it. Tim Riley is a knowledgable music critic,schooled in musical theory and an expert on classical music. He also absolutely adores the Beatles' music. With very few exceptions,he loves everything they ever did and tells,in great detail exactly what it was musically,that made them so special. Each and every song from Love Me Do to Let it Be,just like the title says,album by album, song by song. Actually,my love of the Beatles' music is a viceral thing. From the moment I first heard the opening chords of I Want to Hold Your Hand,this music seemed to enter my blood stream. I still get the same feeling whenever I listen to certain favorite songs,or hear their voices in harmony. But I never understood it in musical theory terms. The chord progressions, changes from major to minor chords in the same song, this had never been done before in pop music, only classical,until the Beatles. This is what excited everybody about their music but only other musicians can describe it accurately. Us lay people just think, "that song makes me cry" or "wow, I've never heard anything like this before". Riley dissects each song,practically note by note,every guitar lick,bass line, and drum fill. He particularly loves Rubber Soul and Revolver sighting them as two of the greatest albums of all time. He also loves Please Please Me, With the Beatles, and A Hard Day's Night. So he doesn't just give their later music a lot of acclaim,which would have been annoying. He feels that all of these albums were important, along with Abbey Road and the White Album. He describes them in a way that makes you think of them as little works of art. Each one pivotal and ground breaking in their own unique way. He also describes why each Beatle was wonderful and essential to the greatness of each song and album. He never lets you forget that they were an ensemble. He worships John and Paul's singing, calling McCartney's voice, "peerless". He details their songwriting and George's. He talks about how BOTH Lennon and McCartney were melodists, not only McCartney. He points out Paul's melodic,inventive bass lines,George and John's brilliant guitar work (not just George's like other books have). And he loves Ringo,calling his drumming underrated, because it was. He goes into so much detail about Ringo's drumming that it made me sit up and take notice of it also. Listen to 'Rain' and 'Ticket to Ride' and Ringo's live drumming, which he also loves. He dissects the Live at the BBC cds, and after reading that long section,I've begun to listen to all the things he hears on them. I see what a great live band they were. This book made me listen to their music from a fresh perspective, and I realize that I never really HEARD their music until now. There is so much going on, on their records. So much to listen to. While reading this book you need to have a cd player handy and a good pair of head phones with a bass booster. You need to be able to hear what he's talking about. In this new edition there is a section added which details the 3 Antology CDs, Live at the BBC,and others that have been released since the first edition of this book came out, in 1988.There is also a section on the solo records. You don't have to be a musician to enjoy this book either. You just have to be a fan of Beatle music.
Beatle Theory.......2007-02-13
I love this book. The author's trenchant, insightful analysis of the Beatles' music is nothing short of scholarly. He brilliantly discusses what the Beatles used to create their own unique sound. Fans will no doubt love and appreciate the Beatles all the more.
Tim Riley's research into the background of each Beatle is accurate and well done. He piques readers' interest in the group all the more by making them more aware of the influences that led them to create the songs they did.
This book is one musicians, guitarists in particular will love. Readers are treated to discussions of chord progressions so as to play Beatle songs the Beatles' way.
Very Enjoyable Book.......2006-09-22
I enjoyed this book immensely. I appreciated the song-by-song analysis from someone who obviously is a true scholar of music -- his articulation of what were the ingredients that went into making the Beatles' music so great truly enhanced my appreciation of them.
His knowledge of biographical and historical information -- such priceless vignettes as John's gleeful enjoyment of an obscure, chaotic Side B by a one-hit wonder group -- puts their music in a wider context, further deepening our understanding of how their music developed.
I dabble in music theory so I did appreciate the technical aspects of the book, such as getting into chord progression and such. I read this book many times -- it has provided me with many enjoyable hours.
Not for the Casual Fan or Non-Musician.......2005-12-31
"Tell Me Why" is a good look at the Beatles for what they are remembered for: the music. Long after all the gossip and backbiting and innuendos are forgotten, that is all that remains. And if you are a casual fan and only have "Tell Me Why" to guide you, I wish you the best luck in the world.
Tim Riley is a professional music critic, which means apparently that he thinks his audience will understand every musical notation cited in the text. If you really love discussing the difference between G chords and A chords, this will make your day. But for the rest of us, it's a bit much at times.
To be fair, though, if you get through the musician-speak without beating your head against the wall, you'll find that the book does a fairly fantastic job of getting at the heart of the music. By eschewing flowery discussions of the Beatles' history and concentrating on the music itself, Riley ends up creating a look at the creative process rarely dissected with such skill.
Riley has his opinions and isn't afraid to state them, especially in regards to what he considers the "fallow" period of late 1967 (after the release of the much-hyped Sgt. Pepper). Riley also pulls no punches in holding Paul McCartney's feet to the fire for his abandonment of the risk-taking that characterized his partnership with Lennon, instead becoming the pop-song behemoth that we all love to hate. The portrait that emerges of the Beatles as a group is that of a multitalented band with endless streams of talent on which to draw, with even their lesser efforts (Magical Mystery Tour, Let It Be, etc) having some worth not found in other music from the era.
Mark Hertsgaard's masterful "A Day In The Life" is probably a better selection for those who are casual or half-hearted fans, because it covers much of the same territory with little of the dedication to music-speak that colors some of the best passages in this book. But for a simple, nuts-and-bolts look at what made the Beatles' music special, and as a discussion of each and every song they ever recorded, "Tell Me Why" is hard to beat.
In the end, there is just the music. And it is a body of music worthy of such discussion as to have countless books written about it. But "Tell Me Why" is a nice one-book source for much of the motivation behind each song the Fab Four committed to vinyl, even if it's overboard with the musical composition language. If you can overcome that, you might find a good book about why the Beatles matter long after their last performance together.
Customer Reviews:
GREAT INTERVIEW.......2007-05-12
I had read this book years ago and like so many other things, you lend it out and never get it back. sigh. I was happy to find this online and ordered it straight away. It was ordered at the same time as my Amazon stuff (through a reseller) and it beat my Amazon order by a good 3 days! lol
This is a fantastic inverview. I only wish an audio were available. Maybe someday.
My Favorite book!.......2002-07-27
I love John lennon so i started reading biographys on him and interviews, etc to learn more about him. When I read "The Playboy Interviews With John Lennon and Yoko Ono" I HONESTLY COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! I couldn't believe it; i started reading it in the afternoon and didn't put it down until late at night where i finished it! It is a wonderful, wonderful book with John's sense of humor and yoko's too and their insight into the world. It really is my favorite book because it is close to a John Lennon autobiography as the world will ever know. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
A Good Book About John and Yoko!!!!!!!!.......2002-04-09
I think that this book was very good. It took the reader in to the private lives of both John and Yoko. It gives us an inside look on what their own private lives were really like. That being when John was with The Beatles and his life afterwards and up to the end of his life. I recommend reading this book. It takes you into John's thoughts about life!!
essential insights.......2000-11-10
This is the definitive book regarding John Lennon. He reviews almost every song he wrote with or without Paul McCartney, which alone is worth the price of admission. In addition to that, he provides insights into his personal philosophies and world views. One could call it the perfect companion to the recent Beatles Anthology book. Crucial reading. How sad he had to die a little over 2 months after these interviews were conducted. Unfortunately out of print, do yourself a favor and try an out of print book search; you won't regret it.
One of my very favourite books..........2000-01-06
I first read this book back in 1983, to gain a little insight of John...and it quickly became my favourite book. Although I don't think Yoko was or is everything he thought, this was a man who truly loved his wife, and believed with his whole heart and soul in their marriage and life together. He was enjoying making music again, so much (this interview was done in September of 1980) and was looking forward to the future...hoping he'd be there with us. His love for his music, his wife, his sons, and even the Beatles are all there. He gives his opinions on every subject he can think of, both positive and negative, in his usual witty, straight-to-the-point manner that we all know him for. The interviewer did a great job, and was clearly a man who admired John Lennon as much as I do. He did a great job in this book, and it is my absolute favourite, out of all of my collection. Anyone who wants a peek into what John thought and felt and wanted you to know, should read this book...you will treasure it as I do.
Book Description
Given the phenomenal fame and commercial success that the Beatles knew for the entire course of their familiar career, their music per se has received surprisingly little detailed attention. Not all of their cultural influence can be traced to long hair and flashy clothing; the Beatles had numerous fresh ideas about melody, harmony, counterpoint, rhythm, form, colors, and textures. Or consider how much new ground was broken by their lyrics alone--both the themes and imagery of the Beatles' poetry are key parts of what made (and still makes) this group so important, so popular, and so imitated. This book is a comprehensive chronological study of every aspect of the Fab Four's musical life--including full examinations of composition, performance practice, recording, and historical context--during their transcendent late period (1966-1970). Rich, authoritative interpretations are interwoven through a documentary study of many thousands of audio, print, and other sources.
Customer Reviews:
Well done.......2007-05-16
To understand the majority of this book one would need a music theory background, possibly at the graduate level.
I was surprised at the amount of other information provided as to ho played which instrument.
Very well researched.
A Fine Review Of The Beatles' Later Music.......2005-07-14
This book and its companion (which traces the Beatles' music from its beginnings through "Rubber Soul") demonstrate that there are writers who are serious about the remarkable music of the Beatles. Apart from Mellers' rather professorial, pedantic book and Riley's excellent, approachable book, there is a dearth of material on the music of the Beatles, apart from their sociological or gender ramifications, their cultural iconic status and their effect on fashion and morals, etc. And the music is the only aspect of the Beatles that should matter, since they were incredible musicians and their music has clearly withstood the test of time. Forget other recent books about the Beatles, such as "Meet the Beatles," which reassesses their sociological and gender significance largely by repeating what was previously written about them. Everett succeeds brilliantly in reviewing the Beatles' music as if he were reviewing the music of any great composer. For those who do not have a background in music theory, certain parts of this book may be difficult to comprehend. However, it is worth the effort. A fine achievement.
A 10-Star Salute.......2004-09-03
If you are interested in the technical aspects of the Beatles' music, then make this book your best friend. This book has a plethora of information that will enthrall readers from those who are mildly interested in the Beatles to their most inveterate fans.
As noted in another review, for those who are not interested in the technical parts of this work, skip ahead to other parts of this book and prepare to be delighted. This book is a compliment to the intelligence of its readers; this author has done a sterling job of researching his material.
Hats off and a 10+ star review for this book!
Best study of the Beatles' music.......2001-11-30
A goldmine for anyone interested in the Beatles! By far the best study of the Beatles' music, indeed of any repertory of popular music. Everett includes technical analyses that will assist and inform musicians and scholars. BUT the general reader must not be scared off by the technical sections! If you're not familiar with music theory, skip the technical parts and you still have the best coverage of the Beatles as composers, with historical and personal details accurately recounted for each song and album. Impressed by Everett's work, the Beatles gave Everett unprecedented access to sketches and other unpublished material.
Both author and publisher deserve 10 stars for this magnificent effort.
Excellent book.......2001-10-20
The author knows his subject and, when considering the market for the book, must have decided not to "dumb it down". Good work!
Book Description
They are the most popular and accomplished musical artists of this century. But for more than three decades, the secrets behind the Beatles' unparalleled artistic evolution were beyond reach--sealed in a locked room at London's Abbey Road Studios. In this comprehensive and brilliantly rendered book the only "outsider" to gain access to these invaluable musical archives provides a new, fascinating look at the music and artistry of the Beatles, revealing how four untrained musicians merged their collective genius into a single creative force, how they came together to paint pictures with sound...and how album by album, the Beatles transformed the landscape of popular music forever.
Combining literary analysis and investigative reporting with page-turning storytelling and musical explication, author Mark Hertsgaard has written the first serious biography of the music of the Beatles. A Day in the Life takes readers inside the Beatles' creative process as never before, from the first tentative run-throughs in the studio of such classics as "Eleanor Rigby" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" to the final master tapes.
Here we learn how George Harrison's stirring composition "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" was completely transformed from an achingly meditative acoustic masterpiece to a hard-rocking hit--in forty-four takes. We recall how the fantastic final mix of "Strawberry Fields Forever" opens the door to a psychedelic utopia, but discover it is the haunting solo version that takes us down to the core of John Lennon's disillusioned soul. And only here do we see how the Beatles' audacious ability to reinvent themselves stamped the group's unfolding ingenuity on each album like a fingerprint.
With rare insight, Mark Hertsgaard unlocks the mystery of the century's most dynamic musical collaboration: the competitive and creative partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. A Day in the Life traces the way Lennon and McCartney worked together and paints an intricate picture of the composers as we have never seen them before: Paul, the optimistic foil who made John's ominous fragments whole...John, the natural poet who injected raw sexuality into "I Saw Her Standing There" by making a simple five word change.
Smart, fresh, compulsively readable, A Day in the Life reveals John, Paul, George, and Ringo not as celebrities or cultural icons but as musicians whose work will be remembered as some of the most important art of the twentieth century.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Very interesting and absolutely NOT gossipy.......2006-12-15
Finally a book that focuses on what's important about the Fab Four (their music) without getting TOO techincal.
Although, being myself a musician, I would have liked a Technical approach, as well, I can see that if a book is aimed to a wide target of readers it just can't be too specific on a subject alone.
This book has the right balance between technical infos and interesting facts and anecdotes... Thumbs up!
MORE OF THIS KIND.......2005-11-22
Its always interesting to read about the Beatles music from a different angle but this book is due for an update as it was first published in 1995,on the eve of the Beatles becoming the biggest band in the World.
Today the Beatles are a musical genre in their own right
But just how many had access to the recording sessions I wonder?
Not reliable, and not objective.......2005-11-09
Hertsgaard's book is interesting in parts, but contains little that is truly informative about the music itself, which after all is the chief claim of his project. There simply is no book that considers the Beatles' music from a theoretical, musicological point of view, putting their melodic and harmonic writing into historical perspective - I've really tried to find one. If one is looking for insight into the studio process - the recording of the songs, as opposed to the compositions themselves - then there is no competition for "The Beatles Recording Sessions," which is not perfect, but contains vast amounts of previously unknown info about each and every session.
This time about the Music.......2005-07-10
I know Mark Hertsgaard from his book 'The Eagle's Shadow' which is about how the world views America and Americans. This was very insightful book based on his travels around the world.
'A Day in the Life' is about a completely different subject: The Beatles, and to be more precise: the music of the Beatles.
The book does go into how the band got together and how the bandmembers related to each other, but it is done to give a better understanding to the way the made the music.
Of course most of it is about the songwriting tandem of McCartney and Lennon. There are some remarks about what they thought about each other writings. (McCartney's being somewhat sweet) but they complete each other. The best part is about how the worked in the studio and especially the role of producer George Martin and his working with orchestras, strange sounds etc. It truely gives an insight into why the records of the Albums are as important as they are, not only in how the songs are created, but also the extra instrumentation and soundscapes around it.
The part on 'Strawberry Fields forever' is a great part and it truely let's us know why this songs is one of the alltime greatest songs ever, even though Lennon wasn't too satisfied with the end-product.
For Beatles fans and musicfans: this book is a good read
Insights into lives and creative process of The Beatles.......2003-02-02
If you only buy one book on the Beatles, this is as good as any. I found it immensely readable, and had trouble putting it down. It's one of the few books I've read more than twice. Hertsgaard gleaned much of his information from old interviews with the Beatles and those of their inner circle such as producer George Martin and sound engineer Geoff Emerick, along with Neil Aspinall, Derek Taylor, and many others, as detailed in the nearly 100 pages of notes.
What comes out is a nuanced telling of the Beatles story, much of it already known to fans, but with the addition of notes on the recording session and almost every song they recorded, along with tunes like "Besame Mucho" that showed up on bootlegs and many that appeared in the Anthology Series.
After each chapter, I found myself popping in a disk and listening on the headphones to discover things on the songs I'd never noticed before.
A worthwhile read.
Book Description
This is the second part of Bruce Spizer's critically acclaimed "The Beatles' Story on Capitol Records, Part One: Beatlemania & The Singles." It contains detailed information on the group's Capitol albums from "Meet The Beatles!" through "Magical Mystery Tour", including extensive coverage on the controversial butcher cover and “Sgt. Pepper.” There are also chapters on the unique albums released by Capitol in Canada and in Mexico, as well as chapters on where and how the records and album covers were manufactured and on the special mixes appearing on Capitol albums, plus a few surprises. Hard cover with over 700 color photos throughout, including all album covers, label variations, trade advertisements, posters and point of purchase displays. Essential and entertaining for both casual fans and serious collectors.
Customer Reviews:
Why The Beatles Hate the LP's.......2007-05-13
During the press conference for the Vancover show in 64,Paul voiced his
disaproval of how the American record company would release anything
as a single. During one of their U.S shows John took a swipe at one
of the LP titles. He didn't have a copy of it & didn't want one.After
buying the Capital Box sets of their U.S. LP's I know know why & you
will too. Growing up in Australia, we got the U.K. versions of their
albums - which are the REAL versions & are better. Read this book & you
will see how the record company milked the music for all they could.
Capitol never wanted them but when they were forced to take
The Beatles...they became the most succesful act to have records released by the label. And you payed for that privilage. A facinating book.
AN AMAZING JOURNEY BACK INTO BEATLEMANIA - PART 2.......2003-07-19
This was the second Bruce Spizer book that I had bought and like it's companion "Part 1 - The Singles" it is an amazingly enjoyable book to behold. I've got these US versions in my collection though they are Orange Label 70's variations. It's great to learn about the logic behind their releases and it's equally interesting to listen to a US "Rubber Soul" especially as I was used to the UK/Australian 14 track version all these years... the US Version sounds like a Folk/Pop/Rock Album ALA the Byrds The "Butcher Cover" saga is a production almost bigger than "Ben-Hur". Bruce Spizer takes you right into the minds of those involved with that drama. No wonder Alan Livingston was reluctant to take those 20 "Butcher" LP's home..he'd had enough of them! The Author's thoroughness is never in question and the quality of his books consistently put many others to shame. The label reproductions are wonderful and helpful if you've bought the original US LP's. To think that now those US LP's are now deleted and replced by their UK counterparts. Overall the quality is superb and Mr. Spizer's books sit in the same class as those of Mark Lewisohn's "Complete Beatles Chronicle" & "Abbey Road" books as well as the massive "Beatles Anthology" tome. While each part stands alone quite well you must buy Part 1 to complete the set as they complemment each other really beautifully. I thoroughly recommend these books to any Beatles fan and lovers of Rock Music books.
Must for Beatle Fans.......2001-05-31
A great book to find treasures with your old LP's. To find out what version or issue numbers you might own. Pictures are extremely good! With glossy photos!!
THE REAL BEATLES ANTHOLOGY.......2001-02-09
This book is the third book of a trilogy that every Beatle collector should have. Starting with the history of VJ, Bruce has fantastically illustrated the Beatles American history on vinyl. With this third edition, Part 2 of the history at Capitol, The photo's, the adverts, and the history itself make this book worthwile in every way.
Surely, even Capitol Records themselves must be proud!.......2000-11-23
WELL FOLKS, IT'S FINALLY HERE! THE LONG AWAITED VOLUME TWO OF BRUCE SPIZER'S NEW BEATLES CAPITOL ALBUMS BOOK TITLED, 'THE BEATLES' STORY ON CAPITOL RECORDS PART TWO: THE ALBUMS' (By Bruce Spizer, October 2000). INDEED, I'M RUNNING OUT OF SUPERLATIVES TO DESCRIBE THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT BRUCE HAS DONE IN THE FIELD OF THE BEATLES AMERICAN RECORDS. JUST WHEN YOU THINK IT'S NOT POSSIBLE, HE IMPROVES HIS PRODUCT EVERYTIME! AS YOU ALREADY PROBABLY KNOW, HIS FIRST TWO BOOKS ('Songs, Pictures & Stories Of The Fabulous Beatles Story On Vee Jay Records' & 'The Beatles' Story On Capitol Record Part One: The Singles') WERE AMAZING CRITICAL SUCCESSES AND EASILY THE BEST BEATLES RECORD BOOKS TO EVER BE PUBLISHED ON THE SUBJECT OF THE BEATLES ORIGINAL CAPITOL & VEE JAY RECORDS! THIS BOOK CONTINUES BRUCE'S TRADITION OF IMPROVING THE BOOK WHENEVER AND WHEREEVER HE CAN. ONE EXAMPLE IS BRINGING TO VIBRANT LIFE THE "ALREADY REALLY GOOD PICTURES" INTO VERY BRIGHT, STUNNING DETAILED IMAGERY! INDEED, MANY OF THE LABELS IN THIS BOOK LOOK BETTER THAN THE RECORD LABELS THEMSELVES! THE STORYLINES AND RESEARCH ARE SIMPLY FIRST RATE. THE ARTICLES SUCH AS THE "THE HISTORY OF THE BUTCHER COVER", ALONG WITH HISTORIES/ILLUSTRATATIONS OF THE BEATLES CANADIAN AND MEXICAN ALBUMS (AND VARIOUS OTHERS) ARE TRULY A BONUS AS THIS BOOKS STANDS STRONG ON THE MERITS OF THE BOOKS MAIN FOCUS, ...THE U.S. RECORDS! ANOTHER HUGE TREAT ARE THE MANY IN-STORE PROMOTIONAL ITEMS SUCH AS ORIGINAL IN-STORE MOTION/STILL DISPLAYS AND POSTERS FEATURED IN FULL COLOR!! YES MANY OF US ASSISTED BRUCE IN HIS EFFORTS, BUT HE TAKES HOME THE TROPHY AND DESERVEDLY SO! JUST ORDER IT FOR YOURSELF AND YOU'LL SAY THE SAME THING I DID.... "I DIDN'T THINK IT COULD BE DONE, BUT THIS BOOK IS EVEN BETTER THAN THE OTHERS!!!" OF COURSE, AS WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT WITH ALL BRUCE'S QUALITY WORKS, EVERY SINGLE ENTRY IN THE BOOK IS ACCOMPANIED WITH FULL ILLUSTRATION! I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT'S IN STORE FOR HIS "BEATLES ON APPLE RECORDS" BOOK WHICH WILL BE OUT IN 2002! ...THE PHRASE "ABSOLUTELY A MUST HAVE FOR EVERY BEATLE FAN AND COLLECTOR" IS INDEED, A PRETTY WORN OUT PHRASE, BUT IT'S GREAT BOOKS LIKE THIS THAT FORCE IT'S USE YET AGAIN!
Book Description
The Beatles as Musicians: The Quarry Men through Rubber Soul is a comprehensive, chronologically-ordered study of every aspect of the group's musical life--composition, performance, recording and reception histories--from its beginnings in 1956 through 1965. Richly authoritative interpretations from every available reliable musical document are interwoven through a documentary study of many thousands of audio, video, print, and multimedia sources. The text will enable general readers and musicians as well as educated music theorists to learn new levels of beauty in the music of the Beatles.
Customer Reviews:
Serious scholarship.......2007-03-13
Walter Everett subjects the music of The Beatles to the kind of theoretical examination usually reserved for classical music. This book, along with its companion volume, is serious-minded, intellectually rigorous, extremely well-conceived and yet, for the informed reader, not at all tedious. I know of no other instance where popular music has been subjected to this kind of analysis with such compelling results.
These volumes seem to implicitly ask whether The Beatles' music is actually good enough to withstand the rigor of intensive analytical scrutiny. As Professor Everett ably demonstrates, it truly is. His dissection of the famous medley on side two of "Abbey Road" (in the companion volume) is eye-poppingly brilliant. In all, both volumes are superb treatises, books that set a new and very high standard for scholarship in popular music. They are also a welcome addition to literature on the band that is still the standard by which all others are measured.
A Fine Review Of The Beatles' Early Music.......2005-07-14
As I indiciated in my review of Everett's companion book, which traces the music of the Beatles from "Revolver" through "The Anthology," these books are the definitive works about the music of the Beatles. There are so many books about the Beatles' cultural iconic significance, their sociological and gender influence and a whole host of other irrelevant topics. What matters most is that the Beatles were timeless musicians who defined the music of the 20th century. Everett reviews their music as he would any great composer. If his perspective is too technical and professorial, you may want to consider Riley's "Tell Me Why," which is still my favorite book about the Beatles' music. It provides succinct and probing insights into their music. Everett's book is nevertheless excellent, and I highly recommend it.
Dense, but wonderful........2002-12-10
Yes, this book is very dense and technical, I am not a musician and was a bit lost at times, however, the author structures the book in such a way that you can skim or skip what is over your head (a lot for me) and still get something out of this book.
For me, one of the most important and rare things about this book is the way the author does not fall into the John vs. Paul biases like so many others who have written on this topic. He gives both men the written ananlysis and technical break down of their work they deserve and does not short change Paul in favor of John. This is appreciated as I believe it gives the best description of how the songwriting evolved through the talents of both men.
He also gives the same critical analysis of George Harrison's songs, this is rare indeed.
For these reasons I highly recommend the book for serious Beatle fans.
I am already burning through the second book.
Excellent Beatle book but..........2002-09-23
First, let me make it clear that I really like this book (and its companion volume.) It's pretty difficult to write anything about the Beatles anymore that hasn't been written about ad nauseum already, but both of these books contain a great deal of fresh and intelligent information and insight on the Beatles's music. That said, I have a feeling that a lot of folks looking for new Beatles literature just aren't going to particularly enjoy The Beatles As Musicians. I'm a musician, but at times as I was reading this material I felt as though I might as well have been reading Latin simply because Mr. Everett is often very technical and rather esoteric in his discussions. In some ways (and Mr. Everett admittedly touches on this issue) these books seem somehow to fly in the face of what makes rock music so great in the first place...emotion, borderline chaos, an underlying sense of danger and rebellion, limited musicianship that somehow leads to innovation, chance, improvisation, etc etc. Still, as I noted, I enjoyed these books a great deal even when I didn't have the slightest idea what the author was writing about. But if you're not a musician or you are one who is largely self-taught and as technically stupid as I am, I wonder how much you'll like The Beatles As Musicians. Regardless, in appreciation of the freshness and intelligence of his work, I have to give Mr. Everett's books both five stars.
Worth Every Penny.......2002-06-26
I like the way this author compliments his readers' intelligence by writing about musical theory with clear detail. He describes how the Beatles achieved some of the sounds they did and gives good, in-depth analyses of many of their songs.
This book is truly a must-have for inveterate Beatles fans; musicians and lay people as well will certainly come away enriched after having read this. I can't recommend this one highly enough.
Average customer rating:
- Bloated, but essential
- To the toppermost of the poppermost
- a great page-turner
- All I want is the truth
- Excellent writing, but who are these guys?
|
The Beatles: The Biography
Bob Spitz
Manufacturer: Back Bay Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0316013315 |
Book Description
"Irresistible....A captivating picture that hasn't beenseen before....THE BEATLES amplifies and corrects some of what is knownabout the band's formative years.... It powerfully evokes both theexcitement and the price of such a sudden rise." --NEW YORK TIMES At last in paperback: the biography the Beatles deserve. It's all here, rawand right--the highs and the lows, the love and the rivalry, the awe andthe jealousy, the drugs, the tears, the thrill, the magic never to berepeated--in a vast, exuberantly acclaimed book that's as brilliant andjoyous and revelatory as a Beatles record itself.
Customer Reviews:
Bloated, but essential.......2007-10-04
Bloated and over-written, Spitz's biography simultaneously manages to have too much information and too little. Its main strength is its coverage of the time the group spent in Hamburg and the early years of Beatlemania. However, it goes into way too much detail about Lennon's family background, McCartney's family background, and Brian Epstein's terrible business sense. In fact, Spitz at one point acknowledges that the preceding paragraphs about some of Epstein's deals didn't really impact the Beatles at all. So why was it there? In addition, there's very little about George Harrison in the book, and almost nothing about Ringo Starr.
That all being said, the book does offer some great insight into the band's early years, but as with almost every other music biography I've ever read, it loses focus as it goes along, and later events such as the time the band spent in India and the Get Back/Let It Be sessions debacle are given much less effort than some of the group's interminable early package tours.
To the toppermost of the poppermost.......2007-09-25
What a whopper of a book. Yes, there are plenty of errors and a lot of Beatlemaniacs feel slighted (and yes, even I knew George and Patti did not meet on the set of "Help!), but for sheer volumes on information, Mark Spitz's seven years in the making "The Beatles: The Biography" is a lushly written work that covers John, Paul, George and Ringo (and Stu and Pete) like few other books. By venturing outside the usual suspects and getting insight from people that weren't necessarily in The Beatles "inner circle" (some 650 people were interviewed for this, and Spitz made extensive use of archived materials), many of the stories you've heard a million times over get a fresh retelling.
The most interesting thing here is that Spitz comes off as a fan and not fanatic. That means that the warts are all left showing as The Beatles make their rise "to the toppermost of the poppermost." They are talented personalities being molded by the events of the times, and the first half of the book reflects that. (And it is in the second half of the book that the major innacuracies start really showing up). What a lot of fans will likely object to is how their idols develop; John grows increasingly drug-addled and unstable, Paul as a manipulative prick, and George often coming off as angry and mean. Ringo fares the best, with Spitz even calling him the Beatles' "gentle soul" in the later section of the book.
Particular vitriol is reserved for Yoko Ono, who enters the book as a vicious harpy out to bag a rich rock star and make breaking up the band into just another piece of her awful "performance art." Like so many fans that blame her for tearing The Beatles apart, Spitz wastes no niceties on Ono or her third rate art/music.
But it is music, particularly Beatles music, that makes this book a thrill. Granted, the writing style often gets a bit too breathless, but you can see how the foursome always seemed to manage to hold it together when it came time for creativity. There is palable sadness in the later chapters as you see these lifelong friends disintegrating even at the peak of their creative powers. Still, it's all in the grooves. The mad urges to experiment in the studio, the exhilirating rush of the new sounds, the introduction of mind-expanding substances...which ultimately led to many of the destructive ends. There are plenty of snippets of John and Paul's creative process here, and the begrudging admittance of George's talent when he came up with "Something" and "Here Comes The Sun" for Abbey Road.
Sure, there are other books, and the Beatles Fansites have adequately delineated the typos and innacuracies. I still say, read this. It's in paperback now, so the price is not as steep. And as long as it runs, it will give you several days of satisfying reading. Pop Revolver into the stereo, turn on the reading lamp, relax and float downstream.
a great page-turner.......2007-09-07
This definitive biography of the Beatles blew me away. The story of the Beatles themselves is compelling enough, but Bob Spitz's authoritative research and exuberant, entertaining writing style make this book so much more. He places the story of the Beatles in context, capturing the era and showing how the group's music helped define it. You don't have to be a Beatles fan to love this book.
By the way, I just gave Spitz's new children's book about the Beatles (Yeah Yeah Yeah) to my son, and he's very excited to be learning about the Beatles, too.
All I want is the truth.......2007-08-21
Let me say right off I have not read any of the national or international "official" reviews of this book, including the above reviews posted by Amazon. The following is strictly my personal opinion and review of yet another(!) Beatles book. I'm happy to say this one's an important core volume and will add to your enjoyment and understanding of the truly Fab Four...Entranced by pop music at an early age and always wanting to know how & why my favorite musicians ticked, I began reading and collecting Beatles publications and books in the mid-sixties starting with Julius Fast's quickie bio, followed-up by Hunter Davies' authorized biography of 1969. (At that time ANY quality books about rock music, even the Beatles, were hard to find.) Then in 1981 came Phillip Norman's acclaimed bio 'Shout!' which slowly opened the floodgates to Beatles books. Until Bob Spitz's book, Norman's was rightfully considered the only truly definitive biography. Now we have another well-researched, well-written definitive bio. With all due respect to Davies, THIS book, 'The Beatles' by Spitz is not a whitewash. Spitiz makes a valiant attempt to tell the story truthfully, "warts and all". He lets the Beatles' actions and achievements speak for themselves. The overall interpretive value of this book is impressive. In other words, the author tries to make sense of the whole phenomenon and pulls everything together as neatly as possible. Spitz attempts to explain why John, Paul, George and Ringo as well as those close to them did and said the things they did while backing it up with exhaustive notes (in the back of the book to not to upset the narrative). I've noted however, the book contains some inaccuracies of specific small facts - if you're a hard core Beatles fan you'll spot them - but I don't believe they significantly weaken the author's credibility or narrative. In fact the narrative itself is one of the book's main strengths; It's easy-to-read, skillfully and smoothly dovetailing chronological events with just the right amount of music analysis - how the guys recorded as well as what inspired them to write and produce the music (which many other "music biographers" tend to leave out entirely!) Especially appreciated is Spitz's well-researched exploration of Stuart Sutcliffe's part in the story and the description of Astrid Kircherr's influence on them and her role in their early days...Like Phillip Norman's biography, this book is weighted slightly more heavily to the early years: UK tours, Hamburg, and Beatlemania than the later years of Revolver through Abbey Road. A minor nitpick, but it would be nice someday to see a comprehensive 2-volume Beatles biography. Though there are many other books to read about all aspects of "Beatleness", this, for now is the definitive straight biography and a good place to start.
Excellent writing, but who are these guys?.......2007-07-21
Let's face it, there are a lot of Beatle books out there. A lot. I've read them, you've read them. They range from the worshipful to the truly awful. Bob Spitz's book is actually very well researched and written. His language is clear and brilliantly descriptive, and sets the scene so well that you can picture being in Liverpool in the 1950s, or Hamburg on the Reeperbahn. It also seems that he interviewed everyone, and I mean everyone, except the Fab Four. He also seems familiar with every other Beatle account out there. But my main question is: Does Bob Spitz even like the Beatles? Not just their music, but the men themselves, especially John and Paul. John comes across as an out of control drug/drink addict, mad at the world and jealous of everyone. Paul is painted as a scheming con artist, happy go lucky to the point of manipulation. The music gets fair criticism, especially their early work, but Spitz gets savage in his criticism of Magical Mystery Tour (the music, not the film which receives its own scorching) and the White Album. There is special venom reserved for Yoko Ono, and the mess that was Apple is laid bare in all its money-bleeding excess. The final bang that was the Beatles' explosion is presented as more of a whimper, and one becomes thankful that the release of "McCartney" in April 1970 ends the whole sordid mess.
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