Just starting on ' Beatles- The Dream Is Over'.

I just finished reading - The Beatles unseen.

But now i'm reading The Beatles - Stories behind the songs...

Does Patti's biography count..?

Quoted from NoraNora4

Does Patti's biography count..?

I would say, absolutely! Who's likely to read it besides Beatles fans? (I think Eric fans would want to avoid it...)

What do you think of the books you just read? I haven't read either of those. My library doesn't have them.

At the moment I'm reading Paul's biography 'Many Years From Now' by Barry Miles. I'm halfway through and Paul appears to spend very little time with the Beatles, apart from songwriting with John. It's very much a solo biography. We'll see what I think when I get done with it.

Okay

Theyre both very good actually,

And Patties biographies brilliant too, Some new things i never knew

xoxo

I finished Tony Bramwell's "Magical Mystery Tours, My Life With The Beatles" a few weeks ago, it was pretty good. And now I'm reading the "The Beatles Authorized Biography".

I am reading Cynthia Lennons book.

I'm re-reading Paul's autobiography "Many Years From Now" (co-written by Barry Miles who is really excellent)(Barry & John Dunbar are long-time friends of Macca from the days of the Indica Art gallery)

Paul pretty much tells his life story--all the previously known facts about meeting John at the church fete, the infamous Hamburg days, the Cavern etc., all the way to his post Beatles, Wings period and beyond. My favorite section of the book is "The Making of the Albums", in which he dissects nearly every Lennon/McCartney song and tells us his degree of contribution to each one. After reading this lengthy book, I got the general feeling that Paul was very much in competion with John, artistically, and that he was trying to assert (even more than just convey)his importance in the Beatles. The book is simultaneously egomaniacal yet extremely informative. He basically gives the inspiration for almost all the songs he and John wrote together. For that alone, it's a great read (if you can stomach McCartney's excessive bragging)

as far as factual errors, I'll with hold judgement on that...Paul was closer to the subject than I was. He was a Beatle, I wasn't. Any autobigraphy is riddled with personal perception, but I believe 98% of his recollection (factually) What I wasn't too thrilled about was his unabashed pomposity....but he's easily forgiven by me when I think of all the joy he gave me with his music over the years. Let the clinical, emotion-less future archivists sort out the veracity of his claims, he's PAUL McCARTNEY FOR CHRISSAKE! HE WROTE YESTERDAY, CASE CLOSED.

Quoted from 829

I'm re-reading Paul's autobiography "Many Years From Now" (co-written by Barry Miles who is really excellent)

Excellant Book, can't believe it's about 10 years old!!
Interesting view point's from Macca as well, he has a good memory
(almost full! )

Quoted from 829

After reading this lengthy book, I got the general feeling that Paul was very much in competion with John, artistically, and that he was trying to assert (even more than just convey)his importance in the Beatles.

I think the reason they kept pumping out great songs in no time at all, especially earlier on, is undoubtedly the competition between the two of them. I'm sure they both wanted the A side of every single that came out.

Quoted from BlueMeanie

I think the reason they kept pumping out great songs in no time at all, especially earlier on, is undoubtedly the competition between the two of them. I'm sure they both wanted the A side of every single that came out.

We have been down this road many a time, but I agree. I would go as far as to say competition was vital to their success, far more so than any dreams of some brotherly commune. Songs had to fight for their place on albums and as singles, something most other bands don't have to consider, there normally being one dominant talent (or a lyrics/music combo)

Quoted from Andy Smith

Excellant Book, can't believe it's about 10 years old!!
Interesting view point's from Macca as well, he has a good memory
(almost full! )

by the way--and I know I should be shot for this, but I think I'm the only one who hasnt heard Almost Full yet..
*hangs head in shame*

Quoted from 829

by the way--and I know I should be shot for this, but I think I'm the only one who hasnt heard Almost Full yet..
*hangs head in shame*

What! You don't know what your missing!!!

Now starting on 'Day By Day, Song By Song, Record By Record'.

I just finished Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain, and America by Jonathan Gould. What a wonderful book! Unlike some of these hack jobs, this is truly a labor of love. Gould has obviously loved and appreciated the Beatles for a long time, and as a result has created the only Beatles biography that I would actually care to own (besides Hunter Davies' for its historical relevance).

Gould approaches his subject from 3 essential viewpoints: the history of the Beatles themselves (the more traditional biography), an analysis of their music, and (the highpoint for me) setting their music in the historial and musical context of the times. The controversy surrounding "Revolution", for example, becomes much more understandable when you see, there in a nutshell, the kinds of protests and street fighting that was taking place around the globe. Knowing that the song "And Your Bird Can Sing" was written about Frank Sinatra certainly boosts my appreciation.  

In addition to being fanatically researched (which I love), the book is written in a delightful style. Gould's words are warm and accessible, his reflections well-considered. He's throwing out an opinion, obviously, but this is an opinion he has mulled probably for years. I found it all fascinating and a really great read. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about the Beatles in the context of their times or simply appreciate their music once again from a thoughtful standpoint. Cheers!