Meet people from all over the World
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Pages: 1 ... 3 4 [5] 6 7 ... 21

Author Topic: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?  (Read 87685 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

BlueMeanie

  • Guest
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #80 on: April 28, 2007, 07:11:45 AM »

Quote from: 553
By the way, has anyone read some book called 'John Lennon Called Me Normal' because I was watching a Pink Floyd documentary and there was some guy on it who was apparently author of that book (sorry cant remember his name!) so, if anyone has read it I would be interested to hear if it's good  :)

Haven't read the book, but the author is Norman Smith who was an engineer on most of The Beatles recordings up until Rubber Soul, I think. He also produced the first couple of Floyd albums.

A.K.A. Hurricane Smith, he had 3 hit singles in the UK between '71 and '72.
Logged

Andy Smith

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4597
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #81 on: April 28, 2007, 01:37:23 PM »

Norman Smith (born 22 February 1923) is a musician and record producer. He was the engineer on all of the recordings by the Beatles up until 1965 when EMI promoted him from engineer to producer. The last Beatles album he recorded was Rubber Soul.

Smith, on 17 June 1965 (nickname 'Normal', & '2 dB's Smith') while working with the Beatles was once offered 15,000 UKP by the band's music publishing company (Dick James Music) to buy outright a song he had written, which he offered to finalise the track line-up of the Help! LP.

In early 1967, he began working with a new group, Pink Floyd, producing their first three studio albums The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, A Saucerful of Secrets, and Ummagumma. During the sessions for the song "Remember a Day", drummer Nick Mason became agitated that he could not come up with the right drum part for the song. Smith, however, knew what he wanted with the drums, so he played the part himself. Still, Pink Floyd outgrew their producer somewhat, referring to him as "Normal" instead of Norman, although numerous books quote John Lennon as having come up with the nickname.

In 1968, Smith produced one of the first rock concept albums, The Pretty Things' S.F. Sorrow.

In 1971, Smith, as a recording artist under the name of Hurricane Smith, had a UK hit with "Don't Let It Die". In 1972 he enjoyed a transatlantic hit with "Oh Babe What Would You Say?", which became a U.S. # 1 Cashbox hit. This recording was a demo of a song that he had written for a different artist to record. When he played it for fellow record producer Mickie Most, Most was impressed enough to tell him to release it as it was.

Also from Smith's self-titled debut album was a third hit single, a cover of Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Who Was It?".

Some minor hits followed, like "My Mother Was Her Name" (1972), "Beautiful Day, Beautiful Night" (1973) and "To Make You My Baby" (1974). However, his subsequent attempts at producing successful recordings proved elusive.

In 2004, Smith released a new CD, From Me To You (SFMCD030), including new recordings of his biggest self-penned hits, "Don't Let It Die" and "Oh Babe, What Would You Say?", and includes messages in the liner notes from Sir Paul McCartney and members of Pink Floyd. Interviews on the disc can be cited to confirm the information given above.

Norman Smith has written a book, his memoirs, entitled John Lennon Called Me Normal. It debuted on 16 March 2007 as a strictly limited first edition, at The Fest for Beatles Fans in Secaucus, New Jersey, at which Smith appeared live and sang "Oh Babe" to a packed, cheering ballroom of fans. An expanded market edition of the book is due for worldwide release in summer 2007. The book contains never-before-published pictures, newly revealed historical facts about the Beatles and Pink Floyd at Abbey Road Studios, as well as the fascinating details of Smith's life as an RAF Glider Pilot, family man and "British Invasion" renaissance man.
Logged


          Turn off your mind, Relax and float downstream. It is not dying

Revolution

  • Getting Better
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 391
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #82 on: April 29, 2007, 05:40:02 AM »

 ;DGreat!!!!!!!!! :D
Logged

tangerine

  • Getting Better
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 514
  • here comes the sun
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #83 on: April 29, 2007, 01:23:42 PM »

ay, thanks!  ;D that's excellente
Logged
<br />But every so often you come across something truly inspiring...<br />
<br />

Kaleidoscope_Eyes

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 4126
  • Alles Goed!
    • BananaSpeel
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #84 on: May 01, 2007, 05:09:36 AM »

Quote from: 614

I will, while tormenting my eyes! ;D
Anyway, your a bit old for that sort of chat arn't yr? ;D :P


.. but I'm clean...  :P

Quote from: 668
I ME MINE

How are you liking it so far? By the way, read carefully the pictures' captions...
Logged

Arsenal is forever England and England is forever Arsenal

Andy Smith

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4597
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #85 on: May 01, 2007, 01:18:42 PM »

Quote from: 596
.. but I'm clean...  :P

Are Yr? ;D

Logged


          Turn off your mind, Relax and float downstream. It is not dying

Kaleidoscope_Eyes

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 4126
  • Alles Goed!
    • BananaSpeel
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #86 on: May 02, 2007, 09:16:39 AM »

^ Course I am! I'm a human being aren't I?

...People are going to blame us for spamming...  ::)
Logged

Arsenal is forever England and England is forever Arsenal

An Apple Beatle

  • That Means a Lot
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Posts: 5635
  • Be yourself, no matter what they say.
    • The studio
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #87 on: May 03, 2007, 08:30:32 AM »

Just finished George Martin's 'All You Need Is Ears' and Geoff Emericks 'Here There & Everywhere.' Both great reads. Geoff offers many insights into the dynamics and relationship of the band. If anyone knows, then this man does. ;)
Logged
http://www.4sitemusic.com
USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION ON THIS FORUM! CLICK HERE!

Andy Smith

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4597
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #88 on: May 03, 2007, 03:43:56 PM »

Quote from: 15
Just finished George Martin's 'All You Need Is Ears' and Geoff Emericks 'Here There & Everywhere.' Both great reads. Geoff offers many insights into the dynamics and relationship of the band. If anyone knows, then this man does. ;)

Yeah, I wanna read Geoff's book, looks very good & he's always been a trustworthy man! :)
Never read George Martin's book, so i'll need to seek it out :o

Logged


          Turn off your mind, Relax and float downstream. It is not dying

JimmyMcCullochFan

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Male
  • Posts: 3373
  • Wino Junko
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #89 on: May 04, 2007, 11:28:09 AM »

Geoff's Here, There and Everywhere. What a great book!
Logged

Kaleidoscope_Eyes

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 4126
  • Alles Goed!
    • BananaSpeel
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #90 on: May 28, 2007, 04:43:02 AM »

Anyone read Jurgen Vollmer's book about the Beatles in Hamburg?
Logged

Arsenal is forever England and England is forever Arsenal

Flaming Pie in the Sky

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 2023
    • Gone Troppo
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #91 on: May 29, 2007, 12:06:54 AM »

I skimmed through Cynthia's book, John, a couple of weeks ago. I read a chapter and it seemed very good. I haven't bought it yet, though.
Logged

Kaleidoscope_Eyes

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 4126
  • Alles Goed!
    • BananaSpeel
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #92 on: June 01, 2007, 09:36:00 AM »

Quote from: 687
I skimmed through Cynthia's book, John, a couple of weeks ago. I read a chapter and it seemed very good. I haven't bought it yet, though.

I'd definately recommand it (I reviewed it here before). Its not the usual "twist of lennon".  
Logged

Arsenal is forever England and England is forever Arsenal

Andy Smith

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4597
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #93 on: June 01, 2007, 11:39:44 AM »

I've never read Twist of Lennon.
Has anybody here read it & what's it like?
Logged


          Turn off your mind, Relax and float downstream. It is not dying

DarkSweetLady

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 1326
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #94 on: July 04, 2007, 08:53:10 PM »

I think I told you to get it before Sky... it gives sort of the other side of John (John by Cyn Lennon)

I already read I Me Mine but I was finishing up the songs... then I'm going to read Lennon Revealed.....
Logged

~the guiding light in all your love shines on~

Flaming Pie in the Sky

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 2023
    • Gone Troppo
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #95 on: July 04, 2007, 10:54:02 PM »

^^ I'm reading Lennon Revealed
Logged

DarkSweetLady

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 1326
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #96 on: July 04, 2007, 11:02:03 PM »

 ;D
Logged

~the guiding light in all your love shines on~

Octie

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 1779
  • It's sunshine life for me...
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #97 on: July 05, 2007, 01:24:16 AM »

I've only read Shout! by Philip Norman... I liked it. Quite informative, and I liked how he also gives background facts, like what was happening in the world around the Beatles at that time.
I want to read Hunter Davies' book (I've read little bits... selectively, I'm afraid  :B)
I've also read some bits from John and I Me Mine (well, they were birthday presents for K_E, and I had to have a bit of a read and see what is it that I'm giving her  ;))
I sometimes "steal" I Me Mine to read about the song lyrics and stories behind them...

Wow, great thread, loads of great Beatles books out there...  :)
Logged
I'd ask my friends to come and see... an Octopus's Garden with me ^___^

Kaleidoscope_Eyes

  • A Thousand Pages
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 4126
  • Alles Goed!
    • BananaSpeel
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #98 on: July 05, 2007, 02:52:52 AM »

Quote from: 614
I've never read Twist of Lennon.
Has anybody here read it & what's it like?


Well now. Twist of Lennon (not to confuze with Lemon- jokies). Its a more restrained book of the John-Cynthia story. It appears that she (Cynthia) writes more in order to please the public and media and it has more "stories" about the other people. It also contains Cyn's poems (which are quite nice) and her drawings. In fact, it is more about Cyn than both of them.  

Read more here. and the post after
http://www.dmbeatles.com/forums/b-books/m-1169261662/s-60/#num72

[size=9]^ oooh! Can I proudly say I did a raxo???  ;)[/size]
Logged

Arsenal is forever England and England is forever Arsenal

raxo

  • Sun King
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 10680
Re: Which Beatle book are you reading right now?
« Reply #99 on: July 05, 2007, 03:06:07 AM »

Quote from: 596
[...][size=9]^ oooh! Can I proudly say I did a raxo???  ;)[/size]
LOL! Many people here would say [size=9](proudly? I'm not sure)[/size] so  ;) ...

Logged
Pages: 1 ... 3 4 [5] 6 7 ... 21
 

Page created in 0.306 seconds with 88 queries.