Beatle books - Top Five

[KelMar]

To clarify....I feel Geoff Emerick had a bit more leeway in regard to expressing his personal opinions given that his book is really a memoir. I get more annoyed with Philip Norman because his books seem to be more reference-style biographies, which IMO should be kept neutral.

I agree Kathy. That's why I strongly disliked Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney by Howard Sounes. It seemed more like a way to discredit Paul than anything else.

[KEROUAC]

Doggett's You Never Give Me Your Money is on my list, but I've heard that it is painful to read and you have to be a very devoted fan to finish it!

I didn't find it a difficult read at all and there's a great attention to detail which I love.

[zipp]

The Beatles: An Illustrated Record by Roy Carr & Tony Tyler (1975)
The Man Who Gave The Beatles Away by Allan Williams (1975)
The Beatles Forever by Nicholas Schaffner (1977)
A Hard Day's Night In America by A.J.S. Rayl (1989)
You Never Give Me Your Money by Peter Doggett (2009) .

I still think The Illustrated Record is a good book. It may have a few mistakes but it's very clear and the comments on the records are usually sound. It's also nearer to the actual events than most books. So, for example, it tells us the truth (now considered heresy) that Please Please Me was number one in the UK.

The Allen Williams book is great and very believable. Their search for a drummer fits in with what Lewisohn has since told us.

I'll certainly look out for the other three books which I haven't read.

[giveawaychord]

I didn't find it a difficult read at all and there's a great attention to detail which I love.

Sorry for causing confusion. When I said 'painful to read' I didn't mean 'difficult'. From all I've heard about the book I conclude that some of the information given may shatter long-held beliefs. No hero escapes scrutiny unscathed, and some people may find that hard to swallow.

re Allan Williams:

Their search for a drummer fits in with what Lewisohn has since told us.

Another misunderstanding. I didn't say that the book was wrong in everything it says, I said that it is unreliable as a whole. I think there are various posts on this forum where Bill Harry flatly dismisses some of Allan Williams's 'facts' as fantasy. The book is such a lively account that you can enjoy it whether all the details are correct or not.  If you're interested in the facts alone, it will be a better idea to turn to Lewisohn.

I've been reading several Beatles books this year (Revolver by Robert Rodriguez, While My Guitar Gently Weeps by Simon Leng ...) but none of them would make it into my top five in either the 'enjoy' or the 'consult' categories. I recommend the Revolver-book anyway. It's sort of a book-length 'Microscopes' for one album with lots of background and argues quite convincingly for Revolver as the peak of what the Beatles did.

[zipp]

re Allan Williams: Another misunderstanding. I didn't say that the book was wrong in everything it says, I said that it is unreliable as a whole. I think there are various posts on this forum where Bill Harry flatly dismisses some of Allan Williams's 'facts' as fantasy. The book is such a lively account that you can enjoy it whether all the details are correct or not.  If you're interested in the facts alone, it will be a better idea to turn to Lewisohn.

I didn't intend to criticise your opinion at all, since I'm sure you're right... but I think nevertheless that maybe Allen's book would make my top five! Lots of things about it ring true.

Another two books for consideration : Eric Kraskers' "Fact and Ficion 1960-1962" is a very serious study of some questions concerning the early years. Peter Brown's "The Love You Make" reveals some stuff I don't remember reading elsewhere, especially the Ringo George Maureen love triangle.It's been criticised as kiss-and-tell but nobody has said it didn't happen.

[KEROUAC]

Thanks for the headsup regarding Revolver by Robert Rodriguez which I wasn't aware of and it's my favourite album. At first I though you were referring to another book which I've seen available for free online Abracadabra by Ray Newman. http://www.revolverbook.co.uk/

[Brynjar]

Twenty-five of the best Beatles books for giving or getting

http://www.examiner.com/list/twenty-five-of-the-best-beatles-books-for-giving-or-getting

[Bingo Bongo]

Without a doubt, the 2 best Beatles books to get are:

1) Andy Babiuk's Beatles Gear.  Great pics of every instrument the Beatles played. Followed closely by
2) Mark Lewisohn's The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions.

The best part is, reading them in unison so that you learn what they played on what songs at what date.

CLASSIC!  icon_king

[KelMar]

Without a doubt, the 2 best Beatles books to get are:

1) Andy Babiuk's Beatles Gear.  Great pics of every instrument the Beatles played.

I had the privilege of hearing Andy speak in February of 2014. As a someone who doesn't play guitar or know a lot about them I wondered if the talk would go over my head but that really wasn't the case. He put it all in context with the Beatles' history as I know it. I was actually quite surprised when I heard he was coming to this area but then I learned that he's from Rochester, NY which isn't too far away.

[KEROUAC]

Twenty-five of the best Beatles books for giving or getting

http://www.examiner.com/list/twenty-five-of-the-best-beatles-books-for-giving-or-getting

That's a good list and a few I hadn't heard of. Thanks

[zipp]

That's a good list and a few I hadn't heard of. Thanks

Yes and no. I think there are too many books in the list.

For example, someone bought me the Lennon Letters by Hunter Davies and I found it to be of very little interest. Certainly less interesting than Ringo's book Postcards From the Boys.

Then again I wouldn't put either of them in my top twenty.

[stevie]

I read Conversations With McCartney by Paul Du Noyer last week. Saw it at the library. Initially thought I'd just skim through but it was a damn good book of interviews ranging from 1989 to the present.

Whilst the Beatles era was nothing new and covered in other McCartney books, I did learn a few new things which is remarkable as I've basically read everything worth reading in the Beatle universe. For instance, Paul was approached by a well known film director to star in the 1968 Romeo and Juliet with Olivia Hussey lol!

[raxo]

Some people thisscouse them ... but can you hear them here ? 



P.S. Sadly, the first link thisUPpear ... if you're interested, PMme

[KEROUAC]

I saw this list of "Best" Beatle books which is a very good summary. I have to agree with the majority. I would add "Tune In" though.

http://listforus.net/2015/12/06/10-best-beatles-books/

[nimrod]

I saw this list of "Best" Beatle books which is a very good summary. I have to agree with the majority. I would add "Tune In" though.

http://listforus.net/2015/12/06/10-best-beatles-books/

Tune In is No 1 for me

I really dont see how you could put some of them above it