Do I really have to buy this?

RECORDING THE BEATLES by Kevin Ryan and Brian Kehew



Never before has there been such an absolutely thorough and definitive look at how the Beatles’ albums were recorded. Years of research and extensive interviews with the group’s former engineers and technicians shed new light on those classic sessions. With a detailed look at every piece of studio gear used, full explanations of effects and recording processes, and an inside look at how specific songs were recorded, Recording The Beatles is a must-have for any Beatles fan or recording engineer. Hardcover, 11" x 11", 540 pages, over 500 photos and illustrations, color and black and white, available September 2006, ISBN:0-9785200-0-9. The initial release of the book in September 2006 is the Deluxe Edition only.

To pre-order your copy now, please click here: (https://secure.stellasoftware.com/recordingthebeatles/?l=wo

$120 (price includes shipping and handling)

It does look like an absolutely superb book - probably more for the Beatle fans who are also musicians.

More here: http://www.recordingthebeatles.com/preview.htm

Please don't take our word for it - it has received wonderful comments from anyone who has seen and held it. It IS a somewhat technical book, but ANYONE can understand it - it's not complicated (my parents understood it all). There are tons of cool photos, including some never-seen Beatles studio pics. We tried very hard to make the book the most fair and accurate portrayal of what it was like in those days, and most of the people who worked with them have agreed it is... Please let us know if you have questions or comments. Thanks!

Ha Brian, welcome to DM's. LOL! As we're a kind of sharing family here, we would really appreciate if you could...  ;D

I've got a couple of questions concerning this book and it's very nice of one of the authors to come here to talk about it!

First of all, does it have details for every song they recorded or just certain songs when you want to illustrate a technical detail?

Second, I've noticed that Geoff Emerick doesn't get a mention in the publicity.He has recently brought out his own book about recording the Beatles.Did he refuse to contribute?Is his book accurate?(It's been publicly criticised by Ken Scott).

I imagine that the book took a lot of research.How long have you been working on it?

Looking forward to your answers and welcome to DM's!

Welcme Brian. Sounds very interesting. Look forward to you coming back here. ;)

Welcome to the forum Brian!

As Zipp said, it's great that you took time to stop by to answer any questions - nice one :)

I'd really like to buy a copy but the postage from the US is a bit expensive (over half the price of the book!). So, will de-luxe copies be available from UK bookshops?

HI and thanks. We're saving a lot of the "how we did this" information for interviews in magazines and radio, coming up in the next few months.

We cover many songs individually, whenever we felt that significant accurate information was available. They are not placed to cover any technical point, but to give as many good examples of their recordings as we could find. There is no way to cover every song - too much is unknown (such as who played what) and will likely never be known. We work hard to stay in the realm of reality and accurate information - verifying things with paperwork, photos etc.

Beatles methods changed so often, it's good to see many examples so you can start to understand how some things stayed consistent (at least for a while) and how other things shifted.

We only sell books from our website (http://www.recordingthebeatles.com), not through stores at this time. As the book costs so much to make (it is NOT small and is very high quality) it would not be proftable to sell through dealers now, unless they charge a higher price. (It is worth the money - please see ANY posts about it on other forums.) You are lucky in the UK actually - with the current exchange rate, it is cheaper for you to buy than for Americans.

Thanks for your answers Brain.
Very honest to point out that some things are impossible to know and that you've only put things that you're sure of.
The problem of the price is a case of swings and roundabouts.The exchange rate may be favourable but the shipping is more expensive.I'm sure a less luxurious edition would sell in Europe, especially through amazon or something similar.
We'll just have to be patient!

Brian, if you compare your book to Mark Lewisohn's on the Beatles recordings, what more can we expect? Is it comparable anyway?

1) Sorry - it's not the luxury of the book that costs money - it's the size and mass of it. Which will never change, unfortunately. We give all the extra stuff, because we knew people would like it and it doesn't cost too much really to add some extra bits in and make it a better value.

Maybe read what everyone says on various forums around the web - it is commonly said that it is worth far more money than is charged. Hopefully, you will be able to save and afford your own copy soon!

2) Mark Lewisohn's book tells good detail about WHEN and WHO. This book is more about the studios (not just Abbey Road, but mainly), the equipment used (which seems to be THE big mystery before now) and HOW they did things - ideas and tricks they had, who played bongos on "Hard Day's Night", how some songs were built up - track by track. (BTW - Mark is a good friend, a great help and wrote the Foreword to our book! I think my copy of "Recording Sessions" is the MOST beaten-up one in the world!)

3) Hopefully, the book is inspiring people to be more like the Beatles - not in sound, but in approach. They would often change things, just to be "not like the old Beatles". They would even make a sound worse, rather than use the "good" sound they had last time. VERY creative people - and the book points out that they PUSHED everyone to be better and different - George Martin, Norman Smith, Emerick, Scott, McDonald, etc etc. They even pushed themselves to be different than before. Notice that there's only one song like "Tomorrow Never Knows", they never copied it for something else!

To answer your question about Geoff Emerick: At first he said he'd contribute, then he didn't. So we used all his previous interviews (some unseen and unpublished) and used anything that might be applicable - which you'll see in the book. Some of the very things that were important to know had been discussed, so they are included in the book. Of course, usually there were several people there for a given session. and we could ask all involved to get a better picture of what happened.

It may be as a result of the various criticisms of his book, I don't know. But we feel we don't take sides - everyone involved gets credit in our book, and about 30+ other former Beatles staff have been very supportive of our book and it's accuracy.

** I'm curious if anyone here has gotten our book, and if so, what your favorite parts are?

Thanks for the answer Brian.
It was me that asked the question about Geoff Emerick.
I haven't bought his or your book yet but ,like you, I've heard some criticism of Geoff's book(but not of yours!).

Quoted from BrianK

I'm curious if anyone here has gotten our book, and if so, what your favorite parts are?

It was optimistically place on my Christmas list but I didn't get it! I must have been naughty last year! :(

I'd love to have a closer look at it before I spend the money on it. Possible somewhere?

Quoted from Bobber

I'd love to have a closer look at it before I spend the money on it. Possible somewhere?

I think there are some sample pages here: http://www.recordingthebeatles.com/

Quoted from The End

I think there are some sample pages here: http://www.recordingthebeatles.com/

Thanks a lot Alan! Why couldn't I think of that myself?

LOL! ;D

You've probably got other things on your mind!!!!

Bump

The Beatles' studio story told in detail


By KEN HOFFMAN
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

''I'm only 33, but I've always loved the music of the Beatles and was amazed how one group could make so many great songs in such a short period of time," says Houstonian Kevin Ryan.

"When I was in high school, I used to try and reproduce those sounds on my dad's four-track recorder. You could say I was extremely naive. I mean, they were the Beatles, and that was Abbey Road studios."

His interest in how the Beatles recorded their songs — "the technical aspect, how the sounds were made" — only grew, and after he graduated from the University of Houston, Ryan decided to write the definitive book on every little thing that went on at Abbey Road during the Beatles years.

He wanted to know who played what instrument, what microphone was used, every piece of equipment, its manufacturer and date, what level it was set at, what tricks were used to break the sound barrier, and who was in the backroom pulling the strings.

"For years I looked for a book on this subject — there wasn't one. I figured I always enjoyed writing, I have the passion, I'll do the book. I knew I'd have to meet the people who were at the sessions, who would have firsthand answers to my questions.

"I pieced together which engineers were there. Then I simply wrote letters and made phone calls. I flew to London and started interviewing everybody I could find who worked at Abbey Road during that time.

"I'd talk to one person, and inevitably he'd say, 'You know, you really should talk to ... ' That would set me off on another expedition," said Ryan, a music producer and arranger.

Two years into researching his book, Ryan was interviewing a sound engineer who said, "Are you aware that there's another guy running around London doing the same book as you?"

Ryan met with Brian Kehew, a music producer from Los Angeles with an equal determination to explain how Beatles songs were recorded. They decided to do a duet — write the book together.

Recording the Beatles is hailed as the definitive guide to the Beatles at work in the studio. Ryan and Kehew (who, incidentally, plays keyboards for the Who on tour) had unprecedented access to Abbey Road staff and facilities. Paul McCartney cooperated by allowing the authors to print never-seen photos of the Fab Four taken by his first wife, Linda.

This is a big book (540 pages) with a big price tag ($100), and it's available only at http://www.recordingthebeatles.com.

A word of warning: This book is not for casual Beatles fans who enjoy the group's personalities, pop culture and music. If you're not curious (obsessive would help) about the technical side of making an album, Recording the Beatles will leave you in the dust, scratching your head and wondering who cares about the serial number of the compressor used on Yellow Submarine.

Yes, that is John Lennon muttering profanity on Hey, Jude. Recording the Beatles explains how that happened and why John's f-bomb had to stay.

"They were doing an overdub, and the engineer set the level too high on John's headphones. He threw them to the ground and said what he said. It was on the vocal track. The engineer couldn't get rid of it, so it's there if you listen closely enough," Ryan said.

If it's been driving you crazy since the '60s that no one knew where the Beatles did the mono vocals for Help!, then help is on the way.

"That's one of the things in the book that is freaking hard-core Beatles fans out," Ryan said. "There was never any paperwork on a session for the mono vocal of Help! Then I got hold of a photo of the Beatles at an unknown recording session. John was on one microphone, and Paul and George (Harrison) were on the other. It obviously wasn't Abbey Road. I took the photo and zoomed in on the piece of paper that John was holding. It was the Help! lyrics! We determined it was CTS Studios in London. We had found the missing session!"

"We spoke to all the people who knew the Beatles' gear inside and out," Ryan said. "We did something that no one was able to do — we rounded up virtually everybody involved in their sessions. We were able to gather new information, not the same Beatles stories that have been done over and over. We're very proud of this book."

The release party for Recording the Beatles was held in Abbey Road's Studio 2 — the Beatles' main studio. It was the biggest reunion ever for the people who flipped the switches and moved the dials for the Beatles. Mark Lewisohn, considered the great historian of Abbey Road comings and goings, wrote the foreword to Recording the Beatles.

Recording the Beatles sold out its first printing and is halfway through its second printing, Ryan said.

"It's not for everyone. I know that for some people the section on equipment will be as interesting as looking through a car-parts catalog. But for technically inclined fans, we think we did a very good job. A lot of it is nerdy, but it's very thorough. We had to cut out some stuff in order to get it down to 540 pages. The last part of the book, the part on production, should be interesting for all Beatles fans. It's a more entertaining picture of the Beatles in the studio creating their albums.

" If you want to know how a song was done, here's how the they did it."

God, I REALLY do have to get this book!

I rather optimistically put it on my Xmas list!!!!!!

Sounds Great !!!!!!!!!! :)

I was on my way to order it. The book was 100 USD, but shipping and handling appeared to be 59.10 USD. Total 159.10 USD. That was just one bridge too far. Sorry Brian.

Long time lurker, first time poster. Hullo everyone...

I'm just curious:does ANYONE here have the Recording The Beatles book? I am amazed at how there is no discussion of it around here. I recently got it, and I truly feel this is one of THE most important books ever written on the group. I guess I can't believe everyone's not talking about it.

The website on the book is http://www.recordingthebeatles.com , but I don't think it really does it justice. Judging from the website, you might think it will be all about microphones and speakers and stuff, and there definitely is a lot of technical equipment talk (which is a bit over my head at times). But what the site doesn't really tell you about is the last half of the book, which is all about their songs and how they were recorded. There is so much new information here it's hard to believe. So many new stories and insights from the people that were there and worked with the Beatles. An amazing amount of detail about the songs and sessions and many photos of the group I've never seen anywhere. It feels like every page answers some question I've wondered about for decades. I can't say enough about it.

I think one of the most important things about it is this is one of the few books on the group that presents completely new information, rather than recycling the same old stuff. Yes, it's expensive, but I would encourage everyone here to save up and buy it (there's supposed to be a cheaper version coming some time this year too). It comes in an old tape box with extra goodies, and the whole thing feels like it should cost a few hundred bucks. This book definitely belongs on every Beatles fan's shelf next to the Mark Lewisohn book. It's the perfect companion.

Just curious if anyone else here has it...

Hi DeeMishay and welcome to this forum.  

I haven't read the book yet but I intend to purchase it this summer.  I, too, feel it would be an excellent companion to Mark Lewisohn's book.

HELLO DEEMISHAY  :)
Nice to meet you .
That looks an interseting book , ive not seen that before .
Mark Lewisohm he is the man for beatle books  8)

Welcome to the forums DeeMishay. Enjoy ;)

Hi DeeMishay. Welcome at DM's. I have merged the existing threads on this particular book. Hope you don't mind.

Quoted from 773

Long time lurker, first time poster. Hullo everyone...

I'm just curious:does ANYONE here have the Recording The Beatles book? I am amazed at how there is no discussion of it around here. I recently got it, and I truly feel this is one of THE most important books ever written on the group. I guess I can't believe everyone's not talking about it.

Welcome aboard! ;D

As you are now no doubt aware, there have been some discussions about this book and one of the authors even posted here about it at one point!

There are a few VERY interested members here (myself included), however the postal charges to Europe are extremely prohibitive so until it's available via the usual book outlets I'm afraid it wont be selling many copies on this side of the Atlantic.

I don't know if forum members are aware of the re release  of the book "Recording The Beatles" by Curvebender publishing. This book is rather expensive  at $100 but it is worth every penny for the sheer Beatles
information that it contains.  I might  warn that this is not a Beatles novice book and more of a Beatlology  textbook of information regarding  Abbey Road Studios and all of Beatles recording from 1963 to 1970.  If
you have no knowledge of Audio, Electronics and the recording process, this book is not for you. Again, this is for more advanced Beatles fan who want to know about the recording process of  Abbey Road Studios during
the fab four period .

I have the book and it contains  mind blowing information.



http://www.recordingthebeatles.com


send email to:john@antihotmail.com

Curvebender published another book lately, called Kaleidoscope Eyes. Looks interesting. Check it out here: http://www.curvebender.com/

Quoted from The End

God, I REALLY do have to get this book!

I rather optimistically put it on my Xmas list!!!!!!

It's a must for any  hard core Beatles fan

I finally got it and read, its the absolute GREATEST for learning at how to do Beatle style recording. I cannot write enough to do it justice. I would like to pursue a career as an engineer, and this is my magic book of spells!

It arrived this week, but I'm not supposed to have a look at it because it's meant to be my birthday present next week.

Product Total: $100.00
Shipping/Handling (Priority Mail International): $58.50 (To Iceland)
---------------------------------------------------
Final Total: $158.50

That is one expensive book!  :-/

It is. But I'm pretty sure it's worth it. And with todays exchange rates, it is almost as cheap as you can get.

I'm still waiting for a British bookseller to have this for sale. I'd have liked to have bought it by now but as previously said, shipping costs are prohibative.

I will be able to have a look at it today if you catch my drift.  ;D

Quoted from Gloi

I'm still waiting for a British bookseller to have this for sale. I'd have liked to have bought it by now but as previously said, shipping costs are prohibative.

Sadly too true. :(

Still, with today's exchange rates, it probably won't get cheaper than now. Alternative: come on over and you can read it here.  ;D

;D

Not sure which would be cheaper....not a lot in it. heheheh

You'll get a free beer over here with it.  ;D