Best Beatles Book? | Page 9 | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

Beatles author Robert Rodriguez took this list to task today.

source

So, this came up:

http://www.rollingstone.com/�…..s-20160504

Never mind the fact that none of my stuff is represented – I’ll overlook that. But there are some SERIOUS omissions here, and some completely inexplicable choices. Here’s my take:

10 ‘The Beatles, Lennon and Me,’ by Pete Shotton

Can’t disagree with this one. A very good insider book, written with love by someone without an axe to grind, while not sparing unflattering depictions.

9 ‘The Man Who Gave the Beatles Away,’ by Allan Williams

One of my personal faves and highly-recommended, though with the caveat that there is some creative writing going on here. Viewed as historical fiction produced by one who was there and not as gospel, a perfectly worthy volume.

8 ‘Here, There And Everywhere : My Life Recording the Beatles,’ by Geoff Emerick

(Groan) No, no no. My feelings on this book are well known, and if it were viewed the same way I described Allan Williams’ book, there’d be no issues. But it isn’t: it’s a much-loved volume treated as gospel by too many people who should know better, as well as the final word on what went on in the studio. It’s neither: instead, it offers biases presented as fact, none so much as the anti-George slant throughout. Further, Emerick’s miraculous vivid recall of events occurring decades before, as well as his assuming credit for much innovation, must be taken with a massive grain of salt.

First, there’s this (http://www.angelfire.com/…/b…..k1979.html ) – an interview done far closer to the Beatle years revealing his inability to remember the details of anything. Then too there is the call out from colleague Ken Scott, who spoke of Emerick’s franticly reaching out to past co-workers for anecdotes as soon as he got a book deal, owing to the fact that he couldn’t remember enough to flesh out a book.

There’s a great book waiting to be written on the Beatles in the studio – this isn’t it, but THIS one comes much closer to the mark: http://www.curvebender.com/rtb.html

7 ‘Shout!: The Beatles in Their Generation,’ by Philip Norman

Meh. Lots of great narrative, marred by Norman’s Lennonista tendencies (“John was 3/4 of The Beatles,” he said in an interview at the time) and marginalization of Paul, which he’s since recanted. Mark Lewisohn’s Tune In makes a far worthier addition to this list (without covering the entirety of their career, of course).

6 ‘The Beatles: The Authorized Biography,’ by Hunter Davies

Derided by Lennon as a sanitized telling of their story, it is still a must-own, if only for the access The Beatles gave Davies, who – as a fly on the wall – not only observed Lennon-McCartney writing sessions (for Sgt. Pepper ) but also recording dates, plus their personal interactions, wives included.

5 ‘Lennon Remembers,’ by Jann S. Wenner

Revealing the perils of a fanboy getting unfettered access to his idol at a time when he (John) was coming off incomplete psychotherapy treatment and looking to sell his new album while laying waste to his Beatle past. If a real journalist had gotten a shot at this and called bullshit on the mountains of it being shoveled his way, the results might have been quite illuminating and worthwhile. Instead, we’re treated to a series of contradictions and John’s unfettered expressions of his id, unchallenged.

Maybe a more insightful volume to take its place would be the combined In His Own Write/ A Spaniard in the Works – unwittingly revealing and far more entertaining.

4 ‘The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions,’ by Mark Lewisohn

This work IS essential, but I would substitute The Complete Beatles Chronicle – a broader work that folded in his earlier The Beatles Live!, plus updated with new information and corrections of previous errors.

3 ‘The Love You Make: An Insider’s Story of the Beatles,’ by Peter Brown and Steven Gaines

The “scandalous choice” would’ve been Albert Goldman’s The Lives of John Lennon – a work that invited the overkill of derision it got for its hardline anti-Lennon editorializing – yet actually includes some worthwhile research, but not for the demonizing spin put on everything.

The Love You Make, on the other hand, represents nothing less than salacious gossip and score-settling from an insider who apparently wished not to be one anymore. Brown betrayed his past associates and the Beatles by using his privileged position to sell them all out – a pox on it.

2 ‘Revolution in the Head,’ by Ian MacDonald

Another much-loved work nonetheless loaded with errors of fact (most involving music theory) beyond counting and some heavy-handed biases expressed. Worth reading, if one recognizes upfront the author’s tendency toward expressing opinion as fact, and applying an obtuse level of scholarly analysis to things that don’t always warrant it.

Far more recommended (by me): the multi-volume examinations produced by both John C. Winn and Walter Everett. They too examine everything through a musicologist’s ears, but rely less on opinion, have far greater accuracy and just more readable.

1 ‘Love Me Do ! The Beatles’ Progress,’ by Michael Braun

A real Dark Horse choice – recommended! An insightful account of their rise to fame, informed by proximity to the group as they went about their frenetic business, filled with some great journalistic observations early on that would take on greater meaning in the years that followed.

Among the missing:

Can’t Buy Me Love by Jonathan Gould

Highly recommended account of their story, presented as a contextualizing narrative that fills in the gaps missing in most other books: how their times shaped them and vice-versa. Understanding exactly WHY their story is so compelling requires knowing the world they lived in and what made what they accomplished such a big deal.

The Beatles Gear by Andy Babiuk

You don’t have to be a gear head to appreciate the great history and insight presented here. The book puts you in the Beatles’s shoes as they acquired the tools with which they changed the world, explaining why certain choices were made and how they in turn influenced the resulting music.

The Longest Cocktail Party by Richard DiLello.

Wonderfully entertaining insider account of the brief Apple years, pre-Klein. Terrific portraits of the Beatles and their circle, from the perspective of a young American.

You Never Give Me Your Money by Peter Doggett

Traces the business side of their story, well into the solo years, while shining light on the interband dynamics. Grasping this side of things goes a long way toward providing understanding of what happened between them and why.

Honorable Mentions: The works of Bruce Spizer are all worthwhile for those interested in the presentation of their works.

Nicholas Schaffner’s The Beatles Forever – a great single-volume narrative, richly illustrated; recalled fondly by us fans of a certain age.

Personally, for anyone just now getting into the subject matter, that anything written by Lewisohn be among the first to kick off the collection.