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7.57am
15 May 2014
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Hello everybody,
I have posted a few comments here but this is the first time I need “a little help from my forum friends”. After many years of struggling I finally have the time and the equipment (not analog like The Beatles, but digital of course), and I am about to begin homerecording and if I’m lucky record not by myself but with other musicians. I am a songwriter and rhythmic guitar player. What I would like to know is which books to buy –books that might give me some ideas and useful information about The Beatles’ recording process. I don’t care if the author liked Paul but wasn’t fond of George, I don’t need a book of facts about who played which instrument and the date of the recording, but an insider’s view, the story and analysis of their songs, and the process of recording them. So far, reading this forum and browsing Amazon, I have the following list:
- “Revolver : How The Beatles Reimagined Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Robert Rodriguez
- “Revolution in the Head: The Beatles’ Records and the Sixties” by Ian MacDonald.
- “Here, There And Everywhere : My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles” by Geoff Emericks
- “All you need is ears” by George Martin
- “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions” by Mark Lewisohn
As I said I’ve read the Amazon reviews and it seems to me that “All you need is ears” by George Martin isn’t a book about The Beatles but a book about himself –but gives an immense insight into the recording techniques and their evolution. Is that so? Would I be able to learn something from it? That is what I would like: an inspirational book, something I can steal (yeap, steal!) ideas from, something to learn a few tricks from, and make more interesting recordings.
I’d appreciate any input you can give me; which ones to choose, or maybe somebody can tell me about other books I don’t know about.
Thanks a lot to all my fellow Beatles’ Fans
Oudis.
“Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit” (“Perhaps one day it will be a pleasure to look back on even this”; Virgil, The Aeneid, Book 1, line 203, where Aeneas says this to his men after the shipwreck that put them on the shores of Africa)
11.28am
31 March 2008
Offline
This is what you want: http://recordingthebeatles.com/
It’s expensive, but well worth it.
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Or buy my paperback/ebook! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs
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2.32am
15 May 2014
Offline Hello Joe,
Thanks for you answer. You’re right, the price is high –you can buy a very good microphone with that money. I’ll have to think about it. But isn’t any of the books in my list what I need? Not even partially? They’re U$10, ten times cheaper.
Thanks for your advice,
“Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit” (“Perhaps one day it will be a pleasure to look back on even this”; Virgil, The Aeneid, Book 1, line 203, where Aeneas says this to his men after the shipwreck that put them on the shores of Africa)
10.19pm
Reviewers
1 November 2013
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Geoff Emerick’s book is excellent, as is the Lewisohn book. However, Emerick’s is a biography, so it’s actually just telling his story, and his personal relationships with the Beatles, and Lewisohn’s is more about how songs were structured and who played what, rather than exact recording techniques. For what you described, the book Joe recommended is the only one to get.
(This signature brought to you by Net Boy and Net Girl. Putting messages in modems since 1996.)
5.45pm
31 March 2008
Offline Oudis said
Hello Joe,Thanks for you answer. You’re right, the price is high –you can buy a very good microphone with that money. I’ll have to think about it. But isn’t any of the books in my list what I need? Not even partially? They’re U$10, ten times cheaper.
Thanks for your advice,
- “Revolver: How The Beatles Reimagined Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Robert Rodriguez – it’s good, particularly on the cultural history of 1966 and all that, but is relatively light on studio info.
- “Revolution in the Head: The Beatles’ Records and the Sixties” by Ian MacDonald. – fabulous critiques of each song, but opinionated and, again, light on recording info. Good on the stories-behind and analysis of the songs, so you should get it if that would help you.
- “Here, There And Everywhere : My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles” by Geoff Emerick – Confession time: I haven’t read this. I’ve always been put off by Ken Scott’s takedown. However, Geoff was one of the few people who was there in the studio, so although it’s ghost written I’m sure there’s some stuff worth knowing.
- “All you need is ears” by George Martin – Not really a classic Beatles book. IIRC it was written before Lewisohn’s Sessions, so there are a few half-remembered anecdotes that were later corrected by Mark. A nice book but inessential.
- “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions” by Mark Lewisohn – I’d assumed you had this already. Yes, get this.
I can also recommend Walter Everett’s two-volume The Beatles As Musicians. He’s not always 100% correct on how the songs were recorded, but the musicological approach is fascinating. If you can read music or understand theory at all it’s hugely illuminating. If you can’t it’s probably incredibly dull. YMMV.
You might also appreciate The Beatles’ Gear by Andy Babiuk, which tells you precisely which instruments (guitars mainly, but also amps, drums etc) they used from the Quarrymen era to 1970.
Can buy me love! Please consider supporting the Beatles Bible on Amazon
Or buy my paperback/ebook! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs
Don't miss The Bowie Bible – now live!
3.52am
Reviewers
1 November 2013
Offline Joe said
Oudis said
Hello Joe,Thanks for you answer. You’re right, the price is high –you can buy a very good microphone with that money. I’ll have to think about it. But isn’t any of the books in my list what I need? Not even partially? They’re U$10, ten times cheaper.
Thanks for your advice,
- “Revolver: How The Beatles Reimagined Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Robert Rodriguez – it’s good, particularly on the cultural history of 1966 and all that, but is relatively light on studio info.
- “Revolution in the Head: The Beatles’ Records and the Sixties” by Ian MacDonald. – fabulous critiques of each song, but opinionated and, again, light on recording info. Good on the stories-behind and analysis of the songs, so you should get it if that would help you.
- “Here, There And Everywhere : My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles” by Geoff Emerick – Confession time: I haven’t read this. I’ve always been put off by Ken Scott’s takedown. However, Geoff was one of the few people who was there in the studio, so although it’s ghost written I’m sure there’s some stuff worth knowing.
- “All you need is ears” by George Martin – Not really a classic Beatles book. IIRC it was written before Lewisohn’s Sessions, so there are a few half-remembered anecdotes that were later corrected by Mark. A nice book but inessential.
- “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions” by Mark Lewisohn – I’d assumed you had this already. Yes, get this.
I can also recommend Walter Everett’s two-volume The Beatles As Musicians. He’s not always 100% correct on how the songs were recorded, but the musicological approach is fascinating. If you can read music or understand theory at all it’s hugely illuminating. If you can’t it’s probably incredibly dull. YMMV.
You might also appreciate The Beatles’ Gear by Andy Babiuk, which tells you precisely which instruments (guitars mainly, but also amps, drums etc) they used from the Quarrymen era to 1970.
Joe, you gotta read it. I love it.
(This signature brought to you by Net Boy and Net Girl. Putting messages in modems since 1996.)
8.22am
15 May 2014
Offline Hello Joe, hello IveJustSeenAFace,
Thanks for your kind replies, thanks for taking the time –and sorry it took me so long to reply back. I think I will buy (one by one, I’m sorta broke) “Here, There And Everywhere ” by Emericks, Ian MacDonald’s “Revolution in the Head”, and “The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions” by Lewisohn. After all the Hunter Davis book is all I’ve read about The Beatles; I need some more…spiritual nourishment. I appreciate your advice,
Oudis
“Forsan et haec olim meminisse juvabit” (“Perhaps one day it will be a pleasure to look back on even this”; Virgil, The Aeneid, Book 1, line 203, where Aeneas says this to his men after the shipwreck that put them on the shores of Africa)
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