Joe, here in the states I remember a comic book about the Beatles. I 'think' is was in the 'giant; format (16x24 in.) and I was fascinated by the artwork (George doing some electrician job really got me, I couldn't imagin a Beatle having ANY job pre-Beatles). That is a fresh memory for me to this day.
@@Joewizzard260 Funnily enough it's the thing that made me a Beatles fan - before then I didn't have any of their records as I'd always felt their music was too clean and boring, but reading Ian's book made me realise their was a hell of a lot more going on with their music. Plus I love how opinionated he is!
@@fred166 Revolution In The Head was extraordinary when it came out. That opening essay in it was incredible. Especially as higher education institutions running music courses were only starting to broach rock music in musicology and aesthetics (I remember because I was party to it!!). Now of course the cart has tipped entirely the other way. As the years have passed though I've barely returned to it preferring the more narrative based Beatles books.
Always a delight discovering a new angle looking on The Beatles from a kid growing up in the 80s now another budding Beatle historian! Of the Beatle books that I read through the years the standouts for me are :- All These Years Vol 1 -Mark Lewisham (look forward to Vol 2) outstanding. The Love You Make - Peter Brown. The nitty gritty mixed with the magic. In My Life - Pete Shotton ( Lennon’s friend from childhood) fresh and real. The Pete Best Story - Pete Best. Honest and revealing. You Never Give Me Your Money - Peter Doggett. Fascinating insight into their financial empire and into their solo Apple years. Riveting. The MMT clifftop picture was actually taken on Plymouth Hoe.(not Bournemouth) And some interesting odd and ends about The Beatles... The first track recorded for Sgt Pepper was When I’m 64 in December 66... Pete Shotton helped Lennon with the lyrics to I Am The Walrus (and remained uncredited) The Beatles Blue 67-70 album became their second biggest selling album in the U.S.. Beatles 1 became the first biggest selling album of 2000 and later on of the entire decade. With The Beatles album cover was taken in the dining room of the Palace Court Hotel in Bournemouth during their stint at The Gaumont there in Aug 63. Years later in the late 70s I often stayed there and one of the long standing staff told me of the day (they stayed at the hotel) of the photo shoot and told me I was staying in John & George’s room. There should be a plaque in that hotel! The last time John was in the recording studio with the other three was August 69. George first visited the U.S in Sept 63 to see his sister. Before the madness of Beatlemania there in 64. The Beatles never performed any album after Rubber Soul live. Tomorrow Never Knows was the first track recorded for Revolver in May 66. Yet was the last track on side 2 heralding a new direction.. Keep up with the great work guys😎👍
Made a refreshing change from hearing old farts droning on about stuff - the kind that have a superiority about themselves. Good on ya, mate. Only 600 books to go! 👍
Great chat . My favourite Beatle book is The Love You Make, Steven Gaines and Pete Brown. The first rock biography I ever read and an eye opener. Quite liked the fact Paul McCartney wasn't a fan. Hadn't read a book like that before on something I was a fan of. Really enjoyed Craig Brown's book. It was all very familiar but very entertainingly written and a great chapter on Jimmy Nichols. Is there a definitive book on " The Fifth Beatles ?" If not, why not? gx
Not only has Hepworth got his record collection leaning to one side, putting pressure on the poor discs on the end AND in alphabetical order (I abandoned that non-musical, "non-genre friendly" storage method many years ago) but now at 9:42 we see he gets SUNLIGHT streaming in directly on them to keep em all nice and warm!! It's a disaster area.
It's a cross between a watershed & a landmark! I'm not convinced it was landmark or a watermark ... I'm unaware of anyone of that generation who's a mad Beatles fan tbh!
I have about 30 Beatles books and 3 or 4 on Kindle including the Lewisohn 2-part Vol 1. My wife seems to think that should probably be enough. I had that edition of Mojo, might still have it. Agree about the Barry Miles book about Macca (21 mins). Surprisingly interesting (to me) is the one about the structure of their financial dealings - You Never Give Me Your Money ( Doggett). Incidentally Ross Benson (17:10) was a well-known tabloid columnist, I’d heard of him and I avoid tabloids.
Joe,You mention at the start of the Podcast that you regard 'Love Me Do' by Michael Braun .,Penguin.1964 as being the first Beatles book.'The True Story of The Beatles' by Billy Shepherd (Peter Jones).A Beat Book was also issued in 1964 .I wondered which of these two books went on sale in the UK first.
I've got an original Braun but not got (or read) the Shepherd. It's a close call which was first but I wonder if Braun 'got' to The Beatles before Shepherd in 1963. Interesting though as many people (including myself) have long considered the Braun to be the first.
I'm watching this and found myself saying: "Got it", Got it", "Got it", "Got it"...for a hell of a lot of these books. But has he got a life-size colour poster printed in 1963?
This fellow is a real enthusiast (I won't say nerd, 'cos he's a card). Of the few Beatle books I've read, I thought the best were Shout! by Philip Norman and Ian McDonald's Revolution In The Head.
I've just counted my Beatles books on the shelf. Twenty-nine. Not bad. Do the MOJO mags count? :) I've got the Craig Brown book and found it rather snotty, cynical and tabloid-y (which figures, him being a Daily Express employee). His account and criticism of the Beatles' homes tours in particular (which I have wonderful personal memories of myself including playing 'Let It Be' on the piano in Paul's house!!)...I found REALLY irritating. I'm soooo glad Brown wasn't there on the same day as me. Meanwhile I've got 1988 original hardback of Joe's favourite book (Lewisohn). His is only a 1993 copy. Ha!!
Maybe his copy of Hard Days Night doesn't have I'm Happy Just To Dance With You on it. Expert? His favourite Beatles album? And I reckon the upsurge in Beatles popularity during the very early 90's was partly down to the amount of Ecstasy and LSD doing the rounds, well, that and the great music.
I don’t agree it’s more a case of remarking just how far, in 2020, their reach still extends across the years, even to younger people like Joe Wisbey. Worthy of note even if you don’t like what they do.