British Beat Groups of the 1960s
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Book Review: The Beatles Anthology |
November 2000 |
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This is the long awaited Beatles in their own words.
For the first time, the members of the band themselves are telling theory in the
first person.
Many have written about the Beatles, often drawing on their own and others' interviews. This time the surviving Beatles have put down their own thoughts. John Lennon's contribution comes from past interviews which are duly credited with the appropriate years. Further memories come from Neil Aspinall, Derek Taylor and George Martin. There are also numerous photographs from the Apple collection and from the Beatles' personal archives. Many of these have never been published before. Many of these show portraits of the artists as very young men. Actually, Paul doesn't seem to have changed much! Much of the text comes from transcriptions of interviews for the Anthology TV series although the recent interviews move beyond this including much that was not included in the series. The first impression of the book is its sheer weight. This is not small book, neither can it be read in a couple of evenings. This is positioned as the ultimate Beatles book and, believe me, it is. This is a beautiful product, even before you have read a single word. The book starts with each member in turn (John, Paul, George and then Ringo) describing their childhood years. John talks about the times at Aunt Mimi's and his relationship with his mother; Paul discusses playing songs around the family piano at home. It then moves through the decades, starting with 1960 and finishing with the split in 1970. It shows why they were drawn together and what pushed them apart. Much of this has been heard before although, perhaps, not in this level of detail. In addition, there is something to be said about hearing it all first hand, as it were. Some of the stories are well-known, others less so. The way in which influences on their lives later appeared in song are fetching. Paul write When I'm 64 while still at school, the song surfacing to public ears as late as 1967. If you believe in christmas, then this is an ideal present. If not, it's still an ideal present for anyone. This is the definitive Beatles work and not just for the die-hard fans. mp, October 2000 |
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Published in 2000 by Apple Corps ISBN: 0-304-35605-0 |
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Last Updated: 31 October 2000
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