matthewssmith's review
4.0
I wanted this particular book because it breaks the work of The Beatles down song by song in chronological order and gives details on when each was recorded, who played what, who wrote what parts (as far as can be ascertained), and so on. These are things I've curious about for years.
In addition, the author—in a lengthy but interesting introduction—floats the theses that the sixties and The Beatles are inextricably linked, that LSD sparked the cultural and societal changes of the latter half of that decade, and that the focus on new-found individualism and freedoms in the sixties ultimately led to the consumer culture of the nineties (when the first edition of this book was released). In appropriate places along the timeline he also discusses important events and turning points in the band's creative direction. Overall, this is great stuff and I recommend the book to anyone who wants some insight into the making of the music.
The author injects large doses of opinion into much of the text, letting us know which songs were brilliant and which were dreck. I found myself disagreeing as often as not, but, hey, it's his book. The main reason I didn't give the book five stars was that some of his statements on the psychology and motives of the major players were obviously made up out of whole cloth and made me wonder what else might have been fabricated. He's also got something against George Harrison's songs, only one of which he seems to feel is of any quality. So enjoy the book, but read it while wearing your critical thinking cap, as you should any piece of nonfiction.
I read the e-version of the book, which seems to have been scanned from the print, but not thoroughly proofread and there are potentially confusing typos throughout.
In addition, the author—in a lengthy but interesting introduction—floats the theses that the sixties and The Beatles are inextricably linked, that LSD sparked the cultural and societal changes of the latter half of that decade, and that the focus on new-found individualism and freedoms in the sixties ultimately led to the consumer culture of the nineties (when the first edition of this book was released). In appropriate places along the timeline he also discusses important events and turning points in the band's creative direction. Overall, this is great stuff and I recommend the book to anyone who wants some insight into the making of the music.
The author injects large doses of opinion into much of the text, letting us know which songs were brilliant and which were dreck. I found myself disagreeing as often as not, but, hey, it's his book. The main reason I didn't give the book five stars was that some of his statements on the psychology and motives of the major players were obviously made up out of whole cloth and made me wonder what else might have been fabricated. He's also got something against George Harrison's songs, only one of which he seems to feel is of any quality. So enjoy the book, but read it while wearing your critical thinking cap, as you should any piece of nonfiction.
I read the e-version of the book, which seems to have been scanned from the print, but not thoroughly proofread and there are potentially confusing typos throughout.
hahildebrand's review
4.0
A phenomenal achievement in terms of in-depth writing about every Beatles song ever recorded, the ambition is faultless. But Macdonald's unrelentingly reactionary tone palls, and reaches a kind of climax of blinkered fuddy-duddiness in his notes near the chronology at the end.
onerodeahorse's review
3.0
a good book with lots of interesting Beatles information which is unfortunately spoilt by the author's often tedious conservatism in matters both musical and cultural.
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