The Mammoth Book of the Beatles
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Book Summary Information
Editor: Sean EganEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-06-09
ISBN: 0762436271
Number of pages: 512
Publisher: Running Press
Book Reviews of The Mammoth Book of the Beatles
Book Review: Entertaining, Informative Guide to JPG&R!
Summary: 5 Stars
To anyone who might cry out: "Not another Beatlles book," chill out. This is a good 'un! THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF THE BEATLES offers up almost 600 pages of memoirs, interviews, musical critiques, magazine and newspaper articles, etc. that together present an insightful tour down memory lane. And all for $13.95!
Though the title page states that the book was "Edited and with an introduction by Sean Egan," in fact Egan wrote most of the material. That's a good thing because he is a gifted, insightful, witty, knowledgeable writer who does a first rate job of capturing the Beatles life and times. What I found most valuable was his ability to recreate those long-ago days and show the significance of the various stages of the Beatles development as a band and as social arbiters.
Egan's critiques of the various singles and albums released over the years are nicely done - critical yet affectionate. Though Egan loves run-on sentences, he's able to pull them off. For example, in describing John and Paul harmonizing on "One After 909," he states that "when (they) swing together into a "Weeell..." halfway through the number as seamlessly and brotherly as an Everlys joint vocal, it's enough to bring tears to the eyes, a reminder of the golden days of a partnership once so harmonious and which begat so much pleasure for so many millions and is about to disappear into history."
The book is divided into Life and Art; Dissenters; Film and TV; Beatle Women; Interviews; and In the End, an all-encompassing review of the Fab Four by Paul Gambacinni. (Other contributors range from Hunter Davies to Kenneth Tynan to Lester Bangs). Included in the book are such items as Maureen Cleave's "more popular than Jesus" article, Paul's 1970 self-interview, Glyn Johns' memories of recording "Let It Be," interviews with Pete Best, Astrid Kirschherr, George Martin, Cynthia Lennon, Pattie Boyd, and Macca himself, a 30+ page discography of Beatles and solo Beatles UK releases and much, much more.
In short, THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF THE BEATLES is a marvelous book, deserving of a wide readership. Obviously Beatle fans will love it. But others with an incomplete knowledge of the Beatles, rock music and life in the 60s will enjoy it - and learn from it - as well. It truly is a magical mystery tour starring four men who not only made great music but changed the world as well. Highly recommended.
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