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10.25pm
9 May 2012
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IMDeWalrus said
I think "Many Years From Now" is a very good read. I've always been more of a Lennon fan than McCartney fan -- and this book certainly gives you a McCartney's-eye-view of The Beatles' work. But as long as you understand that going in, then I think it's fine. I don't necessarily accept it as "the way it all happened", but only as how Paul remembers it. It's always interesting to me to get a first-person take on things, especially when it's the music of The Beatles. It does bother me, though, when books like this end up being quoted in other books or magazine articles as "fact", rather than just one man's point of view ("Paul was really the avante-garde one, not John" reported a magazine I read recently, based solely on what Paul said in this book).And another thing I didn't like was how it seemed to either skip over most of George Harrison's contributions to Beatles' albums or only mention them in passing. But then, a lot of books seem to gloss over George's role in The Beatles, as well as misrepresent his character.
Speaking of Harrison, someone mentioned earlier in this thread a George-bio called "Behind Sad Eyes" by Marc Shapiro. I've read it -- and it's interesting -- but I wouldn't call it one of the better books out there, and I don't know how reliable it is. For one thing, it claims John was jealous of George's intial solo success because, while ALL THINGS MUST PASS was a mega-hit, John released an experimental album called PRIMAL SCREAMS which received poor reviews and didn't sell well. Does anyone remember a Lennon album called PRIMAL SCREAMS?? I'm guessing we're talking about JOHN LENNON/PLASTIC ONO BAND, which actually received very favourable reviews (although it's true that George's triple album was a bigger hit). The book does contain an interesting interview with Delaney Bramlett, who claims to have written or at least co-written "My Sweet Lord".
John jealous of George? Well that's a new one.
1.48am
10 August 2011
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I agree – if you keep in mind the source, "Many Years From Now" is a good read (you'll find the highlights in Into the Sky…). I found it interesting that McCartney takes credit for the melody of "In My Life." Of course, he may be 100% right.
If you then consider the songs that were true Lennon-McC, collaborations (there's an idea for a thread), "In My Life" would be somewhere near the top, no? (along with A Day in the Life, We Can Work It Out, She Loves You, etc…)
2.08am
1 May 2011
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If John was jealous of George then surely he would have been of Ringo too since Ritchies solo career initially did better than John's chart-wise. John was the last former beatle to get a number #1 in the US for a start. However he was very pleased for Ringo so i would think he would have been for George as well, however there would have been rivalry with Paul.
2.13am
19 September 2010
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Harrison was recruited to play on Imagine in early 1971. John obviously wasn't jealous.
2.22am
1 May 2011
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Exactly. There were fallings out between the 3 but J, G & R were pretty friendly throughout with it all coming together in 1973 when they recorded Im The Greatest, George hearing that John and Ringo were recording together so dropped in (or was it John heard George and Ringo were recording together and dropped in?).
A lot of these books contain drivel passed off as fact, so much so i cant remember the last biography i read.
8.35pm
26 July 2011
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It does seem that there was a little friction between George and John when ALL THINGS MUST PASS was released. An interviewer at the time asked John what he thought of it and he said something like "it's fine -- a little long, though" -- and some years later, George said that John was "very negative" when ALL THINGS MUST PASS came out. But obviously they managed to patch things up in time for John's IMAGINE album, where George plays that deliciously sinister slide guitar part on "How Do You Sleep", and plays on several other tracks too. John was a very mercurial fellow, and very competitive too.
10.51pm
9 May 2012
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He was kind of negative at everything during that period.
9.41pm
12 January 2013
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The Walrus was Paul
Best book ever!
P.S I don't beleive he's dead cause they'd have to plan it from the beginning because some of their clues were before 
supposedly died.
The Incedibly True Story THat Never Ends. By Sam.
Best Friend: WHat are you listening to
Me: The Beatles
Best Friend: Go Figure
5.16am
6 December 2012
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The Anthology is the best in my opinion; it's in their own words and it covers things about their childhoods, and the beginning of the Beatles to the end. George's autobiography is also interesting, if you're a George fan (like me 
).
Do you want to know a secret? Read my username backwards. ~ ~ ~ - - - . . . - - - ~ ~ ~ Also known as Egg-Rock, Egg-Roll, E-George, Eggy...
☮ & <3
4.57pm
29 November 2012
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Philip Norman's Lennon bio touches on John being dimissive of George's ATMP album in his interviews when it came out, while privately being quite jealous that it was so successful and praised. I tend to believe that. In retrospect, it's funny how much animosity George harborded toward Paul to his dying day, while he only really fell out with John toward the end of John's life. John is the one who bailed on nearly all of the sessions for George's songs, while Paul worked with him, and Paul was much kinder toward Yoko (at least initially) while George was pretty mean to her from the very beginning. Interesting goings-on behind the scenes!
6.05am
8 November 2012
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DrBeatle said
it's funny how much animosity George harborded toward Paul to his dying day,
After reading this interview with George, I don't believe that to be the case. The only indication of any kind of tension towards the end I've found was a disagreement over how to publish the Anthology book (George wanted to go with a pricey, leather bound edition the way I, Me, Mine was originally published and Paul balked at that being a vegetarian). But other than that, it seems that George had buried the hatchet. And of course, Paul visited him in the hospital during his last days. I believe the house where George passed away was one that Paul once rented and now owns.
As others have said, if you think of their relationship as one of brothers, I think it's easier to understand the dynamic – the conflicts as well as the love between them. But I haven't seen evidence that George hadn't forgiven Paul for the past.
parlance
10.33pm
21 November 2012
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GAH!
Just checked the website of my local library and they don't have You Never Give Me Your Money (and not in other locations either. My library can just order books from other locations)
I was quite surprised to learn my local one only owns a few Beatles books. They don't have the one I just mentioned, nor any of Lewisohn's books. They do have all these crappy half arsed biographies and novels which were named after songs such as Yesterday and some book called Walrusblood and stuff like that. DAFUQ. They also had a book on Rory Storm and a book called ''Mommy who are the Beatles?'', with which you can teach your kids everything about them. Their selection kinda surprises me.
I was also surprised to see they had a bio on Ringo, which you don't often see. I'd like to read one, as he is the one I know the least about I think, but I checked some reviews and they told me it was poorly written. Such a shame! He deserves a proper biography.
They did have ''John'' by Cynthia though, which is good because I wanted to read it and there was some book about the recordingsessions of the White Album, which I don't know much about.
Has anyone read Shout! by Philip Norman? I'm reading reviews right now, but they're very mixed, which I haven't really seen before on Beatles books. They were either great or crap. And I remember reading something about Revolution in the head in this thread, was it good?
So what else are good books about them? I'd like books which also talk about them individually for a bit.
11.26pm
8 November 2012
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Linde said
So what else are good books about them? I'd like books which also talk about them individually for a bit.
I'm on winter break from school, so I've been catching up on a number of Beatle books from my own local library. The ones I like, besides Many Years from Now and Hunter Davies' book are:
McCartney: Yesterday & Today by Ray Coleman a bio on Paul but told through the journey of "Yesterday" as a culture phenomenon. It's an odd angle, but it's done very well, and had Paul's cooperation. It covers the Michael Jackson rift.
John, Paul, George, Ringo & Me by Tony Barrow – written by the Beatles' press officer. I wouldn't say there's necessarily info you can't find elsewhere, but it gives an insider's view with personal anecdotes in a way that isn't sensationalistic.
Loving John – May Pang's book. Another book that's written without sensationalism. I like her writing style. But the stories of abuse she suffered at John's hand are harrowing and grim.
Instamatic Karma – not a bio, but a great book of photographs of John by May in which she tells the stories behind the pics.
I'm also reading Howard Sounes' book on Paul, but I don't recommend it. I think the author often comes across silly and dismissive. The only thing going for it is that it was published in 2010, so it covers more of Paul's recent life.
parlance
5.36pm
21 November 2012
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Okay I think I wasn't really clear, I didn't mean biographies 
Just books which don't talk about them as one person, just books which discuss stuff about every one of them.
The one by Tony Barrow seems interesting though, haven't read any books written by people who knew them yet.
Anything else?
5.55pm
10 August 2011
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Rumor has it that "Into the Sky with Diamonds" collects the juiciest parts of all of these well-known books! (including "The Walrus Was Paul" mentioned above by Beatles in the Blood)
6.53pm
21 November 2012
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Let me guess…that's your book?
6.56pm
29 November 2012
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Linde said
Let me guess…that's your book?
8.52pm
10 August 2011
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Linde said, "Let me guess…that's your book?"
12.05am
8 November 2012
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Linde said
Okay I think I wasn't really clear, I didn't mean biographiesThe one by Tony Barrow seems interesting though, haven't read any books written by people who knew them yet.
Anything else?
I'm still not entirely sure what you mean, but it sounds like the Hunter Davies' book might have info you'd be interested in (particularly if you get the latest update). Anyway, figured I'd cover all bases with a complete list of what I've been reading. :-> I requested a couple more from the library such as Peter Doggett and Ian MacDonald's books.
parlance
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