Please consider registering
Guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed sp_TopicIcon
Riding So High: The Beatles and Drugs
17 October 2017
11.18am
Ms. Lane
The Star-Club
Members
Forum Posts: 71
Member Since:
5 September 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Zig said

That was a great read, Joe. Nicely done.  

Yes! But the headline was somewhat unfortunate:

Beatles and Drugs Author on Pills, Pot and LSD

 

as it could read as if Joe is on pills, pot and LSD… Surely not the intended meaning.

 

Sorry; I’m a writer/editor : )

The following people thank Ms. Lane for this post:

Beatlebug, sir walter raleigh, Martha, ewe2, Joe, Desmond, RobGeurtsen, WeepingAtlasCedars, vonbontee
17 October 2017
2.58pm
Avatar
IAmTheLongbus
The Jacaranda
Members
Forum Posts: 27
Member Since:
5 April 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Great book! Easily a 9/10. It’s very easily read and contains loads of information. I would highly recommend it to others.

However, there were some typos. I think there was something about Revolver where the year of release was misspelled as 1996 instead of 1966. There were also some other small errors but I don’t exactly remember which pages it were or what subjects.

But overall, great book and great price!

The following people thank IAmTheLongbus for this post:

Zig, Beatlebug, Joe, WeepingAtlasCedars
17 October 2017
3.30pm
Avatar
Ahhh Girl
sailing on a winedark open sea
Moderator

Moderators

Members

Reviewers
Forum Posts: 22653
Member Since:
20 August 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

IAmTheLongbus said
Great book! Easily a 9/10. It’s very easily read and contains loads of information. I would highly recommend it to others.

However, there were some typos. I think there was something about Revolver where the year of release was misspelled as 1996 instead of 1966. There were also some other small errors but I don’t exactly remember which pages it were or what subjects.

But overall, great book and great price!  

I found that section. I’ll email it to Joe.

The following people thank Ahhh Girl for this post:

IAmTheLongbus
18 October 2017
4.08am
Avatar
Joe
Pepperland
Admin
Forum Posts: 5713
Member Since:
31 March 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

IAmTheLongbus said
Great book! Easily a 9/10. It’s very easily read and contains loads of information. I would highly recommend it to others.

However, there were some typos. I think there was something about Revolver where the year of release was misspelled as 1996 instead of 1966. There were also some other small errors but I don’t exactly remember which pages it were or what subjects.

But overall, great book and great price!  

Thank you @IAmTheLongbus. I’m fixing the 1996 error for all future copies – I can’t believe that slipped through. If you find anything else please PM me or send an email, via the Contact link at the foot of the page.

The following people thank Joe for this post:

IAmTheLongbus, Beatlebug

Can buy me love! Please consider supporting the Beatles Bible on Amazon
Or buy my paperback/ebook! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs

Don't miss The Bowie Bible – now live!

19 October 2017
9.15am
Avatar
Joe
Pepperland
Admin
Forum Posts: 5713
Member Since:
31 March 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

@The Hole Got Fixed sent me a PM asking if there was a way to avoid high postage costs to Australia (and, by extension, other non-Amazon countries) for the paperback edition.

I’m pleased to see that the Book Depository is now listing it, and they have free worldwide delivery. Their prices are slightly more than Amazon’s, which owns the Book Depository anyway. I assume any orders placed with the BP result in Amazon/Ingram printing a new copy and sending it out, so they’re just the middle-men. It might still work out cheaper than ordering from Amazon if you don’t have Prime.

It’s A$21.09 on the Book Depository. I think The Hole Got Fixed said it was over A$40 shipped from Amazon, so it’s quite a saving.

The following people thank Joe for this post:

The Hole Got Fixed, Martha, Ahhh Girl, ewe2, Beatlebug, Zig

Can buy me love! Please consider supporting the Beatles Bible on Amazon
Or buy my paperback/ebook! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs

Don't miss The Bowie Bible – now live!

1 November 2017
2.01pm
Avatar
georgiewood
In my tree
Hollywood Bowl
Members
Forum Posts: 791
Member Since:
22 September 2014
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I just finished the book, @Joe.  It is a great read, meticulously detailed and beautifully written, as we would all expect.  Here is my Amazon review; hope it helps to get the word out:

“The mark of an engaging work of nonfiction is the ability to personalize the subject for the reader. This book has that quality in spades. Through the use of quotes, dialogue and detailed anecdotes, the reader is taken inside the world of the world’s greatest musical group and exposed to the most intimate details of the lives of John, Paul, George and Ringo. While the nominal subject matter is the Beatles’ drug use, there really is much more to this book. Casual fans will experience a host of revelations, but even the most ardent Beatleologists will discover new and remarkable facts about their idols. The narrative is presented in a straightforward and nonjudgmental fashion and it is obvious that it is exhaustively researched and annotated. The book is highly recommended for anyone who loves the Beatles or who is intrigued by the most inspirational time of modern music history.”

The following people thank georgiewood for this post:

Beatlebug, Ahhh Girl, Martha, Little Piggy Dragonguy, Joe, Zig, RobGeurtsen, The Hippie Chick

I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did'.
Kurt Vonnegut, Timequake, 1997

2 November 2017
4.13pm
Avatar
Martha
Candlestick Park
Members
Forum Posts: 1277
Member Since:
27 February 2017
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I’ve also read the book in my holiday and found it fantastic! Normally, I have my problems with informative books because they are written so dryly, but not Riding So High. It is so lively written and contains so many funny, surprising, and, above all, intimate facts and anecdotes about the Beatles that I rather had the feeling I was sitting at a fire with the Fab Four while they are telling stories out of their life. It is also crazy how well researched this book is, at some point, I just wondered where on earth one gets information like that from (due to the great list of references this question could easily be answered though 😉 ). Thanks for writing such an awesome book! I gave it five stars on both the German and the general Amazon.

The following people thank Martha for this post:

Ahhh Girl, Beatlebug, Zig, Joe

Not once does the diversity seem forced -- the genius of the record is how the vaudevillian "When I'm 64" seems like a logical extension of "Within You Without You" and how it provides a gateway to the chiming guitars of "Lovely Rita. - Stephen T. Erlewine on Sgt Pepper's

2 November 2017
9.18pm
Avatar
Pineapple Records
Shea Stadium
Members
Forum Posts: 842
Member Since:
15 May 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Does this book include the fascinating detail that for a long time (maybe a couple of years) while Lennon was in England (post-Beatles), James Taylor was effectively his “drug mule” bringing him a pharmacopia of drugs he got from the US?  I only learned this last year when I saw a video of JT describing that period to an interviewer.

A ginger sling with a pineapple heart,

a coffee dessert, yes you know it's good news...

6 November 2017
6.45am
Avatar
Joe
Pepperland
Admin
Forum Posts: 5713
Member Since:
31 March 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Thank you @georgiewood and @Martha! You’re so kind. Those reviews are really, really lovely. It’s so good to see people respond positively, after all those months of research and writing.

I got an OKish review on beatles-freak.com – she seemed to like it, but was bored in the first couple of chapters. Oh well, can’t win ’em all. At least she said it was “very, very well written”, and that it got better later on. Phew.

If anyone else has read the book and would be able to review it on Amazon or elsewhere, please do. I know @DrBeatle is planning something, and Erin Torkelson Weber, author of The Beatles and The Historians, really likes the book and will do something on her site.

@Pineapple Records No, I didn’t include that snippet, of which I wasn’t aware. The subject of drug suppliers was a really tricky one to get to the root of (facts are hazy at best), and if I’d had more time I’d have tried to dig deeper, though I did manage to dig up some info (eg Dan Richter, Kevin Harrington). Some things got left out because they didn’t easily fit in with the narrative flow, such as BP Fallon being the Beatles’ marijuana tester at Apple. It’s a great story but finding room for everything was a challenge, although on reflection I probably should have had BP in there. 

The following people thank Joe for this post:

georgiewood, Martha, Beatlebug

Can buy me love! Please consider supporting the Beatles Bible on Amazon
Or buy my paperback/ebook! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs

Don't miss The Bowie Bible – now live!

6 November 2017
8.07am
Avatar
meanmistermustard
Thankfully not where I am.
Moderator
Members

Reviewers


Moderators
Forum Posts: 25158
Member Since:
1 May 2011
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Joe said
Thank you @georgiewood and @Martha! You’re so kind. Those reviews are really, really lovely. It’s so good to see people respond positively, after all those months of research and writing.

I got an OKish review on beatles-freak.com – she seemed to like it, but was bored in the first couple of chapters. Oh well, can’t win ’em all. At least she said it was “very, very well written”, and that it got better later on. Phew.

If anyone else has read the book and would be able to review it on Amazon or elsewhere, please do. I know @DrBeatle is planning something, and Erin Torkelson Weber, author of The Beatles and The Historians, really likes the book and will do something on her site.

@Pineapple Records No, I didn’t include that snippet, of which I wasn’t aware. The subject of drug suppliers was a really tricky one to get to the root of (facts are hazy at best), and if I’d had more time I’d have tried to dig deeper, though I did manage to dig up some info (eg Dan Richter, Kevin Harrington). Some things got left out because they didn’t easily fit in with the narrative flow, such as BP Fallon being the Beatles’ marijuana tester at Apple. It’s a great story but finding room for everything was a challenge, although on reflection I probably should have had BP in there.   

Three out of four is good and your book has to cover Dylan, prezzies and all the other familiar stuff as without there would be glaring omissions. I found it surprising she didn’t know the Royston Ellis information as it was one of the more memorable new pieces of information for me in Lewisohn’s book (tho it may have been out there before that time).

The following people thank meanmistermustard for this post:

Beatlebug, sir walter raleigh

"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)

7 November 2017
1.39am
Avatar
Pineapple Records
Shea Stadium
Members
Forum Posts: 842
Member Since:
15 May 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Joe said
Thank you @georgiewood and @Martha! You’re so kind. Those reviews are really, really lovely. It’s so good to see people respond positively, after all those months of research and writing.

I got an OKish review on beatles-freak.com – she seemed to like it, but was bored in the first couple of chapters. Oh well, can’t win ’em all. At least she said it was “very, very well written”, and that it got better later on. Phew.

If anyone else has read the book and would be able to review it on Amazon or elsewhere, please do. I know @DrBeatle is planning something, and Erin Torkelson Weber, author of The Beatles and The Historians, really likes the book and will do something on her site.

@Pineapple Records No, I didn’t include that snippet, of which I wasn’t aware. The subject of drug suppliers was a really tricky one to get to the root of (facts are hazy at best), and if I’d had more time I’d have tried to dig deeper, though I did manage to dig up some info (eg Dan Richter, Kevin Harrington). Some things got left out because they didn’t easily fit in with the narrative flow, such as BP Fallon being the Beatles’ marijuana tester at Apple. It’s a great story but finding room for everything was a challenge, although on reflection I probably should have had BP in there.   

It could be that James Taylor only revealed this recently.  The YouTube interview with the BBC may be very recent, perhaps the last year or two.  I just transcribed the relevant portion from it:

“We [James and John] partied a lot… and a lot of it had sort of a chemical focus… you know, tripping, trying to find substances to… I had friends in London who were basically smugglers, and you know, so, he thought that I might have access to stuff he wanted to get… it didn’t really go that far, but, that was one side of it, for sure…”

The following people thank Pineapple Records for this post:

sir walter raleigh, Joe, ewe2, Martha, Zig, georgiewood, Ahhh Girl

A ginger sling with a pineapple heart,

a coffee dessert, yes you know it's good news...

9 November 2017
7.21am
Avatar
Ahhh Girl
sailing on a winedark open sea
Moderator

Moderators

Members

Reviewers
Forum Posts: 22653
Member Since:
20 August 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

A nice review from the person who runs the Meet the Beatles for Real blog.

http://www.meetthebeatlesforre…..w.html?m=1

The following people thank Ahhh Girl for this post:

Beatlebug, Joe
9 November 2017
10.55am
Avatar
Expert Textpert
In bed.
Apple rooftop
Members
Forum Posts: 5015
Member Since:
18 April 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I bought my copy.

The following people thank Expert Textpert for this post:

Joe

"If you're ever in the shit, grab my tit.” —Paul McCartney 

9 November 2017
11.00am
Avatar
Von Bontee
496 km NW of the '69 Toronto Rock n Roll Revival
Apple rooftop
Members
Forum Posts: 5596
Member Since:
14 December 2009
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I guess all good reviews are welcome, but that was…not well written. Was it translated from another language?

Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.

         

9 November 2017
6.14pm
Avatar
georgiewood
In my tree
Hollywood Bowl
Members
Forum Posts: 791
Member Since:
22 September 2014
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Von Bontee said
I guess all good reviews are welcome, but that was…not well written. Was it translated from another language?  

I thought the exact same thing when I was reading it. It seemed even sloppier than the usual online article full of grammatical/spelling/homonymal errors which could have been discovered by the writer on a casual re-reading before posting. 

I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did'.
Kurt Vonnegut, Timequake, 1997

9 November 2017
6.56pm
Avatar
Ahhh Girl
sailing on a winedark open sea
Moderator

Moderators

Members

Reviewers
Forum Posts: 22653
Member Since:
20 August 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Well, at least the reviewer liked Joe’s book.

The following people thank Ahhh Girl for this post:

georgiewood, vonbontee
10 November 2017
9.37am
Avatar
Joe
Pepperland
Admin
Forum Posts: 5713
Member Since:
31 March 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Here’s part one of Erin Torkelson Weber’s piece. She says it was only supposed to be a short introduction but turned into a mini-essay, so she’s saving the review for the next part.

Beatles history and historiography cannot be clearly understood without acknowledging the pivotal role played by drugs, and their impact on the band’s artistry, relations, characters, decisions and statements. Certain authors such as Doggett and MacDonald provided a beginning: by devoting an entire book of informed, objective analysis to the subject Joe Goodden’s Riding So High: The Beatles and Drugs (2017), proves itself to be an essential new work in Beatles historiography.

https://beatlebioreview.wordpr…..-part-one/

The following people thank Joe for this post:

Von Bontee, Ahhh Girl, ewe2, Beatlebug, Zig, IAmTheLongbus, Martha

Can buy me love! Please consider supporting the Beatles Bible on Amazon
Or buy my paperback/ebook! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs

Don't miss The Bowie Bible – now live!

11 November 2017
4.23am
Avatar
ewe2
Inside the beat
Rishikesh
Members
Forum Posts: 3031
Member Since:
8 January 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

How exciting to have your work treated with proper seriousness and focus on an oft-neglected subject! I’m thrilled for you @Joe!

The following people thank ewe2 for this post:

Ahhh Girl, Beatlebug, IAmTheLongbus, Joe

I'm like Necko only I'm a bassist ukulele guitar synthesizer kazoo penguin and also everyone. Or is everyone me? Now I'm a confused bassist ukulele guitar synthesizer kazoo penguin everyone who is definitely not @Joe.  This has been true for 2016 & 2017 Sig-Badge.png but I may have to get more specific in the future.

aus-flag-v-small.png

12 November 2017
5.43am
Avatar
Zig
The Toppermost of the Poppermost
Apple rooftop
Members

Reviewers
Forum Posts: 9827
Member Since:
14 April 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Joe said

Beatles history and historiography cannot be clearly understood without acknowledging the pivotal role played by drugs, and their impact on the band’s artistry, relations, characters, decisions and statements. Certain authors such as Doggett and MacDonald provided a beginning: by devoting an entire book of informed, objective analysis to the subject Joe Goodden’s Riding So High: The Beatles and Drugs (2017), proves itself to be an essential new work in Beatles historiography.

@Joe, those were the exact thoughts I had while reading your book. Your mastery of the topic substantiates this as a work that truly stands on its own and is a must-read for all Beatles fans. It is so worth the wait.

Well done, my friend.

apple01heart

The following people thank Zig for this post:

Ahhh Girl, Beatlebug, PauliesGirl, sir walter raleigh, IAmTheLongbus, Joe, vonbontee, Martha

To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.

14 November 2017
3.49pm
Avatar
Joe
Pepperland
Admin
Forum Posts: 5713
Member Since:
31 March 2008
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Thanks @ewe2 and @Zig!

All positive reviews have been a joy, but this, by Erin Torkelson Weber, is probably my favourite so far. I’m fairly blown away by what she wrote. Please do take the time to read it.

https://beatlebioreview.wordpr…..e-goodden/

The following people thank Joe for this post:

ewe2, Ahhh Girl, Beatlebug, Zig, Martha

Can buy me love! Please consider supporting the Beatles Bible on Amazon
Or buy my paperback/ebook! Riding So High – The Beatles and Drugs

Don't miss The Bowie Bible – now live!

Forum Timezone: Europe/London
Most Users Ever Online: 2057
Currently Online: Jolly Jimmy, Timpetus
Guest(s) 267
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
Starr Shine?: 16105
Ron Nasty: 12534
Zig: 9827
50yearslate: 8759
Necko: 8050
AppleScruffJunior: 7585
parlance: 7111
mr. Sun king coming together: 6394
Mr. Kite: 6147
trcanberra: 6064
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 88
Members: 2920
Moderators: 5
Admins: 1
Forum Stats:
Groups: 3
Forums: 44
Topics: 5556
Posts: 383935
Newest Members:
daena, mickeylovesthebeatles, theelevan, karlieflood, megajacktwist
Moderators: Joe: 5713, meanmistermustard: 25158, Ahhh Girl: 22653, Beatlebug: 18228, The Hole Got Fixed: 8410
Administrators: Joe: 5713