All You Need Is Ears, George Martin autobio
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So, I just finished reading the book All You Need Is Ears an autobiography book about George Martin. I learned a bit about him what he did before he became a record producer and how he got into music, which I really enjoyed. It was also very detailed about how he produced records and soundtracks, his ideas, what he did technically on the records. But overall, I was a bit disappointed by the book, it was no what I was hoping to read. I wanted to read about his work, obviously, but also about him as a person, his family life and relationships to the artists he worked with, like the Beatles. He spoke a little bit about his relationship with his mom/family, Brian Epstein and the Beatles, but I was hoping to learn more. He didn't mention how the Beatle break up affected him or his thoughts on it, Yoko Ono in the studio, he barely mentions his wife, kids. He doesn't mention his thoughts on The Beatles after the break-up (in the 70s, his relationship with them, did he have a relationship with them? His thoughts on their solo work. All he mentions is that he worked with Paul on Live and Let Die song). I wasn't hoping for a 'tell-all' but I was just hoping for his point of view on each Beatle, since he knew them so well and his thoughts on what was going on, since it affected his work in the studio with them. I also didn't like the way the book was organized. At times it was written in chronological order and at times it was not. During one chapter, he talks about recording a Beatle album and a paragraph later (in the same chapter) he is talking about something completely different that happened in the 70s, then goes back to the Beatles. I did like when he would share personal stories and experiences about starting out in the recording business and how he got into music. I learned that Richard Lester didn't like him (who wouldn't like George Martin?!?) and that EMI was screwing him financially for a long time, so that's why he left and created AIR company/studio. George also admits that John and Paul were the "main talent of that whole era" And that he, George and Ringo were important part of the mix, but were "subsidiary talents". He spends lots of time describing how he produced albums like Sgt Pepper and it's amazing how creatively smart he was. Reading through the book, you really realize that he was such a talented man, and such an important part of why the Beatles were successful and grew as artists. Overall, I am glad I picked it up to read, I admire him and learned a bit about him. But I wouldn't recommend this book if you are looking for George's personal experiences with the Beatles (which he is most famously known for) or other artists he worked with or him and his life, in general. This book focuses mainly on the struggles and experiences he faced with the technical and business side of the recording industry. This book was written in 1979 so it would be nice for an updated bio on George (I don't know if there is one out there, but there should be).
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Hi Apple Scruff! How are you? I really enjoyed reading the ALL YOU NEED IS EARS book by George Martin. There are several books that talk about George Martin's work. However, my favorite book is the SUMMER OF LOVE, THE MAKING OF SGT PEPPER by George Martin with William Pearson. It was written in 1994 and there was even the MAKING OF SGT PEPPER documentary that came out on cable around the same time. You will really enjoy reading this book as well as watching the documentary if you can find it. I have the documentary on DVD. Good luck.
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Hi there, jl4761! I am good, how's everything with you? Thanks for suggesting those titles, I will have to check them out. I have seen the Making of Sgt Pepper doc--I agree, it is really good.
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Apple Scruff:
Hi there, jl4761! I am good, how's everything with you? Thanks for suggesting those titles, I will have to check them out. I have seen the Making of Sgt Pepper doc--I agree, it is really good.
I'm doing great, thanks for asking Apple Scruff! You're very welcome my friend, that's what Beatles friends are for. Take care.