Lewisohn's Book
-
I've just finished the book! Boo-hoo-hoo! Now what? I'm lost...I want the next one NOW! Paul comes in for some more slagging, so be prepared, Nancy! And, yes, the girls liked Paul's stage persona, but apparently he was a different guy off stage, and many people found him difficult. Re. there not being as much on Paul in the book, I read something recently that mentioned Paul being such a "closed-book", that it is hard to gather much info on him, or from him, other than what he allows. Makes it a bit of a bother for an author, I should imagine. Enjoy your reading! I may just start mine all over again!
-
Yesterday I read the part about the beginnings of The Casbah. Here is Roag Best[on left w/ponytail] (Mona Best & Neil Aspinall's son) giving us a tour. He claimed that the Beatles (John, Paul & George I mean) all helped paint the basement, but Neil claimed they only did the striped multi-colored ceiling of the alcove. (Roag told us Paul did that alone) The book says John used black laquer instead of flat for this ceiling because he was too near-sighted to read the paint can label! They all did the white stars.
-
^ Very cool tidbits!
-
-
-
-
I love the stars in the night sky. Has it been repainted, I wonder, since 1959? It looks newly painted.
-
Razor ribbon outside on the roof? Bad part of town?
-
oobu24:
Razor ribbon outside on the roof? Bad part of town?
Yeah, probably. It was all over the place around there.
-
SPOILERS AHEAD.................. I'm up to the end of 1960 where they're still in Hamburg and I feel so bad for Paul! Astrid liked him last? She said he was "Too nice." TOO NICE?! And he's stuck rooming with Pete who he can't stand. At least the book does point out several times so far what a loner Pete was and was "not one of them." He left the photoshoot at the fairgrounds as soon as the group shot was taken and Astrid never took a photo of him alone! I have read a LOT of Beatles books (and I'm really nit-picky about them) and this book is BY FAR the best! No errors that I have seen, and it is so well-written and detailed! I just hope I live long enough to read parts 2 & 3!
-
Nancy R:
SPOILERS AHEAD.................. I'm up to the end of 1960 where they're still in Hamburg and I feel so bad for Paul! Astrid liked him last? She said he was "Too nice." TOO NICE?! And he's stuck rooming with Pete who he can't stand. At least the book does point out several times so far what a loner Pete was and was "not one of them." He left the photoshoot at the fairgrounds as soon as the group shot was taken and Astrid never took a photo of him alone! I have read a LOT of Beatles books (and I'm really nit-picky about them) and this book is BY FAR the best! No errors that I have seen, and it is so well-written and detailed! I just hope I live long enough to read parts 2 & 3!
I'm on p. 269, a little behind you. Thanks for the spoilers warning. I skipped your first paragraph. I like his book while keeping in mind lots of it isn't accurate. It's the same with Ph.D.s. They copy each other so that they all use as evidence many things that aren't true and have never been proven. Someone just wrote something as fact, that wasn't, then they all quote him/her as their source to propagate the same until everyone just accepts it. Yes, lots of it is true, not denying, but my guess is lots of what he's quoting has been assumed to be true, but not. Just saying Anyway, that's my research bio rant. I know, probably a LOT of it is dead on and I'm enjoying reading it. Here's an article that I really enjoyed reading about Ringo's not getting enough credit. The author thanks L.'s book for bringing out that Ringo was the number 1 drummer in those days and how he gets overlooked: http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20131212-starr-quality
-
What I like is that Lewisohn admits if something may not be true, and often gives alternate stories in the footnotes. He is just saying "This is what so-and-so said." I'm up to early 1961 now and still have half the book to go!
-
Nancy R:
What I like is that Lewisohn admits if something may not be true, and often gives alternate stories in the footnotes. He is just saying "This is what so-and-so said." I'm up to early 1961 now and still have half the book to go!
Yeah, it is a slow read for me. Too many facts to digest all at once. I have to go slow and even then, I skip some in technical parts I'm not interested in (guitar stats, etc.).
-
I'm up to the beginning of 1962, but they have yet to secure a recording contract. I still am constantly amazed and delighted by this book!! If I could only have one book about the Beatles (and I have about 150) this one would be it! It is not a "slow read" for me--what I meant was that, because of all the detail, half-way through is only up to 1961!
-
While I wasn't interested in who came and left the Quarrymen, I find the parts about Hamburg riveting. A great read!
-
I agree! I'm up to where they went to London and recorded 4 songs on June 6, 1962. Pretty soon Pete will get the axe. Reading this book, it really gives all the details and reasons why. Makes it quite understandable. However, it was pretty sh*tty the way they had Brian do it alone (as if it wasn't their idea first!) SPOILERS AHEAD............. And it really was George's idea first in March, 1962 and he talked to John & Paul about it then of getting Ringo as their drummer. Now that I didn't know.
-
I finished the book last Saturday. I am a first generation fan and I must say this is, by far, THE best book I have ever read about the Beatles. I can not wait for the next one! Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!
-
lennon_08518:
I finished the book last Saturday. I am a first generation fan and I must say this is, by far, THE best book I have ever read about the Beatles. I can not wait for the next one! Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!
TOTALLY AGREE!!!!!!!!
-
YAY! The Extended Edition has finally gone on sale again at Amazon UK (from 120 down to 74.40 pounds). I ordered it tonight - Merry Christmas to me
-
I got this book when it came out and have been using major will power not to read this yet even though I'm wanting to dig in. I decided to save it for after I have my surgery and won't be able to do much for a while, so this will keep me occupied!