John Lennon Letters

John Lennon wrote letters and postcards all of his life, and now a selection of these letters is being published for the first time. They were sent to his friends, family, strangers, newspapers, organisations, lawyers and the laundry -- they were funny, informative, campaigning, wise, mad, poetic, anguished and sometimes heartbreaking. Hunter Davies, the authorised biographer of the Beatles and editor of the collection, talks about the John Lennon he knew and the unique insight that the letters give into the mind of one of the great figures of our times.
Concludes with a live performance by the Quarry Men.

[@davecostello560]

Fascinating interview - this man was the first Beatle archeologist!

[@airdog1829]

I can understand why he gives the location of Mimi's house as Bournemouth, but in actual fact, it was in Sandbanks, Poole in Dorset. Now sadly demolished.

[@briankennedy1192]

So much Beatles related history being demolished. In 100 years they'll regret doing so.

[@christophergerety5577]

His biography of the band is one of my favorite Beatles books. A terrific first person account with a lot of original research. Davies also wrote a very good book about the Quarryman. I own the Lennon letters and Beatles lyrics books as well. I can recommend any of his books to real Beatles fans.

[@tinabeckwith5729]

Is it just me but wasn’t anyone else disappointed that we didn’t get to see the film at the end?

[@rosemma34]

fail

[@aboolaylaa1984]

The wind blows and the desert tracks are lost, but those who are guided by the stars will find their way.

[@arricammarques1955]

Probably due to copyright clearance issues.

[@briankennedy1192]

Ten minutes in after reading every Beatles biography as a youth this guys engrossing.

[@beatlejim64]

Lennon letters is a GREAT book...

[@beatlejim64]

Relax Mike...to each his own...

[@JohnLennonReturns]

Holst, a quiet and modest man, would have appreciated not only John Lennon's songwriting abilities, but also his interests in Eastern philosophy and politics. The melodies, harmonies, and unique timbres invented by the Lennon-McCartney team have been analyzed in classical composition courses at music conservatories. Far from a brazen egotist, Holst never put down composers successful in the commercial music realm. Rather, as an introspective and spiritual person, he held deep interests quite similar to John Lennon's. Both men sacrificed their energies toward making a better world for all of us, and we owe both a debt of gratitude. www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/features/gustav-holst-brought-down-to-earth-2267832.html

[@buzonperiodista]

Second comment I catch from you deriding Lennon. Thing is, we don't like Gustav Holst. He's not even a rocker which is the whole context of the topic. So thanks, mate.

[@JohnLennonReturns]

@Christian. To whom are you replying? Certainly not to me. One needn't be a "rocker" to appreciate John Lennon. I pointed out that Holst would have appreciated Lennon, musically, philosophically, and politically. Consider what Holst did to "rock" the world, which was beyond music. Your assertion that my comment is in any way a derision of Lennon is crazier than anything. See my previous message about Lennon-McCartney. John was amazing in every way.

[@LoyalOpposition]

What piece of his would you recommend? I know John Fahey admitted to using a chord of his in the song "Wine and Roses" (or maybe "Red Pony")@@JohnLennonReturns

[@syncout]

fantastic talk

[@navillus15]

You could make a drinking game out of the intro - you have to down a shot every time the word 'Hunter' is said.

[@markbailey1970]

Hunter is just fantastic

[@BeatlesFan1975]

This is fascinating to me 😊

[@elizajohn5]

Correction. Bill Martin co wrote Puppet on a string and Congratulations with Phil Coulter. Hunter failed to mention Coulters part in writing these songs.

[@rosemma34]

fail

[@elizajohn5]

@@rosemma34 Your comment makes zero sense.

[@rosemma34]

@@elizajohn5 fail

[@paullynnlightfoot7663]

Can't believe there is only one comment on this, as of 18 March 2016. I did not know until this morning that the book under discussion existed. I can hardly wait to get my hands and eyes on a copy, since I believe John was one of the wittiest, scattiest souls that ever drew breath to convulse everyone in earshot.

[@sherlockholmeslives.1605]

+paullynn lightfoot No! He was just an overrated egomaniac with a low I.Q.! He has written some good songs, that is all! Not a patch on Holst, William Lloyd Webber's or Art Garfunkel's music!

[@sherlockholmeslives.1605]

JNagarya I mean William Lloyd Webber, not his son Andrew! I like the Please, Please Me album!

[@carollevola9047]

@@sherlockholmeslives.1605 So you approve of the band's early, more "bubblegum" type output, but then more or less just tune out and disregard what came after, as they all steadily matured and became more distinct and sophisticated with their own signature sounds and audible personalities... Shame... Though the whole four of them improved and became artistic forces of definite reckoning, Lennon especially blossomed into something formidable for the history books. And though there were at times aspects of his character that ring true with the things you have faulted and derided him for in your comment. Egomaniac, and all the rest, if you'd have only hung in and listened, you would have seen that it was all just steps along his journey to coming to acceptance and working through his own damage and insecurities. Lennon like no other, wore it all on his sleeve and documented his journey via very personal and vulnerable, magnificent recordings. He wrote his best when he was just relating what he knew and felt personally. And all of his ego and other defense mechanisms along the path, are always evident to the listener as having been just that. Something to hide behind. But each time he'd open up a little more and shed the last cover image or mask, he would always be the first one to admit that it wasn't really him, and that it was wrong. It took him years, and countless "lives" just to get to the point of writing and letting anyone else hear a track as monumental as Mother. And I challenge anyone to call that a fake, or downplay it's heartbreaking impact. He was a very hurt little boy, bumbling around in the dark with all of that fame and fortune available to him, to further muddy up the waters and add actual decades to the time when he would finally start being the same age man on the inside to where he was stuck at inwardly. John was a beautiful, vulnerable, and tragically very hurt, precious little boy for the entire time the whole world knew and watched his every move. Try that for some pressure...

[@BeatlesFan1975]

​@@sherlockholmeslives.1605 This comment is so fkn annoying. Hopefully you trolling, because if not, what tf are you even doing on this video? If you don't like John Lennon, what the actual fk are you doing here? I don't get people like you. I know your comment is 7 yr old, but, IDK, I guess I'm hoping you have since kicked off or something........ Oh wait!!! Maybe in the past 7 years you became a massive Lennon fan

[@BeatlesFan1975]

​@@carollevola9047 thanks for your well thought out comment. You obviously love The Beatles and John Lennon........me too

[@andydixon2980]

What an interesting life this man has lived. Great story teller.

[@jeffkendall9188]

very interesting interview...im buying the book

[@woki-toki3988]

discussion of the letters starts at 46:30

[@acooper8910]

Did it never occur to Davies that the reason Lennon was silent that day he went round was because JL was tripping off his face?

[@rosemma34]

fail

[@blueskygal255]

This is titled John Lennon's Letters and he hardly talks about them.

[@rosemma34]

fail

[@charwest9449]

I'm interested to see ALL the letters and postcards, not just selected ones. Are they on display in the gallery?

[@debrabugay6335]

This is great 👍

[@LoyalOpposition]

There's a book of nothing but John Lennon postcards, etc.

[@PaulLea]

That was a very intetesting clip. 🤩👍

[@user-qy4nn7qy7j]

Mm, Beatles' every move dissected, after so many years..

[@toddubow2599]

This guy is fascinating

[@CAVERN1234]

In hunters book it say the siren gave John the idea for I.A.T W.??

[@callithowiseeit5806]

Yep, and as I understood it Jimmy Nichol was responsible (says Paul) for the phrase 'it's getting better'

[@rosemma34]

@@callithowiseeit5806 Hunter said that

[@RussellRoesner]

Oh I am alone today. I have nothing to say but I know I was true. I know I had something to say to you but I' m gone now. Bye Bye Bye....Oh I have nothing left to give. I have nothing left in my life to give. Oh tell me, you once knew me, but I'm not me anymore. I'm lost in my mind. I'm lost inside. Bye Bye.

[@rosemma34]

come back

[@paulroos8658]

I am the 4,787,074 tallest person in the world,

[@sratus]

He said that police siren inspired John to write I am the Walrus in his book and here he's saying Across the Universe - which is it Hunter?

[@rosemma34]

fail

[@JoseMaria-js6bx]

I have lennon letters is great book, very very good.....

[@Frip36]

If you want the unofficial Lennon you go to Albert Goldman.

[@BeatlesFan1975]

Do you mean "official"

[@Frip36]

@@BeatlesFan1975 Thanks I fixed it. I meant unofficial. Meaning that Goldman was free to write whatever he wanted about Lennon. He was very harsh. Too harsh now that I look back on it. Lennon had to make his life into art spectacle. Because that's what the public did to him. Forced a fantasy upon him. So he turned the tables on them. Double fantasy.

[@shuddupeyaface]

Good stuff. Freddie Lennon lol!

[@pwr2dappl175]

Martha = Jane Asher???

[@rosemma34]

Paul's pup

[@debessar95]

Hunter, you better tell us how you convinced everyone in 1966 that the lyrics to Eleanor Rigby were written by Paul alone, how you misrepresented Lennon in your Beatles biography and worked as Paul's man spreading unofficial rumors.

[@rheailiarome2287]

I just find this man awful. He's been milking from Beatles stories for ages and honestly I stopped listening when he talked about Brian. My God, what is the purpose to denigrate a man who died 53 years ago, who was kind and generous and he, like any other human being had his demons, why talk about it when he cannot defend himself. You mr hunter you appall me to make money out of a suffering soul as if you are worthier than thou. I'm sick of it, so called writers and other pariahs, that seem to be all around us now, talking about other people's pain and despair to make money and suck vampire like other people's fame. Some people may not agree with me but ask yourselves if any of the stories he told about Brian brought any thing of worth to your own lives. The fact was, he was angry because Brian would not give him the time of the day to get something from the Beatles to make himself money. We, who really love the Beatles, love Brian as much because without him we might never have had the Beatles. Rest in peace Brian we love you warts and all 🙏

[@marydee1946]

Bore

[@terrypayne5988]

Another nobody milking the Beatles legend (Boring!)

[@davecostello560]

Sorry but Hunter Davis is NOT a nobody. Maybe it's you that doesn't have the attention span to listen to this interview.

[@terrypayne5988]

Why are you defending Hunter what's his name?, are you his guardian? then i can only conclude you must be at least 120 years old ! and should know better than to question my attention levels, without any prior knowledge. This guy has predominantly made a long career milking the Beatles legacy, and in conclusion has absolutely nothing to say in his own right, sorry i forgot his book Beatles football and me - an absolute classic. Here Hunter goes around the mulberry bush Ha Ha Ha .

[@davecostello560]

If he really wanted to milk the legend he could have decided to sell his lyric sheets instead. He has done loads of non Beatles related things in his career, but I think he's acknowledged that this is what he will be remembered for.

[@terrypayne5988]

Oh dear, your belief in preserving this mans integrity is quite touching, however the fact remains, Mr Davies is another faceless author. retelling countless (and widely known) events in the career of the Beatles, only with the skill of documenting these .events. into a narrative. On your point to date, it is true that he has not sold the original lyric sheets (which by the way he rescued from the bin!), although they have now been published in his name, with only the foreword credited as his own original work. Watch this space my friend, as these documents will now go under the hammer for silly money in the very near future, in readiness for his retirement. Study life, scrutinize the human condition, then you will understand people like 'THE MONEY HUNTER'.

[@graemehardaker1125]

He was there... he is a part of the legend