Writings on The Beatles: Matt Williamson Follow Up

[@popgoesthe60s52]

Hey John! Thanks for the mention and continuing the discussion. Love your channel by the way. You have quite a good collection!

[@70PaulK]

Matt Williamson provides excellent insights, especially on the Let It Be sessions where he deals with All Things Must Pass, which he claims wasn't rejected by the band.

[@matthewstreet1961]

First, I love that Rubber Soul t-shirt John! I think the olive green background really goes well with the design. I may have to look for that one. As for the books, you showed many that I have and several that I do not. I will keep an eye out for the ones I'm missing. I really enjoyed this video and Matt's as well. Take care of John, Matt Street

[@MIB_63]

Excellent overview of essential books on the Beatles, John. I own most of them but you have wetted my appetite to add more to my collection. Sadly several of these have long since been out of print.

[@jakebuckner2049]

Hey John! For a Beatles fan your channel is awesome! Loved the Imaginary Beatles albums series, thanks!

[@markalexander6501]

The Carr & Tyler book was the one that started me on this journey... I must try and locate a new copy as my kids may like it too. Nicholas Schaffner's Beatle Forever was excellent too... Thanks for the great video John

[@goranalnestrand8205]

Very good info, John! Thanx 👍🏼

[@1963catman]

Another excellent video . I have a few of those, I agree the Nick Schaffner book is really well done. I also like Shout, the Beatles in their generation by Philip Norman. I'll have to hunt down the few you showed that I've never seen. Thanks, very educational.

[@davecostello560]

I'd add Many Years From Now, the Barry Miles book, which was McCartney's successful attempt to redress the growing belief that Lennon had been the avant garde Beatle and he had been the boring one. Also Tony Bramwell, Magical Mystery Tours was another good insider book. More recently, I have enjoyed Joe Goodden's Riding So High, detailing the relationship between the fabs and drugs, and Beatles '66, by Steve Turner, focusing in in great detail on that revolutionary year. Great research. It is an interesting tension about books written closer to the times and more recent ones. I actually think we are getting some great books now, as the Beatles Story is a bit like the Great Pyramid: you have to travel some distance from it before you can see it in its full glory and true cultural significance!

[@timshearn8203]

Very good video John. A great selection of books on show. Personally I think the Emerick book is superb, as is You Never Give Me Your Money. However, the Lewishon book, Tune In, is one of the best Beatles books I've ever read

[@jamesfinn8186]

Really enjoyed this review John. I have many of these in my collection as well. Thanks!

[@michaelf9693]

As a second generation fan growing up in the 1970s the Carr/Tyler and Schaffner books were indispensable. Even though Carr and Tyler dismiss Yesterday and Eleanor Rigby (!) and are too critical I believe on the solo work. I was hesitant to read Fred Seaman’s book but I did really enjoy it. I felt he gave a good insight into being with John the last couple of years. It did seem like John was isolated and if he was away from Yoko he did seem to need someone around to bounce off of and even though Fred was his assistant, I get the feeling he liked Fred and felt free talking to him. True it’s coming from Fred’s perspective but it felt honest to me. For a totally fictitious and hilarious take on the Beatles story I recommend Paperback Writer by Mark Shipper. Written before John’s death it culminates in the reunion concert that never happened and maybe shows why it’s good it didn’t.

[@jonathaninkent]

Re your criticism of Anthology and George saying he knew the Beatles were going to split after Abbey Road. I think that's mostly in the documentary, not the book. They're all much more honest in the book about how John suddenly announced he was leaving and the uncertainty for the next few months. Also seems weird to discount such an epic book because there wasn't much detail of the groupies. Plus the interviews from Paul, George and Ringo were only, as you say, twenty-five years after the split. It's not like they were old cronies and had forgotten everything by then.

[@richarddrolet7746]

Love your T Shirt....for me one of the best album covers of all time....it says it all...thank you sir.

[@xtstevie]

Great video again John & i've always enjoyed the 'Insiders' books throughout the years & although at times they have some half truths & lies they also uncover some great stories of the Fabs from their humble beginnings to the very end & beyond.....

[@richardhewitt4252]

Hi John, another cracking video. I have many of those books and agree with your assessments. Just wondered if you have any of the old Beatles Monthly Books dating from the early days of the 60's and the British Beatles Fan Club mags which are still produced 4 times a year. I dont have many and need to add to my small collection. All contain great pictures and plenty of info. I also have a few of the McCartney Club Sandwich mags which Beatle Brad showed his collection a while ago.

[@johnheaton5667]

i have many Beatles Monthly mags but mostly second generation...good stuff!

[@johnmadden7222]

Really interesting video as usual. It's the great disintegrating Beatle's book collection!

[@tubergetrude333]

Fascinating! I don't know what else to say except thank you

[@wflack]

Thanks for an excellent video. I guess the George Tremlett books on John and Paul are not worth mentioning. I remember thinking they were great in the mid 70’s but I was only 11 and anything on the Beatles was valuable. I think Craig Brown’s very recent 1234 is a great book looking back from many years later with affection and awe.

[@jupitermadcat]

I just got the Paul McCartney book many years from now by Barry Miles I'm going to start reading.

[@thermionic1234567]

Always glad to see a new video by you and I always give an automatic thumbs-up as you never fail!

[@petejp1]

John, that's an impressive collection of books, I have several of them myself. I would highly recommend the bruce spizer series of books on the Beatles and their early solo work. I think you would enjoy them. I certainly do. Take care.

[@stephenhastings591]

Read recently again The Complete Beatles recording sessions which is great and nearly read Tune In which is informative and very funny in places. Just ordered the Complete Beatles Chronicle thanks to your review so looking forward to that .... Would like to get John Lennon, In my life by Pete Shotton if i can get it for a reasonable price

[@5150show]

Brilliant thank you

[@Gardosunron]

Your missing Lewishonn's "Tune In" which is the best book on the Beatles up to 1962. It's the first of 3 volumes the next one covers up to 1966.

[@russelltimmons9169]

A glaring omission.

[@roystonsbailey]

Never let the facts get in the way of a good story... Or a cemented opinion. Or contradictory statements by the same individual...

[@skooter6235]

Z is for Zapple is a good one, as is The Beatles on Apple. Great video

[@BruceColon-BSides]

Love the Emerick and Schaffner books. Schaffner’s book on Pink Floyd is also excellent.

[@thepipesmokingbeekeeper8917]

Evening John Great video as usual If you could own only one Beatles book which would it be Thanks Terry

[@johnheaton5667]

probably Lennon Remembers

[@benmeltzer]

I don't understand George's comment at 6:55 about listing "I Am The Walrus."

[@drummer78]

I felt that book “You Never Give Me Your Money” book about the financial/inter person issues from the split to recent days was excellent. Best recent Beatles book in my opinion. The Beatles gear book which details and has pictures of their instruments from 1957-1969 was excellent too.

[@roywatson8133]

i have most of those books but of all the but downs comments on any of the fab four are those by roy carr and tony tyler on georges material world dark horse extra texture lps i was very hurt by them there noting wrong with these albums i ve had them for over 40 years now and still enjoy them there a lot better than the likes of clapton and dylan albums who ive never been a great fan of great video john

[@johnheaton5667]

yes i was hurt too but it's written with such great humour that i forgive the digs..... including back to the egg and london town....not just george!

[@spin1788]

I enjoy johns reviews, but the constant advertisements are really distracting.

[@alastairmackay4861]

Why are there so many?

[@andysouth6624]

@@alastairmackay4861 KZbin is a business

[@alastairmackay4861]

@Andy South I know that! But why do some vids have way more than others

[@matthewturnage4998]

Hi, John. Excellent video as always. I'm currently about halfway through Kenneth Womack's "John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life" and I've got Tom Doyle's Man on the Run to read next. I'm curious if you've read either of those books, and if so what your opinion of them is?

[@johnheaton5667]

have the latter not bad but too anti latter day Wings!

[@matthewturnage4998]

Thanks for the reply, John. I'll go into that book suitably warned!

[@markpercival7076]

Excellent video John. I sent you a Facebook message.

[@TomCwimpRock]

Hi John - loved the video... I agree with you that Fred Seaman’s book “The Last Days Of John Lennon” needs to be taken with a grain of salt, particularly with his portrayal of Yoko- but in spite of everything, I’ve found it to be a totally absorbing, and at times very valuable account..John comes across in the book as a believable 3 dimensional human being, flawed, but also endearing. It’s fascinating to read about John’s feelings towards his past work, and also with the-then current music scene-and also his personal tastes on food, diets, movies, books, philosophy, religion, cats, and his day to day routine. Certainly Fred Seaman’s reputation has been tarnished, but much of the book seems to corroborate with other accounts and interviews with John Lennon. If taken with the entirety of books on Lennon, I think that Seaman’s book has its place.

[@Beatgeneration2010]

Hi John, love your reviews as always and respect for your reviews moves far and wide, e.g. Mean Mr. Mayo and Mathew Street, whom are held in High regard. However, when you review a book or Record you barely hold it up long enough to recognise especially with Books. Can you hold up the covers so we can recognise the covers in shops or on line? Cheers. Ken

[@davidrobinson2776]

You make an excellent point about the best Beatles literature has been written “in the moment”. Mark Lewisohn is at pains to take you back to the moment in Tune In, as best he can which really makes a difference. The sensationalist books are basically just vehicles to make the author some cash without exception. Although the Goldman book on Lennon is probably the most repellant, I dislike the Fred Seaman effort almost as much.

[@jonathaninkent]

Fred Seaman's book is a fascinating read although the negativity towards the end directed at Yoko is really unbelievable. "Real marriage with real problems". That's well pretty observed. It's strange though that this bloke dismisses Seasman's connection with John after all he says in his videos about the importance of primary sources, contemporary sources, people who were there etc etc. Seaman was John's PA for 18 months, let's bear in mind.

[@johnheaton5667]

i think Seaman’s book has its place as long as one takes it in context of all the views expressed about john and yoko..

[@johnheaton5667]

and btw ‘this bloke’ is me....would prefer it if you addressed your comments to me direct

[@PlanetoftheDeaf]

I do like the Doggett book, as it covers in incredible depth a depressing but also fascinating period in their history, and how the Beatles turned into a money making corporation. I'm surprised you didn't mention the Philip Norman book (highly criticised by Williamson) or the Barry Miles McCartney book, which is effectively an approved biography of McCartney, and hence biased the other way, but full of direct McCartney quotes.

[@nickforemanreal]

My copy of Lennon Remembers is in that exact same battered condition

[@fredfat1606]

i thought i had a good collection of books until i watched this - wow - goldman?

[@davidjackson5449]

Just read Robert Rosen's account of Johns final years. It seems that Ken Womack's recent book on John in his final years was almost indentical to Rosen's book. This is the danger of new books they just rewrite older books so we should just get the older books Like you i,ve been buying Beatle books since the 70s and its a mixed picture. I agree Hunter Davies's book is an enjoyable read . Anthony Fawcetts books is also another essential book. Its a good point about recent books/projects are very much about changing the narrative and rewriting history. The new Get Back film i,m sure will fit into this category. We remember that by the 80s in the Uk at least the Beatles were out of fashion, only the likes of you and me were buying George and Ringos albums. Today Podcasts dont remember that Punk/new wave swept away the relevance of the early 70s bands making the Beatles appear dull to the average music fan and solo albums appearances in the bargain bins. The only new books worth getting are the Mark Lewisohm books as they are well researched and offer something new.Regards

[@davidkornblatt991]

the longest cocktail party?

[@arar8792]

guilliano also said that harrison has a secret daughter never heard it before he said that

[@Wayner71]

Great review. 'The Beatles an Illustrated Record' was my 1975 introduction to their story after ten years of loving their music as a child and early teen. I found Geoff Emerick's book very anti-John and Ringo (as well as anti-George) and therefore unsatisfying. A great book that follows MacDonald's tradition of subjectively assessing the music is 'Can't Buy Me Love, The Beatles, Britain, and America' by Jonathan Gould. Cheers.

[@DJ-bj8ku]

How about reviewing Joni Mitchell?

[@andysouth6624]

Loving John came up on eBay recently but it went to £30 which is more than I was willing to pay for it.

[@nervo6321]

I have quite a few Beatles books but i still prefer the Mark Lewishon recording studio book above all others...is it me or are we still waiting for a true book on the Beatles that gets down to the nitty gritty of their teenage life in Liverpool through to mega stardom and ultimate break up, they all seem to regurgitate the old well trodden stories...

[@alexconway4950]

John - off topic but are you a fan of Kate Bush?

[@johnheaton5667]

yes been listening to her back catalogue recently...though only have the kick inside on cd so far

[@alexconway4950]

@@johnheaton5667 possible video in the future? Interested to hear your thoughts. Cheers.

[@Scoundrel12131965]

Very nice overview and response to the Matt Williamson video. I think his comments are interesting but he takes the Beatles by Historians book too much at face value (that is, I think it is overdone, and certainly not the last word on the Beatles). On the break up, three books that I like: the Doggett book, Sulpy's Get Back! book and Delillo's The Longest Cocktail Party (three that cover it fairly well).

[@jimk2000]

John enjoy your videos but you need to pump up the volume. You are too soft spoken.

[@arar8792]

should realise as a audiobooks imany of them out of print

[@johnharrison9685]

John, don’t take this the wrong way but you have a very heavy-handed way of handling your books and magazines. No wonder they are (most of ‘em) falling apart. Just a bit of constructive advice so you can conserve these books for a bit longer, some of these are no longer available.

[@mark9058]

John, I would argue your 'revisionist' definition like it is a bad thing. We get new data all the time that gets dug up, as you saw in the Get Back film we just got. As for Erin Torkelson Weber's 'The Beatles and the Historians' she is writing it from a historian perspective. A lot of Beatles books, like you say, have horrible historical methodology and we can't verify what was said without citations. I can see her point on that alone.

[@donnaone1nine]

We are wearing the same shirt today! I enjoyed Peter Brown's book. I don't recall anything horrible, but Paul does require unconditional sanitation when it comes to him and Linda. Fred Seaman's experience feels real. Housekeepers and assistant's know everything. Geoff Emerick's book is definitely biased. I wouldn't be surprised if he got a little extra cash for the effort. What he wrote about George and Ringo seems high-schoolishly mean, written to kiss up to Paul. I had to read Miss O'Dell and Body Count to even things out. Goodnight John.

[@aureliande2659]

Dear John, I hope you don't mind ... I'd enjoy your videos much more if you could be a tiny bit less nervous and dithery. When you hold up a book it would be great if you gave us time to read the title and maybe wouldn't put your finger over the author's name. At times you (I) can't even hit the stop button fast enough. Combined with your unique style of hasty asides that is quite a challenge for me, I confess. Apart from that, interesting contents, no complaints. Regards!

[@stuartshire]

The biggest charlatan involved in writing about the Beatles is Phillip Norman . He will never make another penny from me .

[@viscountpalmerston]

Shocking I know, John, but the author of 'Beatles and the Historians' is a female! Erin Torkelson Weber :-)