Product Description

The Beatles are still the most popular band of all time - they topped all the Millennium polls This is the first book to be produced with the full co-operation of the surviving Beatles and Yoko Ono The ultimate Beatles gift book - most of the images and almost all the text has never been seen before Backed by 100,000 marketing and publicity campaign

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54597 in Books
• Published on: 2000-10-05
• Released on: 2000-10-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 368 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Finally, long after all the chauffeurs and chefs, groupies and hangers-on have cashed in on their memories, here is the story of the greatest entertainment phenomenon of the 20th Century--as told by John, Paul, George and Ringo themselves. More than simply soundtracking the Swinging 60s, The Beatles have entered into legend, becoming the yardstick against which every other band is measured. But back at the beginning they were just a bunch of Liverpool lads who struck it lucky and this is their rather sweet account of times gone by. There are breathless reports of meeting Elvis, being mesmerised by his TV remote control, and of discovering the joys of double-tracking at Abbey Road...

Most people already know the Beatles story by heart, but Anthology fills the gaps nicely: John, convinced he was "too old" to make it at 21; George remembering their first stage make-up ("we looked like Outspan oranges!"); and Ringo: "We were flying from London to Glasgow once, and there were only three seats left on the plane, and in my naivety I said 'I'll stand!'" Perhaps most revealing are the first-hand accounts of the early years: their two-up, two-down childhoods, playing around in bomb-scarred Liverpool during the years of post-war austerity; dumping Pete Best and then turning to "a guy ... who had a beard and was grown-up and was known to have a Zephyr Zodiac!" (George: "Pete would never hang out with us ... with Ringo, it felt rocking.") With Ringo, Brian Epstein and George Martin on board, the pieces fell into place and by 1964 America too had succumbed. Paul: "I remember getting into the limo and hearing a running commentary, "They have just left the airport..." It was like a dream. The greatest fantasy ever." The transitional Rubber Soul is revealed as "the pot album" and George's favourite. Bob Dylan, as ever, put his finger on it immediately: "Oh I get it, you don't want to be cute anymore!"

There are few revelations here--the story is, after all, the best-known in pop history; but this is a truly handsome volume, beautifully designed and lavishly illustrated with rare photos from private collections and a wealth of fascinating detail and illuminating quotes to lend colour and depth to this fresh perspective. As the four individuals at the epicentre of a world gone mad, The Beatles were in no position to appreciate the seismic changes they were setting in motion, but writers like Philip Norman, Michael Braun, Hunter Davies and Mark Lewisohn have long since set their achievements in context. Here, for the first time, is the Fab story as seen from the inside--by The Beatles themselves. --Patrick Humphries

About the Author
If you haven't heard of the Beatles, then this probably isn't the book for you.

Customer Reviews

A superb account of the Beatles from the 'inside'
I have admired the music of the Beatles more and more over the last few years and I eventually wanted to know a bit more about their history. I simply wasn't sure about the best place to start finding out until now.

The Beatles anthology answers that question to the above. It is beautifully readable, and painstaking work that must have gone in to it to achieve that standard almost beggar's belief.

The story is told form the point of view of the individual Beatles, their producer George Martin, Neil Aspinall their road manager and Derek Taylor one time spokesperson.

Although John Lennon was killed twenty years ago, the way his account is interlaced with the other members of the bands is seamless and provides a poignant reminder of just what the world of music lost as well as the far greater tragedy for his wife, family and friends.

This book covers the Beatles entire history from the early Liverppol pre-Cavern days through to and now looking back, the inevitably bitter break up in 1970.

The best areas of the book are the detailed accounts of their early Hamburg days, and the wonderfully chaotic yet disasterous running of Apple, the record company the Beatles set up in the late sixties.

Through out the whole story of the beatles, the anecdotes are illuminating, and in the detail fascinating. For example the inspiration behind some of their songs, is breathtaking in how seemingly insignificant phrases and ideas can be turned into gold by sheer unadulterated talent.

All four of the Beatles characters do come through vividly, although it is hard to tell how much is revealed to us by accident or by deliberate act.

For example Ringo appears almost hopelessly and fantastically positive about everything to do with the Beatles.

George Harrison, the quietest of the Beatles seems much more radical in his thinking than even John Lennon was at his peak. He was much more into Eastern philosphy than Lennon which to me appears suprising.

Paul Macartney, does seem to be the one who was hurt most by the Beatles breakup, although he comes through as the most egotistical of the Beatles, although certainly not off-puttingly so.

Lennon himself reamins the most complex character in the Beatles, and it seems through this anthology he never (unsurprisingly) got over the early tragedies in his life and therefore built at a times a deliberately cynical persona, which belied his true personality.

The book I think is also illuminating on Yoko Ono's part in the breakup in the Beatles. The surving beatles are much kinder over time to her now, when they say it was many factors that split up the Beatles, not just her appearing on the scene.

She appears from reading this even if they can't admit to it to have been the impetus that finally broke up the Beatles. Although she probably saved the beatles from becoming a band staying on just for the sake of it, and becoming perhaps a pale shadow of themselves.

The book itself is well designed, although the print is a little on the small side.

The overtyping on some of the pictures can be a little hard to see at times. Although this is just minor quibble. The book is well basically fantastic and shows the beatles inter-relationships in marvellous and often affectionate detail.

Outstanding as a gift for the true Beatles fan
For the diehard Beatles fan, this probably rates 10 stars. As a gift (this is a surprising large and lavish book) it's probably worth 11 stars. As a book for the rest of us (interested in the Beatles, not obsessed) it's a four. So the five-star rating is a blend, based on how you think of the Beatles.

The book is packed with photos, scanned images of handwritten song lyrics and notes written by the Beatles, and tons of interviews. In terms of Beatles trivia and information, it's absolutely first rate and fascinating. If you're the kind of Beatles fan who likes to listen to their live recordings, rare studio outtakes, alternate recordings, etc. -- you probably "have" to own this book.

The only drawback of the book -- if you're not 100% obsessed by the Beatles -- is that the interview format really is a slow way to tell the Beatles story. For each event in their career, you get four different versions of how it happened (sometimes more, because other leading Beatles characters are interviewed, too), and it can take a long time to get through the thread of the story. So, if you want to string together how their career happened and how the band imploded, it takes a little longer than one would like. But if you're a Beatle-ologist and want to revel in the small details of their career, it's absolutely first rate.

In summary, any Beatles fan -- casual or serious -- would love this, especially as a gift. The more casual you are about the Beatles, though, the more likley you are to skim the book rather than absorb every detail.

Great to have Music History documented,by those who were it.
I love anything about that era of musical history and this is just what I wanted to read and view, I totally enjoyed all aspects of it . I have only one more thing to see and I will be happy forever . and that is a dvd or vhs on all Beatle songs in full for all of us to remember what was the greatest Band of all . Come on please before we get too old or it gets locked in someones vault and is lost forever.