Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Who's the Redhead on the roof?---book review


If you are a Beatles fan, then you have seen the photos of the Beatles during the rooftop concert and have seen a redheaded guy holding music for John Lennon. Ever wonder who that guy was? Well, through this blog, we learned that his name is Kevin Harrington. He worked for the Beatles in the late 1960s. And he has written an ebook with the appropriate title, Who's the Redhead on the Roof?

Interestingly enough, Kevin got the job in 1966 when he was 15 years old. He saw an ad in the "help wanted" section of the newspaper for an office boy wanted at NEMS. For a while, Kevin was the boy who delivered things for Brian Epstein—pretty impressive! Things progressed, and Kevin eventually ended up working alongside Mal Evans at EMI, getting the Beatles whatever they needed.

I really enjoyed reading the kind things about Mal in this book. I often say that Mal does not get the recognition he deserves, and Kevin really shows how kind Mal was to "the boys" and others. Even though they didn't part on the best of terms, Kevin never badmouthed Mal, which he could have easily done.  

Kevin and Mal in a photo from the book

The part I loved the most in this book was the chapter about the Apple Scruffs.  I found it hilarious that Kevin felt intimated by the Apple Scruff girls at first.  Really?   But I guess I can understand---they were there every day in all types of weather and knew where the Beatles would be.  But he eventually became friends with them and received the honor of being named "Mr. Valentine" in the Apple Scruff Monthly in 1970.   He even asked one of the girls to be his "date" to the premiere of "Let It Be."   

Kevin and George leave 3 Savile Row with some fans outside

Kevin shares a little of what went on in the studio from 1968-1970, but he stayed away from politics and knew very little about the disagreements between the Fab Four. He did accompany Paul on a trip to Kinfauns to talk to George after George quit the band, but he stayed in the car the entire time. 

If you are looking for a book that is technical and gives you the complete ins and outs of working in the studio with the Beatles, you aren't going to find it here.  But if you are looking for a quick summer read about a guy who had one of the best jobs ever and his personal memories of that job, then this is the book for you.    I really enjoyed it and I found myself often laughing at some of the stories.  Can you imagine having to buy tampons for Yoko Ono?   I would put "Who's the Redhead on the Roof" as one of my "must-read" Beatle books for the summer of 2015.


The link below is the affiliate link to Amazon, where you can purchase this book.  I get a small percentage of anything purchased through this link.  Money made from the Amazon Afflication is used to pay the annual fee to keep this site online.  Thank you for your support.  Sara


https://amzn.to/3v1z2k9

7 comments:

  1. Kevin was really nice, I saw him many times! I will read his book as soon as I finish mine.

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  2. Thank you Sara for the review, if anyone reading this can pass on the review or get another one, that would be very kind. Kevin is happy to answer any questions you might have, please email him at noeasyroad@gmail.com

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    1. It is my pleasure to write a review on a book that I enjoyed. I hope many other fans read his book as well.

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  3. "A is for Apple" publishers (APCOR Books) are releasing it in hard back book form soon...with extra photos too !

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    1. I heard! I am pretty excited! I don't like ebooks very much---

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    2. Looking forward to this. Loved reading the ebook and wanted more. Carole Apple Scruff.

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  4. Just came back from the IMAX release of the Rooftop concert. The Red Head on the Roof almost is in more shots than Ringo.

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