Let It Be - The Making of the Beatles Final Album Book 2 -- a book review

 

In 2024, I read an amazing book about the Beatles' Get Back Sessions written by Terry Wilson.   If you are interested in my review of that book, click right here.  

The author stated that part 2 would be released in 2026, and, right on time, it was published a month or so ago; I just finished reading it this week.   Part 2 picks up where Part 1 ended and continues into the Apple Sessions of the Get Back sessions.   

Just like I said about the first book, I am amazed by the detail the author, Terry Wilson, researched to get the complete picture of these infamous sessions. Not only did he use all of the books available on the subject, but he also used the Nagra tapes and video documentation.  And he debunked the myth that George was unhappy throughout the session and that everyone was miserable.  He did show that the whole Allen Klein fiasco was going on at the same time and how it affected the group.  He also showed how Billy Preston did not come in to "save" the band, and that Magic Alex wasn't fired after not having Apple Studio ready in time.  

The big build-up in the book is, of course, to the rooftop concert, and Wilson goes into great detail about the concert and who was on the roof with the Beatles.  He also tells the story of the painting seen behind Ringo's drums during the rooftop performance and how Neil Aspinall ended up with it.  There is also a lot of research on the next day's performance at Apple, focusing on the slower number—something I feel gets totally overlooked—but those songs are performances as well. 

What I also enjoyed was that the story did not stop there.  While he no longer had the Nagra tapes and video to refer to, Wilson dug into the "mystery" sessions at Apple in February and all the other sessions up to January 1970 for the songs on the Let It Be album.   I really found the talk about how the Glyn Johns Get Back album was leaked to radio stations and bootlegged interesting.  He kept the story going through Disney+ and Anthology 4, which I think was the perfect way to tell the full story of Let It Be. 

With the announcement of the opening of 3 Savile Row in the near future, I feel like this volume of the book was very timely.   It was hard for me to put it down, although I did find volume 1 to be a little more interesting, but that was just personal preference.   I can't recommend this book enough for fans who want to read the minute details of the Get Back Sessions.   All the books from the past are now obsolete because Terry Wilson's two-volume set covers everything completely.  Check it out!  

Denny Seiwell - The Best and Worst of Times - A Book Review

Paul with two of his favorite drummers:  Abe and Denny S. 

Paul and Denny recording Ram 

 

While I was at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame a few weeks ago, I picked up a signed copy of Wings' first drummer, Denny Seiwell's biography.   It was a pretty quick read (180 pages), and I found it very heartwarming, inspirational, and informative. 

Denny was a successful drummer prior to joining Paul McCartney in Wings.  He did a variety of jingles and sessions for all styles of music.  The one thing he did prior to Wings was play the drums for songs from Schoolhouse Rock!  Yes -- that is Denny Seiwell playing drums on "Conjunction Junction."  

Denny tells the story of how he auditioned for Paul and Linda and began working with them on what became the Ram album.  From there, he was asked to join Wings, and of course, he couldn't say no to the opportunity to be in a band with a Beatle, so he and his wife moved to Scotland and started rehearsing and recording with the new band, Wings. 

I appreciate how candid and honest Denny was about the challenges and struggles he faced being in Paul McCartney's band.  He didn't sugarcoat the experience, but he also didn't just talk about the negative aspects.  I enjoyed reading the excitement of that first Wings University tour and the humor in the first drug bust.  

Denny wasn't making money to make ends meet with Wings and made the decision to quit right before the band left for Lagos to record Band on the Run.  After that Denny went into a depression and turned to alcohol while still working as a Session drummer in California. 

The rest of the book is the story of Denny's recovery from alcoholism and how he basically turned his life around.  I found it to be very inspiring.  As part of doing the 12 steps, Denny decided to reconcile with Paul McCartney for quitting Wings.  The two of them were never on bad terms to begin with, but there was much left unsaid.  After the reconciliation from Denny writing Paul a letter, they have spent time together.  Last year Denny went to see Paul and the band rehearse for the Got Back tour and had the opportunity to play drums with Paul once again.   

I won't go into the entire story but it was so sweet and was an amazing way to end the book. 

This has been one of the best books I have read in quite a while.  I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates Wings.

Paul McCartney and Wings Exhibit at the R&R Hall of Fame -- A Review

 

I had the amazing opportunity to attend the "Paul McCartney and Wings" exhibit and VIP gathering (don't get too excited -- I just bought a ticket like everyone) at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio last weekend. 

If you are a Paul McCartney / Wings fan you have to see this exhibit!  I was just completely knocked out by all of the amazing artifacts that were on display.  

This display occupies space on the 6th floor of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  It is a much smaller space than I anticipated, and one of my few complaints is that I wish it were located in a larger location than the small exhibit room on the 6th floor, because if you get more than 20 people up there, it gets hard to see the items on display.   If you are going to visit, you might want to know that you have to take an escalator up to the fourth floor, then walk the stairs to get to the 6th floor -- but there are really great Wings decorations in the stairwells that you don't want to miss.   If stairs are an issue for you, then get on the Wings decorated elevator.  The elevator is large enough to fit 2-3 wheelchairs and people.  

The exhibit has a Wings compilation video showing in a loop while you are there and a big Wings logo on the ceiling. 

This is on the ceiling -- very cool!

The exhibit starts with McCartney and ends with McCartney II.  There are guitars, clothing, ephemera, and other artifacts from every Wings era represented.  Things were donated by Paul, Denny Seiwell, Denny Laine's estate, Jimmy McCulloch's estate, Laurence Juber, Steve Holly, and John Hammel and others as well.  

Highlights for me included:  the original drawing of the Wings logo, Paul's handwritten lyrics to Maybe I'm Amazed, the red "gown" Paul wore in Morocco,  the outfit and guitar Paul used on Top of the Pops for the performance of Junior's Farm, Paul's see-through guitar and handwritten lyrics for Helen Wheels,  all of the items from the tours,  John Hammel's Back to the Egg pin,  Laurence's Japan 1980 jacket and Rockestra scarf.  

But my two favorite things were:  Robbie the Robot and the sweater Paul wore in the Waterfalls video.  I stared at those items for so long and even took a selfie with Robbie.   

The Junior's Farm outfit and guitar

The see-through guitar

Robbie!! You are still with us!

If this wasn't under glass and heavily secured -- I might have taken it -- just saying. 

In the middle of the room is the "Rude Studio" sign, along with a place to listen to and view various songs, live recordings, and photos.   Also in the middle is a replica of the McCartneys' kitchen in Scotland, with Linda's photographs, and Linda's camera is on display!  So amazing. 

I would have liked to have seen more representation of Linda as a member of Wings in this exhibit.  I loved that her camera was on display, but seeing one of her tour dresses, her keyboard, her lava lamp, or something that represented Linda as a band member would have been great.   

But that is really my only complaint (besides I wish it was in a larger space) about the exhibit.  It was beautifully done and it made me proud to be a Wings fan.  

While I was there, I visited the Beatles section of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  And let me say that I was extremely disappointed.  I have been to the Rock Hall 5-6 times since it opened, and the Beatles part is always really cool.  But this time -- not so much.   Four of the Beatles' guitars were missing, with a sign saying "this item has been temporarily removed."  I understand that things get removed, but 4 out of 5 guitars at once?   All of the handwritten materials -- letters, lyrics, and even John's green card are replicas.  I can see a photo of these items online -- I go to a museum to see the real deal in person.   They had Paul's grey, collarless suit on display, but when I read the description more closely, I realized it was the suit made for the Paul wax figure in 1964, and Paul himself never wore it.   The only thing that I thought was cool in the display was John's "This is not here" t-shirt.  

The VIP party was fun.  Steve Holly and Laurence Juber were interviewed, and then they played some Wings songs.  That was really great.  I watched some of the Rock Show film and did some shopping in the gift shop.  They had a ton of Wings stuff for sale: t-shirts, sweatshirts, books, postcards, stickers, buttons—it was heaven!  I bought a long-sleeved t-shirt, a button, and a postcard.   

I was also fortunate to meet many of the fans whose stories are on this site.  A group of fans who went to many Wings concerts in the 70s and met Paul outside the studios during the Wings era held a gathering, and I was able to sit and listen to their stories in person.  I met many fans whom I only knew of by name because I  have typed it up many times on this site over the years.  

The Paul McCartney and Wings exhibit will be in Cleveland at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for a full year and you need to make your way out there to see it!  You will love it.  

Cornflakes with John Lennon: a Book Review

Robert Hilburn and John Lennon in 1980
Photo by Bob Gruen 

 A few weeks ago, someone in the comments asked me whether Robert Hiburn was in a photo of John Lennon posted on this site.  My answer was that I was very familiar with the reviews and interviews from the L.A. Time journalist, I had no idea what Robert Hilburn looked like.  That led me to Google his name and discover that he had written a memoir of his life as a journalist titled  Cornflakes With John Lennon.  I bought the Kindle ebook version and read it this past week.  

First of all, if you buy this book thinking it is going to be all about John Lennon due to the title, you will be disappointed.   Fortunately, I read the Amazon reviews and knew what I was getting myself into.   

Bob Hilburn lived an interesting life as a young person growing up in the South in the 1950s.  He was greatly influenced by country music and rock 'n' roll (particularly Elvis). He used his knowledge and passion for music to build relationships with the rockers he interviewed for the L.A. Times. 

The stories he told about spending time with John both in LA during the Lost Weekend era and in 1980 during the making of Double Fantasy are great.   He obviously has a lot of love for John and has a John bias.  I loved his story about how, during the making of Double Fantasy, he kept seeing John sneaking over to a cupboard and doing something.  Bob assumed it was drugs of some sort until John asked him if he wanted any, and he said that John was sneaking a chocolate bar!  He didn't want Yoko to know about it.  

Bob was at the Dakota in the aftermath of John's murder and spoke with Yoko and the words that Yoko said to him brought tears to my eyes.  

Bob obviously disliked Paul McCartney and George Harrison didn't want anything to do with the guy.  He doesn't even mention Ringo.  

The rest of the book is full of stories of his time with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis, Bono, Michael Jackson, Kurt Cobain, and others. I am not a Springsteen fan, so I found those chapters to drag on and bore me.  Obviously, he is a good writer and all of his stories were interesting, just some were artists I wasn't too familiar with or don't care much about.   

It was an interesting enough book and now I know much more about the man so that if someone asks me again on this site about him, I will have more knowledge, but it isn't a book I will ever want to read again.  

If this book interests you, however, and you want to purchase it for yourself.  Please consider using the Amazon affiliate link below.  I receive a very small percentage of anything purchased through this link, which I, in turn, use to pay for the yearly fee to keep this site ad-free and online.   Thank you for your support. 

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War is Over - children's book Review

 

There is a new Beatles children's book available just in time for the December holidays.  War Is Over is the book adaptation of the Academy Award-winning short animated film of the same name.  This book is based on the Christmas song by John and Yoko and was created by Sean Lennon, Brad Booker, and Dave Mullins. 

Many of us have never had the opportunity to see the film because it has not been streaming anywhere, but that is going to change on December 1.   The story tells of two soldiers who are fighting on opposite sides.  They participate in playing a chess game anonymously by passing notes through a messenger pigeon.   A fight breaks out, and on the field, the two chess players come face to face.   It is a very moving story, and the illustrations are beautifully done. 

Beatle fans will appreciate the nods to Beatlesisms, such as the pigeon named "Julia" and one of the soldiers called "Winston."  

In the afterward, Sean states that he hopes "this book will serve as a conversation starter for families and friends."  The topic of war is very heavy for a children's book, and this book isn't meant to be one for a young person to read independently and put back on the shelf.  I believe it should be read together as a family and used as a springboard to talk about hate and war.  The book seems to be written at a 3rd-grade level, and I wouldn't read it with any child younger than 8.   

As I stated, it is a beautiful book and very well done.   It would make a great gift even for those who are not John Lennon fans.  

If you would like to purchase this book, I would greatly appreciate it if you could use the Amazon affiliate link for your purchase.  I get a small percentage of anything bought through this link, and I use that money to pay for the annual fees used to keep this site online. 

https://amzn.to/47UMRjK

Was it worth it? Review of Paul McCartney Got Back Concert in Des Moines, Iowa 2025

 

"This better be worth it."  Those were the words I was saying to myself as I spent way too much money on tickets to see Paul McCartney in concert again.  As I was going through the torture of trying to get tickets online through Ticketmaster.  My tickets for Nashville were going in the online shopping cart and then getting kicked out and having to back into the queue, and discovering the show was sold out.   "This better be worth it,"  I said it again as I scrambled to find ANY Paul concert within driving distance of St. Louis.   I was able to buy two tickets for Des Moines and one ticket for the first night in Chicago.   The price was more than I have ever paid for any concert in my life, and so I sure hoped it was worth it. 

The Des Moines show was on Tuesday, October 14.  I blocked that day off my calendar so that I wouldn't have to work.  I assumed that I would not be called to work on Monday, October 13, because it is a holiday.   I was wrong.  I was assigned to go talk to teachers at a school outside of Chicago.  So I had to scramble to rearrange my plans, and I was flying to Des Moines from Chicago on Tuesday morning.  Things were getting complicated.  It REALLY better be worth it. 

When I arrived in Des Moines, I realized that I was not prepared for the cool weather.  I don't know what I was thinking, but I was wearing a short-sleeved Flaming Pie T-shirt.  I should have brought a jacket.  Nonetheless, I wanted to see Paul arrive and so I joined a group for the limo watch.  I saw some Beatle friends that I knew from the Fest and it was nice to talk to them.  My spirits really picked up as I spotted Brian Riddle directing traffic.  

We waited for about 2 hours for Paul to arrive.  As is typical of Paul, he was running late.  I don't know about anyone else, but my legs were hurting and my arms were cold.  I enjoyed talking to the Paul fans but will it be worth all of it just to see Paul drive by for a few seconds?   Then I heard the police sirens.  I felt excitement all over.  Then there he was:  Paul McCartney.  The SUV had slowed way down, and the window rolled down.  As the car rolled by, Paul waved and gave us a thumbs-up.  He yelled "Happy birthday" to someone who had a sign about how it was his birthday.  It was the most thrilling few seconds ever.  Unless you are lucky enough to meet the man, the limo watch is the closest you can possibly get to the man. He looked so good.  He looked so happy.  Yells of "We love you, Paul!" filled the street in Des Moines.   When it was all over, I heard someone say to no one in particular, "That was so worth it!"  And I had to agree.  The group all bonded over that moment and exchanged photos with one another.  Nothing beats making new Beatle friends. 

Photo taken by Sara Schmidt 

So the limo watch was well worth my time, but what about the concert?  To get into the concert, the crowd was insane.  The Casey Center in Des Moines, Iowa, was unorganized.  There were so many different lines of people around the venue, and no one knew what the lines were for.  Merch?  VIP? What?  There was an incline, and it was difficult to walk up the hill at times because the line was moving slowly.  It felt like it took forever to get into the venue.  You had to have the "tickets" in your Apple Wallet on your phone.  People were confused.  You had to have a clear bag if you brought a purse.  People didn't have that. Concertgoers need to do more research before attending a gig.  

But once I finally went inside and found my seat and heard the end of DJ Chris playing Macca songs, all those issues were no longer important.  For the next 3 hours, I was surrounded by Paul McCartney's music. All of the problems in my personal life and in the world melted away, and I was inside a magic bubble of peace and love. 

The concert itself was so much fun!  Paul did basically the same set that he had been doing for the past 15 years.  He told a few "new" stories (maybe  I will give my thoughts on that later), but the same silly jokes (sign my butt has not gone anywhere).  There were a few new additions.   He started the show with "Help!," and I might be the only fan who does like him doing that, so I will keep my thoughts to myself about it.   I heard him perform "Now and Then," which was new for me.  That was actually one of the highlights of the show for me.  It was such a moving song when paired with the video screens with images Paul took of the Beatles playing in the background.  

Paul sounds like an 80-something old man when he sings.  I am not going to sugarcoat his voice issues.  It is especially prevalent during "Maybe I'm Amazed" and "Helter Skelter."  But you can hear that older tone in all of his songs. The thing is that when you are in the McCartney bubble, it doesn't bother you.  Nowadays, I don't like to listen to bootlegs of current Paul shows because of his voice -- yet when you are there live with Paul, it is a totally different situation.  Even with the change in his voice, Paul can still rock!  The show he puts on with Brian, Rusty, Wix, Abe, and the brass players will knock you out.  It is just amazing. 

This audience was 100% there for the Beatles songs, which is always disappointing.  They were up on their feet at the start of the show, but once he started on "Letting Go," everyone was sitting down again.  The solo and even Wings songs did not go over very well.  Once again, "My Valentine" has turned into a "bathroom break" for many in the audience.   I will never understand why people will go to a Paul show and get up and leave and get food and drinks many times during the performance.   I paid a LOT of money to see Paul, and I am not going to miss a microsecond of it.  

So was it worth it?  Yes!  It was worth the large amount of money I paid. It was worth the hassle of getting tickets.  It was worth dealing with my change of schedule, the weather, the long queues, and the people getting up and down during the show.  I got to spend time with my mom and Paul McCartney, and that is priceless to me.  Memories were made, and for a few hours, my problems were no longer important.  I can't put a price tag on that.  

With the high ticket prices, a lot of fans are not able to make it to the shows.   I want to personally say how sad that makes me.  I wish everyone who loves Paul could see this tour. However, going to a Paul McCartney concert or not does not make you a better or bigger fan than anyone else.  Please do not allow anyone to bully you for not seeing Paul in concert.  But if you get a chance to see the Got Back tour, please do it because you will leave there happier than when you arrived. 

All photographs taken by Sara Schmidt 

Shake it Up Baby: A Book Review

 

You may have noticed that I have been sharing stories from the UK in 1963 this week.  That is because I have been reading a book, Shake It Up Baby! The Rise of Beatlemania and the Mayhem of 1963 by Ken McNab has really got me interested in the Beatles in 1963.

I really appreciated the layout of this book.   It starts with the Beatles in January 1963, returning from their last time in Hamburg, and ends with December 1963, right on the verge of taking over the world.   Each chapter represents a month of 1963 and goes into details of concerts, holidays, recording sessions, and basically anything John, Paul, George, or Ringo did during that month. 

I think that, as an American, I never really grasped just how popular the Beatles were in the UK in 1963.  Fans were going insane for the Beatles early in 1963.  Riots in the streets, nonstop screaming, fainting, and rushing the stage were common during the year.  However, it was still easier to get close to the four guys, and many fans had an opportunity to meet the lads or get close to them.  

Brian Epstein is featured throughout the book as well, and it is fascinating to see how much he fought for the Beatles, how honest and loyal he was, and also to see him walking right into terrible business choices yet realizing that he was doing what he thought at the time was in the Beatles' best interest. 

McNab didn't interview many people featured in the book himself.  Most of the stories he included were ones that I remember sharing either on this site or reading online and in newspapers.  It would have been great to read a few "new" stories from 1963, but nonetheless, it is great to have all of the stories together in one volume.  

This is an excellent book and well-written.  If you would like to learn more about the Beatles in 1963 and their tours of the UK that year, then this is the book for you. McNab has really done a great job discussing any rumors that have come up over the years.  It is one that you will want to add to your Beatles book library.

https://amzn.to/3W4huO1

If you are interested in purchasing this book through Amazon, please use the above affiliate link.  I receive a very small percentage of anything purchased through the link.  The money used from the Amazon affiliate link goes toward the annual fee to keep this site online.  I appreciate your support.  

TeenSet, Teen Fan Magazines and Rock Journalism: A Book Review

 

I often pick up a book and think I know what it is going to be about, just to be disappointed that it was something different.  For some reason, the main part of this book was a biography about Judith Sims, the editor of TeenSet magazine in the 1960s, and the story of how it and other Teen magazines came to be.  And while it does tell that story and includes some biographical information about Sims and delves into the creation of Teen fan magazines in the 1960s, I am happy to say that it was so much more than that.  I was not disappointed that I was wrong about TeenSet, Teen Fan Magazines, and Rock Journalism by Allison Bumsted because it was much more than I ever could have expected. 

In this book, Bumsted argues that Teen magazine, especially TeenSet, is a vital part of rock journalism and they are just as crucial to the history of rock music as Rolling Stone and Creem.  And after reading this book,  I am a believer.  Judith Sims, along with the photographers Jim Marshall and Bob Bonis, wrote thought-provoking articles and pushed the boundaries in TeenSet.  They conducted some of the most notable interviews with rock stars, including Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.  The photographs of Jim Morrison and Grace Slick, along with the coverage of the Monterey Pop Festival, are not found elsewhere.   And yet TeenSet is not considered to be a serious archive of music history because it was labeled with the name "Teen" and therefore thought of as "less-than" the other music magazines on the scene. 

Much of the book discusses the Beatles and Sims' time with the band.  She toured with the Beatles during the 1966 North American tour, and her coverage is what I personally use when researching that tour, as she provides a thorough account of what happened along the way, alongside photographs that are not found anywhere else.   Judith was also in the studio when the Beatles were recording Sgt. Pepper (see photos), making her part of the Beatles' history.  

This book explores the women who wrote the articles, as well as the music scenes in Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, and elsewhere.  It is an academic book (I can envision it being required reading in a college class), so before you begin, you need to put yourself in that frame of mind.  It isn't a quick summer beach read, as it tackles a heavy topic and raises many thought-provoking issues. 

Having said that, I do feel that it is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the history of rock music journalism and the impact women had on the rock scene in the 1960s.  The research Bumsted conducted is outstanding.  You will not be disappointed. 

 If you would like to purchase this book, please consider using the Amazon Affiliate link for your purchase.  It does not cost you any additional money, and I will receive a tiny percentage of the purchase, which I use to cover the annual fees for keeping this site running. 

Band on the Run - Concert Review

 

Before I begin this concert review, I wanted to remind everyone that I am not a big fan of tribute bands.  I enjoy hearing music performed live, but I don't like people dressing up as members of the Beatles and pretending to be them. 

Saturday night, I attended a Paul McCartney tribute band concert called "Band on the Run."  I assumed they would be performing Paul solo/Wings songs during the performance.  I was very wrong with this assumption.   They played more Beatles songs (written by Paul) than anything else, although they also performed a few Wings songs.  Nothing from Paul's past 1976 (Silly Love Songs) was performed. 

The band was very good. They took requests from the audience for a few songs, and they were able to perform whatever was requested (such as Why Don't We Do It In The Road).   And while I was disappointed that a man was singing "Linda's" parts on the Wings songs, he did a great job with the harmonies.   The lead singer (who wore a wig and had a fake British accent) was a very good vocalist.  He was able to sing all Paul's parts in the songs easily, and I especially enjoyed his vocals on "Let Me Roll It."

The audience was obviously more into the Beatles' numbers than the Wings' ones, and I think the lead singer chose to play more Beatles' Paul numbers because of that.  

Would I see "Band on the Run" again?  Maybe.  I had a good time, and it was a fun night out where I got to hear songs that I really like.  I could have done without the singer wearing a wig and maybe adding a female voice to the group, but yeah -- if they were playing and the price was right, I would hear them again. 

What other Paul tribute bands are out there?  Do you remcommend any?  

McCartney Legacy Volume 2: A Book Review

 

It took me two months to read McCartney Legacy Volume 2.  The reason why it took me so long is 1.  It is a huge book  2.  After reading each section, I had to go to my computer and research further, updating my photo files. 

Adrian Sinclair and Allen Kozin have done it again -- McCartney Legacy Volume 2 is just as detailed and fascinating as Volume 1.   It starts with McCartney at the start of 1974 and goes through all of the details of the Wings years in amazing detail:  Tennessee, One Hand Clapping, New Orleans, Joe English taking over as the drummer,  all of the "Wings over...." tours, recording on the boat in the Virgin Islands, Mull of Kintyre, Jimmy is out and Laurence and Steve join the group,  James' birth,  Back to the Egg, the last Wings concerts and ends with Paul in a jail cell in Japan.   It is quite a story, and the book didn't leave any stone unturned. 

I learned all sorts of little nuggets of information, such as the song "Let 'em in" was originally written with Ringo in mind.  I also read more about the dynamics of the various band members and what it was like to work for Paul McCartney.  Paul has very high expectations and is a perfectionist, which did not always align with those around him. It makes an interesting dynamic. 

I recommend this book for all fans of Paul McCartney and Wings.  It is also interesting how the book weaves the continuing story of the Beatles' break-up and the friendship between Paul and the other three Beatles into what was happening with Wings. 

If you haven't read Volume 1, please do so before starting Volume 2.  But these are must reads.  Volume 3 is currently in the works, and I am ready for it!

Clicking on the book will take you to the Amazon Affiliate Page.  I earn a tiny percentage of the money (pennies on the dollar) for any purchase made through the link.  The money earned from Amazon is used to cover the annual fee for keeping this site online.  I thank you for your support. 

One to One: John and Yoko - A review

 

I was fortunate to see the new documentary film One to One: John and Yoko over the weekend.  It was by far one of the best John Lennon documentaries I have ever seen.   I know I most likely say that about every John documentary, but this one was exceptional in presentation, sound, and visuals. 

There is some confusion about this film, so let me clear up what this documentary is not.  It is NOT the full  One to One concert from 1972.  There are a lot of great songs from this concert during the film: Mother, Imagine, Hound Dog, Cold Turkey, Come Together, and several others were featured.  It is a documentary about the "New York" years of John's life  -- from when John and Yoko left England to when they separated in 1973.   

What I really appreciated about this documentary was that there wasn't a narrator or any "talking heads" to tell the story.   The story was told in a very creative way.  As we all know, John loved flipping the channels on American TV.  There was a recreation of John and Yoko's Bank Street apartment, and it showed the television at the foot of the bed.  The whole story was told as if we were flipping through the channels along with John.  Early 1970s clips from TV shows, news footage, and commercials were shown.  I really loved this way of telling the story because the only words that were used were words from that time period, including those of John and Yoko.

Because John knew his phone was tapped during this period, he started recording his phone calls so that he would have a record of what the government had recorded.  Some of those phone calls were in this documentary and were great.  A lot of really good insights about the breakup of the Beatles and John's mindset during that time.  I had to think about how naive John was initially and how he quickly became wise to what was happening.  

There was so much footage that I had never seen before, including new television interviews and home video footage of John and Yoko in Massachusetts.  

What really blew me away, though, was how crisp and clean all of the footage looked. There was a very short clip from the "Freetime" television show (the program where the guy fell off the ladder), and it was crystal clear! Throughout the entire showing, I kept going, "Wow—that looks great... wow!"

The film will be showing on Amazon Prime for rent starting May 8.   I highly recommend everyone see it.  I will include the Amazon affiliate link once it is available. 

https://amzn.to/4cLSKlr

John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs -- Book Review

 

I recently read the "controversial" book by Ian  Leslie John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs.  I know this book is being promoted as controversial and different, but let me tell you -- it isn't full of shocking, unknown revelations.   It doesn't tell of crazy sexual relationships between John and Paul or between anyone for that matter.   

It tells the story of the Beatles by focusing on the relationship between John Lennon and Paul McCartney from the time they were teenagers to the time of John's murder. I think all Beatles fans can agree that John and Paul were more than mere friends. They had a powerful dynamic. They bonded because of the death of their mothers and their love of rock' n roll, and they spent a lot of time together.  They were best friends, and even that doesn't seem to really describe their friendship.  I really don't think there is a word in the English language to explain the relationship that people can have that has a deep bond.  Many people have this bond with a spouse, but it can also happen with a same sex friend.  It has nothing to do with romance or sexual attraction.   But without a doubt, John and Paul were close and this is the first book to explore their friendship and how it impacted them as songwriters. 

There really isn't anything "new" in the book.  The author did not conduct new interviews (except for one) for the book and uses previously published interviews for the material.   It is the same Beatles story we all know, but the presentation is slightly different.  

It is interesting to read the author's views that something happened in 1968 between John and Paul (the Mahareshi making a pass at a woman?) that put a rift in their relationship.  Of course, this is also the same time that John started a relationship with Yoko and Paul with Linda, so John and Paul naturally didn't spend as much time together as they did during the Beatles' touring years.  I just found it interesting how the author pinpointed right after India as when this rift happened and that they never truly mended the issue. 

What I didn't believe in the book is how the author claims so many songs were written about John/Paul.  For example, I will never believe that "Instant Karma" is about Paul.   Yes -- some songs were written about one another, and yes -- they were in competition with one another until John's death, but not every song written by John was about Paul, and not every song by Paul was written about John.  Some of the analysis of the songs made me roll my eyes. 

I found this book to be interesting.  It was very well written and drew me into the story.  It was an enjoyable read and an interesting topic.  While I didn't necessarily agree with everything in the book, it gave me something to think about and consider, which is always a good thing.   I don't think it is a multiple-read type of book, but it was worth reading once. 

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The Beatles BBC Archives (1962-1970) - A Book Review

 

I recently read the book The Beatles BBC Archives (1962-1970) by Kevin Howlett, which I should have read 10 years ago when I first got the book.   What stopped me from reading it all these years?   The weight of the book -- it is one of those heavy, hardback Beatles books.   I flipped through it many times, but never actually read it cover to cover.   That is until now.   I discovered that it was a book I could borrow with my "Kindle Unlimited" subscription, so I read the ebook version.  (More on that to come). 

I have always loved the Beatles' 1994 Live at the BBC album. (And for those of you who are old-school Beatlelegers, the Great Dane set!)   There are so many great songs on that album that you can't find anywhere else:  Solider of Love, I'll Be on My Way, So How Come No One (Love Me), Don't Ever Change, etc etc etc.   What really amazed me after reading this book is realizing that the Beatles were on a time crunch to get these songs recorded for the BBC and many of them were done in one take.   All of the performing in Hamburg allowed the Beatles to go into the BBC studio and sing a song they had sung live without any problems.  

This book chronicles every BBC appearance of the Beatles from 1962 to 1970 and includes transcripts of many excellent, rare interviews with them. The photos in the book aren't rare, but they are gorgeous! 

Kevin Howlett is the Beatles BBC expert. He has previously written books on the subject, and you can hear him on the Beatles Sirrus XM channel talking about the BBC sessions.  He had access to the BBC files and vault and gave a great history of how the Beatles shows on BBC (Pop Go the Beatles, From Us To You) happened and about the relationship between the Fabs and host Brian Matthews.  It is a super fun book and a must-read if you are a fan of the early Beatles (which I hope you all are!)

As I mentioned, I read the ebook on Kindle, which was nice as I traveled on an airplane.  However --- be warned that if you read the Kindle version of the book, you will NOT be able to read the letters and documents on your e-device.   They look very blurry and distorted.  The photographs look great, but everything else is not legible.  Thankfully, I bought the hard copy of the book a long time ago, and once I got home, I took it out and read those documents in the book. 

This book was published before Live at the BBC 2 was released, so it could use an update on what songs are available, but that doesn't stop the book from being a must-read.   Have you read this book?  What did you think?

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Mind Games - A Book Review

 

Tonight's Wednesday review is for the book Mind Games by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.  This is an absolutely beautiful book.  Sean and whoever else was behind the book did a fantastic job.   It is full of vibrant photographs and rare documents from John Lennon's life from 1972-1974. It is wild to think that some of the artifacts have been around for 50 years, but I am glad they are and that they have been included in this book.

The book goes through what John and Yoko did during the "Mind Games" era of late 1972-early 1974.  It has the lyrics to each song, interviews with John and Yoko, and insights from people who were there.  Some of the interviews with John were new to me, or I had only read parts of them and not the entire interview.  John was so insightful and made many good points.  Reading through the interviews almost made me feel like John was still alive and talking to us right now. There are also some re-prints of things Yoko wrote during the time that I also enjoyed reading. I especially found the things about John and Yoko and the feminist movement, along with the feminist conference they went to in Massachusetts, to be enlightening.   I have seen photos from that event, but never knew really what it was about and that section cleared it all up. 

There are some letters that John wrote to different people that I want to look at more deeply.  The print was hard for me to read on those.  Is it because I have bad eyesight?  Most likely -- but I took scans of the letters on my phone to make them bigger on my desktop and read them.  One letter to his father really stood out to me.  

The one thing that bothered me in the Mind Games book is the downplaying of May Pang's role in John's life during this time.  If you are a fan of John, then you know the story -- in 1973, Yoko set John up with May while they were separated for over a year.  I understand that it isn't a romantic story and it isn't something Yoko wants to talk about, but still, it is part of John's life story.  And while John was promoting the Mind Games album, he was with May Pang.  You can't erase her from the story.  She was there.  One of the few mentions of her was about the commercial made to promote the album with Tony King dressed as the Queen.  The text calls May John and Yoko's PA.  That just bugged me to read.  Will we ever see Walls and Bridges get the treatment Mind Games has received?  May can't be removed from that time -- John wrote a song about her and she can be heard on the album.  

With that issue aside, the Mind Games book is a must-have for anyone who is a John Lennon fan.  It is physically a large book, and I hate holding coffee table books and reading them, but it was worth the hassle.  It isn't a cheap book, but it was worth the money, and it is a book that I will be looking at often. 

By the way -- if you look at the references in the back, you will see that meetthebeatlesforreal.com was used as a reference!!!  I am beyond excited about this. My silly little Beatles site was used as a reference in an official John Lennon book????  Unbelievable!

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Let It Be: The Making of The Beatles' Final Album (Book 1) - A Book Review

 

I stumbled upon the book Let It Be: The Making of the Beatles' Final Album (Book 1) by Terry Wilson because it was free with my Kindle Unlimited subscription.   I am so glad that I found this book because it was amazing! 

Wilson takes the Nagra tapes and the visuals from the Get Back documentary and puts together a complete deep-dive analysis of the Twickenham sessions from January 1969.   Now I know that Sulpy did a similar thing years back before the Peter Jackson work, and Sulpy is credited for his research, but this is a fresh take on these session now that we have much more visuals to go along with the tapes. 

One of the first examples that interested me was in the tapes. You hear George say something about wanting a screwdriver.  I had always assumed George was fixing something on his guitar or an amp.  But come to find out -- when you look at the visual, you see Kevin Harrington handing out orange-colored drinks in glasses.   George was not fixing his guitar- he wanted an alcoholic beverage!  

So, as you can see from this example, this book is for nerdy Beatle fans who like to read every small detail.  Wilson debunks several myths and rumors throughout the book.  He really looks closely into why George quit - looking at his relationship with Pattie, exactly what words Paul said to him, and other factors.  From reading this book, I started to wonder if George actually was quitting the Beatles or just quitting the Get Back project and especially the live performance when he walked out of the session.   That is a theory that he has brought forward.

One area that I was surprised didn't get more attention was John and Yoko's heroin use during this period.   He talks about "Spanish Tony" supplying drugs for them.  He talks about the "Two Junkies" interview with the Canadian journalists.  However, he does not state at all that John and Yoko were using heroin and the effect the drugs might have had on them during the sessions.   The other complaint I had when I first started the book was that it was obvious that Wilson was a McCartney fan, and I was afraid that a strong Paul bias was going to make the book unreadable.   While he comes across as a heavy pro-Paul author at the beginning of the book, once he starts talking about the sessions, he is much more unbiased and doesn't favor one Beatle over another. 

I took my time reading Let it Be: The Making of the Beatles' Final Album (Book 1) because I was taking many notes and thinking about much of what I had read.  Unfortunately, Book 2 about the Apple Sessions won't be released until 2026, but that does give me time to re-read Book 1 and perhaps watch some of the footage discussed.  

I was truly excited to read this book- it was one of the top Beatles books I had read in 2024 (and barely squeaked it in --- I finished it on December 30).  I just had never heard anyone in the Beatles circles I am involved with talk about it at all.  

I can't recommend this one enough for fans who like a deep dive into the Get Back Session.  As a matter of fact, I am going to eventually buy a hard copy of the book to keep for reference, and I have only bought both digital and physical copies of books on rare occasions.

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We All Shine On - A Book Review

 

I first want to say that I do not know Elliot Mintz. I have never met him or communicated with him, and if I am 100% honest with you all, I have always found him to be a tad creepy. I don't have a real reason to explain why—it is just one of those feelings you have about a person. It may have to do with the overly photoshopped photographs he used to post on Facebook. I don't know.   I didn't expect much going into this book.  All of the reviews I had read on it just raved about how great it was, and then I realized that they were all written by people who knew Elliot Mintz.  I didn't even get a copy of the book for free from the publisher to review.  So I came into this book totally open-minded but not really expecting it to be great. 

I was pleasantly pleased with the book.   Elliot explains how he started a phone friendship with Yoko because he interviewed her on the radio for a nightly radio show he did.  From that point on, Yoko would call Elliot every night, and they'd talk about all sorts of things.  That went on for a while, and then John started to speak to him on the phone every night.  The phone calls were taking up so much of his time that he installed a line just for John and Yoko and a red light that would flash on when they called.  And--he never even met them!    I think they liked Elliot so much because he was a good listener, gave decent advice, and wasn't a Beatles fan (he was a 50s rock n roll fan). 

By the time he met the couple in person, they had become close friends and remained so for the rest of John's and Yoko's lives.  What I liked about this book is that Elliot doesn't try to sugarcoat Yoko at all.  He admits that a lot of the things she did and believed were strange, and he didn't necessarily understand it, but because Yoko was his friend, he accepted it.  And I totally get that because I have friends like that too.  I don't always agree with their strange decisions but accept them because I am their friend.   He and John got into arguments, and he didn't sugarcoat that as well.  During the Lost Weekend, Elliot stops talking to John because John says something so awful and terrible to him that he refuses to print it in the book. 

There were a few stories about John that I had not heard before, but what I really liked was how he told some familiar stories, but they were from Elliot's point of view.   And his point of view didn't contradict the others, but they just were a little different because that was how Elliot saw things.   Some people did not like that Elliot stated that he did not see much of May Pang in 1973-74.  That could very well be true.  That doesn't mean she wasn't there --- she obviously was.  But he didn't see her (he and John weren't on speaking terms for much of 1974), so he can only talk about what he personally saw.  I did find it interesting that Elliot says he got John in touch with the hypnotist in 1975, who was supposed to help John stop smoking.  May always claimed that Yoko was behind it and that she brainwashed John into going back to her through this hypnotist.  If Elliot is to be believed (and I don't see why he would be dishonest about this), then he is the person behind it and not Yoko.  

The part that absolutely shocked me was when Elliot asked Yoko the one question I think all of John's fans have thought at least once or twice about John's murder and Yoko's strong numerology and other beliefs.  And the answer Yoko gave totally shocked me.  I am still trying to wrap my mind around her answer. 

I recommend this book to anyone who is a John Lennon fan.  It is not a Beatles book at all but about John in their solo years.  If you have read all of the "Kiss and Tell" John books that came out in the 1980s and into the 1990s, then you need to also read this one to get the other side of some of the same stories.  It is a quick book to read and has great photographs.  

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Dark Horse Records: A Book Review

 

George with Dark Horse artists Splinter

George with Dark Horse artists Stairstep

If you ever wanted to learn about George Harrison's Dark Horse label, then the book  Dark Horse Records: The Story of George Harrison's Post Beatles Record Label by Aaron Badgley is the book for you. 

This book is all about George's solo years and the history behind his Dark Horse Record label, which he started in 1974. George wanted a small record label to highlight different styles of music.  His focus was not on record sales or chart success but on exposing the world to music.  He signed artists such as Splinter and Stairstep.  Really, none of the groups he signed onto his label with had huge success.  While the music might have been good, Dark Horse didn't promote it well, or it was just not the right style of music for the popular disco-loving audience of the 1970s.   George might not have been concerned about record sales, but the record company associated with Dark Horse did.  Badgley goes through all the ups and downs of Dark Horse with A&M and Warner Bros.   

He also examines in depth each of the artists signed to the label, the singles released, and all of George's solo albums from 1974 to today.  

I found the book to be very well-researched and interesting.  I admittedly did not know a whole lot about Dark Horse Records, so this book filled a void in my knowledge. I also learned quite a bit about how record companies in the 1970s worked and how George ran the label.   I found myself most interested in the information about George Harrison's solo albums from 1974 on because I am familiar with the music.  While the parts about Splinter and the other groups were interesting to a point, I found my mind wandering while I read it because I did not know those songs and had no connection to them.  I did like reading about Henry McCullough signing with Dark Horse right after leaving Wings.  I knew his solo album was on the label, but I didn't know the story behind it.  

If you are a George Harrison fan, this is a must-read book. If you are interested in how the record business worked in the 1970s, you'd be interested in it as well. If you are a casual George fan, you might want to skip this one. This is the only book about Dark Horse, and it is well-researched, so if you want a book on this topic, don't pass it up. 

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