Books - Comments by JPGR&B

Books - Comments by JPGR&B

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Member	Item		Review/Comment
JPGR&B SUBS 17th Nov 2024		Book David Sheff - Yoko: A Biography (2025)	The full text from the publisher's website: An intimate and revelatory biography of Yoko Ono from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Boy. John Lennon once described Yoko Ono as the world’s most famous unknown artist. “Everybody knows her name, but no one knows what she does.” She has only been important to history insofar as she impacted Lennon. Throughout her life, Yoko has been a caricature, curiosity, and, often, a villain—an inscrutable seductress, manipulating con artist, and caterwauling fraud. The Lennon/Beatles saga is one of the greatest stories ever told, but Yoko’s part has been missing—hidden in the Beatles’ formidable shadow, further obscured by flagrant misogyny and racism. This definitive biography of Yoko Ono’s life will change that. In this book, Yoko Ono takes centerstage. Yoko’s life, independent of Lennon, was an amazing journey. Yoko spans from her birth to wealthy parents in pre-war Tokyo, her harrowing experience as a child during the war, her arrival in avant-garde art scene in London, Tokyo, and New York City. It delves into her groundbreaking art, music, feminism, and activism. We see how she coped under the most intense, relentless, and cynical microscope as she was falsely vilified for the most heinous cultural crime imaginable: breaking up the greatest rock-and-roll band in history. This book was nearly a half century in the making. In 1980, David Sheff met Yoko and John when Sheff conducted an in-depth interview with them just months before John’s murder. In the aftermath of the killing, he and Yoko became close as she rebuilt her life, survived threats and betrayals, and went on to create groundbreaking art and music while campaigning for peace and other causes. Drawing from his experiences and interviews with her, her family, closest friends, collaborators, and many others, Sheff shows us Yoko’s nine decades—one of the most unlikely and remarkable lives ever lived. Yoko is a harrowing, moving, propulsive, and vastly entertaining biography of a woman whose story has never been accurately told. The book not only rehabilitates Yoko Ono’s reputation but elevates it to iconic status.
JPGR&B SUBS 15th Nov 2024		Book Terry Wilson - Let It Be: The Making Of The Beatles' Final Album (2024)	I have changed this to hardback [Mod].
JPGR&B SUBS 9th Nov 2024		Book Stella Barnes - Lyrics To Live By: The Beatles (2026)	According to Amazon the publication date for this book is now 6 January 2026.
JPGR&B SUBS 19th Oct 2024		Book Various Authors - West Howe Proper (1982)	@carryonsidney Who was your brother?
JPGR&B SUBS 17th Oct 2024		Book David Whelan - Mind Games: The Assassination Of John Lennon (2023)	The author recently revelaed that he plans to publish an updated edition of his book by the end of the year. On his documentary film he says "I am still planning to produce a documentary film about my investigation sometime in 2025. But, as I have said many times before, these things do take time and I will only produce something that will not cut corners or gloss over uncomfortable facts. I would like to think that documentaries that say something new and interesting can still somehow be produced in our current vanilla TV times. That said, I’m realistic. It’s not going to be easy."
JPGR&B SUBS 15th Oct 2024		Book Kenneth Womack - Mal Evans: The Official Biography & Archives Volume 2 (2025)	Ken Womack advised me today that publication of his second volume about Mal Evans is currently scheduled for publication in November 2025. There is no official title or description of the book yet, but the publishers will be the same in the US and UK as his first book on Mal.
JPGR&B SUBS 14th Oct 2024		Book Jon Burlingame - The Music Of James Bond (2012)	From Amazon: The story of the music that accompanies the adventures of Ian Fleming's intrepid Agent 007 is one of surprising real-life drama. In The Music of James Bond author Jon Burlingame throws open studio and courtroom doors alike to reveal the full and extraordinary history of the sounds of James Bond, including: - How the "James Bond Theme" was written at the last minute for Dr. No and how it became the subject of controversy, ending in a libel trial 40 years later in London's High Court. - How Bond composer John Barry invented a new kind of action-adventure music for movies, and how despite writing immensely popular scores for "Goldfinger", "Thunderball", "You Only Live Twice" and eight other Bond films, he never received a single Academy Award nomination for his Bond music. - How the "Goldfinger" soundtrack battled the Beatles and "Mary Poppins" to the top of the American charts and bested both in 1965. - How "Thunderball" went through two songs, three singers, and its own courtroom showdown, before it ended up with a title tune. - How top artists like Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Nancy Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Paul McCartney, Carly Simon, Sheena Easton, Duran Duran, a-ha, the Pretenders, Gladys Knight, Tina Turner, Sheryl Crow and Madonna were convinced to record for Agent 007. - How changes in the Bond sound reflected what was happening in pop and rock circles, from the twangy guitar of the Sean Connery era to a more sedate sound for Roger Moore, synthesizers for George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton, and a more contemporary approach for Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. - How Frank Sinatra planned to sing "Moonraker" but didn't, then Johnny Mathis did (with a different lyric), only to be replaced by Shirley Bassey. - The untold stories of how Eric Clapton played guitar on "Licence to Kill" but saw his work shelved; and how Amy Winehouse very nearly co-wrote and sang the theme for "Quantum of Solace." Each chapter contains the full backstory of the music for one Bond film and concludes with a reader-friendly analysis of the score itself, pointing out noteworthy musical sequences from the impact of New Orleans jazz on the "Live and Let Die" score, to the trendy disco in "For Your Eyes Only," to the electronica approach that proved disastrous in "GoldenEye." New interviews with many Bond songwriters and composers, coupled with extensive research, fascinating and previously undiscovered details -- including tales of temperamental artists, unexpected hits and surprising convergences of great music with unforgettable images -- make The Music of James Bond must reading for 007 buffs, popular music fans, and all who are in music and the movies.
JPGR&B SUBS 13th Oct 2024		Book Piers Hemmingsen - The Beatles Canadian Discography (1962-1970): Part 3 (2011)	My copy is Number 035. Signed by the author and dated August 7th, 2012
JPGR&B SUBS 13th Oct 2024		Book Piers Hemmingsen - The Beatles Canadian Discography (2012)	My copy is Number 035. Signed by the author and dated August 7th, 2012.
JPGR&B SUBS 13th Oct 2024		Book Piers Hemmingsen - The Beatles In Canada: The Evolution (2025)	Latest update from Piers is that he is working on the funding of the book’s printing costs etc. The book is very large and expensive to print, along with the reprints he plans for the earlier RED issue. Once that funding is secured the plan is to go to print early 2025.
JPGR&B SUBS 13th Oct 2024		Book Piers Hemmingsen - The Beatles In Canada: The Evolution (2025)	Latest update from Piers is that he is working on the funding of the book’s printing costs etc. The book is very large and expensive to print, along with the reprints he plans for the earlier RED issue. Once that funding is secured the plan is to go to print early 2025.
JPGR&B SUBS 8th Oct 2024		Book Various Authors - Across The Universe (2024)	Leslie advised me today that they have a publisher and will be signing with the publisher by the end of October. The book is finished and they are just dotting the "i"s and crossing the "t"s to make sure that they have all the necessary permissions for use of posters etc. They have 99%. The cover will be finished soon. Since Leslie was last in touch they have have located over 1250 Beatles locations. The book will be split in to sections as follows: SECTION ONE: BEATLES CONCERT VENUES (352 Venues) SECTION TWO: FILM LOCATION VENUES (93 Venues) SECTION THREE: SPECIAL VENUES (2 Venues) SECTION FOUR: APPENDICES (815) Venues)
JPGR&B SUBS 31st Aug 2024		Book Gary Burr - Reunion (2024)	VIDEOCAST #168 - GARY BURR (Author, "Reunion - A Rock 'N Roll Fairy Tale") Gary Burr, known to Beatles fans for his work with Ringo Starr, from their Mark Hudson period to today, returns to the Videocast to discuss his new fan-fiction book about a Beatles reunion that takes place in 1998 as a tribute to Linda McCartney, who had just passed away. In the book, John was never murdered in 1980, all four Beatles are alive in 1998, and they all agree to perform in concert to show their love for Linda. [YouTube Video]
JPGR&B SUBS 22nd Jul 2024		Book Piers Hemmingsen - The Beatles In Canada: The Evolution (2025)	Piers has advised me today that the likely publication date is September 2024.
JPGR&B SUBS 22nd Jul 2024		Book Piers Hemmingsen - The Beatles In Canada: The Evolution (2025)	Piers has advised me today that the likely publication date is September 2024.
JPGR&B SUBS 21st Jul 2024		Book Ian D. Derbyshire - Macca In The Long Noughties (2024)	The author talks about the book (Source: IDD Publishing) Why did you write this book? Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles career in the 1970s has been well chronicled: most notably in The McCartney Legacy series by Kozinn and Sinclair. Less covered has been Macca’s musical renaissance in the 2000s, when, at a time of personal challenges, he released some of his strongest and most innovative works: Rushes (1999); Run Devil Run (1999); Driving Rain (2001); Twin Freaks (2005); Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (2005); Memory Almost Full (2007); and Electric Arguments (2008). How did you research and write this book? This work has been sourced from newspaper and music magazine articles, interviews from the period, the 2008 court judgement from Paul’s divorce settlement and secondary sources including biographies, setlists, McCartney focused websites and fanzines, including the Netherlands-based Maccazine. What new things did you learn about Paul from writing this book? The sheer wide range of Paul's musical, artistic, literary, social and leisure interests and how is always exploring new avenues - except many changes in his setlists! As Bob Dylan told Rolling Stone magazine in 2007: “I’m in awe of McCartney … He can do it all. And he’s never let up.” I did not expect to discover Paul and I share a love of dinghy sailing: my dinghy is named Wanderlust while Paul sails a Sunfish dinghy named Linda. What I found striking in that Paul's career path choices are driven by serendipity and inter-connections between friends and acquaintances. For example, Paul came to know Ian Dury during the final months of his life through their shared friendship with the artists Peter Blake and Humphrey Ocean. But at times, when Paul sensed a big change was needed, he had the courage to do so: taking up the commission for Ecce Cor Meum; the Twin Freaks and the Fireman projects; turning to Nigel Godrich in 2003-05 to produce Chaos and Creation in the Backyard; and changing management and leaving EMI in 2007 for the Starbucks-backed Hear Music in 2007.
JPGR&B SUBS 20th Jul 2024		Book Joe Robinson - Journey Into Beatledom (2024)	From Amazon: The Beatles, a rich topic to explore with their legacy and impact on music. There's so much to unpack about the lyrical themes and musical composition of their songs. Here we look at the context of when each song was written, the personal experiences that inspired the Beatles and their social and cultural impact. Did you know, The Beatles were futuristic prophets who actually wrote about quantum physics and the nature of reality? For example, the Lennon lyric 'nothing is real' is an epithet from Niels Bohr which is often used as a reference to the philosophical implications of quantum physics and how our understanding of reality can be called into question. McCartney wrote Here, There and Everywhere which describes the process of superposition, a core concept of quantum physics, referring to how a particle can exist in multiple states at the same time. His song The fool on the hill refers to Buckminster Fuller, a philosopher and futurist who was known for his unique perspective and innovative ideas. Fuller's ideas could certainly be seen as "foolish" by the mainstream, so it's not a stretch to say that The Beatles may have been inspired by him when writing The Fool on the Hill. The Beatles were channelling these concepts in their songs, their creative process was tapping into the collective unconscious. Their Indian Vedism too, the ancient Hindu philosophy, does have some parallels with quantum physics, such as the idea of the interconnectedness of all things and the non-dualistic nature of reality. In Maxwell's Silver Hammer, McCartney again was referring to James Clerk Maxwell, a 19th-century physicist who was one of the founders of classical electromagnetism and made significant contributions to the understanding of light and colour, theories which can be seen as forerunners of Quantum Mechanics. The numerous examples of interconnectedness in Beatle songs are explored throughout this Journey into Beatledom, including the Lennon gem Tomorrow Never Knows, otherwise known as The Void. Liverpool too is a quantum City because, (seen in this light), it is neither one thing nor another. A City bound together by its own solidarity but separated from the rest of England because of its often recondite contrariness. It is in this sense, itself a quantum phenomenon.
JPGR&B SUBS 20th Jul 2024		Book Daniel W. Soles - Beyond The Beatles (2024)	From Amazon: As the author of Beyond the Beatles Daniel W. Soles has poured his heart and soul into crafting a biography that celebrates Paul McCartney's illustrious career and delves deep into the man behind the music. Being an ardent fan of Paul McCartney and The Beatles, I have strived to create a comprehensive and engaging narrative that does justice to the legend himself. My passion for Paul's music and his journey has driven me to ensure that every detail, every story, and every nuance is captured with authenticity and respect. In Beyond the Beatles readers will embark on an intimate journey through Paul McCartney's life, beginning with his early years. This section explores the formative experiences and influences that shaped young Paul into the musical genius he would become. From his childhood in Liverpool to the first inklings of his musical talent, the book paints a vivid picture of his humble beginnings. The Beatles Era is, of course, a cornerstone of Paul's story. Here, I delve into the meteoric rise of The Beatles, their groundbreaking music, and the cultural revolution they ignited. Readers will get an insider's look at the dynamics within the band, the creative process behind some of the most iconic songs in history, and the challenges they faced as they skyrocketed to global fame. Paul's journey didn't end with The Beatles, nor does this biography. In the Solo Career and Wings section, I explore his ventures after the band's breakup. From his solo albums to the formation of Wings, Paul's ability to reinvent himself and continue producing chart-topping music is thoroughly examined. This part of the book highlights his resilience and unwavering passion for music, showcasing how he maintained his relevance in the ever-changing landscape of the music industry. Beyond his professional achievements, Paul McCartney's Personal Life is a captivating aspect of his story. Readers will gain insight into his relationships, family life, and personal experiences that have influenced his music and shaped his character. This section offers a more intimate look at the man behind the legend, revealing the joys and trials he has faced off-stage. Awards and Recognitions are a testament to Paul's incredible impact on the music world. The book details the numerous accolades he has received over the years, from the Grammy Awards to his knighthood, highlighting his contributions to music and culture. These achievements are not just milestones in his career but also reflections of his enduring influence and legacy. There are many more facets of Paul McCartney's life to be unraveled in this book. Beyond the Beatles is not just a biography; it is a celebration of a musical icon, a deep dive into his extraordinary life, and a testament to the enduring magic of his music. Through meticulous research, heartfelt storytelling, and a genuine admiration for Paul McCartney, this book will offer you a comprehensive and engaging account of one of the greatest musicians of our time.
JPGR&B SUBS 20th Jul 2024		Book Jerry Thomas - John Lennon (2024)	Caveat emptor.
JPGR&B SUBS 20th Jul 2024		Book Williams N. Arnold - Beyond The Beatles (2024)	Caveat emptor with a front cover like this!
JPGR&B SUBS 20th Jul 2024		Book Dakota Hayes - John Lennon: The Untold Story Of A Beatle's Solo Flight (2024)	Caveat emptor with a front cover like this!
JPGR&B SUBS 15th Jul 2024		Book Gary Burr - Reunion (2024)	The set list in the book for The Beatles concert in Central Park in 1998 includes a song Peace and Love. This was written by the author, and a recording of Gary singing it, with Ringo on drums, can be found here.
JPGR&B SUBS 15th Jul 2024		Book Various Authors - We Love You Beatles (2024)	I have e-mailed the publisher for information on the proposed publication date.
JPGR&B SUBS 22nd Jun 2024		Book Bruce Spizer - The Beatles Please Please Me To With The Beatles (2023)	For those pre-ordering the book directly from 498 Productions, copies were dispatched on 21 June 2024.
JPGR&B SUBS 12th Jun 2024		Book Ian Leslie - John And Paul: A Love Story In 23 Songs (2025)	CELADON BOOKS ACQUIRES BIOGRAPHY BY IAN LESLIE, JOHN AND PAUL: A LOVE STORY IN 23 SONGS Celadon Books is proud to announce the acquisition of JOHN AND PAUL: A LOVE STORY IN 23 SONGS by Ian Leslie, the author of books on psychology, creativity, and relationships. JOHN AND PAUL is a revisionist account of John Lennon and Paul McCartney's 23-year relationship that promises to provide new insights into the nature of collaboration and human intimacy. Celadon Books President Jamie Raab acquired the biography at auction, for publication in fall 2024, from Toby Mundy at Aevitas Creative Management UK (NA).
JPGR&B SUBS 12th Jun 2024		Book Yahia Belkherouf - The Beatles: The Story (2024)	Caveat emptor.
JPGR&B SUBS 12th Jun 2024		Book Simon Hilton - Yoko Ono's Tokyo (2024)	JOHN LENNON'S LIVERPOOL & YOKO ONO'S TOKYO - maps by artist ED FAIRBURN & Liverpool Treasure Hunt [YouTube Video]
JPGR&B SUBS 12th Jun 2024		Book Simon Hilton - John Lennon's Liverpool (2024)	JOHN LENNON'S LIVERPOOL & YOKO ONO'S TOKYO - maps by artist ED FAIRBURN & Liverpool Treasure Hunt [YouTube Video]
JPGR&B SUBS 24th May 2024		Book Greg Writing Press - Paul McCartney: Unveiled The Man Behind The Myth (2024)	82 pages! And an author's name that sounds as if it is made up by AI.
JPGR&B SUBS 24th May 2024		Book Brian Epstein - Hourly History (2024)	Scan of back cover added.

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