Book

Author:	Sam Leach
Title:	The Rocking City
Subtitle:	The Explosive Birth Of The Beatles
Publisher:	Pharaoh Press
Country:	UK
Date:	1 Oct 1999
Format:	Paperback
Genre:	Non-Fiction, Music
ISBN-13:	9781901442298
Rating:	Rate
Collection:	I Own It I Want It
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Notes

240 pages Book dimensions: 15.8 cms x 1.9 cms x 22 cms.

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This book is an hilarious account of the early days of the rise of the Beatles in Liverpool. Sam Leach, the author, was instrumental in the promotion of not only the Beatles, but Cilla Black, Gerry and the Pacemakers and many others in the Merseybeat family. Early photos courtesy of Apple.

Comments and Reviews


JPGR&B SUBS 22nd Apr 2022		Review Annotation: Upon release in 1999 this text was immediately deprecated as fiction by three key Merseybeat figures (Allan Williams, Bob Wooler and Bill Harry). At one stage Williams even considered a defamation suit. Both tone and content are mean spirited and hurtful concerning those early Beatles related promoters and pioneers - why? We never really get to learn. But we are given clues, for Leach appears consummate in his assertions that he was first to the punch in fully recognising the importance of this local scene (and presumably the Beatles at the head of it). For example, Sam suggests that he coined the 'bigger than Elvis' statement before Epstein, makes a claim to the moniker of 'Mersey Beat' (the title of a Liverpool Echo column for years, actually written by another George Harrison), and he also professes that he was about to start an independent label in Liverpool in 1961 - Troubadour (tape recordings made under the name of Lambda do, however exist); this is all before the character assassinations begin. So what should we make of this text? Sadly for Leach a great deal of his information is speculative at best, and at worst? One suspects downright fable telling. Nevertheless this is recommended as a text to all Beatles researchers, who should read it merely to discover how not to write a Merseybeat vanity text. Michael Brocken Source: The Beatles Bibliography: A New Guide To The Literature - Michael Brocken and Melissa Davis (The Beatle Works Ltd., 2012), with acknowledgement, and used here with permission from the authors for educational and historical purposes only. ✔︎ Helpful Review?