|
| Foocha! is a non-profit Web site. We do it for kicks, not for cash. If you're interested in writing for the site, click here |
|
 |
| The Beatles Anthology,
The Beatles |
|
 |
|
| Books,
Matthew Fresco,
15 January 2001 |
Rating: F5
|
|
| |
| |
|
This maybe the overdue accompaniment to the Beatles Anthology trilogy but after the relative failure of the re-release of Yellow Submarine this is a return to form. Apple, under the direction of executive producer Neil Aspinall, previously the Beatles' road manager, launched Anthology in 1995 with a TV documentary and a 3-CD set, which sold 45 million copies worldwide. But the delay, caused by legal wrangling, has added moment to this weighty 7lb tome. In part this is due to sensible timing. The book is published close to John Lennon's birthday, the 20th anniversary of his death and the opening of the John Lennon museum in Tokyo.
The autobiography of The Beatles has already attracted advance orders for 1.5 million copies and will appear in eight different languages including Chinese. Total sales are expected to exceed 20 million and it is expected to earn them more than $2.51 billion. Yoko Ono, the widow of John Lennon who was shot dead in New York in 1980, will receive an equal quarter share of the profits, although she did not participated in the project.
Derek Johns, of literary agency AP Watt, said that the level interest in the group's official memoir heralded an astonishing publishing event. "These are large numbers," he said. " Advance orders in the UK topped 250,000. Here, sales of 50,000 for a hardback is considered impressive. The Beatles have worldwide appeal that very little fiction or non-fiction has. You need something like the Beatles to accomplish sales like this."
Sir Paul has an estimated fortune of $1.42 billion, even Ringo, the poorest Beatle has more than $175 million under the mattress. However, the Beatles say that they have written the book in order to put the record straight following the publication of an estimated 400 unauthorized books on the band. Geoff Baker, the Beatles' press officer, added: "The truth is more important to them than the money."
But the book itself is a wonderful treat. Every spread has colour and vivacity. It feels like a family scrapbook lavishly illustrated and packed with a wealth of detail and illuminating quotes. There is much colour but little depth. The Beatles have opened their personal and management archives, filling the book with 13,000 photographs, documents and memorabilia. This is the story of the four boys, who witnessed the calm at the epicentre of a world gone mad,.
"Even for us, it was surprising to talk about the past--because you don't do that in the band," said McCartney. "The early memories in the book are to me the most exciting--the parts about John especially. Because I loved him, and still do."
The history of the band is charted faithfully from 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 recalls that "Pete would never hang out with us with Ringo, it felt rocking." Paul is his usual disarmingly under-whelmed self but elicits the thrill of success "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!"
This at heart is their rather sweet account. There are no stark revelations only breathless reports of meeting Elvis being mesmerized by his TV remote control, and of discovering the joys of double tracking at Abbey Road. John, we learn, was convinced he was "too old" to make it at 21 and he is remembered with fond affection throughout. George remembers their first stage make-up "we looked like Outspan oranges". Ringo still the perceived comic of the outfit claims "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"
Interwoven with these are the recollections of such associates as road manager Neil Aspinall, producer George Martin, and spokesman Derek Taylor who as the original editor of the book has seamlessly interwoven the voices of the Beatles and their entourage. Taylor died before the book was completed.
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. "We had a good time doing it," says Paul McCartney in a recent interview. "And it brought us closer. In truth, we had healed the wounds already when we decided we wanted to do the book."
What we get is the Beatles themselves; it's warm, frank, funny, poignant, and bold. These are the lads we have known all our lives and still love. There really is not much for them to put straight but like all their musical output we do not feel short-changed only thoroughly entertained.
Cassell
Top Home |
|
|
|
|
