Mark Lewisohn did a great interview on the Beatles Books Podcast on March 29th of this year, and explained why John said what he did in the Rolling Stone interview and why those comments were unfair to Hunter
I read this as a teenager - a library copy with the original psychedelic dust cover. I was lucky enough to meet Hunter Davies a few years ago and I told him how much I had enjoyed it.
This book was significantly important in my life long Beatles obsession. I got it from the library when I was about 14 and this and the red and blue albums sealed my interest. Paul’s daughter Mary was conceived at Hunters Portugal holiday home in December 68. And I remember Hunter being with Paul walking Martha on Primrose Hill when he got the idea of Getting Better which was a saying of Jimmy Nichols when they asked him how he liked being a temporary Beatle. Always thought it was odd for a book to omit Yoko but John was just getting together with her when it finished in mid 68. It’s a very important historical book as it was written in “real time”
I grew up in Sweden so I first read the Swedish edition back in the late seventies. Many years later I bought the new 2018 edition on Amazon. It was very interesting to read the long preface and finally get the background to the project. As you say the most important thing about Davies' book is that it's a primary and contemporary source. The people interviewed hadn't had decades to think about what really happened, because it had just happened. Considering that it's quite funny that they do get a few things wrong. In the first edition John and Paul stated that their first meeting took place in 1956, which was corrected to 1957 in later editions.
The Book was read by me in high school. I don't like other books because they weren't there like Hunter Davies was. I did like Many Years From Now but this was what I call the factual book. You did a good review of this John.
Thanks for the review, John. I have an updated edition from the late 1970s which unfortunately does not have the 70-page addition that was published in the mid-1980s. Good point that Hunter had the opportunity to interview the essential players in The Beatles’ world at the time. New information has come out in subsequent books by other authors but Hunter did it first and best.
it's good to see this book, written so long ago, getting another look. I always appreciate your insights and feel for the music. Your placing it among the best of the BBooks, makes me want to have another look at it. (Was young when I first read it.)
Essential reading. Make sure to read one of the later editions with the 1985 postscript. Paul talks about having written a 20,000 word autobiographical piece after being released from jail in Tokyo. Would make for a fascinating read but unlikely to see the light of day
I bought this as a teenager in the 70s. It was the first in-depth writing I'd read about the Beatles so I wondered if the reason I enjoyed it was because it was the first thing I'd read. It was good to hear your opinion which seems to be spot-on.
This was one book I never bought for one reason or another. I decided to get a copy now and can't wait to dig into it. Thanks for your review of it John!
You should consider revisiting your top 20 albums list! The original video you did is my favourite video of yours, I think it was really well made. Either way, I enjoy your content nonetheless :)
John, have you read "The McCartney Legacy" by Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair? Just came out a year or so ago and is filled with so much detail it's like you knew what the band ordered for dinner on each night of the University Tour. Volume I details Paul's immediate post-Beatles period and Volume II is supposed to be released at the end of this year which covers 1974-'80. Cant wait.
I remember reading this book years ago and really enjoyed it. Loved the scenes with Paul and John writing songs. If I remember right, John was writing "I Am the Walrus," and Davies misunderstood the lyric as "sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come" (instead of "man") and John liked the misunderstood lyric better and kept it.
You can tell Davies is a journalist just from how quickly he turned this thing around. It was the first proper Beatles book I read, back in 1979 or 80, when I was nine or ten. It certainly didn't feel like a whitewash to me at that age. It's telling to read through the notes of Tune In and see just how many of the citations are "Davies". I think in that 1981 phone call Paul was sounding out Davies as a possible collaborator for what became Many Years From Now (quite a few years from then). Incidentally, Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush was based on Davies's own novel, though he did write the screenplay too.
I like the story in the HD book of when in Bangor, Wales to attend a Maharishi event. the Beatles were at the Chinese restaurant and had no money to pay the bill (as they carried no money). Suddenly George Harrison realizes he had money in some compartment in his sandal. It’s such a funny imageZ
Hi John I would like to briefly ask you your thoughts on the oasis reunion. Tried to get tickets all morning today but no joy. I’m a generation younger than you.
You got me curious about it. I looked it up online & found a "40th Anniversary edition" but it came out in 2009. I dont know if it's just the original without the 85 updates or not. It says it's 544 pages.
Mark Lewisohn did a great interview on the Beatles Books Podcast on March 29th of this year, and explained why John said what he did in the Rolling Stone interview and why those comments were unfair to Hunter
I borrowed the book from the library in the early eighties and remember enjoying it. I must revisit it.
Thank you for this.
I read this as a teenager - a library copy with the original psychedelic dust cover. I was lucky enough to meet Hunter Davies a few years ago and I told him how much I had enjoyed it.
This book was significantly important in my life long Beatles obsession. I got it from the library when I was about 14 and this and the red and blue albums sealed my interest. Paul’s daughter Mary was conceived at Hunters Portugal holiday home in December 68. And I remember Hunter being with Paul walking Martha on Primrose Hill when he got the idea of Getting Better which was a saying of Jimmy Nichols when they asked him how he liked being a temporary Beatle. Always thought it was odd for a book to omit Yoko but John was just getting together with her when it finished in mid 68. It’s a very important historical book as it was written in “real time”
I read it when I was a teenager in the 1970's. And I guess it's time for me to reread as an adult. Great video John, and thanks fo sharing.
I grew up in Sweden so I first read the Swedish edition back in the late seventies. Many years later I bought the new 2018 edition on Amazon. It was very interesting to read the long preface and finally get the background to the project. As you say the most important thing about Davies' book is that it's a primary and contemporary source. The people interviewed hadn't had decades to think about what really happened, because it had just happened. Considering that it's quite funny that they do get a few things wrong. In the first edition John and Paul stated that their first meeting took place in 1956, which was corrected to 1957 in later editions.
Thanks for your video. I have the original hardback edition!
We too! The UK 1st with the great artwork DJ!
The Book was read by me in high school. I don't like other books because they weren't there like Hunter Davies was. I did like Many Years From Now but this was what I call the factual book. You did a good review of this John.
Thanks for the review, John. I have an updated edition from the late 1970s which unfortunately does not have the 70-page addition that was published in the mid-1980s. Good point that Hunter had the opportunity to interview the essential players in The Beatles’ world at the time. New information has come out in subsequent books by other authors but Hunter did it first and best.
What a fantastic video have a wonderful weekend ❤😊
it's good to see this book, written so long ago, getting another look. I always appreciate your insights and feel for the music. Your placing it among the best of the BBooks, makes me want to have another look at it. (Was young when I first read it.)
Essential reading. Make sure to read one of the later editions with the 1985 postscript. Paul talks about having written a 20,000 word autobiographical piece after being released from jail in Tokyo. Would make for a fascinating read but unlikely to see the light of day
I bought this as a teenager in the 70s. It was the first in-depth writing I'd read about the Beatles so I wondered if the reason I enjoyed it was because it was the first thing I'd read. It was good to hear your opinion which seems to be spot-on.
I have that very book - and I think it’s excellent. A really enjoyable read, full of facts, and of course authorised by The Beatles themselves.
Hunter Davies also wrote a book about the Quarrymen which is worth reading.
This was one book I never bought for one reason or another. I decided to get a copy now and can't wait to dig into it. Thanks for your review of it John!
You should consider revisiting your top 20 albums list! The original video you did is my favourite video of yours, I think it was really well made.
Either way, I enjoy your content nonetheless :)
Hunter Davies also wrote "The Glory Game" a year in the life of the Tottenham Hotspur, which is a great book too.
I have hunters books and found this one fascinating great review 👏
John, have you read "The McCartney Legacy" by Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair? Just came out a year or so ago and is filled with so much detail it's like you knew what the band ordered for dinner on each night of the University Tour. Volume I details Paul's immediate post-Beatles period and Volume II is supposed to be released at the end of this year which covers 1974-'80. Cant wait.
Read this decades ago.. will have to give it a re-read
I remember reading this book years ago and really enjoyed it. Loved the scenes with Paul and John writing songs. If I remember right, John was writing "I Am the Walrus," and Davies misunderstood the lyric as "sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come" (instead of "man") and John liked the misunderstood lyric better and kept it.
You can tell Davies is a journalist just from how quickly he turned this thing around. It was the first proper Beatles book I read, back in 1979 or 80, when I was nine or ten. It certainly didn't feel like a whitewash to me at that age. It's telling to read through the notes of Tune In and see just how many of the citations are "Davies". I think in that 1981 phone call Paul was sounding out Davies as a possible collaborator for what became Many Years From Now (quite a few years from then). Incidentally, Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush was based on Davies's own novel, though he did write the screenplay too.
I like the story in the HD book of when in Bangor, Wales to attend a Maharishi event. the Beatles were at the Chinese restaurant and had no money to pay the bill (as they carried no money). Suddenly George Harrison realizes he had money in some compartment in his sandal. It’s such a funny imageZ
Nice video John . Does the anthology book not count as an authorised biography though ?
Yes I guess so but it was made 25 years after the split…though invaluable in its own way
Hi John I would like to briefly ask you your thoughts on the oasis reunion.
Tried to get tickets all morning today but no joy. I’m a generation younger than you.
You got me curious about it. I looked it up online & found a "40th Anniversary edition" but it came out in 2009. I dont know if it's just the original without the 85 updates or not. It says it's 544 pages.
It has the 1985 postscript, which has the interesting stuff with Paul.
The phrase "National Treasure" is so over used thesedays but Hunter Davies is definitely that.
Could You do a review of Pauls different backing band, Wings, 1989-1993 band and the recent band. Which was best, Which is your favourite?
It’s sanitised but it’s their only biography so imo it’s essential
I've always wanted to read this but I don't know where to put it on my to be read list. I'm still reading mccartney legacy and need to read tune in.
Thanks for your very interesting posts! Are you collecting cartoons too?
They are cover art posters of Herge’s adventures of Tintin which is a Belgian comic book series…a big part of my childhood!
@@johnheaton5667 Mine too!