Customer Reviews

Beatles an Illustrated Record

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A really cool Beatle book originally released in the mid-70's. Lots of beautiful glossy photos (color and B&W) with opinionated reviews of all the original (British) LPs, EPs, singles and solo releases through 1975. The authors genuinely love the Beatles. The tone of their text, while occasionally harsh, is overwhelmingly objective and accurate. (They reserve their most brutal criticisim for solo LPs such as Paul's "Ram" and George's "All Things Must Pass". I'd be willing to bet they've changed their opinions with a quarter century of hindsight). Whether or not you agree with Carr and Tyler's views, you'll undoubtedly find them to be witty and almost always amusing. Also included is a rudimentary review of the Liverpool/Hamburg years, a great photo montage of the legendary Shea Stadium show (August 15, 1965) and a summary of popular Beatle bootlegs. Overall, "The Beatles: An Illustrated Record" stands out because of its magnificient array of photos and the authors' brief, but well-written text. This book's long out of print, so snatch it up if you find a used copy.

This book should be updated and put back into print. Lavish and interesting.

This book started me listening to the Beatles again, with more appreciation than ever. Each of the group's recordings (and films) is reviewed, accompenied by contemporary biographical info and photographs. The authors' inside knowledge of the English rock scene--and the Beatles' place in it--is invaluble. A "US Disography" is provided to help American fans relate the jumbled US releases to the originals. The book could have been much longer. I wanted more factoids such as Lennon's amusing reply to the circa-1963 query, how long would the Beatles last?--"About five years."

I love this book. When I was growing up in the 70's I bought a copy of it. It was clothbound and had one of the Sgt. Pepper outake photos of the Beatles on the cover. I poured over this book. I had a very large Beatles collection growing up that unfortunatly I lost when I went on my first tour with the United Stated Army in the 80's. I have replaced most of my collection and finally secured my copy of this great book. What is intersting about Beatles books in the 70's was that they were written only a few years after the GREATEST ROCK BAND IN THE WORLD broke up,so there were always hints of a Beatles reunion. What I loved about this book was the easy reading way it was written and the the great photos. I remember two great shots of John during the Get Back/Let It Be sessions. One shows him sitting with his Ephiphone Casino looking down with sadness. The other is from the roof top of the Apple Building and he is looking over his shoulder and smiling. I also was intrigued by the size of this book, it wsa like an album and you could open it up and pour over it as I did many many times. Anyway as a previous reviewer wrote if you can score a copy of this book, grab it you won't be disappointed.

There are perhaps numerous books that devote itself to this subject but not many explore material by the Beatles via critical analysis. That's odd when you consider the most important aspect of this band despite all the hype was the quality of its work. However- "The Beatles An Illustrated Record" by two well respected pop music journalists by the names of Carr and Tyler does so. Both critique each album, extended play, and/or single by Harrison, Lennon, McCartney, and Starr then relay to those of us who read such reviews the artistic value this entity possessed. Biographies- rather they be authorized or otherwise- are all good and well but what matters most is what the Beatles were most revered for. This book argues the relevance of this quartet in its almost exclusive discussion of the musical legacy they left behind.

I give this book 5 stars, buit I must admit that this rating is based on sentimental value.

"The Beatles An Illustrated Record" was one of the first Beatles books I ever owned. Must have been around 1977/1978. I remember the day I first saw it at Barrett's Bookstore in Stamford, CT. I begged my mom for it, and a short time later my specially-ordered copy arrived.

I can't say much for the text. I was a kid at the time and wanted it because it was so chock-full of great, large-sized, color photos. Being an artistic type who gravitated towards pictures more thant words (haven't changed a bit!), this book was a visual treasure trove for a budding Beatles fan.

I do recall reading some harsh reviews of some of Paul's and George's albums. The one that stands out in my mind is the review of George's "Living In The Material World"... where George is lambasted for forcing his religious beliefs upon the poor listeners! LOL.

I also received an updated copy, this time in paperback, a few years later. It had an additional section in the back about the death of John Lennon.

I'd not mind seeing this book updated and re-released. But this relatively thin book would be JUST a teeny bit thicker 25 years or so after its first publication!... which would be fine.

This "record," while full of photos of the Fab Four, is not an objective history of the biggest selling band of all-time. Rather, the "authors" (I use that term loosely) see fit to bury most of the Beatles' solo work (save John Lennon). The only reason I gave this book one star is that negative star ratings are not available.