Customer Reviews

The Beatles Solo on Apple Records

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Honestly,
Bruce Spizer took over the top spot among all authors dealing with the subject of original U.S. Beatles records with the release of his first Vee Jay Records book back in the late 1990s!
With this new release, Mr. Spizer continues to soar to new heights organizing and detailing the solo era post Beatles records issued by John, Paul, George and Ringo! As with all of Bruce' superb offerings, we get the expected high quality photos and illustrations as well as the comprehensive details we've pretty much gotten spoiled to over the years. Bruce covers with expert craftsmanship the long and winding roads of the many variations and offerings for each title issued! It's a pure joy to peruse.... and of course, this is another outstanding effort. With his next book covering the Beatles records on the smaller Beatles U.S. labels such as MGM, Swan, Atco, etc., Bruce will have successfully covered the entire Beatles 'original record issue' and completed his goal of contributing to the world in magnificent fashion, these great reference books for us all.
Bruce Spizer's series of Beatles books will undoubtedly continue to be the standard for the ages!

Once again, Bruce Spizer has produced a tremendous and valuable addition to the corpus of Beatles knowledge. Although the group phase of their career(s) has been dealt with extensively in books, this time Spizer had to chart a course into the relatively unknown waters of their solo careers. And once again, he has taken an almost impossible challenge and emerged victorious. Bruce offers answers to burning questions about John's, Paul's, George's, and Ringo's solo (Apple) material -- some of which essentially had no answers prior to this book. As usual, the book pictures every major label variation of every single and LP release, including a few previously undiscovered versions. This is an astonishing book that will please nearly every fan of the ex-Beatles' releases on their own label, and I suspect that it will also please the ex-Beatles themselves.

Bruce Spizer has now put together five books in this series of looks at the Beatles (and with this latest volume, the solo years on Apple in the early-mid 70's) and their relationships with record labels Vee-Jay, Capitol, and Apple.

As fans of these books know, much of each book covers very detailed, minute bits of information about the release of each LP, Single, EP, etc. The cost of the books is probably due in large part to each book being printed in complete full color on every page. A large percentage of the pages are covered with every label variation of every release. If you're not a hardcore collector intensely interested in what are usually very, very minute label differences (mostly different fonts, different perimenter print on the labels), then I have to say that some of the wow factor is missing.

What has made the other entries in this series must-have books for any Beatles scholar, even if they are not interested in label variations, is the detailed history Spizer uncovers behind the Beatles' relationship with their labels. Spizer uncovers long-forgotten or never-known stories behind how the labels devised albums or singles, and many other interesting details. His book on the Vee-Jay label's relationship with the Beatles was a complete revelation that completely changed scholars' perception of the relationship between the group and Vee-Jay, and would have been a must-have for Beatles scholars even without any pictures or illustrations of any kind.

There are interesting pictures in all of the volumes, including the "Solo Beatles on Apple" other than label variations. Pictures of alternate album covers and other artwork, as well as promotional items all adorn the pages.

"The Solo Beatles on Apple..." is perhaps a tiny bit less indispensable as compared to Spizer's other books only because it doesn't have as much revelatory information as the previous entries (particularly the Vee-Jay book and the Capitol books). All of the books contain Spizer's own reviews of the music itself, as well as basic information on the background of the songs and albums. This is the only information in Spizer's books which isn't indispensible. It's all well-written, it just doesn't offer any new information. Because the "Solo Beatles" book has a bit less of the new, wow-factor type of facts that made the Vee-Jay and Capitol books so interesting, the "Solo Beatles" book doesn't have quite as much to offer in terms of the text. Spizer admits that he came into writing the book with the opinion that the Beatles' solo work doesn't hold up well to the group's output. Listening to the albums apparently did change is mind to some degree, but I do see just a bit less enthusiasm behind the writing of this book as compared to the other group entries.

Still, between the ample color artwork and still plenty of interesting details uncovered by Spizer, this book is still a must-own for Beatles scholars and record collectors. I would give it 4 1/2 stars if I could.

Avid Beatles collectors who already have all the collector's guides to Apple Records may imagine they already have all they need - until they confront The Beatles Solo On Apple Records: The Stories Behind The Entire Beatles Solo Catalog On Apple Records Including Imagine, Band On The Run, All Things Must Pass And Ringo. Packed with black and white and color photos of records, vintage posters, ad illustrations and more, The Beatles Solo On Apple Records supplements extensive illustrations with meticulous background details for each recording's origins. In using the recordings to ground background history, The Beatles Solo produces a depth unequalled by competing, lighter Beatles coverage's - and insights simply unavailable in price guides alone. Not for the casual readers who seeks a light history, but perfect for the avid Beatles fan who needs to know everything about the group, it's individual members, and their recordings.

If you weren't old enough to remember the Beatles as a group,but were fans of John,Paul,George and Ringo as solo artist,this is a must have book!Packed jam full of Rock n roll memeories from cover to cover!Beautifully illustrated and very detailed.I'm so glad Bruce did this book!This was the music I grew up with as a teenager.This book is well worth the price of admission!

After having purchased Bruce Spizer's earlier books on the Beatles I thought "The Beatles on Apple Records" was the coup de grāce. I was wrong!! This latest offering, "The Beatles Solo on Apple Records", is without a doubt the definitive work on the Beatles' solo years. And if you haven't purchased the companion book to this set, "The Beatles on Apple Records", I would urge readers to buy both from Bruce's website, www.beatle.net, and I would also suggest getting both volumes in the attractive slip case that Bruce has made available in limited quantities. It's the BOMB!!! This latest book is close to 400 pages and is filled with new information gleaned from Bruce's scholarly research, and has tons of glossy pictures. You will not be disappointed. Let's all hope that Bruce will continue to provide us with more intrigue and knowledge about the Greatest Rock'n Roll Band in the history of mankind!

For the completest. Bruce Spizers' second Beatles Apple publication dissects and represents the many international incarnations of the individual output of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr whilst they were still associated with Apple Records. Sadly much of this output was merely associated with Apple due to contractractual obligations. In some cases under protest. But in those heady days beginning just prior to the saddest breakup in Rock history.. all up to the late seventies, the solo Beatles material from the four ex Beatles are among some of the most popular albums in musical history. McCartney, John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band, Ram, Imagine, Band On The Run, All Things Must Pass, Venus & Mars and Ringo, all contain a wealth of popular hits, that were less conspicuous in the later solo Apple years. There are a few omissions, such as the Australian release of J.L. & The Plastic Ono Band (which had a unique Black & White label on Apple), but generally the material collected and presented by Mr Spizer presents an unbelieveable array of variable releases of the same albums throughout the world. It's a fascinating look at a unique era in music & memorabilia. If you love the detailed background of Beatles history, as I do. You'll read this book over and over again.

"The Beatles Solo on Apple Records" is the companion piece to Bruce Spizer's critically acclaimed "The Beatles on Apple Records." This book details the solo records released by John, Paul, George and Ringo on their own Apple label in America, starting with the December, 1968, release of George's "Wonderwall Music" album and ending with the December, 1975, release of George's single "This Guitar (Can't Keep From Crying)." All solo projects are covered, including all of the albums and singles released by John & Yoko and Paul McCartney & Wings, as well as classic albums such as "Imagine," "Band On The Run," "All Things Must Pass" and "Ringo."
The book provides complete session and chart information and shows all picture sleeves, album covers and label variations, along with many of the promotional posters, displays and trade magazine ads.

This is the fifth of Bruce Spizer's books that I have have purchased. Each one shows the results of comprehensive research and meticulous attention to detail. As a serious record collector I find each of Bruce's books to be an indispensable addition to my library. The text is very informative and easy to read and is accompanied by numerous colour photographs. My usual habit when acquiring the latest Spizer tome is to get comfortable, put on each of the records as I read about them, and settle in for a long spell. I come away feeling as if I've just taken a refresher course in Beatlology. Even though I lived through the Beatles years beginning when I was 14, I always learn so much more from this young Spizer fellow. :) By the way I understand that in his spare time Bruce Spizer is also a lawyer. For serious Beatles collectors this book, as well as the others by Bruce, is one of the best bargains around. They are well worth every dollar. Be thankful he doesn't sell them by the pound.

Noted author, Beatles historian and New Orleans native Bruce Spizer has written a total of 6 critically acclaimed books reviewing the American-released records from The Beatles. While the books covering the records issued on the Vee-Jay, Swan, Capitol and Apple labels were all first-rate publications, it is his fifth book in the series, entitled 'The Beatles Solo On Apple Records' that stands out as the very best one of this group. For starters, this book is the only one to cover only the solo releases of John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney that were issued on the Apple label from 1968 to 1975, during the label's original era. Just like the other books in this series, there are black-and-white or full color illustrations of every known album cover, picture sleeve, record label and related items pertaining to all of these solo records. There is also an extraordinary text covering these discs, providing a great deal of valuable information. Included are articles on such classic albums as "Imagine", "All Things Must Pass", "Ringo" and "Band On The Run". At nearly 360 pages in length, it is the definitive reference guide to the entire catalog of the Solo works of John, George, Ringo and Paul on Apple Records. The brilliance of John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney did not end when The Beatles went their seperate ways in 1970; they continued to thrill and amaze us with every new release. Even if you are unable to acquire the other books from Mr. Spizer, this volume is a must-have!