Customer Reviews

A Day in the Life: The Music and Artistry of the Beatles.

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is probably my favorite book about the Beatles (and I've read quite a few). The musical analysis is compelling, but the beauty of the book is the way this analysis is complemented by chapters about more personal aspects of their lives. The chapter about their "Four-Way Synergy" was especially wonderful because Hertsgaard had been privy to between-take chat that will definitely make you laugh, as well as providing insight into their working relationships. Read this book!

If you only buy one book on the Beatles, this is as good as any. I found it immensely readable, and had trouble putting it down. It's one of the few books I've read more than twice. Hertsgaard gleaned much of his information from old interviews with the Beatles and those of their inner circle such as producer George Martin and sound engineer Geoff Emerick, along with Neil Aspinall, Derek Taylor, and many others, as detailed in the nearly 100 pages of notes.
What comes out is a nuanced telling of the Beatles story, much of it already known to fans, but with the addition of notes on the recording session and almost every song they recorded, along with tunes like "Besame Mucho" that showed up on bootlegs and many that appeared in the Anthology Series.
After each chapter, I found myself popping in a disk and listening on the headphones to discover things on the songs I'd never noticed before.
A worthwhile read.

Hertsgaard examines the Beatles' music chronologically, and places it within its time, its musical context, and its level of innovation.
Biography impinges only tangentially. This is written at a very high level of analysis, but written with a graceful tone and suppleness of
thought.
Even though he is talking about chord changes, etc, a nonmusician can follow.What he tries to illuminate is the powerful joy the Beatles music radiates.
He is unabashedly a fan, but never lets his love for his subject permit him to sentimentalize his analysis. He is clear in teasing out the contributions of all four guys, and sends one running back to the recordings to hear this or that part. He does a wonderful job of pinpointing all the musical innovations that began with the Beatles,
and describes in soaring prose the combination of sheer pleasure, eroticism, and straight-ahead rock and roll that was their music.
Hertsgaard sticks to primary sources and material closest to the four, trying to present as much of the truth as can be known.

A great read--carried it around with me, even on the subway, for two days.

I know Mark Hertsgaard from his book 'The Eagle's Shadow' which is about how the world views America and Americans. This was very insightful book based on his travels around the world.

'A Day in the Life' is about a completely different subject: The Beatles, and to be more precise: the music of the Beatles.

The book does go into how the band got together and how the bandmembers related to each other, but it is done to give a better understanding to the way the made the music.

Of course most of it is about the songwriting tandem of McCartney and Lennon. There are some remarks about what they thought about each other writings. (McCartney's being somewhat sweet) but they complete each other. The best part is about how the worked in the studio and especially the role of producer George Martin and his working with orchestras, strange sounds etc. It truely gives an insight into why the records of the Albums are as important as they are, not only in how the songs are created, but also the extra instrumentation and soundscapes around it.

The part on 'Strawberry Fields forever' is a great part and it truely let's us know why this songs is one of the alltime greatest songs ever, even though Lennon wasn't too satisfied with the end-product.

For Beatles fans and musicfans: this book is a good read

Hertsgaard obtained what ardent Beatle fans dream of. He lets us in on what no Beatle fan can accomplish (besides Lewisohn, who, as an employee, is restrained in nuance) : Verbatim accounts of original recording sessions, coupled with his nuanced and informed interpretations of the ORIGINAL SESSION TAPES of a sadly limited number of recording sessions. Will he be rewarded for this fine work with return visits? I cautiously anticipate a sequel.

This is The Beatles portrayed as much like us all, their greatness aside. The author seems to care about the subject and the players without veering into worship or condemnation. This is a wonderful, balanced and informative contribution to the already large body of material dedicated to The Beatles.

I love the intimate climate of this work.

DON'T PASS THIS ONE BY....

I found "A Day in the Life" quite enjoyable. It went into great detail about the songwriting partnership of John and Paul, the drug use, and the making of the Fab Four's albums. However, I thought the author overanalyzed the Beatles music. For example, at the top of one page he was describing how the music wasn't there to be thought about, it was there for one to listen to. Then, at the bottom of the page, he was describing just about every single line in a song. Over all, an enjoyable book, and I definitely recommend it to any Beatles fan.

This is a book for people who know little about the Beatles. It was much praised by critics for focusing on the music, but really most of what is said is descriptive - you can find out this stuff for yourself by simply listening to the albums, which I recommend doing rather than reading about it -or perhaps with the books "A Hard Day's Write" by Steve Turner and "The Beatles Recording Sessions" by Mark Lewisohn on hand, if one really wants to shed light on the music.

Hertgaard's book is one of the best beatlebooks I've ever read... and I've read quite a few! (ca. 40). It's secret is in the way he handles with facts and just facts, but not forgetting to review some other musical aspects as well, what makes its reading very very easy, yet not simplistic. Very good, and together with LEWISOHN's Complte Chronicle, the best guide to the Beatles.

Regarding those who say this book offers nothing new, perhaps you're right- it's copyright date is 1995. What this book is, though, is the most complete Beatles book I've ever read.
It is the proverbial "if you only buy one Beatles book" book. I have looked at many other Beatles books, and found very little that's not in this one. Sure, it came later, but no other book puts it all together like this, and nobody did their homework like Hertsgaard. He was the first "outsider" (claims the back cover) to have access to the tapes of the Fab Four's recording sessions. As you read his descriptions of early takes of songs, two pictures are painted: one of the author tirelessly and joyfully listening to hours and hours of the Beatles, and the other of the Beatles going through take after take.
No, Hertsgaard is not an insider, but I don't want to read a book from just one inside vantage point, be it Ringo, George, George Martin, Derek Taylor, etc. The recent Beatles: Anthology book puts it in the band's own words, but it is glossy, overpriced and the size of a desk.

Finally a book that focuses on what's important about the Fab Four (their music) without getting TOO techincal.
Although, being myself a musician, I would have liked a Technical approach, as well, I can see that if a book is aimed to a wide target of readers it just can't be too specific on a subject alone.
This book has the right balance between technical infos and interesting facts and anecdotes... Thumbs up!