Customer Reviews

The Mammoth Book of the Beatles

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

 

 

To anyone who might cry out: "Not another Beatlles book," chill out. This is a good 'un! THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF THE BEATLES offers up almost 600 pages of memoirs, interviews, musical critiques, magazine and newspaper articles, etc. that together present an insightful tour down memory lane. And all for $13.95!

Though the title page states that the book was "Edited and with an introduction by Sean Egan," in fact Egan wrote most of the material. That's a good thing because he is a gifted, insightful, witty, knowledgeable writer who does a first rate job of capturing the Beatles life and times. What I found most valuable was his ability to recreate those long-ago days and show the significance of the various stages of the Beatles development as a band and as social arbiters.

Egan's critiques of the various singles and albums released over the years are nicely done - critical yet affectionate. Though Egan loves run-on sentences, he's able to pull them off. For example, in describing John and Paul harmonizing on "One After 909," he states that "when (they) swing together into a "Weeell..." halfway through the number as seamlessly and brotherly as an Everlys joint vocal, it's enough to bring tears to the eyes, a reminder of the golden days of a partnership once so harmonious and which begat so much pleasure for so many millions and is about to disappear into history."

The book is divided into Life and Art; Dissenters; Film and TV; Beatle Women; Interviews; and In the End, an all-encompassing review of the Fab Four by Paul Gambacinni. (Other contributors range from Hunter Davies to Kenneth Tynan to Lester Bangs). Included in the book are such items as Maureen Cleave's "more popular than Jesus" article, Paul's 1970 self-interview, Glyn Johns' memories of recording "Let It Be," interviews with Pete Best, Astrid Kirschherr, George Martin, Cynthia Lennon, Pattie Boyd, and Macca himself, a 30+ page discography of Beatles and solo Beatles UK releases and much, much more.

In short, THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF THE BEATLES is a marvelous book, deserving of a wide readership. Obviously Beatle fans will love it. But others with an incomplete knowledge of the Beatles, rock music and life in the 60s will enjoy it - and learn from it - as well. It truly is a magical mystery tour starring four men who not only made great music but changed the world as well. Highly recommended.

I just wanted you to to know this book is a must for those trying to grasp some stories about the greatest rock n' rfoll band of our times.
It is a precious item for those who appreciate findind out about the ups and down of THE BEATLES.
I love it.
Annibal

Many of the contemporary stories written DURING the Beatles' active career are very enjoyable and informative, but in much of the review/analysis material written by Egan himself he seems to be going out of his way to be contrarian and critical, often to ridiculous lengths.

I suppose he wanted to document he wasn't just another rapturous Fab Four fanboi, but in his attempts to establish his "critical legitimacy" he makes some far-fetched statements: he rates "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" as "simply not very good," "Penny Lane" as "not that great," "Strawberry Fields Forever" "good but not great," "Paperback Writer" a "catch-up enterprise," "All You Need is Love" a "piece of hack work," and so on and so on.

His breakdown of the White Album is just bizarre -- in an arbitrary theoretical exercise of cutting the 30 song double-LP down to a 14-song single disc, he discounts "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" as a "failed experiment," "Bungalow Bill" as "rubbish," and McCartney throwaways "Ob-La-Di" and "Why Don't We Do It In The Road" (!?!) as "classic." With that last, you have to wonder if he isn't just trolling.

Of course a critical opinion cannot be "wrong," but Egan definitely pushes the limits of that proposition.

Throughout the book Egan assumes an air of continual condescending nitpicking (much in the face of nearly-unanimous critical opinion over 40 years), begging the question that if the Beatles really irritated him that much, why write the book?

This is a wonderful Beatle book that Beatle fans will undoubtedly enjoy. It is a treasure trove of interviews, articles and critiques that fill every reader from the inveterate Beatle fan to the person just coming into them with a well-guided Magical Mystery Tour. The price is reasonable too, considering tht this book is almost 600 pages! articles, etc. that together present an insightful tour down memory lane.

Sean Egan's writing makes readers feel that they have that Ticket to Ride the Magical Mystery Tour bus and take in a plethora of Beatle information. He is a gifted writer who brings the Beatles and their life experiences to readers. He keeps his tone objective and one gets the impression that he is coming at this from a reporter's angle.

Egan does critiques of the recordings in an objective, yet respectful tone. He uses clear guide posts or markers for travelers down the Beatles' Long & Winding Roads. He wisely and aptly titled his book sections Life & Art; Dissenters; Film & TV; Beatle Women; Interviews; and In the End.

Other voices are included in this book such as Hunter Davies, who wrote a very sanitized, toned down Beatle biography entitled "The Beatles." Maureen Cleave's article about John Lennon's infamous 1966 comment, "more popular than Jesus" along with early Beatle influences such as Astrid Kirscherr, George Martin, Paul McCartney as well as Cynthia Lennon. You also get treated to a discography of Beatles and post-Beatle releases.

This is amust-have for Beatle fans especially. It deserves a place of honor among Beatle fans. For those who are marginally fond of the Beatles, just coming into the Beatles or who aren't even fans will get a lot out of this book as well. It explores Sixties culture and the part the Beatles had in shaping the soundtrack of our lives and defining an entire generation as well as generations to come.

Excellent book. I highly recommend it and urge people to buy this as a gift for the rabid Beatle fans they know. This gets a hearty YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! I hate to be a prude but "Let it Be" people. Its the same ole same ole, just rewritten. Its like "I'm sooo tired" of Beatle books that just seem to captilize on the quotes that any Beatle fan has heard hundreds of times...ie. "more popular than Jesus".

This is an okay book, but it left me disapointed after all It's suppose to be the mammoth book of the Beatles for heavens sake!...I have mammothier books! I also was hoping for some photo's since it was so mammoth and all, which sadly there wasnt a single one.

I will say I did enjoy the interviews, but again noting I hadn't read before. I guess if you haven't kept up with the Beatles, or you are a new fan this would be a good book to start with because it has most of the historical information in it.

Thank you

I ordered this book at the same time as I met the Walrus ( about interviewing John and Yoko for a day). I have not started to read this MAMMOTH book yet because I am still reading I Met the Walrus. I have glanced through the book and there are mony interesting "behind the scenes" stories for the Beatles and their fans.

Very disappointed with this book. Way too technical..not user friendly. I bought it at the same time that I purchased the Beatles Trivial Pursuit. It was listed together and I thought it may serve as a "guide" of sorts to the game. It was not....Not worth it...I would have returned it as I know Amazon has a decent return policy but it wasn't even worth the return shipping charges.