Customer Reviews

Please Please Me: Sixties British Pop, Inside Out

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

 

 

In the interests of "full disclosure" I have to point out that I am one of Professor Thompson's subjects covered in his book and have worked and know intimately many of the other people he interviewed. Having had first hand involvement in the British pop music scene of the 60s, however, one can be certain that I am likely to be more critical than most. Based on that I can say that the result of the author's research has produced a remarkably accurate overview of the subject and therefore recommend this book over and above some of those pitifully inaccurate self-serving attempts by others.

Malcolm Addey

This book wasn't what I expected, but I was delightfully surprised that it was much more than I expected.

If you were a fan of British pop music in the 60's and want to read about how famous musicians died from drug overdoses and such, this is not the book for you.

But if you are fascinated by the recording industry and the legends who engineered and produced all those great tunes, I know of no other book that covers it as completely.

I already know everything I need to know about the Beatles. I'm more interested in George Martin, Geoff Emerick and Norman Smith, the guys responsible for turning the Beatles' musical genius into consumer products that we could all enjoy. Not to mention Micky Most, Shel Talby, Joe Meek, and the many others who really invented Brit-pop.

There are many interesting anecdotes. Here's one: when the Animals recorded House of the Rising Sun, they had to travel by train with their gear and make an 8:00 AM session. The version we all know so well was Take 2(!), finished at 8:15 AM. That classic recording that's held up for all these years was recorded in 15 minutes. Nowadays, it takes longer than that to serve the cappuccinos.

Make sure to have your music player at hand when you're reading this book -- you'll want to listen immediately to the tracks he writes about, to hear for yourself the subtle craftsmanship that lay behind so many of these iconic 60s recordings. In many ways it's like having a time machine, so you can go back and be in the studio with the Stones or the Beatles or the Kinks, not to mention the less-celebrated session musicians, sound engineers, and producers that contributed so much to their sound (and finally are getting credit for what they did!). This book is a marvelous overall portrait of an exciting era in music, and the living-and-breathing community that created it.

A well written, and thoroughly researched book on the phenomenon of the 60's Brittish Invasion.
Professor Thompson covers every aspect. From the birth of the independant producer, to the unsung heroes.
Tape operators, engineers and the people who were really responsible for "The Magic", the studio/session musicians.
For those who think "they know it all" there are plenty of surprises!
If you are looking for a text book, or a great read. You won't be able to put it down once you start!
Congratulations to the professor, and, a thank you ,for all the hard work, and perseverence.

I didn't read the whole book because I wasn't looking for a textbook, just something on the Invasion. What got me though was when the author mentioned (in the back) songs of Freddie and the Dreamers, a few of whom are friends of mine. Author writes that their hits were performed by Freddie Garrity on vocals and "studio musicians." That was a surprise to us: the Dreamers were not some studio musicians. They were with Freddie from the beginning and did indeed PLAY on their own records!
Unless you want incredibly dull details, avoid this. If he didn't bother to look into this band and actually get their names, what else was wrong?