Recording the Beatles [Hardcover]

Kevin Ryan & Brian Kehew (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 537 pages
• Publisher: Curvebender Publishing (2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978520009
• ISBN-13: 978-0978520007
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #317,321 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, October 16, 2007

By 

J Monnagal - See all my reviews

This review is from: Recording the Beatles (Hardcover)

In my opinion, this is one of THE top three Beatles books ever written (along with Mark Lewisohn's "Recording Sessions" and the Anthology book). The amount of information in this book is simply jaw-dropping. (Do not confuse this book with Geoff Emerick's similarly titled book. While Geoff's is a good read, it has some accuracy issues and isn't nearly as detailed as this book.)

Recording The Beatles is definitely aimed at technically curious readers and contains everything you'd want to know about how they recorded at Abbey Road - all the equipment, microphones, mixers, outboard equipment, etc. It tells how they created ADT and flanging and echo chambers, etc. It's basically like a textbook for a college level class about recording at Abbey Road in the 1960's. But the last half of the book would easily be enjoyed by fans that aren't technical at all. It talks about how specific songs were recorded and makes you listen to them in a completely different way. You will hear things you never heard before. I believe this is a must-have book for any serious Beatles fan. The quality of the book is beyond belief, and it comes with a bunch of little extras (a "tape box" slipcover that looks like an old EMI tape box, a poster of the mixer controls, the handwritten lyrics for "A Day In the Life". etc...) Amazing.

I will say - the price that is being asked on this site seems a bit excessive, considering the book is still in print and available for half that price from the publisher's site.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Obsessive, December 1, 2008

By 

Cramudgguenn "Automatic double crack" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Recording the Beatles (Hardcover)

This book isn't an account of how recording sessions went, in and about the lads themselves. It's a highly technical, and an extremely involved look at the equipment and processes that went into the making of the beatles records. Fans who are looking for stories about that time John took LSD and wandered up to the roof should read "here there and everywhere" by Geoff Emerick.

This book includes many wonderful pictures and like I said, extremely detailed views of equipment, and let me tell you brother, there is nary a stone that remains unturned. Everything, EVERYTHING that I've ever wanted to know about Abby Road (and for that matter all of the other studios that they ever worked at), and it's contents and personnel is presented in complete detail.

Some of the equipment includes but is not limited to: Ambiophony, the Curvebender, REDD desks, Fairchild and Altec compressors, and Automatic double tracking. Examples of how and when these components are used is given to the exact second that they appear in the song.

The list of Mics is again, obsessive, and far more than enough to make any gear head drool.

Reading this book isn't something that one does all in a row, and if you're a recording buff, there's a plenty to learn.

Another book that complements this that hasn't been mentioned in the previous reviews is entitled Beatles Gear by Andy Babiuk. Another great, if obsessive book that I continue to enjoy immensely.

Thanks.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gear Lust Satisfied, December 16, 2008

By 

Dennis (Raleigh, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Recording the Beatles (Hardcover)

This book is not intended for the typical Beatles fan. It's more intended for the musician Beatles fan who has a serious lust for Studio Equipment. If you're just a fan, but wouldn't know, nor care, what a Fairchild limiter is, then just find a friend who has it, peruse it, or wait for a newer version that will be paired down.
But for serious gear lovers, it's a blast. Although it won't get into how many valves are in each piece of gear, it does give not only what was used and how, but pretty often on what. You'll feel like you've been in the studio back in the 60's wearing a lab coat yourself.
It's a huge book. Not easy to carry around or read in the car. It's a couch reader.
What I particularly found cool was where the Beatles were placed, baffles and all, for particular recordings. As to the person who said this is the top 3, I'd say top 6. Don't forget Beatles Gear, Paul's super revealing autobiography Many Years From Now(drugs, sex, and writing with John, does reading get better?) and the well know collectors 910 book.
Last item, not only will there be a newer paired down version, the book is still (12/2008) available online. It goes for about a hundred bucks. Don't pay 5 times that.