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Kenneth Womack

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Maximum Volume: The Life of Beatles Producer George Martin, The Early Years, 1926–1966 Kindle Edition

by Kenneth Womack (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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Maximum Volume offers a glimpse into the mind, the music, and the man behind the sound of the Beatles. George Martin's working-class childhood and musical influences profoundly shaped his early career as head of the EMI Group's Parlophone Records. Out of them flowed the genius behind his seven years producing the Beatles' incredible body of work, including such albums as Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Abbey Road. The first book of two, Maximum Volume traces Martin's early years as a scratch pianist, his life in the Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War, and his groundbreaking work as the head of Parlophone Records, when Martin saved the company from ruin after making his name as a producer of comedy recordings. In its most dramatic moments, Maximum Volume narrates the story of Martin's unlikely discovery of the Beatles and his painstaking efforts to prepare their newfangled sound for the British music marketplace. As the story unfolds, Martin and the band craft numerous number-one hits, progressing towards the landmark album Rubber Soul—all of which bear Martin's unmistakable musical signature.

Print length

347 pages
Language

English
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On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Chicago Review Press
Publication date

September 1, 2017
File size

5337 KB
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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

Paul Woodson provides a beautifully professional narration with British inflections throughout. His timing, pacing, and flair are simply perfect.-- "AudioFile"

"An authoritative account of pop-music history and the man who helped shape it."

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

About the Author

Kenneth Womack is the author of several books about the Beatles, including Long and Winding Roads and The Beatles Encyclopedia. He is also the author the acclaimed two-volume biography of Sir George Martin, Maximum Volume and Sound Pictures. He is dean of humanities and social science at Monmouth University where he also serves as professor of English. Visit him at KennetehWomack.com for more Beatles history and insight.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B072595R64
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chicago Review Press; 1st edition (September 1, 2017)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 1, 2017
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 5337 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 347 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #844,892 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews:
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Kenneth Womack is a world-renowned authority on the Beatles and their enduring cultural influence. His Beatles-related books include a two-volume biography devoted to famed producer Sir George Martin; Solid State: The Story of Abbey Road and the End of the Beatles; John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life; and All Things Must Pass Away: Harrison, Clapton, and Other Assorted Love Songs. Womack is also the author of five novels, including John Doe No. 2 and the Dreamland Motel, The Restaurant at the End of the World, Playing the Angel, I Am Lemonade Lucy!, and The Time Diaries.

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4.6 out of 5

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Tom

An Excellent Addition to the History

Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2024

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George Martin's memoirs are the place to start. In addition to Mark Lewisohn's monumental "Tune In", this biography adds context to the greatest collaborative team in recording history.
Mr. Martin's life is interesting enough in itself concerning his overall place in the history of the recording industry. This focus on his point of view in the absolute center of the creative cauldron of the Beatles makes it a must read for anyone who loves the subject.

One person found this helpful

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Walter Jackson

Sir George

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2019

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Maximum Volume (one of the best titles on a Beatles or any title ever) covers George Martin’s birth through his production of Rubber Soul- the first of the Beatles masterpieces. Womack walks the reader through George’s not especially interesting youth, his involvement in WW2 and his run up at EMI to his ground zero participation in Beatlemania. What comes across, to me at least, is what a gentleman George always is, personal relations being the exception here maybe. George, as Maximum Volume explains, was making precious little as all around him profited enormously, at least in part, to his efforts and the author explains how this led to George’s separation from EMI...
This is part one of course, and to me the more interesting part of The Beatles run started with Revolver, where the Beatles music went from black and white to color and is covered in Sound Pictures, Volume 2. Maximum Volume also expresses and bears witness to the amazing transformation of the Beatles who in the 4 short years covered here went from Love Me Do to Norwegian Wood... the only thing more amazing was what was still to come.
A great book, you should buy it.

4 people found this helpful

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George frank

Good book

Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2023

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Book was in perfect shape once I received it . Great informative book

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RHN

Just when you thought you knew everything about the Beatles...

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2017

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Finally, a book on Sir George Martin that reveals his story. Not too much here on George’s childhood, but enough to reveal he was not born with a silver spoon. George’s story, when he was in the armed forces and people he meets, sets his path on a parallel road that will eventually cross with 4 young lads from Liverpool. His work with the Goons,as head of Parlophone, and George’s constant use of innovative recording techniques lays the foundation for his work with the Beatles. The chapter on Richard Lester and A Hard Days Night is both fascinating and illuminating. Womack brings forth tidbits of information I was never aware of. And I’ve read dozens of books on the Beatles. If you know who played the bongos on And I Love Her, you know more than me. For those who don’t know, it wasn’t a Beatle. The book covers George’s humble beginnings to the completion of Rubber Soul. Volume 2 should prove to be a real page turner, ‘specially late ‘66 and ‘67. But I wanna know more on George’s post Beatle days. Awesome book, highly recommended. Awaiting Volume 2....

14 people found this helpful

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Diana H.

Interesting Behind the Scenes Look!

Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2022

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This is a must-read for Beatles Fans! Not only is the reader a “fly on the wall” during Beatle recording
sessions, but we learn all about George Martin, their record producer! You get a sense of what it was like to live in post-war England, how the Beatles came to be and why they were such good song writers!

This is part one of George Martin’s biography. The second volume is equally interesting. I couldn’t put either
volume down! Just loved it!

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Kindle Customer

Loved learning more about George Martin than I thought I knew.

Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2021

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George was such a hard-working person. He was making pennies for the years of lifting a record label off the ground all by himself and being a creative producer on many artists albums. The Beatles were rejected by literally every record company including the one that finally signed them. It was George's tireless effort that brought them up to where they were.

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Ray1950

There were FOUR Beatles!

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2018

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I understand that people will buy this book primarily because of Martin's association with the Beatles, but his work with other artists is treated as an afterthought. As for the Beatles, readers could be convinced George Harrison and Ringo Starr were just there for the ride as the songwriting duo of Lennon and McCartney get the bulk of the attention. Late in his life, Martin admitted (and regretted) his lackadaisical treatment of Harrison but this book treats the band's lead guitarist in the same manner, giving brief mentions of any song on which he sang lead.
Martin's obsession with fellow producer Norrie Paramor is driven home ... all too often.

One person found this helpful

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I thought this might be a great book, but it is even better than I ...

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2017

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I thought this might be a great book, but it is even better than I thought. Many of us have read a lot about GM, but after reading this book, I really know a much much fuller story than I did before. I wasn't sure it was going to offer as much new stuff as it did.

The great part is that I now feel I know the full story of the guy who musically guided The Beatles during their career.

The book pieced together the actions and traits of George that made me go, "Oh, now I get it. That's why he was the way he was.. That's how he got to be the guy that he was."

Really fascinating book.

4 people found this helpful

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Pierre Sarrazin

Sir George Martin

Reviewed in Canada on September 29, 2023

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The life story of the most known record producer of all time, Sir George Martin

Bookends

A brilliant biography of the man who helped shape popular music and culture as we know it.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 2, 2024

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Kenneth Womack has always been my favourite Beatles historian/author, so when he publishes anything on The Beatles, I purchase it without question.

For some reason this first volume of biography on George Martin passed me by, criminal I know, but I ordered it thus week, and by the second sitting had read it cover to cover.

I enjoyed it immensely, the pages flew by as Kenneth Womack has a very distinctive way of writing, and you find yourself deeply immersed in its subject. There were points that I had read/knew before, but also things I found myself reading about George Martin for the first time.

The book ended all too soon with the release of Rubber Soul in December 1965, which was the year The Beatles really started making life changing music for me, the Help! album having been released in August that year starting hat great run of classic albums they made with the assistance of a certain George Martin.

Not to worry, I've volume two, Sound Pictures: The Later Years 1966-2016, next to me waiting to be read. Going to give my German Shepherd a nice, long walk, then get home, numerous cups of tea washed down with Chocolate Hobknobs, and get stuck into volume 2.

I know it won't disappoint!

Niko9

serious and good seller

Reviewed in France on November 10, 2019

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quick and good selling

Amazon Customer

A George Martin or Beatles biography?

Reviewed in Australia on August 10, 2018

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Don't get me wrong: this book is an enjoyable read, but from 1962 to 1966 it's debatable whether you're reading a biography of George Martin or his most famous artists. Little time is devoted to Martin's work with his other artists of the period like Cilla Black and Gerry and the Pacemakers. Mind you, they are not neglected, but compared to the time spent on The Beatles, they are not really dealt with in depth either. This was the part I was most looking forward to as there are endless books on the Fab 4 already in print.

Kindle Customer

Enjoyable

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 24, 2022

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Good informative read.Most enjoyable. Enjoyed the writing style and looked forward to the next volume.Highly recommend to any Beatle fans and music lovers.

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