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Tune In, Part 1
'Mark Lewisohn knows the Fab Four better than they knew themselves' The GuardianThis extended special edition of Mark Lewisohn's magisterial book Tune In is a true collector's item, featuring hundreds of thousands of words of extra material, as well as many extra photographs. It is the complete, uncut and definitive biography of the Beatles' early years, from their family backgrounds through to the moment they're on the cusp of their immense breakthrough at the end of 1962.Designed, printed and bound in Great Britain, this high-quality edition consists of two beautifully produced individual hardbacks printed on New Langely Antique Wove woodfree paper, with red-and-white head and tail bands and red ribbon marker. The two books will sit within a specially designed box and lid featuring soft touch and varnish finishes. The whole product comes shrinkwrapped for extra protection. Mark Lewisohn's biography is the first true and accurate account of the Beatles, a contextual history built upon impeccable research and written with energy, style, objectivity and insight. This extended special edition is for anyone who wishes to own the complete story in all its stunning and extraordinary detail. This is genuinely, and without question, the lasting word from the world-acknowledged authority.'Mark Lewisohn is the world's leading Beatles historian and writer' Nothing is Real - A Beatles Podcast 'An absorbing and enthralling account of the lives of all the leading players, written with integrity and honesty' thecavernclub.com
- GenresMusicNonfictionBiography
1664 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2013
42 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Mark Lewisohn
41 books269 followersMark Lewisohn is the acknowledged world authority on the Beatles. Before embarking on The Beatles: All These Years his books included the bestselling and influential The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions and The Complete Beatles Chronicle. He was a consultant and researcher on all aspects—TV, DVDs, CDs and book—of the Beatles own Anthology and has been involved in numerous additional projects for them. Married with two children, he lives in England.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 31, 2017
As all Beatles fans will know, we have been waiting for the recently released first volume of Mark Lewisohn's biographical trilogy of the Beatles for ten years. Having released Tune In, he then published an extended two volume set of the first book. I have read the kindle edition of this book, but I will try to explain what the extended version offers that is different from the single volume and, hopefully help you decide which edition you wish to read (if not both, as I did).
The one volume Tune In has the book split into the following headings: Introduction and Prologue (the same in both editions), Old Before Our Birth, Year 1: 1958, Year 2: 1959, Year 3: 1960, Year 4: 1961 and Year 5: 1962. This first volume of the two book set takes the story only to 1960 - in this first volume the end of 1960 ends at loc 8733. The first volume of this two volume set splits the chapters into : Introduction and Prologue, 1845-1939: Looking Back, Shapes of Things to Come (a far extended, 2 chapter, look at their family history and Liverpool in wartime), 1939 - 1955 (seven chapters of childhood and schooldays and far extended from the original `Old Before Our Birth' section on family history and childhood). 1956 Rock! (2 chapters on the skiffle boom and early discovery of rock and roll), 1957: Old Before Our Birth (3 chapters on that momentous year when Lennon and McCartney met "He'll get you into trouble son..."), Year 1: 1958: Thinking of Linking (2 chapters on those early days, "Where we going, Johnny?!"), Year 2: 1959: Three Cool Cats (2 chapters dealing with the Casbah, etc) and Year 3: 1960: Competence, Confidence and Continuity (amongst other things, covers the trip to Scotland with Johnny Gentle and heading for Hamburg).
The end of these chapters (not counting notes, etc) ends at loc 15840. Sadly, page numbers are not shown in this book, but if you consider that the original book ended 1960 at 8733 and this book finishes the same period at 15840, then that is 7107 extra - almost double the same amount of text to cover the same period. The illustrations section is also extended and, to be honest, is worth looking at simply to see the amazing photograph of George's maternal grandfather, John French, who is the absolute spitting image of George! Well, rather, George was the spitting image of him, but I hope that Olivia and Dhani see this, as it is really astounding. Mark Lewisohn's ability to discover these unseen gems are why this book stands head and shoulders above any other biography so far.
Knowing you have more text for the same period is one thing - the question you are probably asking is whether it is worth reading. That really depends on whether you need to know that John Lennon scaled the heady heights (or doleful depths) of 3% in his Quarry Bank maths exam - we all know he was bright, but he certainly brought a new meaning to the phrase, " couldn't care less" - or that, when his teachers unwisely asked him to run a stall at a school fundraiser, he gleefully created vicious caricatures of his teachers, obtained some darts and charged fellow pupils to "Prick your Teacher" (he raised more money than anyone else, even when he and Pete Shotton pocketed most of it, showing that his teachers had a greater sense of humour and tolerance than he gave them credit for). In all honesty, if the one volume book was criticised (unfairly) in national newspapers for having too much detail, then this is full of the obsessive detail fans love.
One of the really interesting, if not unique, things about the Beatles story is how the timing of things always worked out - in Lewisohn's words, the timing was "always perfect". If you were writing this story as a fiction, you seriously could not make it up. For example, Ivan Vaughan, the school friend who introduced Paul to John, only met him because his parents was so upset at John's disrupting their son's education that they vowed he would not attend the same secondary school as him. Consequently, Ivan went to the Liverpool Institute, rather than the more local grammar, Quarry Bank, became friends with Paul and later introduced him to John. It was not the first, or last, time a parent would sense danger and take a dislike to John - Paul's father was less than enamoured...
Mark Lewisohn knows that Beatles fans are quite happy to read about their heroes in immense detail and, in this two volume edition, he certainly gives us this. At all times he cleverly tells the story not only of the four Beatles, but also of the other important members of the story. It isn't overdone, but he always informs us what other members were doing when, for example, Ringo got his first job - or we learn that when Larry Parnes was signing Tommy Steele to a very unfair management contract (while George Martin didn't sign him and missed the next "big thing"), Brian Epstein had just started at RADA. He puts their life in context and discusses the music they heard, their influences and important events.
In reality, he paints a picture of those times which it would be hard to beat. Even reading the early pages about Irish immigrants fleeing famine and their suffering and poverty; the lists of babies born and then dead within weeks or months, shows us where the Beatles (three of them, anyway) came from. When one of them starts school or visits a location previously mentioned, Lewisohn will point out that a relative of one of them lived nearby or weave the strands of the story deftly together so that we know where we are and the context of events. When John or Paul say in later interviews how they wanted, above all, to be rich, or you read of Ringo wanting a job simply to get the uniform (and being cheated by getting only the cap) or of George's mother bemoaning the level of violence and vandalism where they lived, you understand exactly where they started and how little all their contemporaries had. Clothes, for instance, were in such short supply that both John and Paul wore their school uniforms on holiday and George's mother had to cut down his father's trousers to fit him. Ringo went to the fairground to hear rock and roll records; records were just too expensive and hard to get hold of.
This volume covers the period up to the Beatles return from their first trip to Hamburg; when George was deported, Paul and Pete Best were arrested and thrown out of the country, Stu stayed behind and John - the last to leave - made his way home to the jibes of his Aunt Mimi at his ignominious return and seriously thought of giving the whole thing up. Luckily, he didn't and the 27th December, 1960, saw them take the stage at the Litherland Town Hall. It is a date that resounds in Beatles history, when the promoter, who had to be persuaded to let them play (they had let him down in the past), ended up virtually barricading them in the dressing room after the gig; booking them for every date he could get them for and keeping other promoters well away from them. They returned from Hamburg a changed band and caused an absolute sensation that night - and for virtually every night ever after. However, as Lewisohn points out, in Hamburg they were the only band that had a following of fans - not thugs or sailors - but normal girls (mostly girls) who came to watch them play. While Klaus, Jurgen and Astrid, the three most well known of the Beatles followers, were obviously infatuated with the band, it is clear that watching Rory Storm and the Hurricanes (Ringo's band) paled after their show had been seen more than once. Only the Beatles set themselves of challenge of never singing the same song twice in the same night - no matter how many hours they were on stage. Only the Beatles changed their set, their show and evolved; as they would do throughout their career.
So, should you buy this two volume set? Does the first volume offer you anything else? In all honesty, if you have never read a biography of the Beatles before and if you are considering which of the new Mark Lewisohn books to buy, then I would say just get the single "Tune In". It's brilliant, as detailed as you need - more detailed than the casual fan will probably want in fact - and wonderfully written. If, however, like me, you have read everything on the Beatles - including the single book "Tune In" - and yet still crave more, then you will love this. The first volume of this two volume set has immense depth to it, giving detailed historical background, more reminiscences from neighbours, school friends and colleagues, and is brilliantly written. I am looking forward to re-reading Vol 2 The Beatles - All These Years - Extended Special Edition: Part Two: Volume One: Tune In of this extended two volume edition next, which covers the years 1961 and 1962 and takes the Beatles to the cusp of success, with a record contract and ready to take over the world. Let's hope we don't have to wait another ten years for the next book in the series. Meanwhile, whichever edition of this book you choose, I am sure that you will enjoy it and, even if like me you have already read hundreds of books about them, you will learn something new.
The one volume Tune In has the book split into the following headings: Introduction and Prologue (the same in both editions), Old Before Our Birth, Year 1: 1958, Year 2: 1959, Year 3: 1960, Year 4: 1961 and Year 5: 1962. This first volume of the two book set takes the story only to 1960 - in this first volume the end of 1960 ends at loc 8733. The first volume of this two volume set splits the chapters into : Introduction and Prologue, 1845-1939: Looking Back, Shapes of Things to Come (a far extended, 2 chapter, look at their family history and Liverpool in wartime), 1939 - 1955 (seven chapters of childhood and schooldays and far extended from the original `Old Before Our Birth' section on family history and childhood). 1956 Rock! (2 chapters on the skiffle boom and early discovery of rock and roll), 1957: Old Before Our Birth (3 chapters on that momentous year when Lennon and McCartney met "He'll get you into trouble son..."), Year 1: 1958: Thinking of Linking (2 chapters on those early days, "Where we going, Johnny?!"), Year 2: 1959: Three Cool Cats (2 chapters dealing with the Casbah, etc) and Year 3: 1960: Competence, Confidence and Continuity (amongst other things, covers the trip to Scotland with Johnny Gentle and heading for Hamburg).
The end of these chapters (not counting notes, etc) ends at loc 15840. Sadly, page numbers are not shown in this book, but if you consider that the original book ended 1960 at 8733 and this book finishes the same period at 15840, then that is 7107 extra - almost double the same amount of text to cover the same period. The illustrations section is also extended and, to be honest, is worth looking at simply to see the amazing photograph of George's maternal grandfather, John French, who is the absolute spitting image of George! Well, rather, George was the spitting image of him, but I hope that Olivia and Dhani see this, as it is really astounding. Mark Lewisohn's ability to discover these unseen gems are why this book stands head and shoulders above any other biography so far.
Knowing you have more text for the same period is one thing - the question you are probably asking is whether it is worth reading. That really depends on whether you need to know that John Lennon scaled the heady heights (or doleful depths) of 3% in his Quarry Bank maths exam - we all know he was bright, but he certainly brought a new meaning to the phrase, " couldn't care less" - or that, when his teachers unwisely asked him to run a stall at a school fundraiser, he gleefully created vicious caricatures of his teachers, obtained some darts and charged fellow pupils to "Prick your Teacher" (he raised more money than anyone else, even when he and Pete Shotton pocketed most of it, showing that his teachers had a greater sense of humour and tolerance than he gave them credit for). In all honesty, if the one volume book was criticised (unfairly) in national newspapers for having too much detail, then this is full of the obsessive detail fans love.
One of the really interesting, if not unique, things about the Beatles story is how the timing of things always worked out - in Lewisohn's words, the timing was "always perfect". If you were writing this story as a fiction, you seriously could not make it up. For example, Ivan Vaughan, the school friend who introduced Paul to John, only met him because his parents was so upset at John's disrupting their son's education that they vowed he would not attend the same secondary school as him. Consequently, Ivan went to the Liverpool Institute, rather than the more local grammar, Quarry Bank, became friends with Paul and later introduced him to John. It was not the first, or last, time a parent would sense danger and take a dislike to John - Paul's father was less than enamoured...
Mark Lewisohn knows that Beatles fans are quite happy to read about their heroes in immense detail and, in this two volume edition, he certainly gives us this. At all times he cleverly tells the story not only of the four Beatles, but also of the other important members of the story. It isn't overdone, but he always informs us what other members were doing when, for example, Ringo got his first job - or we learn that when Larry Parnes was signing Tommy Steele to a very unfair management contract (while George Martin didn't sign him and missed the next "big thing"), Brian Epstein had just started at RADA. He puts their life in context and discusses the music they heard, their influences and important events.
In reality, he paints a picture of those times which it would be hard to beat. Even reading the early pages about Irish immigrants fleeing famine and their suffering and poverty; the lists of babies born and then dead within weeks or months, shows us where the Beatles (three of them, anyway) came from. When one of them starts school or visits a location previously mentioned, Lewisohn will point out that a relative of one of them lived nearby or weave the strands of the story deftly together so that we know where we are and the context of events. When John or Paul say in later interviews how they wanted, above all, to be rich, or you read of Ringo wanting a job simply to get the uniform (and being cheated by getting only the cap) or of George's mother bemoaning the level of violence and vandalism where they lived, you understand exactly where they started and how little all their contemporaries had. Clothes, for instance, were in such short supply that both John and Paul wore their school uniforms on holiday and George's mother had to cut down his father's trousers to fit him. Ringo went to the fairground to hear rock and roll records; records were just too expensive and hard to get hold of.
This volume covers the period up to the Beatles return from their first trip to Hamburg; when George was deported, Paul and Pete Best were arrested and thrown out of the country, Stu stayed behind and John - the last to leave - made his way home to the jibes of his Aunt Mimi at his ignominious return and seriously thought of giving the whole thing up. Luckily, he didn't and the 27th December, 1960, saw them take the stage at the Litherland Town Hall. It is a date that resounds in Beatles history, when the promoter, who had to be persuaded to let them play (they had let him down in the past), ended up virtually barricading them in the dressing room after the gig; booking them for every date he could get them for and keeping other promoters well away from them. They returned from Hamburg a changed band and caused an absolute sensation that night - and for virtually every night ever after. However, as Lewisohn points out, in Hamburg they were the only band that had a following of fans - not thugs or sailors - but normal girls (mostly girls) who came to watch them play. While Klaus, Jurgen and Astrid, the three most well known of the Beatles followers, were obviously infatuated with the band, it is clear that watching Rory Storm and the Hurricanes (Ringo's band) paled after their show had been seen more than once. Only the Beatles set themselves of challenge of never singing the same song twice in the same night - no matter how many hours they were on stage. Only the Beatles changed their set, their show and evolved; as they would do throughout their career.
So, should you buy this two volume set? Does the first volume offer you anything else? In all honesty, if you have never read a biography of the Beatles before and if you are considering which of the new Mark Lewisohn books to buy, then I would say just get the single "Tune In". It's brilliant, as detailed as you need - more detailed than the casual fan will probably want in fact - and wonderfully written. If, however, like me, you have read everything on the Beatles - including the single book "Tune In" - and yet still crave more, then you will love this. The first volume of this two volume set has immense depth to it, giving detailed historical background, more reminiscences from neighbours, school friends and colleagues, and is brilliantly written. I am looking forward to re-reading Vol 2 The Beatles - All These Years - Extended Special Edition: Part Two: Volume One: Tune In of this extended two volume edition next, which covers the years 1961 and 1962 and takes the Beatles to the cusp of success, with a record contract and ready to take over the world. Let's hope we don't have to wait another ten years for the next book in the series. Meanwhile, whichever edition of this book you choose, I am sure that you will enjoy it and, even if like me you have already read hundreds of books about them, you will learn something new.
November 18, 2013
This review is for the extended version of Tune In, Vol 1 of 2:
As all Beatles fans will know, we have been waiting for the recently released first volume of Mark Lewisohn’s biographical trilogy of the Beatles for ten years. Having recently released Tune In, he has now published an extended two volume set of the first book. I have read the kindle edition of this book, but I will try to explain what the extended version offers that is different from the single volume and, hopefully help you decide which edition you wish to read (if not both, as I did).
The one volume Tune In has the book split into the following headings: Introduction and Prologue (the same in both editions), Old Before Our Birth, Year 1: 1958, Year 2: 1959, Year 3: 1960, Year 4: 1961 and Year 5: 1962. This first volume of the two book set takes the story only to 1960 – in this first volume the end of 1960 ends at loc 8733. The first volume of this two volume set splits the chapters into : Introduction and Prologue, 1845-1939: Looking Back, Shapes of Things to Come (a far extended, 2 chapter, look at their family history and Liverpool in wartime), 1939 – 1955 (seven chapters of childhood and schooldays and far extended from the original ‘Old Before Our Birth’ section on family history and childhood). 1956 Rock! (2 chapters on the skiffle boom and early discovery of rock and roll), 1957: Old Before Our Birth (3 chapters on that momentous year when Lennon and McCartney met “He’ll get you into trouble son...”), Year 1: 1958: Thinking of Linking (2 chapters on those early days, “Where we going, Johnny?!”), Year 2: 1959: Three Cool Cats (2 chapters dealing with the Casbah, etc) and Year 3: 1960: Competence, Confidence and Continuity (amongst other things, covers the trip to Scotland with Johnny Gentle and heading for Hamburg).
The end of these chapters (not counting notes, etc) ends at loc 15840. Sadly, page numbers are not shown in this book, but if you consider that the original book ended 1960 at 8733 and this book finishes the same period at 15840, then that is 7107 extra – almost double the same amount of text to cover the same period. The illustrations section is also extended and, to be honest, is worth looking at simply to see the amazing photograph of George’s maternal grandfather, John French, who is the absolute spitting image of George! Well, rather, George was the splitting image of him, but I hope that Olivia and Dhani see this, as it is really astounding. Mark Lewisohn’s ability to discover these unseen gems are why this book stands head and shoulders above any other biography so far.
Knowing you have more text for the same period is one thing – the question you are probably asking is whether it is worth reading. That really depends on whether you need to know that John Lennon scaled the heady heights (or doleful depths) of 3% in his Quarry Bank maths exam – we all know he was bright, but he certainly brought a new meaning to the phrase, “ couldn’t care less” – or that, when his teachers unwisely asked him to run a stall at a school fundraiser, he gleefully created vicious caricatures of his teachers, obtained some darts and charged fellow pupils to “Prick your Teacher” (he raised more money than anyone else, even when he and Pete Shotton pocketed most of it, showing that his teachers had a greater sense of humour and tolerance than he gave them credit for). In all honesty, if the one volume book was criticised (unfairly) in national newspapers for having too much detail, then this is full of the obsessive detail fans love.
Mark Lewisohn knows that Beatles fans are quite happy to read about their heroes in immense detail and, in this two volume edition, he certainly gives us this. At all times he cleverly tells the story not only of the four Beatles, but also of the other important members of the story. It isn’t overdone, but he always informs us what other members were doing when, for example, Ringo got his first job – or we learn that when Larry Parnes was signing Tommy Steele to a very unfair management contract (while George Martin didn’t sign him and missed the next “big thing”), Brian Epstein had just started at RADA. He puts their life in context and discusses the music they heard, their influences and important events.
In reality, he paints a picture of those times which it would be hard to beat. Even reading the early pages about Irish immigrants fleeing famine and their suffering and poverty; the lists of babies born and then dead within weeks or months, shows us where the Beatles (three of them, anyway) came from. When one of them starts school or visits a location previously mentioned, Lewisohn will point out that a relative of one of them lived nearby or weave the strands of the story deftly together so that we know where we are and the context of events. When John or Paul say in later interviews how they wanted, above all, to be rich, or you read of Ringo wanting a job simply to get the uniform (and being cheated by getting only the cap) or of George’s mother bemoaning the level of violence and vandalism where they lived, you understand exactly where they started and how little all their contemporaries had. Clothes, for instance, were in such short supply that both John and Paul wore their school uniforms on holiday and George’s mother had to cut down his father’s trousers to fit him. Ringo went to the fairground to hear rock and roll records; records were just too expensive and hard to get hold of.
So, should you buy this two volume set? Does the first volume offer you anything else? In all honesty, if you have never read a biography of the Beatles before and if you are considering which of the new Mark Lewisohn books to buy, then I would say just get the single “Tune In”. It’s brilliant, as detailed as you need – more detailed than the casual fan will probably want in fact – and wonderfully written. If, however, like me, you have read everything on the Beatles – including the single book “Tune In” – and yet still crave more, then you will love this. The first volume of this two volume set has immense depth to it, giving detailed historical background, more reminiscences from neighbours, school friends and colleagues, and is brilliantly written. I am looking forward to reading Vol 2 of this extended two volume edition next, which covers the years 1961 and 1962 and takes the Beatles to the cusp of success, with a record contract and ready to take over the years. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another ten years for the next book in the series. Meanwhile, whichever edition of this book you choose, I am sure that you will enjoy it and, even if like me you have already read hundreds of books about them, you will learn something new.
As all Beatles fans will know, we have been waiting for the recently released first volume of Mark Lewisohn’s biographical trilogy of the Beatles for ten years. Having recently released Tune In, he has now published an extended two volume set of the first book. I have read the kindle edition of this book, but I will try to explain what the extended version offers that is different from the single volume and, hopefully help you decide which edition you wish to read (if not both, as I did).
The one volume Tune In has the book split into the following headings: Introduction and Prologue (the same in both editions), Old Before Our Birth, Year 1: 1958, Year 2: 1959, Year 3: 1960, Year 4: 1961 and Year 5: 1962. This first volume of the two book set takes the story only to 1960 – in this first volume the end of 1960 ends at loc 8733. The first volume of this two volume set splits the chapters into : Introduction and Prologue, 1845-1939: Looking Back, Shapes of Things to Come (a far extended, 2 chapter, look at their family history and Liverpool in wartime), 1939 – 1955 (seven chapters of childhood and schooldays and far extended from the original ‘Old Before Our Birth’ section on family history and childhood). 1956 Rock! (2 chapters on the skiffle boom and early discovery of rock and roll), 1957: Old Before Our Birth (3 chapters on that momentous year when Lennon and McCartney met “He’ll get you into trouble son...”), Year 1: 1958: Thinking of Linking (2 chapters on those early days, “Where we going, Johnny?!”), Year 2: 1959: Three Cool Cats (2 chapters dealing with the Casbah, etc) and Year 3: 1960: Competence, Confidence and Continuity (amongst other things, covers the trip to Scotland with Johnny Gentle and heading for Hamburg).
The end of these chapters (not counting notes, etc) ends at loc 15840. Sadly, page numbers are not shown in this book, but if you consider that the original book ended 1960 at 8733 and this book finishes the same period at 15840, then that is 7107 extra – almost double the same amount of text to cover the same period. The illustrations section is also extended and, to be honest, is worth looking at simply to see the amazing photograph of George’s maternal grandfather, John French, who is the absolute spitting image of George! Well, rather, George was the splitting image of him, but I hope that Olivia and Dhani see this, as it is really astounding. Mark Lewisohn’s ability to discover these unseen gems are why this book stands head and shoulders above any other biography so far.
Knowing you have more text for the same period is one thing – the question you are probably asking is whether it is worth reading. That really depends on whether you need to know that John Lennon scaled the heady heights (or doleful depths) of 3% in his Quarry Bank maths exam – we all know he was bright, but he certainly brought a new meaning to the phrase, “ couldn’t care less” – or that, when his teachers unwisely asked him to run a stall at a school fundraiser, he gleefully created vicious caricatures of his teachers, obtained some darts and charged fellow pupils to “Prick your Teacher” (he raised more money than anyone else, even when he and Pete Shotton pocketed most of it, showing that his teachers had a greater sense of humour and tolerance than he gave them credit for). In all honesty, if the one volume book was criticised (unfairly) in national newspapers for having too much detail, then this is full of the obsessive detail fans love.
Mark Lewisohn knows that Beatles fans are quite happy to read about their heroes in immense detail and, in this two volume edition, he certainly gives us this. At all times he cleverly tells the story not only of the four Beatles, but also of the other important members of the story. It isn’t overdone, but he always informs us what other members were doing when, for example, Ringo got his first job – or we learn that when Larry Parnes was signing Tommy Steele to a very unfair management contract (while George Martin didn’t sign him and missed the next “big thing”), Brian Epstein had just started at RADA. He puts their life in context and discusses the music they heard, their influences and important events.
In reality, he paints a picture of those times which it would be hard to beat. Even reading the early pages about Irish immigrants fleeing famine and their suffering and poverty; the lists of babies born and then dead within weeks or months, shows us where the Beatles (three of them, anyway) came from. When one of them starts school or visits a location previously mentioned, Lewisohn will point out that a relative of one of them lived nearby or weave the strands of the story deftly together so that we know where we are and the context of events. When John or Paul say in later interviews how they wanted, above all, to be rich, or you read of Ringo wanting a job simply to get the uniform (and being cheated by getting only the cap) or of George’s mother bemoaning the level of violence and vandalism where they lived, you understand exactly where they started and how little all their contemporaries had. Clothes, for instance, were in such short supply that both John and Paul wore their school uniforms on holiday and George’s mother had to cut down his father’s trousers to fit him. Ringo went to the fairground to hear rock and roll records; records were just too expensive and hard to get hold of.
So, should you buy this two volume set? Does the first volume offer you anything else? In all honesty, if you have never read a biography of the Beatles before and if you are considering which of the new Mark Lewisohn books to buy, then I would say just get the single “Tune In”. It’s brilliant, as detailed as you need – more detailed than the casual fan will probably want in fact – and wonderfully written. If, however, like me, you have read everything on the Beatles – including the single book “Tune In” – and yet still crave more, then you will love this. The first volume of this two volume set has immense depth to it, giving detailed historical background, more reminiscences from neighbours, school friends and colleagues, and is brilliantly written. I am looking forward to reading Vol 2 of this extended two volume edition next, which covers the years 1961 and 1962 and takes the Beatles to the cusp of success, with a record contract and ready to take over the years. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another ten years for the next book in the series. Meanwhile, whichever edition of this book you choose, I am sure that you will enjoy it and, even if like me you have already read hundreds of books about them, you will learn something new.
February 18, 2016
This review is for the extended version of Tune In, Vol 1 of 2.
When I first realized that the Tune In extended edition is 1600 pages long, I thought to myself, "I haven't finished Les Miserables or Infinite Jest...how on earth am I going to finish 1600 pages on just The Beatles?" It's telling how well written this is, but also because, well, I really like The Beatles. But that's the thing -- you really need to be a huge Beatles fan to read the extended edition.
Part 1 spans the Beatles' family histories up until 1961 and is 747 pages long. The thing I love most about it is that it's not simply a history of The Beatles. It's a history of Liverpool, a history of rock 'n' roll, and a history of rock 'n' roll in Liverpool. Of course, Mark Lewisohn is THE expert on The Beatles, but by pulling in all of these other facts and histories, you get an incredibly thorough understanding of the situation and you realize why The Beatles were such an extraordinary band at the time but overall in history. He not only covers the Fab Four, but he also goes into detail about the lives of other key figures in Beatles history like Brian Epstein and George Martin. Switching between the stories could seem challenging because George Martin was so far away in London and Brian Epstein has no contact with rock previously, but Lewisohn does it gracefully and seamlessly without missing a beat.
Some may find the details too meticulous, but again, you really need to be a Beatles fan to read the extended edition. Lewisohn leaves no stone unturned and includes the most minute details and I expect it will be the same in Part 2. I also found that his portrayal of everyone is quite realistic; he never puts anybody up on a pedestal and each person is quite human. At times, I was horrified at how cruel The Beatles could be to each other and their families, I was impressed at how cocky they were at such a young age, and I marveled at the sheer talent they seemed to have exhibited before even really being a band.
One thing for me I never considered is The Beatles as John Lennon's band. To me, The Beatles were always a band where each person was equal and it was what made them great. Without one, you couldn't have the band. But Lewisohn portrays it as John's band, and John was the leader, making decisions, and everyone looked to him. It makes complete sense, but this could change with the next parts coming. Of course, there was the Lennon-McCartney dynamic, and George did his own songs and Ringo was always the steady drummer, but it was a new angle for me to think of it as "John Lennon's band" (kind of like later, Wings was definitely Paul McCartney's band and they were not a collective by any means).
I'll probably finish Part 2 fairly quickly, but there's one thing that's missing -- I wish there was a list of all the songs mentioned that influenced The Beatles. This would make a great playlist.
When I first realized that the Tune In extended edition is 1600 pages long, I thought to myself, "I haven't finished Les Miserables or Infinite Jest...how on earth am I going to finish 1600 pages on just The Beatles?" It's telling how well written this is, but also because, well, I really like The Beatles. But that's the thing -- you really need to be a huge Beatles fan to read the extended edition.
Part 1 spans the Beatles' family histories up until 1961 and is 747 pages long. The thing I love most about it is that it's not simply a history of The Beatles. It's a history of Liverpool, a history of rock 'n' roll, and a history of rock 'n' roll in Liverpool. Of course, Mark Lewisohn is THE expert on The Beatles, but by pulling in all of these other facts and histories, you get an incredibly thorough understanding of the situation and you realize why The Beatles were such an extraordinary band at the time but overall in history. He not only covers the Fab Four, but he also goes into detail about the lives of other key figures in Beatles history like Brian Epstein and George Martin. Switching between the stories could seem challenging because George Martin was so far away in London and Brian Epstein has no contact with rock previously, but Lewisohn does it gracefully and seamlessly without missing a beat.
Some may find the details too meticulous, but again, you really need to be a Beatles fan to read the extended edition. Lewisohn leaves no stone unturned and includes the most minute details and I expect it will be the same in Part 2. I also found that his portrayal of everyone is quite realistic; he never puts anybody up on a pedestal and each person is quite human. At times, I was horrified at how cruel The Beatles could be to each other and their families, I was impressed at how cocky they were at such a young age, and I marveled at the sheer talent they seemed to have exhibited before even really being a band.
One thing for me I never considered is The Beatles as John Lennon's band. To me, The Beatles were always a band where each person was equal and it was what made them great. Without one, you couldn't have the band. But Lewisohn portrays it as John's band, and John was the leader, making decisions, and everyone looked to him. It makes complete sense, but this could change with the next parts coming. Of course, there was the Lennon-McCartney dynamic, and George did his own songs and Ringo was always the steady drummer, but it was a new angle for me to think of it as "John Lennon's band" (kind of like later, Wings was definitely Paul McCartney's band and they were not a collective by any means).
I'll probably finish Part 2 fairly quickly, but there's one thing that's missing -- I wish there was a list of all the songs mentioned that influenced The Beatles. This would make a great playlist.
June 24, 2020
I must first declare an interest. My late father is Ron Richards (Pratley) he was George Martin's assistant & took charge of 2 out the three sessions that produced "Love Me Do". I also know Mark Lewisohn having met him first at my father's funeral. My Dad had helped Mark extensively when he was researching for this book.
The longer version of this book is the one to read because it tells the story properly. Mark wanted to tell the Beatles story, for sure, but he wanted to set them context. This book does it brilliantly. It is long but it is also an easy read. As a Beatles fan from the age of seven I loved every page of it. The book is full of surprises, stories & revelations. It also helps me to understand, much more fully, why they were successful & why they made such a big impact.
The song writing for which they became famous did not really get going properly until after they had been signed by EMI. Their efforts, up to this point, were okay but no more than that & they had not written much in the two before being signed. Within two days of the end of their first session John had written "Please Please Me". Soon after on a short trip to London, with a girlfriend, Paul came up with "I Saw Her Standing There". Their minds by this stage had clicked into action. I could go on. If you want to know more immerse yourself into Beatle World then Buy the Book!
The longer version of this book is the one to read because it tells the story properly. Mark wanted to tell the Beatles story, for sure, but he wanted to set them context. This book does it brilliantly. It is long but it is also an easy read. As a Beatles fan from the age of seven I loved every page of it. The book is full of surprises, stories & revelations. It also helps me to understand, much more fully, why they were successful & why they made such a big impact.
The song writing for which they became famous did not really get going properly until after they had been signed by EMI. Their efforts, up to this point, were okay but no more than that & they had not written much in the two before being signed. Within two days of the end of their first session John had written "Please Please Me". Soon after on a short trip to London, with a girlfriend, Paul came up with "I Saw Her Standing There". Their minds by this stage had clicked into action. I could go on. If you want to know more immerse yourself into Beatle World then Buy the Book!
April 19, 2016
Quick note - The version of this book that I read is NOT the vast, extended edition. That one costs a lot more and has a lot of background about Liverpool. The one I read has a list price of $40 USD.
If you've ever read a biography of any sort about the Beatles, you've likely run into the name Mark Lewisohn, this book's author. I have read several Beatle books and his name always crops up as the "guy with all the details." When did they record "Penny Lane?" He knows. What kind of tea did they drink? Probably knows that too,
I always assumed he was just a crazed fanboy. Well, he is that. But he is a writer whom the book jacket lists as "the world's only professional Beatle historian." Although he's written other stuff, most of his output is about the Fab Four. At one point he worked for Apple Corps and was invited by EMI to listen to all of the bands' original session tapes. So if anybody knows their history, it's him.
I just finished reading the book. How is it? In a word, great. It is meticulously written and researched. The thing you should know is that it goes only up to the end of 1962, just as The Beatles are starting to break in the UK. They're not superbig yet. But "Love Me Do" is going up the charts and they're starting to get fans outside of Liverpool. It won't be until "Please Please Me" in early 1963 where all hell breaks loose first in the UK, then in America and the world.
There is a very strong you-are-there flavor to this book. He takes you down the mean streets of Hamburg where, over the course of five visits and several years, the Beatles honed their stage act, playing over 1,100 hours. Of course he goes into the Cavern years (upwards of 300 appearances over three years) and talks about them and their fans.
In fact, that is one of the revelations of the book - the band's closeness to their fans. Many of them were young girls whom the Beatles treated well and never took advantage of. They weren't just fans but became their friends, often going over to Paul's house to hang out, talk to his dad, even watch John and Paul write songs. They'd write to their fans from Hamburg. One of them became president of their fan club and was in the studio when they recorded "Please Please Me" in late 1962.
What comes across is not only their great love of and dedication to American rock and roll, but also their humor and charisma. Everybody (men, woman, everybody) found them irresistible. They were a breath of fresh air in a post-war Liverpool. (And being from Liverpool and trying to make it in London? In 1962? As soon as they opened up their mouths, girls would walk away from them and their Scouse accent).
The book goes into their lower working class (but not totally unhappy) lives. Both John and Paul lost their mothers at an early age, John being raised by his Aunt Mimi. (Who famously advised him that the guitar was all right for a hobby but he'd never make a living at it).
One thing is clear - John Lennon was the leader of this band. All the other guys looked up to him. Hell, everybody did. He was the coolest, rudest guy on the block. He exuded "Lennon-ness" and both guys and girls could not get enough of him (and his brutal, sarcastic, cutting humor).
It's all here - Stu Sutcliffe, Pete Best, Brian Epstein, George Martin, Astrid Kirchherr, Klaus Voorman, The Dingle. Gerry and the Pacemakers, etc.
Who might enjoy this? If you're a Beatle fanatic, do not hesitate. You know the story but you do not KNOW it. If you're not as much a fan, you can read this as a rags-to-riches story. If you're a musician, there's plenty here about the music business, publishing and the making of records to keep you interested. And at the end of the day, it's just a damn good story well-told.
And you have plenty of time to read it. Next volume due in 2020.
If you've ever read a biography of any sort about the Beatles, you've likely run into the name Mark Lewisohn, this book's author. I have read several Beatle books and his name always crops up as the "guy with all the details." When did they record "Penny Lane?" He knows. What kind of tea did they drink? Probably knows that too,
I always assumed he was just a crazed fanboy. Well, he is that. But he is a writer whom the book jacket lists as "the world's only professional Beatle historian." Although he's written other stuff, most of his output is about the Fab Four. At one point he worked for Apple Corps and was invited by EMI to listen to all of the bands' original session tapes. So if anybody knows their history, it's him.
I just finished reading the book. How is it? In a word, great. It is meticulously written and researched. The thing you should know is that it goes only up to the end of 1962, just as The Beatles are starting to break in the UK. They're not superbig yet. But "Love Me Do" is going up the charts and they're starting to get fans outside of Liverpool. It won't be until "Please Please Me" in early 1963 where all hell breaks loose first in the UK, then in America and the world.
There is a very strong you-are-there flavor to this book. He takes you down the mean streets of Hamburg where, over the course of five visits and several years, the Beatles honed their stage act, playing over 1,100 hours. Of course he goes into the Cavern years (upwards of 300 appearances over three years) and talks about them and their fans.
In fact, that is one of the revelations of the book - the band's closeness to their fans. Many of them were young girls whom the Beatles treated well and never took advantage of. They weren't just fans but became their friends, often going over to Paul's house to hang out, talk to his dad, even watch John and Paul write songs. They'd write to their fans from Hamburg. One of them became president of their fan club and was in the studio when they recorded "Please Please Me" in late 1962.
What comes across is not only their great love of and dedication to American rock and roll, but also their humor and charisma. Everybody (men, woman, everybody) found them irresistible. They were a breath of fresh air in a post-war Liverpool. (And being from Liverpool and trying to make it in London? In 1962? As soon as they opened up their mouths, girls would walk away from them and their Scouse accent).
The book goes into their lower working class (but not totally unhappy) lives. Both John and Paul lost their mothers at an early age, John being raised by his Aunt Mimi. (Who famously advised him that the guitar was all right for a hobby but he'd never make a living at it).
One thing is clear - John Lennon was the leader of this band. All the other guys looked up to him. Hell, everybody did. He was the coolest, rudest guy on the block. He exuded "Lennon-ness" and both guys and girls could not get enough of him (and his brutal, sarcastic, cutting humor).
It's all here - Stu Sutcliffe, Pete Best, Brian Epstein, George Martin, Astrid Kirchherr, Klaus Voorman, The Dingle. Gerry and the Pacemakers, etc.
Who might enjoy this? If you're a Beatle fanatic, do not hesitate. You know the story but you do not KNOW it. If you're not as much a fan, you can read this as a rags-to-riches story. If you're a musician, there's plenty here about the music business, publishing and the making of records to keep you interested. And at the end of the day, it's just a damn good story well-told.
And you have plenty of time to read it. Next volume due in 2020.
February 5, 2018
Holy smokes. The book starts out kind of slow. I may have compounded this by my slow-reading habit, which made the 700+ page count even more daunting. (This largely accounted for my on-again-off-again reading of this book over many years.) But I must say that the book really picks up in the second half. You can feel the energy and excitement growing. At the conclusion of this first part of the first volume, the Beatles have just returned from their first Hamburg stint, which was split between the Indra and the Kaiserkeller. They've returned to the Casbah as much more mature performers, and are blowing the socks off of everyone. Can't wait for Part 2.
September 18, 2019
Excellent. Thorough. The gold standard of Beatles books. More than that, others have already said better than I could.
September 21, 2019
Yet another book about The Beatles? There are literally hundreds of books, maybe thousands, about the Fab Four. What’s so special about this one?
I think that’s a perfectly legitimate question, and one that should be asked before anyone ventures into a writing project treading already-well-trodden ground. Does the world need another book about Star Wars, or another biblical commentary, or another book on learning Spanish, or another cook book, or another fantasy novel? There are so many books in the world, each new one ought to make a case for its existence, a reason why we should consume our precious time reading it. Especially when it’s 1,700 pages long.
Mark Lewisohn’s case is simple: Yes, there are many Beatles biographies in the world. But none of them do the job correctly. They are written by enthusiasts, journalists, people with an agenda or an ax to grind. So far, few, if any, historians have taken on the subject, treating it as worthy of serious, scholarly study. At least not to the depth the subject deserves.
Make no mistake, Lewisohn is a fan, and has been all his life. But at heart, he’s a researcher with a passion for documents. He has the journalist’s nose for a story, and the historian’s discipline to step back, weigh evidence, and discard the unverifiable no matter how juicy it might be. He also has the scholar’s (and, one might say, the geek’s) bent to dig into a topic and get to the hows, whys, and wherefores. For example, John, Paul, George, and Ringo were into rock and roll. But what exactly did they listen to? What was on the radio when they were teens? What kind of music made up their youth and influenced what they played? Where did that music come from? And why were these particular songs by these particular artists strikingly important to their sound and their lives? Lewisohn surveys the history of rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and how American music came to be in Liverpool. Along the way, he debunks popular myths, such as the Beatles getting their American records from U.S. seamen who were docked in Liverpool. They actually bought them in their local record store.
However, Lewisohn has made it clear more than once that his purpose in writing is not to debunk myths. That just happens as a course of doing thorough research, and not allowing himself to be led astray by uncorroborated (or uncorroboratable) stories. In most cases, the true story is much more fascinating than the myth (for example, the story of how The Beatles were signed to Parlophone records–let’s just say, it wasn’t on the strength of any demo recording).
One of the things that sets this work apart from other Beatles biographies is the range of material Lewisohn draws from. Everything from account books to fan letters to local newspaper archives and a host of other memorabilia. As well as the usual interview subjects, he also draws on interviews with people who were around at the time, such as Cavern Club regulars, fans as well as acquaintances. He deliberately did not interview any of the surviving Beatles, or those closest to the story for this project. They have already given many interviews over the years and would likely add nothing more than what they’ve already said. Lewisohn does have his own personal interviews to draw from, having been involved in the Beatles’ Anthology project in the 90s, and having worked for Paul McCartney for a number of years. But aside from a quick email to Macca to verify or clarify something, he let their existing words stand.
To sum up, this book is an absolute must for the Beatles enthusiast. If you think you know everything there is to know about The Beatles, I guarantee you will still learn something from Lewisohn’s work. Many other books may claim to be the “definitive” word on the Fab Four, but truly, this is it. What’s more, it’s immensely readable. This is not a stodgy, dull textbook. Lewisohn writes with the integrity of a real scholar, and the joy and enthusiasm of a fan. He has put a lot of effort into making this huge work accessible, and as page-turning as a thriller.
You may notice that this is “Part 1.” That massive tome is only the first part in a multi-part series. Part 2 is in production with at least one more part to follow. Part 1 follows The Beatles’ story up to the end of 1962, right before Beatlemania hits the UK. There are two editions of Part 1: an edited-down 800-page version, edited by Lewisohn himself, and this “Special Expanded” or uncut edition, which is 1,700 pages long (hence it is split into two books–see the picture above). It took him 10 years to research and write part 1, and part 2 might come out next year, but there are no promises on that. While Lewisohn is anxious to get the complete story into readers’ hands, he doesn’t want to rush it. He refuses to cut corners on the research, and he wants to write it all up in a way that does justice to the material.
So we wait. Patiently.
I think that’s a perfectly legitimate question, and one that should be asked before anyone ventures into a writing project treading already-well-trodden ground. Does the world need another book about Star Wars, or another biblical commentary, or another book on learning Spanish, or another cook book, or another fantasy novel? There are so many books in the world, each new one ought to make a case for its existence, a reason why we should consume our precious time reading it. Especially when it’s 1,700 pages long.
Mark Lewisohn’s case is simple: Yes, there are many Beatles biographies in the world. But none of them do the job correctly. They are written by enthusiasts, journalists, people with an agenda or an ax to grind. So far, few, if any, historians have taken on the subject, treating it as worthy of serious, scholarly study. At least not to the depth the subject deserves.
Make no mistake, Lewisohn is a fan, and has been all his life. But at heart, he’s a researcher with a passion for documents. He has the journalist’s nose for a story, and the historian’s discipline to step back, weigh evidence, and discard the unverifiable no matter how juicy it might be. He also has the scholar’s (and, one might say, the geek’s) bent to dig into a topic and get to the hows, whys, and wherefores. For example, John, Paul, George, and Ringo were into rock and roll. But what exactly did they listen to? What was on the radio when they were teens? What kind of music made up their youth and influenced what they played? Where did that music come from? And why were these particular songs by these particular artists strikingly important to their sound and their lives? Lewisohn surveys the history of rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and how American music came to be in Liverpool. Along the way, he debunks popular myths, such as the Beatles getting their American records from U.S. seamen who were docked in Liverpool. They actually bought them in their local record store.
However, Lewisohn has made it clear more than once that his purpose in writing is not to debunk myths. That just happens as a course of doing thorough research, and not allowing himself to be led astray by uncorroborated (or uncorroboratable) stories. In most cases, the true story is much more fascinating than the myth (for example, the story of how The Beatles were signed to Parlophone records–let’s just say, it wasn’t on the strength of any demo recording).
One of the things that sets this work apart from other Beatles biographies is the range of material Lewisohn draws from. Everything from account books to fan letters to local newspaper archives and a host of other memorabilia. As well as the usual interview subjects, he also draws on interviews with people who were around at the time, such as Cavern Club regulars, fans as well as acquaintances. He deliberately did not interview any of the surviving Beatles, or those closest to the story for this project. They have already given many interviews over the years and would likely add nothing more than what they’ve already said. Lewisohn does have his own personal interviews to draw from, having been involved in the Beatles’ Anthology project in the 90s, and having worked for Paul McCartney for a number of years. But aside from a quick email to Macca to verify or clarify something, he let their existing words stand.
To sum up, this book is an absolute must for the Beatles enthusiast. If you think you know everything there is to know about The Beatles, I guarantee you will still learn something from Lewisohn’s work. Many other books may claim to be the “definitive” word on the Fab Four, but truly, this is it. What’s more, it’s immensely readable. This is not a stodgy, dull textbook. Lewisohn writes with the integrity of a real scholar, and the joy and enthusiasm of a fan. He has put a lot of effort into making this huge work accessible, and as page-turning as a thriller.
You may notice that this is “Part 1.” That massive tome is only the first part in a multi-part series. Part 2 is in production with at least one more part to follow. Part 1 follows The Beatles’ story up to the end of 1962, right before Beatlemania hits the UK. There are two editions of Part 1: an edited-down 800-page version, edited by Lewisohn himself, and this “Special Expanded” or uncut edition, which is 1,700 pages long (hence it is split into two books–see the picture above). It took him 10 years to research and write part 1, and part 2 might come out next year, but there are no promises on that. While Lewisohn is anxious to get the complete story into readers’ hands, he doesn’t want to rush it. He refuses to cut corners on the research, and he wants to write it all up in a way that does justice to the material.
So we wait. Patiently.
September 20, 2020
Like I already mentioned here, I got this for my birthday — it’s only available as import from the UK, which is ridiculous — and though I reviewed the condensed version of Lewisohn’s book at some length a while back, I feel a need to address this here because it was such a wonderful experience to read it. I guess the main quantitative difference between the two editions is that this has more background information on the families, plus more delving into the biographies of George Martin and Brian Epstein, but there’s additional detail on virtually every page. Obviously it’s only necessary for serious fans and scholars — the regular edition would probably already be a challenge for the casual reader — but I don’t see the logic in tempering my feelings about it for this reason. It’s almost indisputably the best Beatles book ever written, and certainly the most historically sound and essential, and a prodigious effort in research and investigation. Here’s what I wrote at a forum for nerds that I’m too embarrassed to identify: “I didn’t know I could feel more immersed than I did in the standard version but I’m even sorrier to see this end (even though it’s a bit annoying to constantly flip back and forth between text and footnotes). To me this book is about so many things besides the Beatles themselves: youth (universally), the specifics of the late ’50s and early ‘6os as I understand them, and most affecting to me, the nature of being passionate about music — both in terms of the intense, familial following the Beatles attract in Hamburg and Liverpool (as well as the devotion they then attain when moving beyond those places), and in the compulsive attitude the four of them have toward constantly seeking out new records, new stimulation.” Also: I think it never occurred to me before how significant it is that, while the Beatles are most celebrated in retrospect as songwriters, they attained their status on the basis strictly of their brilliance and magnetism as performers — apart from a few bursts of activity, they barely wrote any songs until they had their Parlophone contract, and were at first skittish about including them in setlists. Is it because an original song of theirs (through a lot of convolutions) is what resulted in Aardmore & Beechwood pushing for EMI to give them a deal? Or is it because they realized so many of their favorites, from Chuck Berry to Buddy Holly to Arthur Alexander, wrote their own stuff and it would make them feel inadequate to go out and pick up songs of others that they didn’t believe in or to recycle other people’s songs as singles? Or is it because of how much Lennon & McCartney had come to worship Goffin-King and wanted to be them? Whatever the case, it’s another example of how conscientious this band was about giving their full conviction to each circumstance that became their reality; nothing could or should be half-assed. The same philosophy drives this book. It’s very expensive, and it’s worth it.
August 14, 2019
Mais uma biografia lida. Muito boa mesmo! O que eu poderia falar dela para alguém que ainda não a tenha lido? Bem, imagino que, se você já ouviu falar desse livro sobre os Beatles, deve ter ouvido falar também que é imensa. Eu li a versão “aumentada” no Kindle e, lá pelo meio dela, percebi que a história não acabaria até o final do livro. Quero dizer, os Beatles acabaram na virada de 69/70 e o livro mal chegava nos 1960s! Foi quando soube que o livro teria ainda mais dois volumes, a serem lançados. Lewisohn se colocou o prazo até 2028! Enfim, será um material mais que farto sobre os Beatles, mas, como percebi lendo essa primeira parte, não só sobre eles, mas também sobre a sua época, com maior ênfase na Inglaterra, naturalmente, mas também nos EUA, fonte das primeiras influências musicais dos componentes da banda. Dá pra contar o seguinte, sem estragar a leitura: Lewisohn recria um cenário com seis personagens principais: além do quarteto, o seu empresário, Brian Epstein e o produtor, George Martin, mostrando como a vida os levou a se encontrarem. Bom também é a importância que foi dada às viagens a Hamburgo, na Alemanha, que preparou os músicos para enfrentarem muitas das adversidades que teriam depois, além de criar uma espécie de 'personalidade coletiva' para uni-los quando tinham de lidar com o público, a imprensa e o resto desse entorno. Essa "preparação" que Hamburgo proporcionou me lembrou um pouco a descrição de Ruy Castro em Chega de Saudade: A História e as Histórias da Bossa Nova para João Gilberto na casa da irmã em Minas Gerais, depois de ter sido praticamente enxotado do Rio de Janeiro por suas manias. Ali, usando o único banheiro disponível, ficava horas testando ritmo e voz para depois voltar e ganhar a glória e a fama eterna... pelo menos foi assim que eu entendi a descrição, he he! Hamburgo e seus bares na beira do porto fizeram o mesmo pelos Beatles. Parece a jornada do herói, né?
Resumão: você deve ler um livro assim? Repito o que já vi escrito por aí. Se essa vai ser a primeira vez que você vai se informar sobre os Beatles, há livros muito menores e que vão mais direto ao ponto do que este. Vá atrás deles. Se, por outro lado, você já conhece a(s) história(s) dos Beatles, vai se divertir com diversos detalhes pouco conhecidos, além de ganhar uma compreensão geral sobre como esse grupo se formou, tirando membros indesejados e colocando outros no lugar, até chegar à formação que se manteve desde o primeiro compacto até o último LP. Mas, para ler a história do último LP por meio de Lewisohn, você vai ter que esperar uns 10 anos, kkk!
Resumão: você deve ler um livro assim? Repito o que já vi escrito por aí. Se essa vai ser a primeira vez que você vai se informar sobre os Beatles, há livros muito menores e que vão mais direto ao ponto do que este. Vá atrás deles. Se, por outro lado, você já conhece a(s) história(s) dos Beatles, vai se divertir com diversos detalhes pouco conhecidos, além de ganhar uma compreensão geral sobre como esse grupo se formou, tirando membros indesejados e colocando outros no lugar, até chegar à formação que se manteve desde o primeiro compacto até o último LP. Mas, para ler a história do último LP por meio de Lewisohn, você vai ter que esperar uns 10 anos, kkk!
August 29, 2019
I read Tune In, the 900 page Volume 1 of Mark Lewisohn's definitive 3 part Beatles biog (which takes them up to the recording of their first album), in 2015 & have been anxiously awaiting Volume 2, due in 2020. Then a friend told me he had acquired the two volume extended play of the first volume. Say what? So I borrowed it. This first half runs over 800 pages by itself & The Beatles don't even start calling themselves The Beatles until page 624. Needless to say, it is astonishing. Lewisohn, the only person in the world to have a PhD in ... The Beatles, shines a light on virtually every moment of the lives of the Fab 4, as well as other major players in their development into the most important pop group in musical history - Stu Sutcliff, Pete Best, Brian Epstein, George Martin. I am not a fan boy tragic but I did hit puberty as The Beatles exploded so they have played an enormous role in my life. While the author's approach is forensic his writing style is crisp & occasionally amusing. I advise everyone who loves The Beatles, pop music, music in general, or biographies to grab this. At least in the unextended version. A masterpiece.
November 12, 2021
Not going to to too much into this one, as it's literally half the story. Instead, I will only say this:
If you read one biography on the Beatles in your lifetime, make sure it's this massive two-volume set. I have read 86 books on the Beatles, either as a group or individually and I've actually told my family and friends to not get me any more Beatles-related books. Why? Because there's nothing new they can reveal to me. I read each one and thing, yeah yeah yeah, I know all this.
But this first volume of the two-volume set? In it's 800-ish pages?
I'm learning something new on virtually every single page.
That alone makes this worth it.
If you read one biography on the Beatles in your lifetime, make sure it's this massive two-volume set. I have read 86 books on the Beatles, either as a group or individually and I've actually told my family and friends to not get me any more Beatles-related books. Why? Because there's nothing new they can reveal to me. I read each one and thing, yeah yeah yeah, I know all this.
But this first volume of the two-volume set? In it's 800-ish pages?
I'm learning something new on virtually every single page.
That alone makes this worth it.
September 29, 2024
In short, this is 1,500+ pages of prelude, piecing together the ancestry, childhoods, adolescence, and maturation of four Liverpool lads before they became a worldwide phenomenon. Mark Lewisohn, preeminent Beatles scholar, details the origins of the Beatles while also sharing the history of Liverpool and Rock and Roll in the first half of the 20th century. I can only recommend for the diehard Beatles fans, those who care to read descriptions of Lennon’s farts or the machinations at EMI that lead to the first recording contract. This is the apex by which all other retellings of the Beatles’ origins must be measured against. Those who commit to it will be richly rewarded.
July 28, 2018
Over 1500 pages on the early years of The Beatles, up to their first couple of singles (when the boys were barely over 20 years old). Also goes into detail about Liverpool and the early years of British pop. There is a shorter version available but I can't imagine what would have been cut out. Really transports you to a specific scene in history. An unbelievable read that I couldn't put down. Hope volume 2 comes out soon.
February 8, 2022
A triumph. Lewisohn has done a remarkable job documenting the Beatles from birth through 1962 in this book. The level of detail is incredible - you feel as if you are actually there throughout! It's worth the time investment needed to get through it. Volume 2, whenever it arrives, will be amazing - and I will be the first in line for it!
December 10, 2018
It’s really only the first half of a larger book, but I’m claiming it!
January 24, 2020
What an awesome book! Lewisohn goes in great detail about the Beatles life and progress up to 1962. A lot of detailed information, a must-have for fans. Can't wait for the next 2 volumes.
January 22, 2024
A frankly astounding level of detail. Cannot wait for volume 2.
April 7, 2024
If you love the Beatles you have to read this.
February 18, 2025
It doesn't get better than this. Phenomenal work.
January 30, 2017
A few years' ago, the preeminent Beatles scholar Mark Lewisohn, put out an 800 page book (see the name above) which detailed the pre-history and the history of The Beatles, right up to December 31, 1962. It's an amazing book, and I've reviewed it on this site.
But the truth of the matter is that Lewisohn wrote a MUCH longer book; twice as long, in fact. The American publisher wasn't interested in one that long, but the British publisher was willing to do a limited run of the Extended Edition as well as a UK kindle edition. I am so glad that they published it; as good as the regular edition is, this is even better. I would go so far as to say that this is, hands down, the single best biography of the early years of The Beatles. More than that, it may well be the best history of the popular music scene in Britain for these years.
Lewisohn, as with his other Beatle books, writes with no agenda beyond getting to the truth of the matter. He has gone to much greater depths with his research, having conducted interviews with so many first person witnesses from Liverpool that haven't been interviewed before, giving not just a much more detailed picture of The Beatles (John, Paul, George, Stuart [until he left the band], Pete [until his firing in August 1962], and Ringo), but a much better understanding of what Liverpool was like during post-war period.
And while he is telling the individual and then the combined stories of the boys, he is also writing decent biographies of both Brian Epstein and George Martin. They are essential parts of this history, and Lewisohn understands that a comprehension of how each of these men got to where they were when they encountered The Beatles for the first time is necessary to appreciate just how lucky the circumstances were for The Beatles to come together (as it were).
I would suggest reading the book with the YouTube app handy; Lewisohn provides a steady stream of songs and performers that John, Paul, and George were listening to, music that was influencing them and the music that they would be making. It's worth the time and effort to listen to at least some of these tunes. You can also, of course, find some of the early recordings that exist of The Quarrymen and The Beatles.
If you're a fan of The Beatles, this book will grab your attention and it won't let it go. It will dispel many of the myths that have been endlessly repeated in other books, especially those pertaining to their days in Hamburg, Pete Best's tenure in the band (and his departure from it), and Stuart Sutcliffe's part in the tale. You will also get a better picture of Neil Aspinall's involvement than anywhere else (I do wish he had written a memoir).
The next volume is currently anticipated for the year 2020. If it's anywhere near as good as this one, it will be well worth the wait.
But the truth of the matter is that Lewisohn wrote a MUCH longer book; twice as long, in fact. The American publisher wasn't interested in one that long, but the British publisher was willing to do a limited run of the Extended Edition as well as a UK kindle edition. I am so glad that they published it; as good as the regular edition is, this is even better. I would go so far as to say that this is, hands down, the single best biography of the early years of The Beatles. More than that, it may well be the best history of the popular music scene in Britain for these years.
Lewisohn, as with his other Beatle books, writes with no agenda beyond getting to the truth of the matter. He has gone to much greater depths with his research, having conducted interviews with so many first person witnesses from Liverpool that haven't been interviewed before, giving not just a much more detailed picture of The Beatles (John, Paul, George, Stuart [until he left the band], Pete [until his firing in August 1962], and Ringo), but a much better understanding of what Liverpool was like during post-war period.
And while he is telling the individual and then the combined stories of the boys, he is also writing decent biographies of both Brian Epstein and George Martin. They are essential parts of this history, and Lewisohn understands that a comprehension of how each of these men got to where they were when they encountered The Beatles for the first time is necessary to appreciate just how lucky the circumstances were for The Beatles to come together (as it were).
I would suggest reading the book with the YouTube app handy; Lewisohn provides a steady stream of songs and performers that John, Paul, and George were listening to, music that was influencing them and the music that they would be making. It's worth the time and effort to listen to at least some of these tunes. You can also, of course, find some of the early recordings that exist of The Quarrymen and The Beatles.
If you're a fan of The Beatles, this book will grab your attention and it won't let it go. It will dispel many of the myths that have been endlessly repeated in other books, especially those pertaining to their days in Hamburg, Pete Best's tenure in the band (and his departure from it), and Stuart Sutcliffe's part in the tale. You will also get a better picture of Neil Aspinall's involvement than anywhere else (I do wish he had written a memoir).
The next volume is currently anticipated for the year 2020. If it's anywhere near as good as this one, it will be well worth the wait.
February 14, 2015
This review is for the extended version of Tune In, Vol 1 and 2:
So, you think you know your Beatles, you're an expert. I'm here to tell you, oh no you're not. I certainly thought that there wasn't much I didn't know about John, Paul, George, and Ringo (and Pete, and Stu, and Brian, and George M......). But I was oh so wrong. The myths and misconceptions that have accumulated over the last 50 years about the Beatles are pretty much laid to rest here in Lewisohn's magnificent biography. And truth be told the story actually gets better knowing the truth. I'll not spoil anything for those who haven't picked this one up yet, but I will say that the story is richer and much more complex than we've been led to believe. Lewisohn does yeoman's work fleshing out family histories of the Fab Four, and once the narrative got rolling I could not put the book down. His attention to detail and in particular, his inclusion of stories and quotes from those fans and family that were there in the beginning is essential to the telling of the tale. I took my time reading it, and often turned to the internet to supplement the prose with music; by both the Beatles and the groups that inspired them. All I can say is I'll be eagerly awaiting volume II. Not too long I hope. I give this book 5 stars.
So, you think you know your Beatles, you're an expert. I'm here to tell you, oh no you're not. I certainly thought that there wasn't much I didn't know about John, Paul, George, and Ringo (and Pete, and Stu, and Brian, and George M......). But I was oh so wrong. The myths and misconceptions that have accumulated over the last 50 years about the Beatles are pretty much laid to rest here in Lewisohn's magnificent biography. And truth be told the story actually gets better knowing the truth. I'll not spoil anything for those who haven't picked this one up yet, but I will say that the story is richer and much more complex than we've been led to believe. Lewisohn does yeoman's work fleshing out family histories of the Fab Four, and once the narrative got rolling I could not put the book down. His attention to detail and in particular, his inclusion of stories and quotes from those fans and family that were there in the beginning is essential to the telling of the tale. I took my time reading it, and often turned to the internet to supplement the prose with music; by both the Beatles and the groups that inspired them. All I can say is I'll be eagerly awaiting volume II. Not too long I hope. I give this book 5 stars.
November 4, 2015
A great account of my favourite group of all time.
This is a timeline covering 1959 to 1962.
From the very early days when John and Paul got together playing in their first band, up to when they arrived at Abbey Road to make their first record.
This is part one of probably the best account of the very best band on the planet and I look forward to finding out what happens next!
I was given a digital copy of this great book by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review which I most definately do.
This is a timeline covering 1959 to 1962.
From the very early days when John and Paul got together playing in their first band, up to when they arrived at Abbey Road to make their first record.
This is part one of probably the best account of the very best band on the planet and I look forward to finding out what happens next!
I was given a digital copy of this great book by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review which I most definately do.
February 5, 2022
Just finished this for the second time in Feb 22. A towering achievement.
January 19, 2020
Best book ever. Can't wait for Volume Two.
September 5, 2022
Absolutely brilliant.
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