Beatles Books

I'm welcoming Allan Kozinn back to the pod today, this time to look back on his amazing career and his journey to the remarkable McCartney Legacy books he's co writing with Adrian Sinclair.

Allan worked as a culture reporter and music critic for the New York Times for 37 years, between 1977 and 2014, and during that time became the papers unofficial Beatles correspondent. He tells us about his his encounters with Paul and Ringo, his experience in the Dakota with Yoko and how his long career was building toward the amazing McCartney Legacy books.

My returning guest for this episode is Tom Doyle who brings his mosaic biography of Ringo Starr. 

Tom's book covers all of Ringo's remarkable life from his impoverished childhood to the dizzying heights of Beatlemania, from his alcohol hazed 80's to the sober elder statesman of rock, it's all here in Tom's brilliant book. 

I'm joined for this episode by Andrew Cook to discuss his book 'Capitol Gains'.

Andrew's book tells the story of The Beatles up and down relationship with their American record label and looks at the way they managed The Beatles catalogue through the 1960's - not always to the satisfaction of the band themselves.

I'm joined by Peter Doggett for this special episode as we look back over his entire career.

 

Peter began writing for Record Collector magazine in 1980 and was also engaged in work for Beatles Monthly, meaning he was soon in the sphere of many Beatle adjacent people. By the late 1990's he had become a renowned author and his books 'The Art and Music of John Lennon' and 'You Never Give Me Your Money' are two of the finest ever written on The Beatles.

I'm welcoming Richard Mills back to the pod today, this time to talk about his book 'The Beatles ad Black Music'.

Beginning with the grand narrative of British colonial history pre-Beatles, Richard's book covers the influence of Black music and culture on the Beatles' teenage years in the 1950s, their association with Lord Woodbine, their love of American Rhythm and Blues in the mid-1960s, and extends to a discussion of post-colonial British identity and the lasting effect Black music has had on the Beatles' legacy and continues to have on the solo careers of Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney.

My guest for this episode is the brilliant Stuart Maconie who is here to discuss his book 'With A Little Help From Their Friends'. 

Stuart's book tells the story of 100 fascinating members of The Beatles' supporting cast - people they encountered during their career either in a major or minor way. 

Split into 3 sections, Before The Beatles, With the Beatles and Beyond the Beatles,  Stuart  tells the epic tale of the people who made the band who made Britain, and along the way adds his own experiences, encounters and conversations to further illuminate the story.

My guest today is Jonathan Gould who joins me to discuss his 2007 book 'Can't Buy Me Love'. More than just a group biography, 'Can't Buy Me Love' tells the social history of Britain and America in the 1960's and provides a sharp musical analysis of The Beatles songs.

He also tells us about his new book on Talking Heads, 'Burning Down The House' which tells the story of one of Rock's most influential groups and the New York scene that they came from.

My guest for this episode is Robert Rodriguez who joins me to discuss the book he co- wrote with Jerry Hammack, 'Ribbons of Rust - The Beatles' Recording History in Context: Volume 1 - July 1954 - January 1963.

Robert and Jerry's book tells The Beatles thrilling early story in context, describing the sights and sounds of that time creating an effect that feels like you are you are in the room with The Beatles, from the first Liverpool recording at the Percy Phillips facility to Forthlin Road, their Hamburg sessions with Tony Sheridan, Decca and Parlophone. 

I'm welcoming the journalist and writer John Harris back to the pod today, this time for a special bonus episode on his book 'Maybe I'm Amazed -  A Story of Love and Connection in Ten Songs'.

When John's son James was born, and three years later diagnosed with autism, music became a source of precious connection and endless wonder for both of them.

James connected with so much music, but one of his strongest passions was The Beatles. As a Beatle obsessive himself, John talks about his own relationship with the band and tells us how watching his son discover and explore The Beatles became a source of inspiration for them both.

My guest for todays episode is Ian Leslie, who joins me to discuss his brilliant book on John and Paul - 'A Love Story in Songs'.

Ian's book traces the twists and turns of their relationship through the music it produced and offers rich insights into the nature of creativity, collaboration and human connection.