Staff Pick
Learn everything you could ever want to know about The Beatles. This book has the inspiration behind each studio release (even the cover songs); production notes, including who sang and played which instruments and how many takes there were; fun facts; and, of course, drama. This is the best and most exhaustive Beatles book I've ever read. Recommended By Amy W., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Every album and every song ever released by the Beatles—from "Please Please Me" (U.S. 1963) to "The Long and Winding Road" (U.S. 1970)—is dissected, discussed, and analyzed by two music historians in this lively and fully illustrated work.
All the Songs delves deep into the history and origins of the Beatles and their music. This first-of-its-kind book draws upon decades of research, as music historians Margotin and Guesdon recount the circumstances that led to the composition of every song, the recording process, and the instruments used.
Here, we learn that one of John Lennon's favorite guitars was a 1958 Rickenbacker 325 Capri, which he bought for £100 in 1960 in Hamburg, Germany. We also learn that "Love Me Do," recorded in Abbey Road Studios in September 1962, took 18 takes to get right, even though it was one of the first songs John and Paul ever wrote together. And the authors reveal that when the Beatles performed "I Want to Hold Your Hand" on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, John's microphone wasn't turned on, so viewers heard only Paul singing.
The hundreds of photographs throughout the book include rare black-and-white publicity stills, images of Beatles instruments, and engaging shots of the musicians in-studio.
All the Songs is the must-have Beatles book for the any true Beatles fan.
Review
"Essential for Beatles fans and a pleasure to read." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Everybody has a Beatles fan in their life, and you’ll make them very happy if you give them a copy of All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Beatles Release." Newsday
Review
"[This] doorstop collects a galaxy of Beatles song data into impressively simple and digestible form. Beautifully illustrated." SPIN
Review
"Enough technical tables to please everyone’s inner nerd." The Wall Street Journal
About the Author
Philippe Margotin has written numerous books on music, including biographies of U2, Radiohead, and the Rolling Stones.
Jean-Michel Guesdon is a producer and musician. Over the past 30 years he has been compiling an exceptional collection of information and documentation about the Beatles. His talents as a musician, composer, and sound engineer allow him to have a realistic and precise approach to their work. He lives in Paris.