August 13, 2008

The Beatles: The Biography

Rating:
Awards: Winner of Audio Publishers Association 2007 Audie Award
Author: Bob Spitz
Narrator: Alfred Molina
Category: biographer
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Release Date:
Length: 10 hours and 13 min
Abridged

An Overview:
The Beatles: The Biography. The first thing to be said about this audio book is that it is "the" definitive biography about the Fab four.

The result of almost 10 years of research which uncovered documents and interviews numbering in the hundreds that have never before been revealed. Beatles fans are bound to be all ears as Robert Spitz paints a vivid picture of the Beatles, their image, and their true personality's warts and all.

It is an accurate account of these four ground breaking musicians from childhood to latter years, bringing to light all the highs and lows, the rivalry and comradely during their journey from the early days in Liverpool, to their seemingly overnight success becoming arguably one of the most popular bands in music history, right through to the end when they finally broke up, bringing an end to the magic which is unlikely to ever be repeated.

Some of the interesting accounts given deal with events such as John and Paul learning to write songs together in McCartney's living room, what it was like backstage the night Ringo first played on drums with the band, how George lies about his age so that the Beatles could play the Ed Sullivan show in America, and the general chaos that was Beatlemania in the 1960s.

Beatles fans will love this book because of its accuracy, its detail and it's been there feeling that it manages to impart. For any fan of the Fab four it is an absolute must have and "Hey Jude", "Do you want to know a secret", it' sure to please even those that are not huge fans, "Yes It Is" yeah! yeah! yeah!….

The Narration:
Narrated capably and clearly by Alfred Molina.

Reviewed by Peter Markovic