- Hardcover: 576 pages
- Publisher: Portrait (8 Nov 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0749951664
- ISBN-13: 978-0749951665
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.4 x 6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 524,237 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
An engrossing book...This is music writing at its best. Publishers Weekly --Publishers Weekly
Publisher's Weekly Publisher's Weekly, August 20, 2007
"Gould, a former musician, has written an engrossing book, both fluid and economical... Page after page, you can hear the music; Gould's deft hand makes the book sing. This is music writing at its best." --Mark Rotello, Publisher's Weekly, [starred review; Best Books of 2007 selection]
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Fellow super-picky Beatles listeners and book aficionados, we have a winner. This six-hundred-page surprise is exceptionally insightful and well written. It even startles you with brilliant bits of humor when you're least expecting them. In spite of getting a few lyrics wrong (at least, according to my ears), he's written a book about the Beatles and their impact for the benefit of - are you sitting down? - intelligent adults who appreciate the watertight application of a wide vocabulary.
Regrettably, as with too many books that center on the work of musical artists, it's tarnished by negative criticism of many songs - even entire album-sides, written off with incongruent flippancy. Nobody would suggest that every piece of music the group recorded is fantastic, but this berating adds nothing, merely detracting from the astute bulk of the book. Why does everyone who writes a Beatles volume feel that he must intermittently assume the musically cynical, aloof and utterly useless role of "music critic"? It's not as if it changes people's tastes, or the way the music sounds coming out of the speakers.
The irrelevant disapproval periodically pulls the book down from its otherwise enlightening and highly erudite bearing into the realm of subjectivity; and the charm of the early recordings is, for some reason, almost entirely lost on the author. The author's historical and sociological context-painting of the Beatles' music is remarkable, so the criticism's unnecessary.
Anyway, the immaterial tracts of negative opinion aside, the book is superb, and this is coming from an extremely picky reader/writer (no kidding, right?) whose favorite Beatles books include their own Anthology, Recording the Beatles, the Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, An Oral History and the incredibly good Many Years From Now (the best non-technical books tend to consist mainly of interview sections, rather than merely the author's removed take - for obvious reasons). Gould's book is added to my list of absolute favorites.
If the occasional inaccuracy doesn't annoy the reader too much, this book pleasantly separates itself from the ever-growing stack of "I wasn't there" accounts with a writing style that gloriously refuses to dumb itself down, insight worth its weight in syllables (for once), and a rare capacity for making dyed-in-the-skull music sound fresh. It's unquestionably worth reading - more than once, in fact, given the sheer amount of gossip-free historical and musical perception - to anyone who likes the Beatles' music and is interested in the environmental circumstances under which such revolutionary work buds, blossoms and thrives.
Regrettably, as with too many books that center on the work of musical artists, it's tarnished by negative criticism of many songs - even entire album-sides, written off with incongruent flippancy. Nobody would suggest that every piece of music the group recorded is fantastic, but this berating adds nothing, merely detracting from the astute bulk of the book. Why does everyone who writes a Beatles volume feel that he must intermittently assume the musically cynical, aloof and utterly useless role of "music critic"? It's not as if it changes people's tastes, or the way the music sounds coming out of the speakers.
The irrelevant disapproval periodically pulls the book down from its otherwise enlightening and highly erudite bearing into the realm of subjectivity; and the charm of the early recordings is, for some reason, almost entirely lost on the author. The author's historical and sociological context-painting of the Beatles' music is remarkable, so the criticism's unnecessary.
Anyway, the immaterial tracts of negative opinion aside, the book is superb, and this is coming from an extremely picky reader/writer (no kidding, right?) whose favorite Beatles books include their own Anthology, Recording the Beatles, the Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, An Oral History and the incredibly good Many Years From Now (the best non-technical books tend to consist mainly of interview sections, rather than merely the author's removed take - for obvious reasons). Gould's book is added to my list of absolute favorites.
If the occasional inaccuracy doesn't annoy the reader too much, this book pleasantly separates itself from the ever-growing stack of "I wasn't there" accounts with a writing style that gloriously refuses to dumb itself down, insight worth its weight in syllables (for once), and a rare capacity for making dyed-in-the-skull music sound fresh. It's unquestionably worth reading - more than once, in fact, given the sheer amount of gossip-free historical and musical perception - to anyone who likes the Beatles' music and is interested in the environmental circumstances under which such revolutionary work buds, blossoms and thrives.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There's a lot to like about this book so I won't repeat the other reviews... I think they have it about right. The main thing I'd like to add is about the album "reviews". I have to agree with the others to some extent - I don't like everything Gould says about the songs, but...
In a book like this it's inevitable some kind of analysis of the releases has to be included, otherwise it would be limited to factual details... much like a discography. So given that he's going to assess the songs themselves Gould is bound to be subjective, and after all that's what we're buying: his opinion in many instances.
That said, a lot of his comments about the songs are enlightening and (reflecting one of the big strengths of the whole book) place the releases in context with contemporary and previous releases by other artists. Having read Ian Macdonald's Revolution in the Head: The "Beatles" Records and the Sixties cover-to-cover more than once I didn't think there could be that much more to add.
Overall this is a great Beatle book and one I'll read again and refer to for its excellent narrative thread and context. There is a rather flat spot for me when he discusses Jungian "band psychology" but that's a minor blip and some people might dig it.
In a book like this it's inevitable some kind of analysis of the releases has to be included, otherwise it would be limited to factual details... much like a discography. So given that he's going to assess the songs themselves Gould is bound to be subjective, and after all that's what we're buying: his opinion in many instances.
That said, a lot of his comments about the songs are enlightening and (reflecting one of the big strengths of the whole book) place the releases in context with contemporary and previous releases by other artists. Having read Ian Macdonald's Revolution in the Head: The "Beatles" Records and the Sixties cover-to-cover more than once I didn't think there could be that much more to add.
Overall this is a great Beatle book and one I'll read again and refer to for its excellent narrative thread and context. There is a rather flat spot for me when he discusses Jungian "band psychology" but that's a minor blip and some people might dig it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Way beyond being just another book about the Beatles, Gould's weighty tome is, as the sub-title (The Beatles, Britain & America) suggests, an equal-shares analysis of the revolutionary social, industrial and cultural events that occured in the two key geographical markets, that in turn generated the global Moptop phenomenon.
As much an investigation into the cementing of pop music potential, celebrity culture, and mass market appeal, as it is the tale of four lads that made some great music together, by laying open the state of mass media, art, and society in general during the 60s, into which he can then introduce the Beatles, Gould expertly recreates a controlled and well structured - and very well written - explosion of events that proves far more unintended and out of control than inherited media myth would have us believe.
In fact, by stating that the band were more of a lightening rod than freak of nature, Gould actually presents a highly compelling and well thought out formula of events - one, that as the Beatles myth ceases to rebalance itself - some uberfans or less well informed industry-fed (and lazy) journos might find painfully counter to their beliefs.
So, whilst the coming together of John, Paul, George and Ringo can truly be seen as a sparking of collective natural talent, it was in fact the pent-up powder keg of social, industrial and media developments post-WWII that actually casued the tremors. Blessed with unbelievably good fortune, the quartet's success was, as Gould repeatedly illustrates, more like a synergic Big Bang for our times, than the now self-perpetuating myth of Beatles as gods rising amongst mere mortals. And in doing so, helps refocus our attentions to the real sources of heat and light, force and effect during that time.
However, that's not to say Can't But Me Love is some kind of scientific exercise in spiritual debunking. Rather, it is a fascinating, and extremely enjoyable and revealing historical study of how our current age jolted into being during the Sixties, perpetuated by the gigantic tsumani the Beatles rode.
And in doing so, Gould also enables us to see how they might have become sick of their band, being themselves more often than not propelled by forces beyond their control. So, whilst they undoubtedly provided a soundtrack of revolutionary, and highly creative musical expression, they also endured the beginning - and to some extent proved to be the apex, to which others would merely be retreads - of the now bittersweet concentric worlds of pop music evangelism, celebrity culture, and mass produced art redundancy, as we have come to know them.
A brilliant book, and one that should be read by anyone with more than a passing interest in the state of the world in which we life today: one that is equal parts joyous in the fruits of youth, great tunes and acts of fabulous imagination, but also polluted with hype and narcissism.
My only criticism is that Gould can get bogged down in musical terms at times, with too many references to triads and time signatures that left me excluded. But, for the sake of writing a truly brilliant record of the Beatles event, I think this is but a quibble - and one that shouldn't rob him of a five-star rating for 20 years of work very, very well done!
As much an investigation into the cementing of pop music potential, celebrity culture, and mass market appeal, as it is the tale of four lads that made some great music together, by laying open the state of mass media, art, and society in general during the 60s, into which he can then introduce the Beatles, Gould expertly recreates a controlled and well structured - and very well written - explosion of events that proves far more unintended and out of control than inherited media myth would have us believe.
In fact, by stating that the band were more of a lightening rod than freak of nature, Gould actually presents a highly compelling and well thought out formula of events - one, that as the Beatles myth ceases to rebalance itself - some uberfans or less well informed industry-fed (and lazy) journos might find painfully counter to their beliefs.
So, whilst the coming together of John, Paul, George and Ringo can truly be seen as a sparking of collective natural talent, it was in fact the pent-up powder keg of social, industrial and media developments post-WWII that actually casued the tremors. Blessed with unbelievably good fortune, the quartet's success was, as Gould repeatedly illustrates, more like a synergic Big Bang for our times, than the now self-perpetuating myth of Beatles as gods rising amongst mere mortals. And in doing so, helps refocus our attentions to the real sources of heat and light, force and effect during that time.
However, that's not to say Can't But Me Love is some kind of scientific exercise in spiritual debunking. Rather, it is a fascinating, and extremely enjoyable and revealing historical study of how our current age jolted into being during the Sixties, perpetuated by the gigantic tsumani the Beatles rode.
And in doing so, Gould also enables us to see how they might have become sick of their band, being themselves more often than not propelled by forces beyond their control. So, whilst they undoubtedly provided a soundtrack of revolutionary, and highly creative musical expression, they also endured the beginning - and to some extent proved to be the apex, to which others would merely be retreads - of the now bittersweet concentric worlds of pop music evangelism, celebrity culture, and mass produced art redundancy, as we have come to know them.
A brilliant book, and one that should be read by anyone with more than a passing interest in the state of the world in which we life today: one that is equal parts joyous in the fruits of youth, great tunes and acts of fabulous imagination, but also polluted with hype and narcissism.
My only criticism is that Gould can get bogged down in musical terms at times, with too many references to triads and time signatures that left me excluded. But, for the sake of writing a truly brilliant record of the Beatles event, I think this is but a quibble - and one that shouldn't rob him of a five-star rating for 20 years of work very, very well done!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An odd book
This was supposed to be a book that encompasses UK AND US opinions. I am not a Beatles fanatic but turned to what he says about the Ed Sullivan show which I thought was one of the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by David R. Patten
Having read the book - not perfect, but one of the best you'll find
One of the best Beatles bios to date.
Unusually, perhaps uniquely, it consists of both an exhaustive, authoritative biography of the group and a critical musical analysis of... Read more
Unusually, perhaps uniquely, it consists of both an exhaustive, authoritative biography of the group and a critical musical analysis of... Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2010 by Bob Sherunkle
As thrilling as the best novel
Jonathan Gould manage to describe the myth about The Beatles in a very breathtaking and exiting way. I was not able to stop reading until finished. Read more
Published on 20 July 2009 by Hans Lund
Nearly Perfect...
A cracking read that flows like a novel - any Beatles fan shouldn't be disappointed with this offering. Read more
Published on 22 Jan 2008 by Michael A. Ash
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