Some Fun Tonight! Volume 2: The Backstage Story of How the Beatles Rocked America: the Historic Tours of 1964 1966 by Chuck Gunderson

The Beatles made music-entertainment history with their North American tours from 1964 to 1966. Some Fun Tonight! The Backstage Story of How the Beatles Rocked America: The Historic Tours of 1964 1966 is a comprehensive two-volume set which gives you a city-by-city synopsis of the group s activities as they travelled the United States and Canada for their ground-breaking series of concerts. From San Francisco s Cow Palace show on August 19, 1964, through their last-ever live performances at that city s famed Candlestick Park on August 29, 1966, these books cover the music and the madness that characterized the Beatles three North American tours. 

With hundreds of photographs and images of rare memorabilia, it is truly the definitive reference for what is arguably the most important period in the Beatles long and winding career. You ll read about the behind-the-scenes negotiations, the mayhem at the airports and hotels, and the cheeky quotes delivered at the press conferences. You ll also read about the opening acts, the concerts, and the stories behind the shows through the eyes of the Beatles, their entourage, the promoters, the emcees, and the fans. Never before have the Beatles North American concerts been covered in such depth. If you witnessed the mania first-hand, you ll relive the excitement in the pages of these books.

Some Fun Tonight!: The Backstage Story of How the Beatles Rocked America: The Historic Tours of 1964-1966 Volume 1: 1964 by Chuck Gunderson

These volumes provide the definitive account of The Beatles' three seismic North American tours. The depth of research done for these books is comparable to the detail on display in the tomes of venerable Beatles' experts Mark Lewisohn, Bruce Spizer, and John C. Winn. Author Chuck Gunderson has provided Beatles' aficionados with a well written, lavishly illustrated chronology of these historic tours. The books trace The Fabs visits through each tour stop, detailing the concerts planning, and often including copies of the promoters' contracts with the band along with any other relevant information. The vast majority of the photos in these volumes have never been published which reflects the author's attention to detail.

In a recent interview, Gunderson stated that he was waiting for years for someone to publish definitive books on The Beatles' North American tours, but when no one did, he decided to write them himself. It was worth the wait - superb and essential.

(See also Volume 2): Some Fun Tonight! Volume 2: The Backstage Story of How the Beatles Rocked America: the Historic Tours of 1964 1966: Volume 2: 1965-1966 by Chuck Gunderson

The Beatles from Cavern to Star-Club: The Illustrated Chronicle, Discography and Price Guide 1957-62 by Hans Olaf Gottfridsson

A carefully compiled chronicle and discography of The Beatles 'recordings between the years 1957 and 1962. Hans Olof Gottfridsson has mapped the legendary period of The Beatles' early career, with the help of many unreleased tapes, various documents and interviews with key individuals. The journey starts with the day when John and Paul met in 1957 at a party at the Woolton Garden, and concludes with the final Star-Club in Hamburg recording, in December 1962. The book also contains the first complete facsimile reproductions of Polydor recording documents, contracts and much more. The book includes more than 400 illustrations, including many photos showing acetates.

Contributions by Tony Sheridan, John Duff Lowe (The Quarrymen) and Bill Harry. Interviews with among others the original Quarry Men members Rod Davis, Len Garry, Colin Hanton and John Duff Lowe, plus Johnny "Guitar 'Byrne (Rory Storm and The Hurricanes) and Roy Young (who played piano on some of the recordings that the Beatles did with Tony Sheridan in Hamburg), as well as with Karl Hinze and Günther Sörensen, two of Polydors contemporary sound engineer, who assisted the Beatles in recording in Hamburg. The book comes with a vinyl exclusive EP. The album contains four songs by The Beatles and Tony Sheridan. For the first time ever, given 1962's original version of "Sweet Georgia Brown" in stereo!

"Beatles" Live by Mark Lewisohn

There are Beatles books and Beatles books. This one is indispensable. Mark Lewisohn has made an enormous contribution to the history of British popular music with this volume. In compiling an accurate, detailed and entertaining record of every live Beatles and embryo Beatles performance, from the Quarry Men's audition for Carroll Levis on 9 June 1957 to the final concert in San Francisco just over nine years later, he has produced a document that illustrates the extraordinary pace, excitement and exhaustion of those years better than any ordinary biography or discography has yet done. 

The Beatles on record, film, television and videotape will always be with us-the Beatles as a live act can never be experienced again. And it is good news indeed that somebody of Lewisohn's integrity and intelligence has written a book like this before the facts, figures and first-hand memories of the world's greatest group of popular musicians on stage fade away.

Although some of the information in this book was later included in an updated version of "The Complete Beatles Chronicle", it still has many merits as a separate work. (originally came with free disc)

"Beatles" Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments from Stage to Studio by Andy Babiuk

This landmark book details exactly which guitars, drums, amplifiers and keyboards The Beatles used at the key points of their relatively brief but entirely revolutionary career - from the formation of the Quarry Men in the 1950s to the dissolution of The Beatles in 1970. It provides a fascinating fresh insight into Beatles history from an entirely new viewpoint, and many myths are exploded along the way and dozens of stories told for the first time.

Lewisohn's 'Sessions' gave us a great insight into the Beatles recording history, but too much was left unanswered. Not any longer because Andy Babiuk's book does much to fill in the gaps. Here is the definitive guide to how the Beatles got their sound. All the instruments used, some dating back to the mid fifties, have been tracked down & photographed with relevant details given. The photographs are perfect eye candy for anyone who loves old music gear and the text is well written with attention to detail. This is a superb book and essential reading for anyone who takes the Beatles music seriously.

Highly recommended is the updated 2016 Ultimate edition which is double the size at 512 pages!

       

Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties by Ian MacDonald

As dazzling as the decade they dominated, The Beatles almost single-handedly created pop music as we know it. Today, their songs are cited as seminal influences by stars like Oasis and Blur. Eloquently giving voice to their time, The Beatles quite simply changed the world.

Fully updated to include material from The Beatles Live at theBBC and the Anthology series, this acclaimed book goes back to the heart of The Beatles - their records. Drawing on a unique resource of knowledge and experience to 'read' their 241 tracks - chronologically from their first amateur efforts in 1957 to 'Real Love', their final 'reunion' recording in 1995 - Ian MacDonald has created an engrossing classic of popular criticism in which the extraordinary songs of The Beatles remain a central and continually surprising presence.

The Complete "Beatles" Chronicle by Mark Lewisohn

This much-acclaimed chronicle covers every working day of the Beatles' career, and author Mark Lewisohn, who is recognized as the world's leading authority on the subject, also includes track-by-track details of every Beatles recording session.

Lewisohn first came to attention as Philip Norman's researcher on the acclaimed Beatles' biography Shout!, then went on to become the definitive chronicler of their work in his own right. This chronicle is a must for any serious student of Beatles' history and a mine of information for fans or those with a reasonably strong interest in the group's professional work. It incorporates details of their live work (which Lewisohn previously documented in the groundbreaking and now rare 'The Beatles Live!') plus all the gist on their radio/tv appearances and, most importantly, recording sessions. The memorabilia scattered throughout makes for fascinating reading but what impresses most is the accuracy of detail, gleaned from countless exclusive interviews, memos, obscure clippings and so much else. Even the notes at the rear are a revelation. Who else but Lewisohn would throw in chart positions in every music paper in the UK and US, for instance? Brilliantly annotated and expertly laid out, this must be the ultimate Fab Four reference book and crucially, it's one you can completely trust. Applause!

  

Updated version (incorporating "Beatles Live" & "Recording Sessions"

The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story Abbey Road 1962 - 1970 by Mark Lewisohn

After years out of print, an updated edition of this hotly sought-after classic is available again. Mark Lewisohn's definitive guide covers every recording session done by the Beatles at EMI's famed Abbey Road recording studio. It includes the number of takes for each song; who contributed what; previously unpublished studio documents and interviews with many of the key recording personnel; and facsimile reproductions of Abbey Road recording sheets, tape boxes, album sleeve roughs, memos, contracts, press releases and more. 

Lavishly illustrated with over 350 photographs (rare images by Linda McCartney among them), this must-have volume also features an exclusive introductory interview with Paul McCartney.

 

                                                                               2013

               
1988

                             

                     

Tell Me Why: The Beatles: Album By Album, Song By Song, The Sixties And After by Tim Riley

A unique combination of musical analysis and cultural history, Tell Me Why stands alone among Beatles books with its single-minded focus on the most important aspect of the band: its music. Riley offers a new, deeper understanding of the Beatles by closely considering each song and album they recorded in an exploration as rigorous as it is soulful. He tirelessly sifts through the Beatles discography, making clear that the legendary four were more than mere teen idols: They were brilliant innovators who mastered an extremely detailed art. 

Since the first publication of Tell Me Why in 1988, much new primary source material has appeared--Paul McCartney's authorized biography, the Anthology CDs and videos, the complete Parlophone-sequenced albums on CD, the Live at the BBCsessions, and the global smash 1. Riley incorporates all the new material in an update that makes this a crucial book for Beatles fans.

                                                                              2002                                                                               

                   1988                                                                                   1989

The Beatles' Story on Capitol Records, Part One: Beatlemania and the Singles by Bruce Spizer

The story of Beatlemania in America, from its modest beginnings to total euphoria, this book explains why Capitol turned the Beatles down four times before finally agreeing to release their records.

Includes the history of the Beatles hit singles on Capitol, from I Want To Hold Your Hand through Lady Madonna, as well as Capitol’s special promotional and juke box discs, and the unique singles issued by Capitol of Canada.

The Beatles' Story on Capitol Records, Part Two: The Albums by Bruce Spizer

The real story behind the Capitol albums Meet The Beatles! through Magical Mystery Tour, with explanations of why the Capitol albums were different than those issued by Parlophone in England.

Session and chart information and pictures of the front and back covers and all label variations of all the Capitol albums, including the most comprehensive coverage ever compiled on the controversial Yesterday And Today album with its Butcher cover.

Beatles for Sale on Parlophone Records by Bruce Spizer

Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records covers all of the singles, albums and extended play discs issued by the Beatles in the U.K. from 1962 through 1970. Each record is given a separate chapter, which tells the stories behind how the songs appearing on the disc were written and recorded. The chapters also detail how the records were marketed and contain sales and chart information. The book has chapters on the history of EMI and Parlophone Records, how records are mastered and manufactured, how EMI contracted with other record companies to press Beatles singles and albums to help meet demand, British radio and record charts in the sixties and other record-related topics. The book has over 700 illustrations, all in either color or original black and white. 

Presented in the same style as Spizer’s previous critically-acclaimed books on the Beatles American record releases. In addition to discs with Parlophone labels, the book covers the Apple singles and albums manufactured and distributed by EMI, as well as the Fan Club Christmas discs and the Polydor releases of the group’s Hamburg recordings.

The Beatles on Vee-Jay by Bruce Spizer

The fascinating story of the Beatles in America on Vee-Jay Records before they were picked up by Capitol Records. In the limited time that Vee-Jay retained its rights to sixteen Beatles songs, they managed to repackage them into ten 45s, one EP, three variations of the first Beatles album, two variations of a compilation album, and one elaborate double album combining the Beatles and the Four Seasons.