BOOKS
Title: Liddypool
Author(s): David Bedford
Publisher: Dale Watson Fine Books
ISBN: 978-185443-237-7
Pages: 333
Language: English
Want to know everything about The Beatles’ Liverpool of the 1950s and early 1960s? 
Then Liddypool – Birthplace of the Beatles is the book to buy. Author David Bedford is a Scouser who was born and raised in the Dingle, the same neighbourhood where Ringo grew up.
Liddypool – Birthplace of the Beatles features a wealth of information about the schools and homes of the Beatles, but also the venues they played and the musicians they played with. David Bedford has done a tremendous job in writing a book that describes the band during their ‘pre-fab’ period several years before their big breakthrough. He also describes the city of Liverpool in its post-war years. A city of religion, ships and trade, industry, but also of culture, various nationalities and communities, but most of all: a city of music. Liddypool – Birthplace of the Beatles boasts lots of great photographs, facts and figures, walking tours, family trees and interviews with people like Pete Best, Bill Harry, Julia Baird, and some of the Quarrymen.
Liddypool – Birthplace of the Beatles is a book that describes the evolution of the band from the Quarrymen, to Johnny and the Moondogs, the Beatals, the Silver Beetles, the Silver Beatles, and finally the Beatles. It portrays the history of the band with much knowledge and eye for detail. It also takes the readers on a sentimental journey to the beginning of the Casbah Coffee Club, the Cavern and the Mersey Sound, but it also describes the band’s homecoming as Liverpool’s favourite sons after triumphant tours of the US, Europe and Australia.
If you are interested in the early years of the Beatles but also in the history of the city the band comes from, then Liddypool – Birthplace of the Beatles is a book that you cannot do without. David Bedford has succeeded in coming up with a book that offers an interesting look at a city and a band that have both become legendary in their own rights.
This is the website to check about this wonderful book: http://www.liddypool.com/index.html.
If you like to order it just let us know. The book itself will cost £ 35 (excl.postage & packaging)
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Title: Mike McCartney's North Highlands
Author(s): Mike McCartney
Publisher: Woodland Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-905547-09-8
Pages: 112
Language: English
Mike McCartney is Paul’s younger brother, as you may all know, but he is also an outstanding photographer. McCartney now has a new photo book out called Mike McCartney’s North Highlands. The North Highlands are an area of outstanding beauty in the north-west of Scotland. McCartney first came to the area when he mounted an exclusive public exhibition of his Live8 photographs for John Lennon Northern Lights Festival at the town of Durness in September 2007. Mike was immediately struck by the beauty and diversity of the area.
In 2008, Mike McCartney was commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to highlight the area’s impressive beauty and variety. The photos for the book were shot during two weeks in April 2008. McCartney did a wonderfull job here, especially when taking into consideration the fact that light and weather change constantly which makes it extremely difficult to fully capture it fully on camera.
In January 2009 Mike McCartney’s North Highlands exhibition opened at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. After that it went to the ArtDeCaf in Glasgow, and then on tour in Scotland as part of the Year Of Homecoming celebrations.
Although this is in fact a book about the beauty of nature, about the changing of seasons and also about people, there is a Beatles link. It can be found in Durness, the most north-westerly inhabited place of mainland Britain. It is the area where John spent many summers when he was a young boy. John returned here with Yoko, Julian and Kyoko in 1969. The area supposedly inspired John to write In My Life.
This is also the area where John crashed his car and ended up in hospital. John was supposedly interested in buying property here shortly before his death. The village has a memorial garden which is dedicated to him.
Mike McCartney’s North Highlands shows that Mike is a very fine photographer with a keen eye for rare and interesting details. The book features loads of interesting, funny, beautiful and sometimes even weird pictures of the area. The photo’s go accompanied by Mike’s humourous and lively comments.
If you are interested in photography, in the beauty of nature, in people, and in Scotland in particular, this is a must-buy book.
With forewords by HRH Prince Charles, Billy Connolly, and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.
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Title: Fact and Fiction 1960-1962
Author(s): Eric Krasker
Publisher: Seguier
ISBN: 978-2-8404-9523-9
Pages: 436
Language: English
This book is an excellent buy and an absolute must-read for any Beatles fan, but most particular for those fans interested in the band before their big breakthrough. The Beatles: Fact and Fiction – 1960-1962 is the revised and updated English translation of the same book released in the French language some years ago. The period 1960-1962 is a very interesting one in Beatles history, as it shows the future Fab Four in a period when they were still struggling in the Hamburg clubs while eagerly trying to get a recording deal.
The Beatles: Fact and Fiction – 1960-1962 shines its light on several interesting and even legendary stories and occurrences. Krasker delves into the band’s time in Hamburg’s Reeperbahn district, but also into the controversial and mysterious ‘Raymond Jones’ legend (did he really exist?), the death of Stuart Sutcliffe (what actually happened?). But also, the sacking of Pete Best (will we ever find out the real reason?), the Star Club recordings (when exactly did the recordings take place?), the band’s collaboration with Tony Sheridan (including the recording of Swanee River) and the Polydor recordings (Bert Kaempfert).
This book is worthwhile not only because it discusses a period in the Beatles' career that has been less well documented than the period after 1962, but also because it offers an insight into how the Beatles grew out to be the most famous rock ‘n’ roll band in the history of popular music. The period 1960-1962 was the period in which the Beatles mastered their skills and learned the tricks of the trade. And this turned them into the worldwide musical phenomenon they have become.
The amount of footnotes and endnotes could put a potentially interested reader off, but you could decide simply to ignore them although they prove to be of great value when it comes to really diving into the material. But even if you decide not to be bothered reading them The Beatles: Fact and Fiction – 1960-1962 still is an interesting book.
Krasker has thoroughly succeeded in writing a book that is well-detailed, and he has obviously done a lot of research. He challenges statements made by others (Gottfridsson, Knoblauch) and throughout the entire book we find endnotes, photos, dates and copies of documents and contracts to substantiate these statements. The Beatles: Fact and Fiction – 1960-1962 is interesting especially because there are not many books in the English language about this period in the band’s history. So therefore, it is a welcome addition to the library of any Beatles fan. It presents an interesting insight into the difficulties a young, aspiring band comes across. The fact that this young and aspiring band would grow out to be world’s most legendary rock ‘n’ band ever only two years later, makes it even more interesting.
If you are interested in buying this book that took many years in making 'with love and patience' then go to Roger in Merseyside at http://www.beatlesfannext.com/Fact_And_Fiction_1960-1962.htm and http://www.beatlesdays.com/forsale_display.php?prodtype=1&start=10.
Or email to beatlesfannext@hotmail.com. Or you can order the book at the publisher's Atlantica: http://www.atlantica.fr/AccesIsbn.php?isbn=9782840495239) at editions.seguier@free.fr. People in the Netherlands: hopefully soon we can give you more details about how to order in Amsterdam.
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Title: Warum spielst du Imagine nicht auf dem weißen Klavier John?
Author(s): Klaus Voormann
Publisher: Heyne Verlag, Munich
ISBN: 3-453-87313-0
Pages: 327
Language: German
‘When are you finally going to write your own story? You are one of the few who was actually there from the very beginning.’ 
With these words George Harrison convinces his close friend Klaus Voormann to write down his story about his days with the Beatles in Hamburg and London and about his career as a session musician and graphic artist.
George Harrison was right because Klaus Voormann is one of the few people who have been with the Beatles from the very beginning. Their friendship started when he first saw them performing in Hamburg.
Later he designed the cover of their Revolver album and played with George, Ringo and John on their various solo albums. Until this day Voormann is a close friend of both Ringo and Paul and regularly works with them on various projects.
This book has been written in a style that tells personal stories the way Voormann has experienced them. You won’t get any of the stories that have already been told by a million people about a million times. Voormann presents the reader with personal stories the way he remembers them. Stories that have touched him. And he not only writes about the Beatles but also about the many other musicians he worked with like Carly Simon, Harry Nilsson, Manfred Mann, and so on. About his time as a member of Manfred Mann and the Plastic Ono Band. And about his work as a graphic artist of course.
Unfortunately for some, the book is in the German language. But for those who can read German and understand German this book is an absolute must. And even if you only have little knowledge of the language it’s a good read because it is written in a style that quite easy to comprehend. Once you’ve started, you’ll realise you won’t be able to stop reading.
Much crap has been written about the Beatles. Often by people who haven’t even met them. This book has been written with much respect and admiration for the four lads from Liverpool. They deserve it.
Just as Klaus Voormann deserves his book to be read, simply because he was there with the Beatles throughout much of their career(s).
Warum spielst du Imagine nicht auf dem weißen Klavier John? can be ordered for only €20 (excl. p&p.) from www.beatlesinternational.com or by contacting guus@beatlesinternational.com or gabriella@beatlesinternational.com.
