Beatlepile 2

Work 3

 

Work 2

Some books I've read 68

I Know This Much by Gary Kemp

About being a Blitz kid in London in the 80s and then his time in Spandau Ballet, before it fell apart and he was sued by the other members. They are reunited at the end of the book, but it didn't last that long. There are New Romantics bands I like better, but Kemp wrote a couple of catchy songs.

Revolver: How The Beatles Reimagined Rock 'n Roll by Robert Rodriguez

Still my favourite Beatles album. And this book makes a pretty good case for why it's better than Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. You can see the split between Paul songs and John songs. George has two great songs. And then there is Tomorrow Never Knows, whoah!

Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now by Barry Miles

I had read this before but wanted to compare it with the other Paul biographies. It's authorized, and Miles was a friend of Paul. So you will not find out McCartney is actually an asshole. Maybe he was a bit pushy in the second half of The Beatles when John lost interest / got into drugs / met Yoko. So they made Sergeant Pepper. And also Magical Mystery Tour. Oh, well.

Dreaming The Beatles by Rob Sheffield

A series of essays about the Beatles and then John and Paul's solo work. Well written, and in some cases makes you re-evaluate their songs. Sometimes. Not sure about his dislike of I Will from The White Album. 

The Act You've Known All These Years by Clinton Heylin

A book about the making of Sergeant Pepper and what else was going on in music at that point. So besides The Beatles we meet Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys and so on. Not bad, but Heylin's usual trashing of other music writers is annoying. 

Miracles of Life by JG Ballard

His autobiography. It's some time since I read it, so don't remember much. Except he was with his parents in the prison camps. Only in the novel / movie do they get separated. 

The De Palma Decade by Laurent Bouzereau

The writer goes through De Palma's movies from Sisters in 72 to  Blow Out in 81, including Carrie and Dressed To Kill. And the lesser ones, Obsession and The Fury. We hear from the director himself and also the actors. But there's a feeling of, Well, I got all this stuff, I guess it could be a book. There's a disappointing lack of depth.

Macanudo: Optimism Is for The Brave by Liniers

Bless Liniers! What true magic he creates! The only good strip left these days? There's already a new collection out. 

Daredevil by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee

Got 7 or 8 of their Daredevil books, mostly for the art. Samnee is a really good cartoonist. And storyteller. Beautifully colourized, avoiding the plastic look of many superhero comics. The writing is a bit up and down. Can be quite effective, but there's a softness as well. Will buy Batman & Robin Year One when it's collected.

RIP, Brad Holland

 

Work

Some books I've read 67

FAB: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney by Howard Sounes

A pretty good biography about Paul. Quite fair, it seems to me, pointing out his weaker records and the problems with being both a boss and a buddy in Wings. Was he a bit tight with money? Maybe. Also, just as in the Philip Norman book, there are about fifty depressing pages about his second marriage and then divorce. Come on, Macca, you should have known better!

Fly Away Paul by Lesley-Ann Jones

About Paul being a bit lost after leaving The Beatles. And actually suffering from a depression on his little farm in Scotland. It was up to Linda to get him back in the saddle and making music again. There is the high point of Band on the Run, and Paul then losing a bit interest in being in Wings. Minus point for putting herself into the book too much.

Man on the Run: Paul McCartney in the 1970s by Tom Doyle

Like the previous book, but better. Should have just bought this one from the start.

Revolution: The Making of The Beatles' White Album by David Quantick 

A bit superficial, this book, going through each song, but not really saying anything too deep about Beatles at this time in history. 

And in the End: The Last Days of The Beatles by Ken McNab

What was the problem? Moolah! Epstein dead, Apple bleeding money, Allen Klein sniffing around. Yoko didn't help, probably, but they were already growing apart. Too bad, because you really want these guys to get along. It's like your parents fighting. If your parents wrote some of the best pop songs ever.

Beeswing by Richard Thompson

I didn't really know much about Thompson except his role in Fairport Convention and his link to Nick Drake. I need to listen more to his solo records. And the ones he did with Linda Thompson. Beeswing is certainly a terrific song.

A Thing of Unspeakable Horror: The History of Hammer Films by Sinclair McKay

The rise and fall... I only knew a couple Hammer films, but I was interested in finding out more about their history. And this book does a decent job in that regard. Yes, Christopher Lee was not too happy about the later Dracula films.

The Final Programme by Michael Moorcock 

Where to start with Moorcock? Sure, here, why not. Moebius was a fan. The book is less dated than I feared, is well written and even... interesting? Plus, it's short.

A Cure for Cancer by Michael Moorcock 

Okay, a bit harder to get through this time. A plot would be nice. But not a complete waste of time, so I will probably read the two next volumes as well, if he doesn't completely go off his rocker.

Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko by Blake Bell

Great coffee table book about this artist. And I found a used copy that was not too expensive. It gets less interesting in the second half when he  reaches his Ayn Rand period. But... the guy co-created Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, let him do whatever he wants!