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A Hard Day's Write: The Stories Behind Every Beatles Song
by
Steve Turner
The Barnes & Noble Review
Was there really a Polythene Pam? Where are Strawberry Fields? What connection does the actor Peter Fonda have with the song She Said She Said? In this book music journalist Steve Turner shatters some well-worn myths and reveals many unknown stories behind every Beatle Song, from "I Saw Her Standing There" to Abbey Road's "The End." The lyrics...more
Was there really a Polythene Pam? Where are Strawberry Fields? What connection does the actor Peter Fonda have with the song She Said She Said? In this book music journalist Steve Turner shatters some well-worn myths and reveals many unknown stories behind every Beatle Song, from "I Saw Her Standing There" to Abbey Road's "The End." The lyrics...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
November 1st 1999
by HarperResource
(first published 1994)
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I ended up liking this book more than I thought I would. I wish the book had included lyrics for each song, though....not all of us have EVERY Beatles song memorized. (Maybe there is a licensing issue--I don't know.) I skipped many of the write-ups for the songs I had never even heard of, and skimmed through most of the rest. A few I found interesting enough to read every word.
The author is "a highly respected music journalist and biographer" (had to look that one up on the back of the book), bu...more
The author is "a highly respected music journalist and biographer" (had to look that one up on the back of the book), bu...more
What a fun read for the Beatles fan. Arranged by album - from those bygone days when we not only purchased our music by the album, but tended to listen and review them as a whole. There are a few gems, as when the details of John or Paul's contributions are explained. But the other delight is the wreckage it makes of high faluting interpretations of individual songs that pop critics and stoners have made of their songs. The lads were crafting 2-3 minute gems, with an eye, or ear, for melody and...more
This is one of my favorite books ever. You can flip to any page and get a completely entertaining story ranging in length from a few paragraphs to one page front and back. Lots of great photos I had never seen before, the Beatles and practically every single famous person from the 1960s. An essential handbook for any beatles fan.
Kelly White
1/3/13
Block B
THE BEATLES
A HARD DAY’S WRITE
By Steve Turner
The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Write by Steve Turner, show the meaning and inspiration behind every Beatles’ song. Every composition from 1962 to 1970, Turner gives a detailed understanding behind each song. Moving up by album, the book shows what inspired Lennon and McCartney to write each song. “Finding out where they came from helps us find out where we came from.” (Turner 15). Turner makes a valid point here. Understanding the so...more
1/3/13
Block B
THE BEATLES
A HARD DAY’S WRITE
By Steve Turner
The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Write by Steve Turner, show the meaning and inspiration behind every Beatles’ song. Every composition from 1962 to 1970, Turner gives a detailed understanding behind each song. Moving up by album, the book shows what inspired Lennon and McCartney to write each song. “Finding out where they came from helps us find out where we came from.” (Turner 15). Turner makes a valid point here. Understanding the so...more
Here as a ring, the kind of book to savor rather than race through.
So, this took me almost a month to get through. Two major complaints: first would be the constant repetition - perhaps different sections were written at different times and therefore information was repeated, but it was irritating to reread the same story a few pages on, or the same info about the same song repeated when referred to as a single rather than part of an album, or vice versa. Secondly, and I suppose this is for reas...more
So, this took me almost a month to get through. Two major complaints: first would be the constant repetition - perhaps different sections were written at different times and therefore information was repeated, but it was irritating to reread the same story a few pages on, or the same info about the same song repeated when referred to as a single rather than part of an album, or vice versa. Secondly, and I suppose this is for reas...more
I was a little disappointed with this one. I am an ardent Beatles fan and have read just about everything I can find on them and collected every recording I can find. This book did have its plusses, some nice background information as to what was happening in their lives at the time this or that song was being recorded. There were a few songs I honestly didn't know the story behind. But other than that, much of it was rehased material and during what I thought was their most creative period (Rub...more
Oct 18, 2010
P.Sannie
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
casual Beatles fans
Shelves:
non-fiction
The only saving grace of this book is that I'm a Beatles fan and was interested in the content. The content is the only thing that got me to give this book 2 stars. The writing, however, is dreadful. I read someone's comment that the writer is pompous, which I have to say, I agree. Steve Turner will raise a question speculating about connections or the meaning of a song, though his question is barely based on whatever facts were presented. Not only that, his writing can also be very long-winded...more
Apr 24, 2008
Bruce
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Beatles fanatics and trivia hounds
I'm posting this for its relevance to my present reading of Ian MacDonald's Revolution in the Head and anticipated reading of John Blaney's Together Alone, all of which was triggered by the recent releases of McCartney's exquisite "Memory Almost Full" (despite its dreadful lead track) and the George Martin Beatles revisitation "Love."
A Hard Days' Write makes a fitting companion for Mark Hertsgaard's A Day in the Life and Alan W. Pollack's extensive song-by-song musical analyses at http://www.icc...more
A Hard Days' Write makes a fitting companion for Mark Hertsgaard's A Day in the Life and Alan W. Pollack's extensive song-by-song musical analyses at http://www.icc...more
This book was amazing! There was not one thing in this book that I didn't like. It was a great idea to write a book like this, especially having it be in chronological order. I loved how in detail and truthful this book was. If I could I would read this again and again and again because it was such a good read, (pun not intended) and there is so much in that book that you would have to read it at least a second time to pick up everything, but at the same time it was very straightforward. I recom...more
As a lifetime Beatles fan back to the original beatlemania and British Invasion days, I have every record and have read many Beatles books. Still reading about the Beatles after 50 years. This book is a nice read for Beatles fans. The stories behind every song were interesting even if all the material was not new. There were some new material not found in the anthology book and the Bob Spitz biography of the group. Plus it was a easy read in bite size pieces by song.
This book was simply not what I expected, though it consists of a decent sampling of stories, quotes, and photography. The goal of the book is to track down the inspiration for each Beatles song, or barring that, the circumstances in which it was written. Do not expect details about who wrote which parts of the Lennon/McCartney collaborations (although this info is occasionally included) or how the songs fared on the pop charts (ditto) or what's going on musically in each song (almost never incl...more
Gave me greater overall insight as to the origin & back stories of the songs in the Beatles catalogue & has helped to add a new layer of complexity and appreciation to the songs when I listen to them now, much more carefully, as well as appreciate the Beatles more than ever as songwriters. Sorted chronologically by album & release dates, very complete, & easy to read. I just wish there were more details about certain songs. Great read for any Beatles fan.
It's a great book with many details and the necessary information to understand those lyrics that so many people love!
As a fan I was truly happy with it,especially with the story behind 'Dear Prudence' and 'I'm looking through you'.
But that's a bit unfair actually,because there is a great number of wonderful songs and each one has interesting facts behind them so,
Enjoy the book.
As a fan I was truly happy with it,especially with the story behind 'Dear Prudence' and 'I'm looking through you'.
But that's a bit unfair actually,because there is a great number of wonderful songs and each one has interesting facts behind them so,
Enjoy the book.
The reviews I read of this book praised all of the "secrets" revealed in this book, but, truly, I learned very little new information from it. Most of what was written has been written before. For a potential reader of this book, I would say the main attraction is that all of the songs they wrote are addressed, though not necessarily in any revealing depth.
Excellent book with some great insights about the origins of a number Beatles songs. It sometimes dwelled too much on the stories outside the songs. I mean, who doesn't know that Helter Skelter and Piggies influenced Charles Manson? An overall good read.
I read this book back when I was in Junior High. I was the guy to go to when you wanted to know the story behind a Beatle song. I was and still a nerd about The Beatles. If ya ask me now I would have to refer back to the book. Its been awhile.
This is decent enough, especially in the cases where it really tracks down something new (e.g. the real person whose story inspired "She's Leaving Home"), but too often, it really has little or nothing of interest to say about a particular song.
Well...I am a Beatles nerd and this makes me a bigger one. It gives good insight, but I think it sugarcoats a few edgier lyrics that I know have other meanings than those described. Still a comprehensive read on the greatest band ever. Dig.
This book is phenomenal! I have learned so many interesting things about the lyrical aspect of the Beatles. It gives a story to how every single Beatles song was influenced, based on many, many interviews Steve Turner had with the Beatles. Here are two I really liked:
In "Martha my Dear," Martha was Paul's Old English Sheepdog. He said, "You can read into this song all you want, but it really is me just singing to my dog." and in "Dear Prudence," Prudence was a girl living in India. She meditated...more
In "Martha my Dear," Martha was Paul's Old English Sheepdog. He said, "You can read into this song all you want, but it really is me just singing to my dog." and in "Dear Prudence," Prudence was a girl living in India. She meditated...more
This book is amazing. Not only does it have the real stories behind the songs, it reveals a lot about the shifting culture of the 60's in Britian and America and lays out the nuts and bolts of how musicians write. Fascinating stuff!
Read this in bits and pieces over a long time and I thorougly enjoyed it. Every single song written by the Beatles is in this book and whatever stories behind the creation of that song the author could find is included. It's an amazing collection and shows the evolution of the Mop-Tops into the mature artists they became. It reflects brillance and mundane life. The songs are grouped by album. I wished they had been in chronilogical order by the date they were written, because the end of the book...more
Thought I was a Beatles fan, so I was surprised to discover how many Beatles songs I have never heard. Fascinating stories to go with the songs. But Help! Cd is still my favorite.
It was interesting, but also quite dry. I wish the lyrics of each song were included as a reference. Editing was poor because there were a lot of misspellings, grammar and punctuation errors.
Feb 07, 2009
Alisa
added it
A must-have for all Beatles fans. Fascinating details and stories about each of the Beatles' songs, arranged by album and in chronological order. I couldn't put it down for hours!
Fascinating look at every Beat;es song's origins, along with some narrative stuff about their career -- nothing new or shocking, but still.
I'm such a Beatles fanatic and I absolutely loved this book! Learned things about the songs that I would have never have guessed.
Uno de los mejores libros de la historia de las canciones de los beatles. todo fan tiene que tener este libro
Includes a tidbit for the story behind every Beatles song. Great book to have if you're a Beatles fan.
Excellent coffee table book with a story behind EVERY Beatles song- great for Beatles nuts!
Knowing the history of the song really enhances the listening experience...
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Steve Turner is an English music journalist, biographer and poet, who grew up in Northamptonshire, England. His first published article was in the Beatles Monthly in 1969. His career as a journalist began as features editor of Beat Instrumental where he interviewed many of the prominent rock musicians of the 1970s. He subsequently freelanced for music papers including NME, Melody Maker and Rolling...more
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Aug 11, 2009 10:02pm