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Solo in the 70s: John, Paul, George, Ringo: 1970-1980
The decade after the Beatles' split gets a second look... In 2010, Robert Rodriguez's Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles 1970-1980 told the story of the ex-band mates during the first ten years after calling it quits, detailing efforts to establish four separate artistic identities while laboring in the shadow of their glorious collective past; all the while facing the inevitable query, "So when are the Beatles getting back together?" But while 2.0 covered an enormous amount of ground, there were still more stories to tell: John's fight to stay in America against the forces of Nixon Administration; the lawsuits against their business allies-and each other; unreleased recordings; the promo films; album art; covers of ex-Beatle music by other artists (as well as covers by ex-Beatles of other artists' material); bootleg releases and many more subjects. In Solo in the 70s, you'll learn about their people: producers and engineers they worked with; up-and-comers branded as "the new Beatles;" proteges; friends and associates, and a roll call of deaths in the "family." Putting it all in perspective is a 30,000 word day-by-day timeline, contextualizing rock's evolution throughout the 1970s, ending with the death of John Lennon. See for yourself the peers and artistic rivals the ex-Beatles worked alongside while crafting their art and how it all fit together. Solo In The 70s is a welcome addition to the Beatles' reference canon. Richly illustrated with period ephemera, it draws the reader into the world that fans inhabited back in the day. Whether you're seeking to learn more about the post-break-up era or want to revisit a glorious time when four ex-Beatles were creating new music worthy of their legacy, Solo In The 70s puts this unsung era into focus.
510 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2013
About the author
Robert Rodríguez
119 books78 followersRobert Anthony Rodriguez is an American director, writer, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician perhaps best known for making profitable, crowd-pleasing independent and studio films with fairly low budgets and fast schedules by Hollywood standards. He shoots and produces many of his films in Texas and Mexico.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 8, 2014
Subtitled, “John, Paul, George and Ringo : 1970-1980,” this is really a follow on to the author’s “Fab Four FAQ 2.0” book, which also dealt with the solo years. In effect, this is all the things he left out and deals with a myriad of details, which will be of interest to fans – but probably not the casual reader. Robert Rodriguez is the author of several books about the Beatles, including Fab Four FAQ (about the Beatles years), Fab Four FAQ 2.0 (solo years up to 1980) and the brilliant, “Revolver: How the Beatles re-imagined Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
The Seventies were a fascinating time for Beatles fans, with solo careers taking off (and floundering), lawsuits, feuds and the four Beatles in and out of each other lives throughout the decade. Was John really considering writing with Paul again, until he reconciled with Yoko? Yes, probably. Would the Beatles had reformed? Probably not, although solo projects may have reunited them, such as Ringo’s solo albums. Would Paul have abandoned Denny Laine without a backward glance? Not to be unkind to poor Denny, but probably yes. However, despite all the interesting possibilities and projects of the Seventies, it is nowhere near as well documented as the Beatles years, which is a real pity. As Mark Lewisohn stated once, there is a whole book in just George Harrison’s life during 1974 (one which I would certainly like to read) and the mid-Seventies saw the four solo Beatles closer than they would ever be again. There are many reasons for this; including legal and business ones.
So, what does this book offer? As well as a timeline of those years, it also looks in detail at many people and events during those years. These include musical events, such as promo films, album covers, unreleased tracks, bootlegs and the “new Beatles” touted throughout the decade (not fit to lick their boots...) – from those compared to them (nowhere near...), inspired by (ok, probably...) and even suggested as replacing them (hmmm......), such as ELO, the Bay City Rollers and Squeeze (I remember even now how much that one annoyed me) and others which we have since forgotten about completely. There is also a pretty comprehensive account of all the lawsuits that took place during that decade – just think that everyone sued everyone else and you pretty much have it covered – and John’s legal battle to stay in the States. There are brief accounts of those they worked with the in the studio, acts associated with the individual members, business associates, friends, lovers and gofers. Obviously, each person and event looked at, spins into different stories. So, for example, there is quite a lot about Fred Seaman and the legal battles which resulted from his thefts from the Dakota after John’s death. Lastly, there are those of importance to the Beatles who died in that decade – from George’s parents, both John and Paul’s fathers, the ill fated Jimmy McCulloch, Pete Ham and the terrible loss of Mal Evans – plus his missing memoir, which is the ‘Holy Grail’ to Beatles fans.
This is a fascinating book to dip into – or even devour if you are as obsessive a fan as I am. However, I do feel it would have little interest for the casual fan and is not really a book which will give you a flavour of those years, although there is lots of detailed information. Really, this is for fans who already know a great deal about the band and will understand the significance of something happening in a particular year. That said, the Seventies are sadly ignored in most books about the band (I really hope Mark Lewisohn does turn his mind to the decade at some time in the future, as a really comprehensive account is needed to cut through all the myths and rumours that abound). It was an important decade and anything which helps bring perspective to the accounts of the solo Beatles during this time is welcome.
Rated 3.5
The Seventies were a fascinating time for Beatles fans, with solo careers taking off (and floundering), lawsuits, feuds and the four Beatles in and out of each other lives throughout the decade. Was John really considering writing with Paul again, until he reconciled with Yoko? Yes, probably. Would the Beatles had reformed? Probably not, although solo projects may have reunited them, such as Ringo’s solo albums. Would Paul have abandoned Denny Laine without a backward glance? Not to be unkind to poor Denny, but probably yes. However, despite all the interesting possibilities and projects of the Seventies, it is nowhere near as well documented as the Beatles years, which is a real pity. As Mark Lewisohn stated once, there is a whole book in just George Harrison’s life during 1974 (one which I would certainly like to read) and the mid-Seventies saw the four solo Beatles closer than they would ever be again. There are many reasons for this; including legal and business ones.
So, what does this book offer? As well as a timeline of those years, it also looks in detail at many people and events during those years. These include musical events, such as promo films, album covers, unreleased tracks, bootlegs and the “new Beatles” touted throughout the decade (not fit to lick their boots...) – from those compared to them (nowhere near...), inspired by (ok, probably...) and even suggested as replacing them (hmmm......), such as ELO, the Bay City Rollers and Squeeze (I remember even now how much that one annoyed me) and others which we have since forgotten about completely. There is also a pretty comprehensive account of all the lawsuits that took place during that decade – just think that everyone sued everyone else and you pretty much have it covered – and John’s legal battle to stay in the States. There are brief accounts of those they worked with the in the studio, acts associated with the individual members, business associates, friends, lovers and gofers. Obviously, each person and event looked at, spins into different stories. So, for example, there is quite a lot about Fred Seaman and the legal battles which resulted from his thefts from the Dakota after John’s death. Lastly, there are those of importance to the Beatles who died in that decade – from George’s parents, both John and Paul’s fathers, the ill fated Jimmy McCulloch, Pete Ham and the terrible loss of Mal Evans – plus his missing memoir, which is the ‘Holy Grail’ to Beatles fans.
This is a fascinating book to dip into – or even devour if you are as obsessive a fan as I am. However, I do feel it would have little interest for the casual fan and is not really a book which will give you a flavour of those years, although there is lots of detailed information. Really, this is for fans who already know a great deal about the band and will understand the significance of something happening in a particular year. That said, the Seventies are sadly ignored in most books about the band (I really hope Mark Lewisohn does turn his mind to the decade at some time in the future, as a really comprehensive account is needed to cut through all the myths and rumours that abound). It was an important decade and anything which helps bring perspective to the accounts of the solo Beatles during this time is welcome.
Rated 3.5
October 17, 2014
A lot of interesting information, but presented rather choppily. Also, there didn't seem much point (except maybe to fill up space) in making the last third of the book be a timeline of events he had already mentioned.
January 25, 2014
Review withheld pending a heavily edited/corrected second edition which I've been promised.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews