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Composers in Context
Solid State: The Story of Abbey Road and the End of the Beatles
Acclaimed Beatles historian Kenneth Womack offers the most definitive account yet of the writing, recording, mixing, and reception of Abbey Road.
In February 1969, the Beatles began working on what became their final album together. Abbey Road introduced a number of new techniques and technologies to the Beatles' sound, and included "Come Together," "Something," and "Here Comes the Sun," which all emerged as classics.
Womack's colorful retelling of how this landmark album was written and recorded is a treat for fans of the Beatles. Solid State takes readers back to 1969 and into EMI's Abbey Road Studio, which boasted an advanced solid state transistor mixing desk. Womack focuses on the dynamics between John, Paul, George, Ringo, and producer George Martin and his team of engineers, who set aside (for the most part) the tensions and conflicts that had arisen on previous albums to create a work with an innovative (and, among some fans and critics, controversial) studio-bound sound that prominently included the new Moog synthesizer, among other novelties.
As Womack shows, Abbey Road was the culmination of the instrumental skills, recording equipment, and artistic vision that the band and George Martin had developed since their early days in the same studio seven years earlier. A testament to the group's creativity and their producer's ingenuity, Solid State is required reading for all fans of the Beatles and the history of rock 'n' roll.
In February 1969, the Beatles began working on what became their final album together. Abbey Road introduced a number of new techniques and technologies to the Beatles' sound, and included "Come Together," "Something," and "Here Comes the Sun," which all emerged as classics.
Womack's colorful retelling of how this landmark album was written and recorded is a treat for fans of the Beatles. Solid State takes readers back to 1969 and into EMI's Abbey Road Studio, which boasted an advanced solid state transistor mixing desk. Womack focuses on the dynamics between John, Paul, George, Ringo, and producer George Martin and his team of engineers, who set aside (for the most part) the tensions and conflicts that had arisen on previous albums to create a work with an innovative (and, among some fans and critics, controversial) studio-bound sound that prominently included the new Moog synthesizer, among other novelties.
As Womack shows, Abbey Road was the culmination of the instrumental skills, recording equipment, and artistic vision that the band and George Martin had developed since their early days in the same studio seven years earlier. A testament to the group's creativity and their producer's ingenuity, Solid State is required reading for all fans of the Beatles and the history of rock 'n' roll.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2013
About the author
Kenneth Womack
87 books173 followersKenneth Womack is a world-renowned authority on the Beatles and their enduring cultural influence. His latest book project involves a two-volume, full-length biography devoted to famed Beatles producer Sir George Martin.
Womack's Beatles-related books include Long and Winding Roads: The Evolving Artistry of the Beatles (2007), The Cambridge Companion to the Beatles (2009), and The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four (2014).
Womack is also the author of four novels, including John Doe No. 2 and the Dreamland Motel (2010), The Restaurant at the End of the World (2012), Playing the Angel (2013), and I Am Lemonade Lucy! (2019).
Womack's Beatles-related books include Long and Winding Roads: The Evolving Artistry of the Beatles (2007), The Cambridge Companion to the Beatles (2009), and The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four (2014).
Womack is also the author of four novels, including John Doe No. 2 and the Dreamland Motel (2010), The Restaurant at the End of the World (2012), Playing the Angel (2013), and I Am Lemonade Lucy! (2019).
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 28, 2021
Wie einer meiner Vorrezensenten geschrieben hat: "Endlich hat mal jemand ein Buch über diese Typen von den Beatles geschrieben". Nun ja. Die Beteiligten haben gesprochen, die Augenzeugen haben (fast alle) gesprochen, und sogar die, die Band nur flüchtig gesehen haben, etwa John Lennons Klempner von dem seine Frau, machen ein Buch darüber, denn damit lässt sich Geld machen. Was jetzt noch bleibt, sind Bücher von Fans oder Akademikern.
Kenneth Womack gehört zu den Akademikern. Sein Buch über "Abbey Road" (das Album, aber auch das Studio) ist solide, gut recherchiert, bringt aber kaum neue Erkenntnisse. Sein Schreibstil ist manchmal etwas dröge. Vielleicht sind mir deswegen die Fan-Bücher lieber, denn wenn man schon über Rockmusik schreibt, sollte auch etwas Rock'n'Roll-Spirit in den Stil einfliessen, und da nimmt man gerne ein paar Übertreibungen, Ungenauigkeiten und Subjektivitäten in Kauf.
Kenneth Womack gehört zu den Akademikern. Sein Buch über "Abbey Road" (das Album, aber auch das Studio) ist solide, gut recherchiert, bringt aber kaum neue Erkenntnisse. Sein Schreibstil ist manchmal etwas dröge. Vielleicht sind mir deswegen die Fan-Bücher lieber, denn wenn man schon über Rockmusik schreibt, sollte auch etwas Rock'n'Roll-Spirit in den Stil einfliessen, und da nimmt man gerne ein paar Übertreibungen, Ungenauigkeiten und Subjektivitäten in Kauf.
Displaying 1 of 1 review