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Post by michaelw on Nov 5, 2014 4:51:07 GMT
Hi all, I'm a new member. I'm not sure if it's cool to spruik your stuff here, but anyway, my new book The Very Worst Of The Beatles is out now on i books, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and some other sites. Amazon shortly. Here's the blurb.
The Very Worst Of The Beatles is a light-hearted but studious examination of the band’s least outstanding moments, from the hurried and badly played cover versions they were obliged to record for a hungry market in the early sixties, to the drug-fuelled and overblown indulgences from later in the decade when they had no obligations at all. Each choice has its own separate entry in which I’ve looked at the song, its recording, and why there are problems. I’ve taken into account aspects such as record company pressure, fatigue, laziness, bad luck and the often frosty relationships within the band which began to tug The Beatles’ members in different directions from as early as 1967.
I’ve attempted to capture something of the flavour of the group’s personalities as well as poking fun at their most incompetent moments. Grab a copy if only to hate me ...
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Post by Bobber on Nov 5, 2014 12:16:01 GMT
I think we usually try to hide stuff like this under the carpet.
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Post by brewmaster on Nov 5, 2014 18:13:12 GMT
I'd be interested to know which recordings you mean.
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Post by michaelw on Nov 6, 2014 15:25:20 GMT
Feel free to buy the book then. It's only a fiver. But if you want one example, I'd suggest 'Honey Don't.
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Post by mrmustard on Nov 6, 2014 17:37:36 GMT
Feel free to buy the book then. It's only a fiver. But if you want one example, I'd suggest 'Honey Don't. What aspect of their cover of Honey Don't do you not like?
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Post by michaelw on Nov 7, 2014 2:58:24 GMT
Feel free to buy the book then. It's only a fiver. But if you want one example, I'd suggest 'Honey Don't. What aspect of their cover of Honey Don't do you not like? I really don't want to get into an argument, particularly about a song like that. I just wrote a book with 40 songs in it. If you'd like to know about why I don't like this song or that song, you should probably get the book. I am a Beatles fan and the book is not malicious or facetious.
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Post by mrmustard on Nov 7, 2014 7:49:56 GMT
You are reading a lot into my question MichaelW. Why would you feel I wanted an argument? The Beatles have done a bit of duff stuff no question.
This is a forum where we discuss matters relating to The Beatles (or otherwise). We buy your book and may not agree with some of the things you say along with agreeing with some things. However we don't get the opportunity to discuss your opinions vs opinions of other forum members have. So where's the fun there??
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Post by Bobber on Nov 7, 2014 14:25:03 GMT
Exactly. One can like Honey Don't or not. Fair enough. But I don't believe it's badly recorded for instance. I'd like to know why you don't like the song, but personally I'm not going to buy a book about it.
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Post by brewmaster on Nov 7, 2014 14:54:32 GMT
Er, no thanks, I'll give it a miss. Those early covers were, by and large, a snapshot of the Beatles' live act, and as such, are very significant.
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Post by michaelw on Nov 8, 2014 5:19:01 GMT
You are reading a lot into my question MichaelW. Why would you feel I wanted an argument? The Beatles have done a bit of duff stuff no question. This is a forum where we discuss matters relating to The Beatles (or otherwise). We buy your book and may not agree with some of the things you say along with agreeing with some things. However we don't get the opportunity to discuss your opinions vs opinions of other forum members have. So where's the fun there?? Of course I recognize this is a forum and therefore a thread about the weaker Beatles songs would ideally for you, be a lively discussion amongst a bunch of people who probably all know one another. That's great I could happily join in with that. But other people enjoy reading a book because they like books foremost, the writing, the idea; in this case because they might be fans who agree or disagree but just chat about it with friends rather than belonging to a site where the minutia of every moment of the Beatles is examined, and because they'll enjoy a laugh. If it doesn't look like it passes any of those criteria thy'll put it back down. And this is the crux I think. This is not a po-faced kick in the face. It's largely comedic without being mocking.
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Post by michaelw on Nov 8, 2014 9:58:06 GMT
Er, no thanks, I'll give it a miss. Those early covers were, by and large, a snapshot of the Beatles' live act, and as such, are very significant. I'm not saying any song is actually insignificant. They all have their stories. Some better than others. Lennon 'demoing' 'Do You Want To Know A Secret' in a toilet in Hamburg is a good story. Why 'Hold Me Tight' wasn't on Please Please Me is a good story. 'Devil In Her Heart' is simply not very interesting. But if you are talking significance I'd have to say that 'A Day In The Life' is more culturally significant than 'Mr Moonlight'. But that's just my opinion.
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Post by brewmaster on Nov 8, 2014 10:48:57 GMT
OK, thanks Michael, that's cleared up the context for me. We can debate "significance" and that would make an interesting thread in itself. Of course, for many, it just comes down to personal likes and dislikes, and debating that is futile.I've mentioned this quote from John before: "There is nothing conceptually better than rock & roll. No group, be it Beatles, Dylan or Stones, have ever improved on Whole Lot of Shaking, for my money"
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Post by Mr Kite on Nov 8, 2014 12:55:03 GMT
Hello Micheal . Welcome to the Forum . What a way to start off your posts ! Interesting that being a Beatle fan as you are . What made you decide to write about the Worst of The Beatles ? This must be a first for a Beatle fan , as I guess there are many books by non believers slagging the Fab 4 off . I can see the angle that you have took , in a light hearted way. I do poke fun at Macca at times with The Frog song (Macca is dead check out Frog song etc ) , but I do love him to bits ( In a manly man way of course ) 40 songs you say ?! Wow ! This could well be a very long debate . I don`t like Honey Don`t all that much .
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Post by Bongo on Nov 8, 2014 20:04:44 GMT
I hope " What's The New Mary Jane" is in there, 'cause to me that's a stinker along the lines of " Revolution 9". Those are about the only songs I actually hate about the Beatles. I doubt 2 songs could be enough to write a book about. Anyways, congrats on writing and getting a book published Michael. That is great, best of luck!
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Post by michaelw on Nov 9, 2014 7:13:46 GMT
Hello Micheal . Welcome to the Forum . What a way to start off your posts ! Interesting that being a Beatle fan as you are . What made you decide to write about the Worst of The Beatles ? This must be a first for a Beatle fan , as I guess there are many books by non believers slagging the Fab 4 off . I can see the angle that you have took , in a light hearted way. I do poke fun at Macca at times with The Frog song (Macca is dead check out Frog song etc ) , but I do love him to bits ( In a manly man way of course ) 40 songs you say ?! Wow ! This could well be a very long debate . I don`t like Honey Don`t all that much . Thanks Mr Kite. It's nice to be here.
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Post by michaelw on Nov 9, 2014 7:25:55 GMT
I hope " What's The New Mary Jane" is in there, 'cause to me that's a stinker along the lines of " Revolution 9". Those are about the only songs I actually hate about the Beatles. I doubt 2 songs could be enough to write a book about. Anyways, congrats on writing and getting a book published Michael. That is great, best of luck! Thanks Bongo. There's not really any hate in the book. I'm more interested in the reasons some songs didn't work which range from time pressures in the early days, to the band disliking one another's songs (and one another) which you can see at its zenith in the Let It Be movie. If you read Ian McDoanld's Revolution In The Head which is probably the best book about The Beatles, there's a LOT of stuff he thinks is poor, but, like all of us he is blown away by a greater percentage of the songs.
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Post by michaelw on Nov 9, 2014 7:42:44 GMT
OK, thanks Michael, that's cleared up the context for me. We can debate "significance" and that would make an interesting thread in itself. Of course, for many, it just comes down to personal likes and dislikes, and debating that is futile.I've mentioned this quote from John before: "There is nothing conceptually better than rock & roll. No group, be it Beatles, Dylan or Stones, have ever improved on Whole Lot of Shaking, for my money" I think we're pretty much on the same page. The book is merely my opinion. I can't claim anything more. What I'm hoping for is simply that people are entertained. My favourite writers are people like Chuck Klosterman and Joe Queenan who can make you laugh out loud while ostensibly "seriously" reviewing a book or film.
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Post by swadders on Nov 12, 2014 15:01:16 GMT
Hi all, I'm a new member. I'm not sure if it's cool to spruik your stuff here, but anyway, my new book The Very Worst Of The Beatles is out now on i books, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and some other sites. Amazon shortly. Here's the blurb.
The Very Worst Of The Beatles is a light-hearted but studious examination of the band’s least outstanding moments, from the hurried and badly played cover versions they were obliged to record for a hungry market in the early sixties, to the drug-fuelled and overblown indulgences from later in the decade when they had no obligations at all. Each choice has its own separate entry in which I’ve looked at the song, its recording, and why there are problems. I’ve taken into account aspects such as record company pressure, fatigue, laziness, bad luck and the often frosty relationships within the band which began to tug The Beatles’ members in different directions from as early as 1967.
I’ve attempted to capture something of the flavour of the group’s personalities as well as poking fun at their most incompetent moments. Grab a copy if only to hate me ...View Attachment
Every band has their dodgy songs- some of them maybe considered by others to be a favourites. Check out the attack on 'Across the universe' in Revolution in the head- completely unwarranted!! Your book sounds like good fun- best of luck!
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