The Beatles Files

There are so many Beatle books out there and I choose the best ones to buy and this is one of them, mainly because of the rare pictures. I have had this book for a while now and never get tired of it. Reading the original commentaries is interesting, as well. A well spent 13.99 definitley.

It is very interesting to read what the press said about the Beatles in the middle of Beatlemania. The book is well organized, it is easy to read and the information and notes are very interesting and tell the story in a complete different way than the others. I really recommend it for people of all countries, as the language is very easy to understand.

It's a book you browse through looking at the numerous pictures (400, so the cover claims), big and small, but you'll soon discover they've all been well-documented, providing date and place of the events.In many instances the pictures look familiar, like the ones taken on the Champs Elysées, but they're not. The photographs printed here are from a different perspective and a few moments earlier or later and thus give a fresh impression of well-known Beatles-history. A few pages further on, The Beatles Files shows us lesser known events, such as the mailmen delivering two vanloads of birthday fanmail to George Harrison's parents, who are looking slightly embarrased.The book presents the Beatles' story from the Daily Mirror's perspective, including the newspaper's headers and comments. It also implies that the trips abroad are less dealt with; UK news is emphasized instead. The story starts in 1963 and chronologically takes us to 1969, with unique shots of John and Yoko, dressed in black capes, recording for their film in Suffolk.The author, Andy Davis, has worked for the official Beatles magazine, the "Beatles Monthly" (which still exists today) and is a regular contributor to the Record Collector, his latest contribution being a detailed overview of first-issue Beatles singles from the UK (issue 230 from Oct. '98).The book has an attractive lay-out, and its large format not only allows a pleasant presentation of the pictures, but it also makes it fit perfectly next to Lewinsohn's "The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions"!

Well-chosen photographs (some 400 black and whites or so), well-researched (ever wanted to know what the British press had to say about the Fab Four while they were still fab?) and well-printed. A great addition to your personal Beatles library, and a steal at that price!