Beatles '66

The Revolutionary Year

De: Steve Turner

Narrado por: Simon Vance

A riveting look at the transformative year in the lives and careers of the legendary group whose groundbreaking legacy would forever change music and popular culture

They started off as hysteria-inducing pop stars playing to audiences of screaming teenage fans and ended up as musical sages considered responsible for ushering in a new era.

The year that changed everything for the Beatles was 1966 - the year of their last concert and of Revolver, their first album created to be listened to rather than performed. This was the year the Beatles risked their popularity by retiring from live performances, recording songs that explored alternative states of consciousness, experimenting with avant-garde ideas, and speaking their minds on issues of politics, war, and religion. It was the year their records were burned in America after John's explosive claim that the group was "more popular than Jesus", the year they were hounded out of the Philippines for "snubbing" its First Lady, the year John met Yoko Ono, and the year Paul conceived the idea for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Music journalist and Beatles expert Steve Turner investigates in detail the enormous changes that took place in the Beatles' lives and work during 1966. He looks at the historical events that had an impact on the group, the music they made that in turn profoundly affected the culture around them, and the vision that allowed four young men from Liverpool to transform popular music and serve as pioneers for artists from Coldplay to David Bowie, Jay-Z to U2.

By talking to those close to the group and by drawing on his past interviews with key figures such as George Martin, Timothy Leary, and Ravi Shankar - and the Beatles themselves - Turner gives us the compelling, definitive account of the 12 months that contained everything the Beatles had been and anticipated everything they would still become.

©2016 Steve Turner (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

66 was quite a year!

In depth review of Beatles- very interesting. A number of new things presented and concepts. Very interesting. A few parts were overly wordy but in all a great book and well read.

Fantastic Book

I've read a lot of books on the Beatles, but this has to be one of the very best. It's really engrossing and I learned a lot of things that I did not know. Also, the narrator is excellent. Highly recommended!

New information on a pivotal year in Beatles music

Steve Turner has accomplished a feat. He has written a book about the most documented music group in history and still come up with fresh information and interpretations.

Turner does this by narrowing his focus to 1966. The Beatles were coming off Rubber Soul, where John was trying out a new style of Dylan lyric writing (Norwegian Wood) and the Beatles were getting more experimental in the studio.

This was the year the Beatles put together what some consider their best album, Revolver.

The book examines the Beatles' decision to stop touring and focus on recording. So there's a lot about John's Jesus remarks and the subsequent Beatles record burnings in the American South. The bloom was off the lovable Mop Tops and the s@#$ was hitting the fan.

There's a recounting of the group's tour dates in Japan--where they were criticized for appearing at the Budokan--and the comic misunderstanding in the Philippines that led to a potentially dangerous feud between the group and Imelda Marcos.

Beatles '66 obviously looks at the recording of Revolver and how the songs represent an evolution in their songwriting and studio process.

Simon Vance does an excellent job as narrator, getting down the different speech patterns of John, Paul, George and Ringo. He doesn't try to imitate but you always know which Beatle is speaking.


Other Audible titles you might enjoy:

Maximum Volume: The Life of Beatles Producer George Martin: The Early Years, 1926-1966 by Kenneth Womack. My one gripe with this book is the American narrator. Who made that decision?


Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock's Darkest Day by Joel Selvin. Like Beatles '66, this music history has a narrow focus, the infamous Altamont concert headlined by the Rolling Stones. The book tells the story from the point of view of audience members, music critics who were there, performers, the Hell's Angels and the young man who was killed and his girlfriend.

Music Evolution

Any Beatles fan will find this work insightful. A great take on the transitional motion of the evolving band that was the Beatles. Full of incredible new information deep and in detail. Soak it all in !

It Was A Very Good Year

Very detailed look at the influences and development of many of their songs and their lives, all within one pivotal year. They had a heavy influence on me as I followed them from the first time I heard “I Want to Hold Your Hand” on Detroit’s WXYZ in December 1963. Still recovering from Kennedy’s assassination just a month earlier, the Beatles was the breath of fresh air and optimism we needed. They were the reason I learned to play the guitar and the reason I have a ‘67 Rickenbacker similar to George’s. Unfortunately I was not able to go to either of their concerts here in Detroit but I followed them to present day. “The Beatles 1966” is a must read/listen for all hard core fans for a more in depth look at the story behind song development, lyric choices, and personal development of the greatest band that changed music forever.

I thought a headline was optional

I always thought Revolver was a big deal, and this book helped me to understand why. I also learned a lot about the group and their circle that I didn't know...

Betles change in context

Turner breaks this book down into monthly chapters. Bu doing so, he makes it easier to see how the Beatles morphed, over one year, from a group that gave up touring, and as a result changed the mind set from a tight foursome to individuals who finally had the chance to to study 'the arts' (Paul), Indian culture (George), acting (John), or domestic life (Ringo). Each individual brought something new to the recording of "Revolver," and that record changed recording techniques and ideas. Turner does an excellent job of showing the contemporaries of the Beatles both followed them and showed them new ideas.
And Simon Vance, as usual, gives a superb reading.

History laced with a charming Liverpool accent

Simply fantastic book. I like the honing down on one year in their lives. Good idea. (I bought their Anthology book, but it is way too big and cumbersome and weighty to actually read! The only way you can actually read it is sitting uncomfortably at a desk.) Anyway, this book basically gives the history of them moving from pop to rock. What I learned: All four were extremely intelligent and -- of course -- musical geniuses, too. I did not know things like: The LPs put out in Britain and US had different lineups. I learned that George Martin really did play a huge role in their experimentation in the studio, and that he knew geniuses when he saw them, and let them run. I totally get that the Beatles were tired of touring. Screaming fans, being manhandled in Manila, holed up in hotel rooms due to security, etc. I learned that Paul was the workhorse of the group: on time, ready to work, but yet completely open to different music styles. I had no idea that the song "Got To Get You Into My Life" was about LSD, though, after Paul tried it! The book is not worshipful, either, as many are. It researches the events that happened in that one year to those four people. Those songs you know by heart: There is delight, pain, change, insecurity, pride, frustration and talent behind them. You will love listening to this book. And one other thing: I am absolutely delighted when Simon Vance reads a quote from one of the four. He can put on the Liverpool accent just perfectly. I smile every time.

Excellent!

Very well researched and written, and an equally superb job done on the narration, slightly imitating the voices and accents of each of the fabs. So captivating I listened to its entirety over 2-3 days. For any Beatles fan, and for anyone interested in the culture, music, art of this very transformative year, I highly recommend this book!

Interesting, fun read for any Beatles fan!

Really enjoyed this book, the narrator did a great job, even giving decent impressions of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. The book really makes you feel immersed in everything that the lads experienced during that year of immense change for all of them.