Solid State

The Story of Abbey Road and the End of the Beatles

By: Kenneth Womack, Alan Parsons - foreword

Narrated by: William Hughes

In Solid State, Kenneth Womack offers the most definitive account of the conception, 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 listeners back to 1969 and into EMI's Abbey Road Studios, which boasted an advanced solid state transistor mixing desk. Womack focuses on the dynamics between John, Paul, George, and Ringo and producer George Martin and his team of engineers, who for the most part set aside 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 before. A testament to the group's creativity and their producer's ingenuity, Solid State is required listening for all fans of the Beatles and the rock 'n' roll.

©2019 Kenneth Womack (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

For real Beatle fans

This book is for the fanatic Beatle fan not your everyday Beatle fan. A lot of technical info. A lot of insight I haven’t heard before. If you’re not a study of the Beatles may be a bit boring. I loved it became I am a fanatic. Just make it through the first chapter and it’s all good after that.

For Beatles Geeks

This books gets deep into the details, bit not so deep and/or technical that a more casual fan will be turned off. Very thoughtful and incisive for those who are interested in the last year of recording the Fab Four.

Nothing revelatory here.

If you've read Geoff Emerick or George Martin's book, you won't really need this one. Especially since the author quotes those other books often. Even being a fan of studio tech and the history, I was hoping for a bit more.

Unique perspective on Abbey Road

The only negative is that it can be very technical at times and one can feel a bit overwhelmed although recording techies will be thrilled. But for lay people who love Abbey Road, the narrative, with all of its other glorious details, is essential for Beatles fans who can never get enough about that fascinating time in our cultural history.

A great read for Beatles fans

If you're not a fan of the Beatles, then this book will be a bit boring for you. But it's a great insight into two of their landmark albums and the final days of the band themselves.

At times it does sound like a text book though, and can be a bit drab.

techy

kind of technical, but overall a fun inside look at an excellent album. Beatles fans should like it.

Interesting Book on the Beatles & Their Last Days

I enjoyed this book, although I knew lot of the information in it already.
This book was interesting in how it put the information together, going into details and tying things together.
I enjoyed the story about how John, Paul, and George made a final voice tape for Ringo about making sure the Beatles would record 4 songs each for the three of them [and two songs for Ringo, if he wanted them]. Also, John said that the Beatles shouldn't record songs that could be hits (such as Maxwell's Silver Hammer [which I agree] and Ob La Di, Ob La Da [which I disagree with John]) but to record songs that were "Beatles" songs. John said it better.
Nice book.
Great reading performance.

Bet. Youll Luv it

You Read? Love Abbey Road? Have a real interest in creating music and learning howbits done? All you need is thia book

Behind the scenes of greatness

It’s easy to forget that behind the level of musical greatness achieved by The Beatles, there were actual human beings, gifted nevertheless human. This is a great journey into the last stages of the group,showing us that it was really a group of more than four people. Recognizing the importance of George Martin and several others makes us realize that talent can be taken to the next level when surrounded by the right team. A great view into the subtleties of the songs, the writing process, the industry, the technologies and the relationships.

Interesting, but colorless narration

Some interesting insights into the story behind the breakup of the Beatles, the technology used to record their music, and even some of the songwriting processes.

Unfortunately narration had the feel of a presentation at an insurance seminar. Totally emotionally detached from the material. Made it a dry listen to say the least.