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Avg. Customer Rating:(based on 167 reviews) Sales Rank: 34520 Category: Book
Authors:Geoff Emerick, Howard Massey Publisher:Gotham Studio:Gotham Manufacturer:Gotham Label:Gotham Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published) Media: Paperback Number Of Items: 1 Pages: 400 Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6 Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.3 x 1
Product Description Geoff Emerick became an assistant engineer at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in 1962 at age fifteen, and was present as a new band called the Beatles recorded their first songs. He later worked with the Beatles as they recorded their singles "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand," the songs that would propel them to international superstardom. In 1964 he would witness the transformation of this young and playful group from Liverpool into professional, polished musicians as they put to tape classic songs such as "Eight Days A Week" and "I Feel Fine."
Then, in 1966, at age nineteen, Geoff Emerick became the Beatles? chief engineer, the man responsible for their distinctive sound as they recorded the classic album Revolver, in which they pioneered innovative recording techniques that changed the course of rock history. Emerick would also engineer the monumental Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road albums, considered by many the greatest rock recordings of all time. In Here, There and Everywhere he reveals the creative process of the band in the studio, and describes how he achieved the sounds on their most famous songs. Emerick also brings to light the personal dynamics of the band, from the relentless (and increasingly mean-spirited) competition between Lennon and McCartney to the infighting and frustration that eventually brought a bitter end to the greatest rock band the world has ever known.
A great read for anyone. December 12, 2008 A very vivid and evocative book. I really got a great feel of that era in Britain as well as what it was like to walk the halls of EMI (Abby Road) studios. Although the book contains thougthtful descriptions of his very innovative recording techniques (enough to satisfy me as a recording engineer) they never take over the story, and in fact are presented in a way that would be equally interesting to musicians and non musicians alike. The story is always focused on the personalities and really puts the reader into that era.
How The Beatles Created That Sound, From Their Engineer's Eyes & Ears December 8, 2008 I can relate to Geoff Emerick. He discovered an old victrola in his grandmother's basement and started listening to classical records there, wondering how the sound got on the discs, and how it got back off again. My first record playing experience was similar with my father's big band records. Emerick then saw live bands playing with recording and broadcasting equipment all around. As a child, I was featured on local television kid shows, the only one not watching the host and puppet, but instead looking at the engineers and technicians in the studio doing their jobs.
Then one day it all changed for me. My father brought home a portable reel to reel tape recorder. That was over forty years ago. Today, and for the last thirty years, I have worked as a sound recordist/mixer in the music, film, and television industry.
For Geoff Emerick, he walked into EMI Studios and managed to get a job as an assistant at the age of 15. At 19, he took over as balance engineer for The Beatles, guiding and capturing the sounds that would grace the albums Revolver, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, The White Album, and Abbey Road.
Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of The Beatles is a first opportunity look at The Beatles as they recorded their music in EMI's Abbey Road Studios. Emerick takes us from his youth and fascination with sound through his unbelievable good luck of getting a job at 15 in what would for a while become the most famous recording studio in the world, on through his time as the man who became responsible for not only putting the sounds of The Beatles down on tape, but having to come up with all of the innovations that the group wanted in that sound.
For those who are always interested in discovering more about The Beatles, this is one of the few books that actually has a lot of new insight into that world, as it is the only other book besides Mark Lewisohn's The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962-1970, and George Martin's books All You Need Is Ears: The inside personal story of the genius who created The Beatles and With a Little Help from My Friends: The Making of Sgt. Pepper that tell us how they worked in the studio.
As a sound recordist myself, I found the book entertaining, insightful, and full of familiar territory. For laymen, the book doesn't get too heavy handed into recording techniques and terminology or bogged down into technical procedures. I actually could have used a lot more of that, wanting to know exact mic placements, the brands and model numbers of equipment, settings, and all the other things that go along with recording sessions. There is not a lot of that in the book. I've had to search out interviews online that actually have more of that information included. It would have been nice for Geoff to include more but I think he didn't want to lose the reader with what would be trivial terms to most, and failing to paint the overall big picture of how drab and dreary Abbey Road Studios was in those days, adding it's own depressing affect to the self destruction that was taking place within the group.
This book is not without it's own controversy. Just as Bob Spitz' The Beatles: The Biography became tainted in some people's minds because of a few errors that got past the proof readers, Emerick has come under fire from others who worked at Abbey Road who just don't remember different events and happenings the way he does. But after all, we all see things through our own filters, and it was 40 years ago.
For now, Emerick has given us the definitive look at what it was like for HIM in the studio with The Beatles and some never heard before insight on how he helped The Beatles get their music recorded so that the rest of the world could hear and enjoy it!
Best Beatles Book December 2, 2008 I've read countless Beatles stories..this one is by far the best..especially if you are a musician...
The most accurate depiction about what went on behind closed doors, perfect!!! November 13, 2008 I have been an avid Beatles fan for over forty years, and I know a few people who where part of the inner circle of the Beatles, and knew first hand of the dynamics of the band, and watched how they changed, particularly after Brian died. And this book is the only book that supports all of the information which has been misrepresented until now. So my feelings on this book, is that some fans might be a little disappointed to hear what really went on in the studio, picturing this genius as four lads having the time of their life, however, better to know the truth, than to listen to third parties writing what they thought the world wanted to hear. As disappointing as it may be to many fans, this is without question the most accurate portrayal of what really transpired in the studio, and in their minds of The Beatles, as they proceeded through this unprecedented time in musical history. A great deal of time was spent on the changes the group went through after Brian died, for this was where the Beatles really began the turmoil and emotional descent really took hold of the group. As discomforting to many as this might be, this is the most accurate, truthful and intimate look at the goings on inside the studio with The Beatles. This is the finest book about the real story of the Beatles, based on all eyewitness account, from the beginning of the pandemonium that embraced them, to the bitter rivalries which led to the Beatles demise. This book lays it all out for you, and gives you insight into their lives, their thoughts, and the tremendous pressure the group lived with, to the millions of people waiting desperately to hear their next genius effort, and the expectations were no less than that. It took many a masterpiece before they were ready to call it quits. This is the book, from Geoff Emerick, the assistant engineer on all of the Beatles studio recordings, aside from part of "Let It Be", through every session, watching it all transpire right in front of his eyes. Geoff Emerick tells it like no other could possibly could, and makes this the finest and most insightful book to be written about The Beatles of all time. An absolute must for any serious Beatle fan who really wants to know the truth about the band, the changes, resentments, and how and why they were left with no choice but to split. You wont find a more accurate book on the subject anywhere. This is the book for any and every Beatle fan who wants to know the real story behind The Beatles success, and what led to their calling it quits after only a total of 8 years recording.
Can't buy me love or good reviews November 3, 2008 5 out of 7 found this review helpful
"People don't realize, it but George had a great sense of humor," Emerick recalled. "He was also such a gifted musician. On "Taxman," from the Revolver album, I can remember him writing the guitar parts backwards to get the effect. He could do anything. At first, John and Paul didn't realize how well he could write songs. But then they saw what he could do." This is not a quote from the book. It is, however, a quote from Geoff Emerick after he heard a cut from the then unreleased Brainwashed album. Don't expect anything like this in Here There and Everwhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles. If anything, George Harrison comes off as a no-talent, mean spirited spoiled brat who, apparently, didn't much care for Mr. Emerick. The bulk of the book is an unabashed tribute to Paul McCartney, whom he apparently not only liked but idolized. John and Ringo don't fare much better than George, so...unless you've never heard anything else about the recording sessions and think the recollections from the vantage point of a 16 year old is definitive, I can't recommend this book. If you like any of the other Beatles and don't have an altar to Paul in your home, it will be disappointing. I actually do like Paul, but the shots taken at the other three in this "memoir" are tough to take. Ken Scott, one of the other engineers who went on to produce many other artists (including George Harrison) has publicly disagreed with much of what is written in this book. So, in spite of glowing reports, and especially if you think George Harrison was a superb musician and not some knee jerk wannabe...well, you know...don't buy it. Now, I'm going to amend my earlier thoughts on this and say that it does have some interesting stories about various recording sessions. The account of Yoko in bed during the Abbey Road sessions is still hard to imagine, but the description of the final guitar solo blow out at the end of the medley raises the unfulfilled hope that it might have all worked out in "the end". So, depending on your susceptibility to the bias, consider the book an interesting read, but still not what I, personally, had hoped for. Good luck on your decision.
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