Publishers Weekly
06/08/2020
Scottish journalist McNab trudges month-by-month through the discordant days of 1969, the year the Beatles imploded, in this informative though uneven history. In a tedious narrative—jumping from one minute detail to another (“the only major hitch was the late arrival by train from Birmingham of Paul’s best man, his brother Michael”)—McNab reveals the creative miasma and artistic stasis that had engulfed the band in its last days. He covers the antagonism toward Yoko Ono and John Lennon flowing under the faltering relationships, often resulting in intense bickering between band members. By the end of February, George Harrison, hurt and angry that neither Paul nor John wanted to include many of his songs on albums (he had considered giving “Something” to Joe Cocker), was ready to leave the band. The dissolution of the Beatles also grew out of each musician’s chasing after solo recording contracts and gigs. In spite of the acrimony and ego, the four lads agreed, by the end of June 1969, to do one more for the road, Abbey Road; on April 10, 1970, Paul McCartney “officially announced to the world that the Beatles had split.” McNab’s straightforward detailing of the demise of the Beatles will appeal to die-hard Beatles’ fans who thrive on the nitty-gritty. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
"McNab’s straightforward detailing of the demise of the Beatles will appeal to die-hard Beatles’ fans who thrive on the nitty-gritty." —Publishers Weekly
"A great, wildly engrossing read." —Forbes
"McNab focuses engagingly, and insightfully, on the band’s final year . . . and neatly conveys the hazards of fame and the enduring value of youth, talent and a touch of madness." —Wall Street Journal
Kirkus Reviews
2020-07-07
A look at the downfall of the Beatles.
In this dutiful but not particularly revealing biography of the band’s final year, Scottish journalist McNab delivers some entertaining stories but fails to bring much new to the discussion. Although he wisely chooses to focus on a single year—1969, the Beatles’ last as a cohesive unit—his book operates too much in the shadow of Peter Doggett’s You Never Give Me Your Money (2010), a history of the band’s finances. Doggett sees 1969 as important for a host of reasons, not least as a precursor for what one might call the Beatles’ afterlife, which continued for decades in the form of the business the four members shared. McNab is far less wide-ranging in his analysis, and the division of the text into 12 chapters, one for each month, constrains the narrative chronologically. Certainly, there’s logic in the decision: 1969 was a key year for the Beatles, not just because it marked their dissolution, but also because they continued to make superior music, culminating with Abbey Road. Throughout, the author tracks events that have been recorded elsewhere. To be fair, this is not without its charms; no matter how many times we have heard these stories, it’s always fun to read about, say, how the rooftop concert at the Beatles’ offices took shape. “Researching a subject like The Beatles requires you to combine the dexterity of a rock ’n’ roll detective with the patience of a jigsaw compiler,” writes the author. “It is a layer cake of intrigue, complexities and contradictions—one where stories have become myths, and myths have become legend. And quite frankly, it’s a massive undertaking to piece together the overall picture, even for a fan like myself.” The author’s patience is clear, but the final product is a middling contribution to Beatles scholarship.
A book that feels warmed over, dependent on material that any serious fan will already know.
