Book Description

Award-winning biographer Elizabeth Partridge dives into Lennon’s life from the night he was born in 1940 during a World War II air raid on Liverpool, deftly taking us through his turbulent childhood and his rebellious rock’n’roll teens to his celebrated life writing, recording, and performing music with the Beatles. She sheds light on the years after the Beatles, with Yoko Ono, as he struggled to make sense of his own artistic life—one that had turned from youthful angst to suffocating fame in almost a split second.

Partridge chronicles the emotional highs and paralyzing lows Lennon transformed into brilliant, evocative songs. With striking black-andwhite photographs spanning his entire life, John Lennon: All I Want Is the Truth is the unforgettable story of one of rock’s biggest legends. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This nuts-and-bolts account of the fabled John Lennon/Paul McCartney collaboration underscores how two very different personalities meshed to create the Beatles sound. Lennon (clearly the author's favorite) was the word man, the rebel, the experimenter who didn't really care how people reacted to his music; McCartney was the crowd pleaser, the melody man with a gift for pleasing tunes, the traditionalist with one foot in Tin Pan Alley. Together they made magic; separately, after the Beatles broke up in 1970, Lennon was preachy and screechy, McCartney was trite and trivial. Longtime Beatles chronicler and rock-music biographer Geoffrey Giuliano (The Lost Lennon Interviews, Rod Stewart: Vagabond Heart) doesn't come up with any staggeringly new information in his otherwise solid examination of the day-to-day specifics involved in creating songs from early pop classics like "Please Please Me" to such mature masterpieces as "A Day in the Life," but he does extract some fab quotes about the Fab Four. (Drummer Pete Thomas on getting his first Beatles album at age 9: "A drum, a cymbal, and With the Beatles. Has the world really come much further?") A must for fans, and critical enough to interest more detached followers of 1960s pop as well. --Wendy Smith ... Read more

Reviews (16)

engaging, fair, and intelligent
Regarding: "Read, Many Years From Now (Barry Miles), at least his book is intelligently researched and uses Paul McCartney as his main source of information." For ought I know "Many Years From Now" may be a perfectly fine book in its way, but anyone of discernment who's read a McCartney interview (or, say, the "McCartney" album press release, in which McCartney explains that he, McCartney, has quit the Beatles) knows that a book that "uses Paul McCartney as [its] main source of information" will be of doubtful veracity. In any case, "The Two of Us" is engagingly written, intelligent, and reasonably fair, I think, to all parties--probably the most readable Beatles book I've yet encountered. It doesn't contain much new information, but let's face it, how much new information is there possibly to be had? (I also like George Martin's "All You Need Is [?] Ears".)

Entertaining, but with flaws
So far I had only read Lennon In America by Geoffrey Giuliano - a book that I absolutely hated. It was therefore that I wasn't expecting a lot from this book, but I must say that at least this one is better in style. An entertaining read.
The focus of the book is the relationship between Lennon & McCartney and how they collaborated on songs in (mainly) the early stages. Later on they didn't write together anymore (well hardly), but because of the rivalry that existed between them, each motivated the other to come up with some of the best songs ever written in this world.
George and Ringo hardly feature in the book, which seems a bit strange as the book deals with the career of Lennon / McCartney and The Beatles in a strictly chronological order and of course George and Ringo played a major role in that. To be fair though, in the author's notes Giuliano already announces that the book mentions the works of George and Ringo only in passing, without the amount of detail that is given to Lennon & McCartney.
The book describes how John and Paul met, started playing music in Julia's bathroom, wrote their first songs together, became The Beatles, how they worked in the studio, how their relationship grew from bad to worse and briefly describes their song writing after the Beatles broke up. All of this interspersed with quotes and bits of (mostly well known) interviews.
Right from the start, it is very clear that the author likes Lennon a lot better than McCartney. Lennon is always the genius, McCartney always has other motives in anything he does and is just waiting for a chance to take control of The Beatles.
Lennon's music is innovative and (often) provocative, while McCartney writes songs that are sugar coated and suitable for old age pensioners....
In summary, an entertainingly written book, but not a must have.

More nonsense from the king of nonsense
You've really got to wonder why it is that publishers keep turning to Geoffrey Giuliano for Beatles books?

Is it the publishers' assumptions that we only want to read about the seedy underbelly of popstars? Is it because dirty stories sell better than honest ones? Does he come cheap?

The shame of it is that people keep buying them - and to those of you who are lead to believe that he's an expert and writing the truth - it's not so. Geoffrey Giuliano clearly does little real research, he goes on basic stories available anywhere (or dredged up from scandal sheets) and turns them into "history."

Geoffrey Giuliano books offer NOTHING to readers wanting to learn about the Beatles (or any of his other targets). He goes straight for the scummy side of his subjects and where finding not enough, elaborates. Look, I have NOTHING against truth, and there is no value to books that ignore the bad side of a celebrity's life. But to simply focus on dirt, rumor and scandal just to sell books...awful.

Geoffrey Giuliano books are to literature as Jerry Springer is to television. Avoid, please...

Unbelievably bad
Lennon's a genius, McCartney is boring and pretenious, Starr is a no talent hack and Harrison merely a brat... riiiiiiiiiiiiight.

The writing is amatuerish in nature, with an overabundance of exclamation points where none are necessary; a clear bias towards one of his subject matters over the other; and inaccurate information even the most casual Beatle fan would be quick to point out.

Author doesn't stay on the topic implied from the title of the book, that being the relationship between the two men. The subject quickly mushrooms to a boring, shallow book on the Beatles.

Avoid.

Great Book Great Buy
I have always been into the music, but never into the history of it until I got this for my birthday. I have to say I am very thankful for my sister for getting this for me. Now, I am collecting everyone of Giuliano's books. I not only love the history now, but I love his writing. ... Read more

Book Description

Biographers of the late John Lennon have depicted him as being everything from barking mad to sitting at the right hand of God. Alan Clayson's popular biography finds the real Beatle in the myriad of conflicting images. This audio version is packed with all the facts, quotes, and trivia a fan could want, as well as a detailed discography of Lennon's work with the Beatles and beyond. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Quite Informative!
Though, I would not recommend this book for anyone looking for leisure, it is a good book for anyone doing a research project, or looking for facts on John Lennon. I must admit, the book wasn't exactly exciting, but it was highly informative. The basics of the Beatle's starting points were discussed, and a little of John's past as well. Pictures are included, making it a little more interesting. Easy and fast read as well.

Imagine...NOT
There is no imagination or storytelling in this book. It's a dry chronicle that doesn't give you the feeling of his life.

Contains wrong information
This book is historically incorrect. It states that Sean Lennon was born in 1972 when he was actually born in 1975. It also states that John and Yoko broke up during the time after Sean was born. This bothers me, so I would not recommend this book at all. ... Read more

Book Description

Sgt Pepper's Only Dart Board Band are captured playing in pubs to a handful of dedicated followers, at festivals to thousands of revellers, and at weddings to the downright drunk and disorderly. With liberal dashes of tragedy and comedy, this is a romp through the bizarre and hilarious world of tribute bands. Jump on the van as they undertake a magical mystery tour down the long and winding roads of Britain. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

a Must for Beatles fans
I came across this book by chance on holiday in San Francisco. It is the story of a man who spends his spare time as John Lennon in a British Beatles tribute band. The book is hilarious, particularly if you have a liking for absurd humour. It also provides an interesting insight into the music of the Beatles. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

absolute ...
I can’t deny the fact that this book is anything less than what it claims to be—a biography—among countless others, a partial account of John Lennon’s life. Another important fact about this book is that it is an extremely careless attempt. David Stuart Ryan seems content in skimming over most events he recounts rather than attempting to discuss any of them in depth. So what’s the big secret according to Mr. Ryan? He offers nothing more than a pseudo-psychological, amateur, freudian analysis. Ryan claims that since John Lennon didn’t grow up in a “normal” family setting he was perpetually in search of an adept mother and father figure (Cynthia, Yoko and Brian Epstein served as candidates). On another note, if the zodiac’s your thing, you’ll love this book and will be drooling over descriptions such as “Cynthia’s virgoan faithfulness,” and John’s “hedonistic libran inclinations.” Enough already! ... Read more

Book Description

New Music Book Rocks with Insider Insight description by John Darcy-Southern Dutchess News

"Almost Famous," the solid rock-writer movie, seems Hollywooden when compared with another insider's scoop on the music scene.

"Nobody Told Me" relates backroom business deals in the rock and roll world of the 1970's and '80's. It is a fast read that begins in Rockland County (New York) where author Ken Geringer, 46, grew up. While the book traces the author's experiences as musician, manager, record company president and night club owner, it really is Geringer's personal story as a 14-year old runaway, and later husband and father through trying times that is absorbing. How he almost incidentally becomes entangled with the big time while trying to make the rent and raise a family forms a compelling story.

While Geringer's plentiful tales of high times on the music scene are best left unsaid here, other behind-the-scenes stories are the grabber. Geringer's accounts of John Lennon by way of the ex-Beatle's record producer and Geringer's asscoiate, are revealing and add to the Lennon iconography. Geringer's Lennon counters the popular image of the legend as a supremely confident and outspoken artist. As he returned to music after five years' retirement, the late '70's Lennon is uncertain of his talents and abilities. He's bossed about by an autocratic Yoko Ono, a certified control freak if Lennon producer Jack Douglas, the author's friend and source of the stories, is to be believed. (Besides, this is hardly the first time Ono has been cast as a Machiavellian manipulator.)

Most disturbing is Geringer's suggestion that Lennon's eventual return to his old self while recording his comeback album, "Double Fantasy" with Douglas, may have set the stage for his murder. Some, he hints, may have been angered by Lennon's revitalized independent streak, renewed drug use and infidelity as he talks openly of wanting to end his marriage to Ono. His death, according to this line of thought, may have been designed to end all of that independence.

Lennon fans may be shocked, may want to dismiss the book as revisionist and sensationalistic; but Geringer "was there"--not during the Lennon sessions, but later as friend, confidante and managaer of record producer extraordinaire Jack Douglas. In that context, "revealing" seems closer than revisionist.

Lennon spoke freely with Douglas in the studio after the night's sessions ended, Geringer reports, and there are tapes of the talks to prove it. Douglas, who Geringer says intended to give the tapes to Lennon himself, wound up presenting them to Yoko following her husband's death.

Geringer is privy to more than just Lennon lore, given that the Douglas resume includes production or engineering work on records by Bob Dylan, the Band, the Who, Mick Jagger, Aerosmith and Cheap Trick. Other luminaries Geringer encounters along the rock road include an unknown musician who later takes Hollywood by storm. Johnny Depp was a member of The Kidds, a Florida rock band that Geringer jammed with. Depp was a good musician, Geringer observes, and his move from musical stage to movie screen is precipitated when actor Nicholas Cage catches The Kidds performing at an L.A. club.

"Nobody Told Me" borrows its title from a Lennon song of the same name; the Lennon lyric--"Nobody told me there'd be days like this"--reflects Geringer's story perfectly. No one told the author how to get into the music business; he learns the ropes through happenstance, trial and error--direct experience.

Nobody told him how to get out of trouble with thugs or the law, either, those are other stories in this book that, as Lennon sings, point to "strange days indeed..." ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Gift For Hubby
I bought Ken Geringer's Nobody Told Me as a gift for my husband, but after I heard hubby laughing all the way through it, I picked it up. And couldn't put it down.
Not what I expected-not your standard rock 'n roll litany of what drugs we did on what days-but a sensitive and damn funny tale that has what most books of today lack-meaning. The author, although he did work with Lennon's people and did include much insight on John and others, opens the book with his growing up during a time when he learned it was OK to say '---- off' to racist adults, stupid teachers, and the goody-goody kids in his housing development. I am 48 years old and I remember feeling the same way he did (and still do). Nobody Told Me would still be just as great a book even if Ken never met the rock (Lennon, Aerosmith, plus) and reggae (Bob Marley) musicians he wrote about. Sure, there are drugs, but it isn't a 'drug book.' My favorite story is where the author-age 15-and a friend are hitchhiking home holding a 6 foot pot plant after plucking it from where they had it growing in a state forest when a park police car pulls up. But the ranger says only-'this is a state park, boys. It's illegal to pull out our plants.' And he drives away.
Do you remember getting away with...everything? Remember hitchhiking--safely? Remember being 16 and walking down the street, unnoticed, puffing (how shocking!) a Marlboro? Remember those days of innocence and naiveté?
I passed this book onto my 17-year-old son. I want him to understand the world I once lived in, a world I couldn't begin to explain, a world he wouldn't recognize. Okay, cigarettes are bad and maybe pot isn't great either, but we had our freedom. We were free-and encouraged- not only to be ourselves, but we had freedom from fear.
Freedom is what Nobody Told Me is really about. I think we all have a lot to learn from this book (remember learning?) But it was so interesting, wild, and sorry, Ken-cute-it was the most fun I have had with a book in a long, long time. While reading it I got a lot of the same emotions I felt while seeing, reading or listening to: Almost Famous, The Graduate, Alice's Restaurant, Tom Sawyer, Catcher in the Rye, Cheech and Chong, The Smothers Brothers, Lenny Bruce, On The Road, To Kill A Mockingbird, Hair, The Woodstock Movie, To Sir With Love, Billy Jack, anything Hendrix, Dead, Beatles, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and, the Constitution of the United States.
Thanks, Ken, for painting such a vivid picture of a time not-so-long-gone that today's generation will see, understand, and maybe, be inspired to re-create.

A poignant, insider's look at the world of fame
Nobody Told Me: From Basement Band To Jack And The John Lennon Sessions is the true-to-life memoir of Ken Geringer, partner and close friend of Jack Douglas. Geringer recounts his own childhood, his introduction into the world of music, from playing drums in a band with Bob Marley's sister to working with Jack Douglas, John and Yoko, Aerosmith, The Who and much more. A poignant, insider's look at the world of fame and a special tribute to John Lennon and Jack Douglas, Nobody Told Me is very highly recommended reading. ... Read more