Beatles Books

Paul Du Noyer returns to the pod to discuss his 2015 book 'Conversations With McCartney'.

In June 1989, Paul Du Noyer was contacted by Paul McCartney's office in London and asked to interview the star as they had met once before and enjoyed a good rapport.

In the years that followed, Paul Du Noyer continued to meet, interview and work for Paul McCartney on a regular basis, producing magazine articles, tour programmes, album liner notes, press materials and website editorial. It's likely that Du Noyer has spent more hours in formal, recorded conversation with McCartney than any other writer.

I'm joined for this episode by Steve Matteo -who wrote his book on 'Let It Be' as part of the 33 1/3 series in 2003. We discuss how the book came together and how his view of the album and film changed as the project progressed.

We also share our thoughts on Peter Jackson's 'Get Back' series.

I'm joined by acclaimed music journalist and author Tom Doyle to discuss his 2014 book, 'Man on the Run' an fascinating look at one of Paul's most misunderstood decades, the 1970's.

Tom's book paints an illuminating picture: from McCartney's nervous breakdown following the Beatles' split through his apparent victimisation by the authorities to the rude awakening of his imprisonment for marijuana possession in Japan in 1980 and the shocking wake-up call of John Lennon's murder. At the same time, the book shines a light on the wonderfully varied and thrilling records that Paul and Wings released through this period.

My guest today is renowned music journalist and author Patrick Humphries who joins me to discuss his book 'With The Beatles'.

Patrick interviewed Paul, George and Ringo at various points during their solo careers, and uses this a basis to tell The Beatles story from beginning to end - with particular focus on how the Beatles legacy and impact grew after they went their separate ways.

I'm joined for this episode by Christine Feldman Barrett to discuss her landmark book, 'A Women's History of The Beatles'.

Hers is the first book to offer a detailed presentation of the band's social and cultural impact as understood through the experiences and lives of women. Drawing on a mix of interviews, archival research, textual analysis, and autoethnography, this scholarly work depicts how the Beatles have profoundly shaped and enriched the lives of women, while also reexamining key, influential female figures within the group's history.

More information about this book can be found at https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/a-womens-history-of-the-beatles-9781501348051/