Sound Pictures cover art

Sound Pictures

The Life of Beatles Producer George Martin, The Later Years, 1966-2016

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Sound Pictures traces the story of the Beatles' breathtaking artistic trajectory after reaching the creative heights of Rubber Soul. As the bandmates engage in brash experimentation both inside and outside the studio, Martin toils along with manager Brian Epstein to consolidate the Beatles' fame in the face of growing sociocultural pressures, including the crisis associated with the "Beatles are more popular than Jesus" scandal.

Meanwhile, he also struggles to make his way as an independent producer in the highly competitive world of mid-1960s rock 'n' roll. As Martin and the Beatles create one landmark album after another, including such masterworks as Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles (The White Album), and Abbey Road, the internal stakes and interpersonal challenges become ever greater.

During his post-Beatles years, Martin attempts to discover new vistas of sound recording with a host of acts, including Jeff Beck, America, Cheap Trick, Paul McCartney, and Elton John, his creative breakthroughs followed by unprecedented commercial success. Eventually, though, all roads bring Martin back to the Beatles, as the group seeks out new ways to memorialize their achievement under the supervision of the man who has come to be known as Sir George.

©2018 Kenneth Womack (P)2018 Tantor
Entertainment & Celebrities Music Celebrity Heartfelt
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Some details are repeated. The reader needs help with the pronunciation of some words.

Good story

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This book is like the first great biography of a great man love this great read

Great follow up

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It's great on the making of Sgt Pepper. Full of detail, it chronicles the long sessions from a new song being brought in to the enormous amount of takes before it's finally signed off by the group (irritatingly referred to as 'the bandmates') and George Martin. Would they have been as good in 1967 without George Martin? It's hard to say probably not, they would have got there somehow, but the work at Abbey Road was undoubtedly groundbreaking. On 4 track recording machines which was all they had at the time.
Outside the making of Sgt Pepper it's a bit thin and feels a bit rushed and I don't feel as though I know much about the man.
The writing is rather uninviting, and, taken with the poor narration and execrable attempts at doing the accents, it sounds like an account by a solicitor or bookkeeper

Great on the making of Sgt Pepper

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Really enjoying this book!! Fantastic, insight into The Great Producer and his work.

However. The Narrator’s attempt at Accents is TRULY AWFUL!!!

Great Book But The Dodgy Accents Suck!!

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This is a really enjoyable audiobook with a potted history of George Martin’s career from the late 1960s to his passing - You just need to push past Paul Woodson’s wildly eccentric impressions of The Beatles sounding Scottish the Indians musicians and the Maharishi sounding Irish and the EMI recording staff having ‘cock-er-ney’ accents that Dick Van Dyke would be proud of….

Great Story - Slightly Iffy Impressions

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