Tune In

The Beatles: All These Years

By: Mark Lewisohn

Narrated by: Clive Mantle

Length: 43 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Tune In is the first volume of All These Years - a highly-anticipated, groundbreaking biographical trilogy by the world's leading Beatles historian. Mark Lewisohn uses his unprecedented archival access and hundreds of new interviews to construct the full story of the lives and work of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.

Ten years in the making, Tune In takes the Beatles from before their childhoods through the final hour of 1962 - when, with breakthrough success just days away, they stand on the cusp of a whole new kind of fame and celebrity. They've one hit record ("Love Me Do") behind them and the next ("Please Please Me") primed for release, their first album session is booked, and America is clear on the horizon. This is the lesser-known Beatles story - the pre-Fab years of Liverpool and Hamburg - and in many respects the most absorbing and incredible period of them all. Here is the complete and true account of their family lives, childhoods, teenage years, and their infatuation with American music; here is the riveting narrative of their unforgettable days and nights in the Cavern Club, their laughs, larks, and adventures when they could move about freely, before fame closed in.

For those who've never read a Beatles book before, this is the place to discover the young men behind the icons. For those who think they know John, Paul, George, and Ringo, it's time to press the reset button and tune into the real story, the lasting word.

©2013 Mark Lewisohn (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Beyond essential . . . a wildly evocative portrait . . . The saga is clearer and richer here than it’s ever been. Lewisohn writes in novelistic detail and with the obvious conviction that none of the previous Beatles biographies have ever been good enough.” (Entertainment Weekly)

“A radical event and a joy to read . . . Lewisohn’s work stands as a monumental triumph, a challenge not merely to other Beatles biographers but to the discipline of biography itself. If only all important subjects had their Lewisohn.” (Washington Post)

“The biggest, deepest Beatles book ever.”—Rolling Stone “The widest possible angle on an extensive and engrossing group biography built on a well-raked mountain of exacting new research . . . expertly controlled and propelling.” (New York Times)

Exhaustive Caro-like saga of the Beatles' origins

much more interesting than I'd ever expected

it is long, and I never lost interest - a real achievement

Mantle's voice characterizations are excellent and dead-on

Fascinating and the 45 Hours Breezed By...

It might be easy to second guess both the content and format of a 45 hour part one of three history of the Beatles, but considering the complexity and the remembrances being decades ago, the author did a noble and credible job.

On top of that, even as a history that is read to the listener, it goes by like a novel, really grabbing your attention and for the most part, keeping it for 45 hours.

My only complaint is that volume II is apparently years away, and volume III? Who knows. But considering this period through 1962 is the most remote and least known, I am sure it will be the most valuable of the three parts, even if 2 and 3 somehow never get completed.

If you are a Beatle fan and grew up in the 1950s or 1960s, this is a must read/listen.

Lewisohn the Sun King

Mark Lewisohn composed the definitive Beatles Bio for the early years, and I can’t wait to hear what happens next.

absolutely phenomenal insight into the Fab Four

absolutely phenomenal insight into the Beatles growing up and developing into the greatest live band in Europe before they reached America

A biographical masterpiece

Any additional comments?

A readable, entertaining, and enlightening exploration of the early Beatles. I began this book not being a big fan of the Beatles. By the end I had gained a keen appreciation of their musical achievement and of their life achievements in surmounting difficult backgrounds. Before reading this book I was completely unaware of the contributions of the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein. I found him a very sympathetic character. Both the author and the reader could not be better. I was sorry when the book was over and I look forward to the next volume.

Great

Truly great. Yes, there are parts where the detail is piled long but the story, the narrative, the reading, are all first rate.I could barely put it down

10 Stars!!!

What made the experience of listening to Tune In the most enjoyable?

Excellent organization, writing and reading performance of the subject matter. There is so much to enjoy about this book and the reading of it. Clive Mantle adopts at least 2 dozen character voices when reading quoted passages, and adds verve and feeling when appropriate. Mark Lewisohn has written with the utmost respect for the material, which is nothing less than the history and evolution of rock music from its various roots. Plus, he paints wonderful pictures of Liverpool, its language, expressions, idioms, manners of speech and lifestyle. Details about The Beatles early groundbreaking tours to Hamburg are fascinating, as well as the many peripheral characters connected to the lives of the Fab Four. Looking forward to reading and listening to Volumes 2 and 3, which I imagine are staggering tasks of writing, judging from the research done on Volume 1.

Best audiobook experience of my life

What an incredible book, incredible writing, incredible performance. I wept when it was over. It's been accompanying me for weeks, and I rush away from family work, and everything else to listen to it.

Superb

this is so good that I've listen to it twice all the way through. An extraordinary book and a wonderful performance on Audible.

Fantastic Reading of the Beatles early days!

I loved this book. It is very well written and researched. The reader is incredible. His accents are right on, whether it be impersonating John, Paul, George, or Ringo or their parents and friends. It is a compelling story and a joy to listen to! I really did not want it to end.