The Beatles

The Biography

By: Bob Spitz

Narrated by: Alfred Molina

Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Even before the Beatles hit the big time, a myth was created. This version of the Beatles legend smoothed the rough edges and filled in the fault lines, and for more than forty years this manicured version of the Beatles story has sustained as truth, until now.

The product of almost a decade of research, hundreds of unprecedented interviews, and the discovery of scores of never-before-revealed documents, Bob Spitz's The Beatles is the biography fans have been waiting for.

Never before has a biography of musicians been so immersive and textured. We are there in the McCartney living room when Paul and John learn to write songs together; backstage the night Ringo takes over on drums; in seedy German strip clubs where George lies about his age so the band can perform; and at the Ed Sullivan Show as America discovers the joy and the madness. From Shea to San Francisco, through the London night, on to India, through marmalade skies, across the universe, all the way to a rooftop concert and one last moment of laughter and music.

It is all here, the highs and the lows, the love and the rivalry, the drugs, the tears, the thrill, the magic never again to be repeated. Bob Spitz's masterpiece is, at long last, the biography the Beatles deserve.

©2005 Bob Spitz (P)2005 Simon & Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

• Winner of Audio Publishers Association 2007 Audie Award, Non-Fiction, Abridged

"As with all great history writing, Spitz both captures a moment in time and humanizes his subjects. While some will blanch at the unsettling dark sides of the Beatles, most will come to appreciate the band even more for knowing the incredible personal odysseys they endured." (Publishers Weekly)

O-bla-dee;O-bla-dah... Life goes on...

This audio was very well done. This audible tells a version of the Beatles' story which explains the genesis, the genius and the genocide of the group and the interpersonal dynamics. If you idolized John as your favorite Beatle, this account may have you reconsider. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.

insightful

Book was fact filled and provided a good amount of insight on what made these guys click add a group.

also showed how they were manipulated and taken advantage by the sharks of the music business.

An insightful account of the greatest band in rock & roll history

Bob Spitz takes us on a journey that we thought we knew. Filled with anecdotes that show the Beatles’ humanity as well as their human failings, we are on board their remarkable journey from its beginnings until its end. But of course there is no end as the Beatles’ music lives forever.

Good but not quite enough

Good overall survey. A few more details along the way would be nice. Just not quite enough.

This is a MUST

For those of us who thought they knew the true story of The Beatles, think again.

You've heard all the tripe: " get this... it is the definitive version, rah rah" well, believe the hype - it's true. A truly remarkable piece of journalism.

I wished the story hadn't concluded so quickly - but then I feel the same way about The Beatles. On one hand they should have done another few albums; on the other they had each out grown the other, so we are lucky that Abbey Road and Let It Be were ever created.

These days, if a band has more than three hit songs they are Legends. And more often the New music is a rehash of OUR music.

Just how lucky were we to have had The Beatles as OUR music?

And how lucky are we to have this book to fill in all those gaps. Do yourself a favour and have a listen.

But first fill your IPOD with Beatles songs and listen to them as they are mentioned.

Unreal.

Entertaining and Educational

Loved it! So many great stories. I thought I knew a lot about the Beatles before this book, but I only scratched the surface. This book has it all.

Why is it abridged?

Too much was cut from the original book - this just skimmed the surface.

Stellar storytelling

Bob Spitz's book was meant to be read by Alfred Molina to whom I'd give more than five stars. Never dull, never a drop in the amazing story of the Fab Four from childhood to the breakup.

The Most Complete & Accurate Bio

Just finished listening for my second time and completely enjoyed it again! So we’ll written and researched and read!

It’s great listening to the English accent who actually does very nice “subtle” voice changes when quoting John, Paul, George or Ringo.

Highly, highly recommend!!

Great, listen!

I really enjoyed it. Too bad it’s abridged. I would’ve been happy to listen to it for many more hours.