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)

wow

this is a great very detailed story about the Beatles in the beginning. I cannot wait for part 2.

Never thought it would keep my attention.

It's 44 hrs. of Beatles and Beatles family history. When I bought it I'm thinking some of this could be interesting. I never lost interest from page 1. Well written and well narrated. I learned more about how the Beatles became the Beatles than all the other books I've read about them.

Massive Research Pays Off!

The time it took Mark Lewisohn to do the research for this book must have been immense, but it paid off. By far the most comprehensive book about the Beatles. Starting with a short history of their family trees, he then starts with the births of all four and their upbringing, their childhoods, teenage years, and the times they first met each other. Their attempts to start a band (one of the first names for John, Paul, and George as a trio was JPAGE 3), meeting Ringo, going to Hamburg. Lewisohn even devotes chapters to Brian Epstein and George Martin with an extensive background on each. This audio book is LONG, but if you have the time it will be rewarding. There are so many things you THOUGHT you knew about them you'll find were wrong, and so many things you didn't know about them that will be enlightening, an absolute treat. And at over 43 hours for the audio book and 1500+ pages for the printed version, keep in mind that this is Volume 1. It ends at the beginning of 1963 before the US even knew who they were. There are still two more volumes that Lewisohn plans to release!

The greatest story ever told

Written perfectly. Read perfectly. I cannot wait for vol. 2, and I’m already sad that once it’s released I’ll have another seven year wait for vol. 3. I know lots of people want to write about the Beatles, but Lewisohn is making it unnecessary for anyone else to do so for at least a hundred years.

Great Music Details

This book is highly detailed and informative, all be it a very long and detailed book, the only drawback is the length of time it takes to listen to the voice before it becomes droning...

narration is gear

the narration of this material is just brilliant. I can be cynical and dismissive.... finding anything wrong with the presentation is difficult for me. truly well done

A great book about the greatest band ever!

Just like The Beatles, from the beginning to the end, this book is truly magnificent!

Excellently Written and Researched

This is the definitive Beatles biography. Excellently written and researched and superbly narrated. The only complaint I have is this is a very detailed year-by-year chronicle of the early Beatles covering up to 1963, part one of a three-part biography. Part two is not likely to be out until 2023 at the earliest. After 44 hours of listening, hate to say it, but I wanted more.

You Have to Tune In!

One of the best music biographies on planet earth!
This is the second time I've listened to this and at almost 44 hours its a huge undertaking but extremely rewarding, The skill with which its all put together is breathtaking and compelling to listen too, You really feel those times in Liverpool and Hamburg and original drummer Pete Best is fully included and his part in the early years of the Beatles from August 1960 to August 1962 is covered in depth, Going back to the individual childhoods of all the Beatles greatly adds to the journey to, Ringo's early life is pretty heartbreaking and the author has done a stella job of explaining the Beatles in volume one!! I wholeheartedly look forward to volumes 2 & 3 at some future date.
Highly Highly recommend 👌

In My Life

In my life, no musician has come close to influencing so many. While Elvis influenced the Beatles as a pioneer, the Beatles took rock and pop music much further across the music universe. And the Beatles influenced culture on a much grander scale. I cannot think of anyone who has come close.

This book is inspiring and fascinating, to look at where the Beatles came from and how they came together. If you like the Beatles, you will love this book with one proviso: you may not be quite so interested in as much detail as the book provides.

The world's foremost Beatles historian, a Doctor of Beatlosophy, Mark Lewisohn, has published the first volume of his trilogy in Beatles Bible. Volume I takes you through the formative years of the band, John, Paul, George and Ringo up through the end of 1962.

When I was considering purchasing this, I looked at the Beatles' music over the years and I could not pass up a chance to listen to this. I hope that once Lewisohn has completed the trilogy a great documentarian like Ken Burns will pick this up and take this to another, higher form of media in words, sounds and pictures/film.

I thought the narrator could have used a little more liveliness because when the book gets bogged down in so much detail, his monotone delivery makes it seems boring and even induces drowsiness.

Overall, a great purchase!