This time, we're talking about the great 1977 book of that name by author Nicholas Schaffner. This was, and remains, one of my favorite Beatles books, packing in tons of factual information on not just the group themselves but their marketing and their effect on pop culture in the rest of the world. Add to that a whole slew of pictures I have, to this day, never seen anywhere else and you have perhaps the perfect Beatles book!
In 1983, Schaffner also published this essential music reference, THE BRITISH INVASION. With in-depth alphabetical biographies of just about every group or singer that could even peripherally be considered part of the British Invasion (and, in fact, stretching that term to include punk and new wave!), this is a great sourcebook for the casual fan and a must for the researcher.Schaffner went on to write A SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS, the definitive Pink Floyd biography, in the early nineties before his untimely (aren't they all?) death from AIDS. A fan first and an author second, any rock book by Nicholas Schaffner is worth adding to your own collection.
For lots of British Invasion grooviness, I've been hanging out lately at Sonic Pollutions which features not only ultra-rare footage of the Floyd, the Stones, the Hollies and my new faves, the Pretty Things but also some amazingly well-written essays on them for the more obsessive among us. Thanks to Bedazzled! for pointing this new site out to many of us!
Hi!
ReplyDeleteIm Baz, the guy behind the Sonic Pollutions site. Many thanks for your lovely comments here - it is nice to know the videos and writings are much appreciated and enjoyed.
I must say in relation to this post that indeed Nicholas Schaffner was indeed a great writer and certainly one of several inspirations. Its good to know his work has not been forgotten.
All The Best,
BAZ