How The Beatles Rocked The World, by Stephen F Kelly

 Publication May 30, 2024

To paraphrase Dylan, the times were definitely changing.

I went into this book expecting it to generate a virtual jukebox of Beatles' tunes in my head and bring back some fond memories. It did all that but so much more. It's the story of the 1960's as much as it is of the group. The history buff in me rejoiced as it delved into not just the '60s but the preceding times, showing how they helped set the scene for not just the music revolution the Beatles helped herald but why their influence was so powerful. There's a great deal here to take in, so get comfy, put on some Beatles' tunes and simply enjoy this virtual time travel jaunt back into the past.

Oddly enough, the tune that wound up on perpetual loop in my mind as I read wasn't even a Beatles' tune. It was Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin''". The author takes us back to a time when, quite frankly, it sounds like things looked rather empty and bleak for the working class. We're talking England here, of course, but as shown, the situation was much the same around the world, from Liverpool to Moscow to America. Russia, of course, was still very much a closed society at the time, but everywhere jobs were scarce and there was little chance to break out of the sameness of everyday life. Even music choices were limited, the author notes, pointing out that until the ealy 1960's even the fabled Cavern Club was largely limited to traditional jazz. I tend to enjoy jazz but to the youth of the day, well, that was their parents' music. America may have had Elvis, a youthful symbol of rebellion, but at this point in time he was in the Army and not making much music. Even Brian Epsteim, who'd play such a pivotal role in the rise of the Beatles, wasn't particularly interested in rock'n'roll. 

The author does an admirable job blending the times and influence of the Beatles. His tone is generally conversational and easy to read, making it feel personable to the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed his own personal memories of the time, making you feel like you were there as he takes you back in time to visit the Cavern Club which, quite frankly, may have had good acoustics but doesn't sound like a comfortable place to have hung out. Shows the draw of music. Non-British readers may not be familiar with all the British names that pop up but the author does a good job introducing them to us and explaining their roles, so it flowed relatively smoothly. 

One of the things I most enjoyed was that while the focus was obviously on the role the Beatles played, the author also spotlights many of the behind the scenes players, so to speak, reminding us that nothing happens in a vacuum. I particularly liked that the so-called 5th Beatle, Stu Sutcliffe was given not just space but that for the first time I came to fully appreciate how very talented an artist he was and what a loss to the art world his early death was. You'll also read about the role of poetry and how Paul and John were frequent attendees at live readings. Again, a subtle nudge of memory of how their writing skills were honed. Heck, you'll even get a peek at the controversy surrounding the book "Lady Chatterley's Lover", not to mention a recounting of how the various "profane" words, for lack of a better term, were counted and reported. 

Of course, musical groups weave in an out of the narrative, reminding us that that the Beatles weren't operating in a bubble. Dylan, of course, but countless other names as familiar as the Rolling Stones, that are now engraved in our music loving minds, many of which also played the Cavern. See what I mean about the fun virtual jukebox that was playing in my mind along with Beatles' tunes? 

I could, of course, go on and on -- after all, the book is current enough to have included the release of the late John Lennon's "Now and Then" song by Paul and Ringo in 2023 -- but will try to wrap this up. You'll definitely come away with not only a better understanding of the influence of the Beatles but the historical times that set the stage for their emergence. You'll learn what came after. You'll appreciate how chance encounters had momentous impact. The "What ifs..." are countless. You'll also marvel how impressive it really was when Paul McCartney played Russia's Red Square, particularly given what it symbolized. 

Bottom line, a well-researched, quite readable look back. The author includes his own personal memories, too, making this all the more relatable. There is a bibliography of sources used or referenced at the end -- can you imagine how many pages it'd take to list everything Beatles in a bibliogphy? -- as well as an index. Finally, there are photos, b/w in the digital version I read and at the very end. The captions do a good job showing where they fit within, however, and definitely remind us that "A picture is worth a thousand words". Thanks #NetGalley and #Pen&Sword for taking me on this virtual time travel journey that conjured up such an awesome virtual jukebox in my mind. Thoroughly enjoyed it.