"Here, There and Everywhere"!!! BIG Recommendation!

jseth · #1 11-28-2018, 08:55 PM

Had to put this out there for anyone who has not heard about this book...

"Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles", by Geoff Emerick...

Wonderfully written, Geoff starts with a juicy chapter about his first day as "The" main engineer and then getting a vocal sound for John Lennon on "Tomorrow Never Knows", the first song recorded for "Revolver"...

He is so straightforward and not-even-a-little-bit-full-of-himself (!) that this reads really easily... I'm not even all that entranced by recording, but it is fascinating to read about "how they got THAT sound" on various landmark recordings by the band.

If you have any sort of interest in the Beatles, or in recording technique, this book will absolutely thrill you! It has been a wonderful walk down Memory Lane with this tome; many times I've found myself remembering where I was and what I was doing when I first heard a song or album...

Highly recommended!!!

catdaddy · #2 11-29-2018, 08:46 AM

I'll second that. I read the book several years ago. My favorite Beatles-themed tome.

rokdog49 · #3 11-29-2018, 11:57 AM

There was a documentary about this recently.
I don't remember the name. Fascinating stuff.
No question that there was a lot of pioneering being done in the studio with rudimentary tools.

Glennwillow · #4 11-29-2018, 01:03 PM

Hi Jseth!

Great recommendation! I will order that book right now! I never get enough of this kind of information!

Thanks for letting us know!

- Glenn

Bob Womack · #5 11-29-2018, 01:19 PM

It's a good read.

Bob

muscmp · #6 11-30-2018, 01:46 PM

i read it years ago. great book. he just recently passed away.

play music!

hairpuller · #7 11-30-2018, 11:26 PM

Thank you!! I'm on it!
scott

jseth · #8 12-01-2018, 05:06 PM

I'm about 80% through the book now... and it has been wonderful! Such a "walk down memory lane", in many cases, and it's just a gas to read how Geoff got some of the (wht are now) iconic sounds on those later recordings...

Unfortunately, I'm into the section about the White Album's sessions, and things are rapidly falling apart for the Fab Four... this is also when Yoko starts showing up at every session, and I have to admit that I still hold a grudge against the woman, even though I know that John was the one who basically "sold out" for her... still...

Brucebubs · #9 12-01-2018, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jseth

I'm about 80% through the book now... and it has been wonderful! Such a "walk down memory lane", in many cases, and it's just a gas to read how Geoff got some of the (wht are now) iconic sounds on those later recordings...

Unfortunately, I'm into the section about the White Album's sessions, and things are rapidly falling apart for the Fab Four... this is also when Yoko starts showing up at every session, and I have to admit that I still hold a grudge against the woman, even though I know that John was the one who basically "sold out" for her... still...

Yes, makes you realize what an incredible job George Martin did pulling them all back together for 'Abbey Road'.

Glennwillow · #10 12-03-2018, 09:52 AM

Hi Jseth,

I just received my copy of Here, There and Everywhere yesterday and was hooked immediately! The authors write beautifully and the subject matter for me is very interesting. I would have loved to have been a recording engineer myself! And to have worked with the Beatles! Wow!

Great book!

- Glenn

VTexan · #11 12-03-2018, 11:52 AM

...and really recommend it.

That said, there seems to be animus between him and George Harrison that found its way into the writing. Many have said his criticisms of Harrison were unfair, or not quite true to reality.

That said, if you're a Beatles fan this is a must-read.

Glennwillow · #12 12-03-2018, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTexan

...and really recommend it.

That said, there seems to be animus between him and George Harrison that found its way into the writing. Many have said his criticisms of Harrison were unfair, or not quite true to reality.

That said, if you're a Beatles fan this is a must-read.

I will keep the George Harrison criticisms in mind when I read through this. I always liked George Harrison, from what I knew of him, but we are all going to encounter people we connect with, people we don't connect with, people we really like, and people we really don't like. It's human nature.

I will keep an open mind, as much as possible.

- Glenn

jseth · #13 12-03-2018, 08:57 PM

Funny comment about George, as I didn't get that at all from Geoff's book... now, John is another story. Geoff talks about all the different sides of John's personality, and while he's not any sort of psychoanalyst (nor does he portend to be), it sounds as though he got a heaping helping of John's barbed tongue on many an occasion!

I thought he was spot-on with George, just from a listener/fan perspective... took George a long time to come out from behind the shadow of Paul and John... and I'm glad he did, as he wrote some wonderful songs and played wonderfully.

Glad you're enjoying the book, Glenn!

VTexan · #14 12-03-2018, 10:36 PM

He often spoke of George as being standoffish, and never really connecting with him. He also often referred to him as being frustrated over not being able to execute lead guitar solos.

frankmcr · #15 12-03-2018, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTexan

He often spoke of George as being standoffish, and never really connecting with him. He also often referred to him as being frustrated over not being able to execute lead guitar solos.

Well, the first thing doesn't seem like much of a big deal. And I've read in various sources that GH was very self-critical about his playing. I don't get that as "anti-George".