My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles - Here - There and Everywhere

Good behind the scenes information/stories of the Beatles, 1st person accounting of the creative process, relationships, quirks, etc. Sometimes a bit self-serving, but otherwise a very entertaining, insightful read. I learned a lot about my favorite band ever!

I so enjoyed "Here, There and Everywhere when I checked it out from the local public library that I had to purchase it. Emerick's story presents a unique, insider viewpoint. As I am a pro musician and have recorded, I find all of this fascinating. And unlike some of the negative reviewers of this book say, I don't find that Geoff Emerick takes credit for the Beatle's work. He's simply a pro, letting us in on some of the fun, creative years he spent working with them. There's a nice sense of awe, of the young man being confronted with great challenge, and the fun he had in satisfactorily meeting the requirements of his illustrious employers. Although I was surprised at some of his take on the individual Beatles, it overall seems believable; again, unlike some of the negative reviewers who felt he was "down" on certain of their favorites, it doesn't come across that way if you read the entire book. He had a lot of respect for them.

A fascinating book for anyone who's interested in musical production, recording, radio, pop music, or the Beatles. It's much more about the studio experience than it is about the Beatles personally - not at all from a fan perspective, (although Emerick was awed by them.) It is this real world (non-fan) perspective that is so wonderful.

Just one caveat - if you like photos, the paper back version omits the photos that I remember from the hard cover edition. The only photos in this are those that appear on the front and back covers.

For the Beatle fan as well as the audiophile, this book provides an insight on the history of The Beatles that has never been told before. In the memories and words of the man that broke every recording rule of the 60s and the 70s to record the music of the most successful band in history, Geoff Emerick tells the intimate story of how he helped give The Beatles their unique sound. After you finish this book, you will never listen to another song by The Beatles the same way again.

Mr. Emerick gives us a humble yet inside account of his recording career with the most famous group of our time. Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down. Then, once you're finished, you will use it as reference while you re-listen to the music all over again.

Enjoy!

Very interesting story about the recording industry in general and especially the Beatles' albums. Sheds light on the personalities of the Fab Four. The only thing I didn't like was the author occasionally indulged in some personal axe grinding about people he clashed with, like Phil Spector. But at least he was honest about his feelings. I recommend this book for anyone who grew up in the 1960s and wondered how albums were being produced. And by the way, George Martin is the only person who contributed enough to be called a "fifth Beatle", and you only need to read this book to see that.

I thought this was a fascinating book. You get an insiders view of how the Beatles songs came together technically, politically, and creatively. It has great details on the inner politics of their teamwork and the songs they created. I still go back and reference it for research.

My Beatles library now spans over 30 volumes and, up until this point, I had credited George Martin with developing the "Beatles sound." Though it occasionally suffers from poor editing (a minor quibble), here finally is the *real* story of how such revolutionary recording techniques as backward vocals/guitar, tape loops, ADT, and vocal-through-the-Leslie came into being--by the cleverness of the unheralded Geoff Emerick.

Thankfully, this book doesn't get into the Beatles' lives outside of Abbey Road studios; I've read enough about their Liverpool and Hamburg accounts, of Brian Epstein, the Maharishi and how Yoko purportedly destroyed the group. Rather, like Andy Babiuk's fastinating contribution, this book focuses on the most important aspect of the Fabs' career--the tremendous musical heritage they left behind and how it came into being. Well done, Geoff!

Well worth the read, from an author who was there during their recording sessions, and running the knobs. Great insight and stories. Well worth the read, or to add to your collection, of Beatles memorabilia.

Geoff Emerick has added an important volume to the canon of writings on the world's greatest rock band. As recording and mixing engineer for The Beatles' most important works (Sgt Pepper, Abbey Road, etc), he was an active participant in the then-new concept of using the studio as an instrument. In this well-written book, he shares his sharp memories of those sessions in the straightforward manner of a decent bloke sharing a pint at the local pub, and really transports you to those historic times. Emerick is-unfairly in my opinion-harsh in his criticism of Harrison's musicianship, and there are sure to be discrepancies regarding who takes credit for what, but all in all, it's a page-turner for Beatleheads everywhere. Those with no interest in the technical/creative aspects of the recording process may not be as enthralled.

As a recording enthusiast, this story of the Beatles' recording engineer is captivating and riveting. It not only explores how the albums he worked on were done, but also provides excellent insight into what John, Paul, George, and Ringo were like to work with. Excellent!

Loved every minute I spent reading this cover-to-cover. It provides valuable insights into how the Beatles' music was created and the roles of the key players. Will have a positive impact on my own music production processes and results.

I really found this book interesting and i do recommend it. YOu can find out all about it from other reviews. My only problem with this kind of book is that the writers generally fall in love with McCartney and view the rest as a pain. Same deal here..in fact he was so dismissive of Ringo that he was not even included on the cover. Just a shot of the 3 Beatles is shown...but as we know, there were actually 4 Beatles. He also disses Harrison wherever there is a reference to him which gets tedious after the 15th time. Of course he loves Paul..he even loved Pauls dog, his wife and every idea Paul ever came up with. Other than this however, the book is jammed with great insights to the mood of the sessions and dispells many Beatle myths...such as the one that Paul played the drum solo on Abbey Road...It really was Ringo after all..its very well written and fun to read. Highly recommended ..other than the annoying parts.

I absolutely love the way Geoff describes his days with the Beatles in the recording studio. It is very interesting to hear stories of how the band behaved during recording sessions. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the Beatles and wants a fesh look at their recording days.

Simply put, outstanding book. I appreciate so much more the contribution of recording engineers in general, not to mention Mr. Emerick. Like the Beatles themselves, his work stands the test of time. A fresh listen to Abbey Road, Band on the Run, or Revolver is warranted! And to think what's technically available now compared to then!

I learned that The Beatles could have been the first Simon and Gartfunkel duo. Ringo was a mediocre drummer and George was lucky that Paul brought him in to the band. It confirmed my suspicions that they stop performing live when could not play most of their studio made music. From Rubber Soul (1965) on, they became "studio"artists. They said they stopped touring because could not hear each other playing (true); but George did not play Drive my car, Taxman, While my Guitar..., and other songs that should have been played in a concert. George made some great songs, but Paul and John were the brain and heart of the group. It is also hard to believe that they missed Woodstock because they had perform at a different place. In most rock bands, the lead guitar is the virtuoso of the group, but George wasn't, and as someone said, Ringo wasn't even the best drummer in the band.
Geoff let us know that The Beatles' last 4 years was a period of drug experimentation, John's arrogance and fantastic lyrics in harmony with special effects music.

You will get more genuine insight on the Beatles from this book than from any other (IMO). Simply put, Emerick was there working along side the Beatles.

Almost all the other Beatles books were written by authors and fans - people who just collected facts and analyzed the Fab Four. This book separates itself from those because it is written by an actual insider who WORKED WITH THE BEATLES and can give an EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT on the Beatles themselves.

I am amazed at the details Geoff Emerick spells out as he takes you through an autobiographical account on the making of various Beatles albums. It is as if he kept a diary and is now sharing it with you. His stories are filled with strong specifics and emotions that capture the time and events.

I really like Emerick's own perspectives on the Fab Four:
McCartney - The unquestioned leader in the studio and most talented musician
Lennon - The temperamental intellectual artist with great chaotic vision
Harrison - 2nd tier Beatle - always struggling on guitar, but eventually matured
Ringo - Not nearly as jovial as seen on camera - much more aloof

THE ONE CAVEAT is that Emerick also delves into the politics and recording processes at EMI (Abbey Road) Studios. I find this to be just as interesting since I am a musician myself. But if you are not fond of the technical aspects of how a song is made, then this may not be the best book for you.

Not for the casual fan, this book delves into how the records were made, layer by layer. You also get a flavor of the moods of the Beatles during this time as well as insight into the creative process. I marked up several pages and passages because they made me want to go back and listen to the vinyl recordings to see if I could pick up on some of the subtleties he talked about.

After reading this book I think you might agree the Beatles were the most creative, prolific band of all time... it really hits you in the face when you consider the limitations of the technology, the sheer number of songs...the melodies. Emerick was one lucky guy for sure... Beatles 4 ever!

Excellent book by Mr. Emerick by someone who was "there". The reviewers below nicely sum up my oberservations, save the one reviewer who commented about inaccuracy (Emerick was a key contributor to Anthology and other Beatle historical documentation!). His accounting of historical recordings will drive you back to your CD player (or, as he strongly prefers vinyl) to listen to what he describes (e.g. Patti Harrison providing background scream in Yellow Submarine). Buy it and "listen" ...

Everyone knows of George Martin's relationship with The Beatles but many probably do not know Geoff Emerick, who was initially an incredibly young assistant when the Beatles came into EMI and he eventually graduates to become the engineer for many of the Beatles records. He offers an interesting and critical eye of the Beatles primarily from a working relationship. He is obviously a deep admirer of Lennon and McCartnery resulting in a more critical eye for Harrison and Starr. In the case of the latter two, some may be sensitive of his comments particularly when he makes sharp comments such as calling Harrison a "ham fisted" player on some recording attempts. However, he is comparing George and Ringo with John and Paul, which is an unfair comparison. Thus he views the Fab Four warts and all through studio time with only some personal contacts, mostly with with Paul who he obviously admires for his technical musical ability and his perfectionist preferences that later contribute to antagonize his mates by the end of the Beatles run. In Lennon he notes his sharp wit along with his quick sarcasm that could be searing at times and in contrast to McCartney his requests for a special sound was expressed in more intangible terms, perhaps due to a natural perception of music in contrast to a purely technical sense, that took more time to determine by an engineer what could be done to create the sound he wanted. Of course Emerick explains in great detail how he enhanced the Beatles sound particularly as they continually wanted to develop a unique sound and to experiment to create the music they wanted. The book evolves through the course of the group's albums, and Emricks notes that chaos picks up steam during the White Album as the group virtually peaks, as Emerick briefly quits working with them. Emrick claims a lack of enthusiasm with Harrison's songs, previously admitted by Martin in the early days, that often led to less then perfect play by John and Paul, which Emrick later admits was difficult for George's confidence. However, by Abbey Road, Emrick notes that the Beatles could still pull of their great vocal harmonies and he recognized that Harrison became a very accomplished guitar player and song writer of merit and that Ringo, cajoled into entering the spotlight, provides the great drum solo. The book is a somewhat self serving for Emrick and it may be that he himself is a perfectionist, which may be why he has such great admiration for McCartney. Interesting look of the fab four who literally lived in the studio and Emerick was virtually on the deck as the Beatles split into different directions. Emerick also covers his realationships with the Beatles after the break, particularly with Paul, but the magic of the book is when they were still "The Beatles". I particularly enjoyed McCartney's quite glib comment to Yoko who constantly referring to The Beatles in the third person such as "Beatles must do this or that". His response, according to Emrick, "Actually, it's 'The Beatles', Luv."

I absolutely love the way Geoff describes his days with the Beatles in the recording studio. It is very interesting to hear stories of how the band behaved during recording sessions. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the Beatles and wants a fesh look at their recording days.

Geoff Emerick takes you into the studio during recording sessions for a behind the scenes look at how the Beatles worked (and played) and those who worked closely with them. This book is a Magical Mystery Tour/Trip !!!

Simply put, outstanding book. I appreciate so much more the contribution of recording engineers in general, not to mention Mr. Emerick. Like the Beatles themselves, his work stands the test of time. A fresh listen to Abbey Road, Band on the Run, or Revolver is warranted! And to think what's technically available now compared to then!

I learned that The Beatles could have been the first Simon and Gartfunkel duo. Ringo was a mediocre drummer and George was lucky that Paul brought him in to the band. It confirmed my suspicions that they stop performing live when could not play most of their studio made music. From Rubber Soul (1965) on, they became "studio"artists. They said they stopped touring because could not hear each other playing (true); but George did not play Drive my car, Taxman, While my Guitar..., and other songs that should have been played in a concert. George made some great songs, but Paul and John were the brain and heart of the group. It is also hard to believe that they missed Woodstock because they had perform at a different place. In most rock bands, the lead guitar is the virtuoso of the group, but George wasn't, and as someone said, Ringo wasn't even the best drummer in the band.
Geoff let us know that The Beatles' last 4 years was a period of drug experimentation, John's arrogance and fantastic lyrics in harmony with special effects music.

You will get more genuine insight on the Beatles from this book than from any other (IMO). Simply put, Emerick was there working along side the Beatles.

Almost all the other Beatles books were written by authors and fans - people who just collected facts and analyzed the Fab Four. This book separates itself from those because it is written by an actual insider who WORKED WITH THE BEATLES and can give an EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT on the Beatles themselves.

I am amazed at the details Geoff Emerick spells out as he takes you through an autobiographical account on the making of various Beatles albums. It is as if he kept a diary and is now sharing it with you. His stories are filled with strong specifics and emotions that capture the time and events.

I really like Emerick's own perspectives on the Fab Four:
McCartney - The unquestioned leader in the studio and most talented musician
Lennon - The temperamental intellectual artist with great chaotic vision
Harrison - 2nd tier Beatle - always struggling on guitar, but eventually matured
Ringo - Not nearly as jovial as seen on camera - much more aloof

THE ONE CAVEAT is that Emerick also delves into the politics and recording processes at EMI (Abbey Road) Studios. I find this to be just as interesting since I am a musician myself. But if you are not fond of the technical aspects of how a song is made, then this may not be the best book for you.

Not for the casual fan, this book delves into how the records were made, layer by layer. You also get a flavor of the moods of the Beatles during this time as well as insight into the creative process. I marked up several pages and passages because they made me want to go back and listen to the vinyl recordings to see if I could pick up on some of the subtleties he talked about.

After reading this book I think you might agree the Beatles were the most creative, prolific band of all time... it really hits you in the face when you consider the limitations of the technology, the sheer number of songs...the melodies. Emerick was one lucky guy for sure... Beatles 4 ever!

Excellent book by Mr. Emerick by someone who was "there". The reviewers below nicely sum up my oberservations, save the one reviewer who commented about inaccuracy (Emerick was a key contributor to Anthology and other Beatle historical documentation!). His accounting of historical recordings will drive you back to your CD player (or, as he strongly prefers vinyl) to listen to what he describes (e.g. Patti Harrison providing background scream in Yellow Submarine). Buy it and "listen" ...

Everyone knows of George Martin's relationship with The Beatles but many probably do not know Geoff Emerick, who was initially an incredibly young assistant when the Beatles came into EMI and he eventually graduates to become the engineer for many of the Beatles records. He offers an interesting and critical eye of the Beatles primarily from a working relationship. He is obviously a deep admirer of Lennon and McCartnery resulting in a more critical eye for Harrison and Starr. In the case of the latter two, some may be sensitive of his comments particularly when he makes sharp comments such as calling Harrison a "ham fisted" player on some recording attempts. However, he is comparing George and Ringo with John and Paul, which is an unfair comparison. Thus he views the Fab Four warts and all through studio time with only some personal contacts, mostly with with Paul who he obviously admires for his technical musical ability and his perfectionist preferences that later contribute to antagonize his mates by the end of the Beatles run. In Lennon he notes his sharp wit along with his quick sarcasm that could be searing at times and in contrast to McCartney his requests for a special sound was expressed in more intangible terms, perhaps due to a natural perception of music in contrast to a purely technical sense, that took more time to determine by an engineer what could be done to create the sound he wanted. Of course Emerick explains in great detail how he enhanced the Beatles sound particularly as they continually wanted to develop a unique sound and to experiment to create the music they wanted. The book evolves through the course of the group's albums, and Emricks notes that chaos picks up steam during the White Album as the group virtually peaks, as Emerick briefly quits working with them. Emrick claims a lack of enthusiasm with Harrison's songs, previously admitted by Martin in the early days, that often led to less then perfect play by John and Paul, which Emrick later admits was difficult for George's confidence. However, by Abbey Road, Emrick notes that the Beatles could still pull of their great vocal harmonies and he recognized that Harrison became a very accomplished guitar player and song writer of merit and that Ringo, cajoled into entering the spotlight, provides the great drum solo. The book is a somewhat self serving for Emrick and it may be that he himself is a perfectionist, which may be why he has such great admiration for McCartney. Interesting look of the fab four who literally lived in the studio and Emerick was virtually on the deck as the Beatles split into different directions. Emerick also covers his realationships with the Beatles after the break, particularly with Paul, but the magic of the book is when they were still "The Beatles". I particularly enjoyed McCartney's quite glib comment to Yoko who constantly referring to The Beatles in the third person such as "Beatles must do this or that". His response, according to Emrick, "Actually, it's 'The Beatles', Luv."

Geoff Emerick lived a dream and helped The Beatles create the music that continues to resound... Very interesting and well-crafted read... Lots of backstories about the band and the songs that never seem to get old. One of the very best books on The Beatles that I have ever read!

I purchased this book recently so I could add one more book to my list of Beatles books I have read. I must tell you I am blown away by Geoff's book. It is the definitive insiders book on the Fab Four. Since I started reading it I can't put it down- in fact, I'm sure that I'll read it again to make sure that I didn't miss something. I have always liked George Harrison, but Geoff's insight into the man behind the myth is very revealing. If you are a Beatles fan or a student of recording techniques, buy this book. It iS the best Beatles book I have ever read.... I I have read Many over the years. Congratulations Geoff on a Phenominal Book!!!!!!!!!!

A first-rate memoir of The Beatles recording at EMI by one of their best engineers. Emerick captures the spirit of the times and the music perfectly. And to think he more or less fell into the job; he simply went and applied at EMI with no prior experience and worked his way up to engineer. The only baffling thing is that he refused to play a piano bit for a Beatles song. Well, that and his acceptance to go to Africa with Paul McCartney and Wings to record. The trip nearly killed all of them...it was a terrifically bone-headed idea. In any case, this book is a must-have for all Beatles fans and for anyone interested in music recording of the 1960's. By today's standards the technology was downright primitive, but by God it worked!

I very much enjoyed this book. There were lots of insights into what really happened in the recording studio during all of those great recording sessions. I also liked how the book followed Paul to Nigeria during his Band on the Run album. Awesome - and a must read.

What an excellent book! Geoff really gives such an honest portrayal of his work, not just with The Beatles, but certainly that's the thrust of this book since he spent a good deal of time with them in the studios at EMI. The book is full of wonderful treasures, such as how he came to love music as a youngster, and what interested him so much about the various types of music. These things and his early knowledge are what got him into EMI at age 15 as an apprentice engineer. He began to learn the ropes of the recording business as it was in London at that time when The Beatles were just coming onto the scene. Geoff explains in simple terms some of the procedures and foibles of the recording industry, and how EMI operated, often "behind the power curve" of the emerging technology of the day. He delves into his relationships with The Beatles as individuals also, some good, some not so good. It is an honest assessment of a slice of history we could all be curious about. Geoff does a great job of lifting the curtain for much more than just a casual and quick peek into the record business, and the nuts and bolts that made things happen for the greatest rock band in history, (in my opinion.) Without this look into Geoff's talents into engineering in the studio, we might never have known some of the "secrets" of how and why The Beatles sound was so captivating. Yes, a lot of it obviously was them. But a lot of it also was behind the scenes in the studio, pursuing the exact sound they themselves envisioned. Geoff did a great deal to make that happen for them, and his story is fascinating.

This book was amazing. Really provided huge insight into the beatles and recording techniques. I have a newfound respect and understanding of the importance of music producers in the music creation process. As a songwriter and musician, I'm learning some recording techniques, and I can tell you it's not easy. Having a great music producer can be the difference between a great song versus a mediocre one. This book provides insights into how music was recorded for the beatles. Several things were covered in the book including:
- Microphone techniques
- How the beatles would collaborate in the studio
- Insights into their personalities
- the good and bad times with the beatles

It was much more than just a book on recording with the beatles. It was about the people involved, and reflecting on a great era of music.

This book feels much like peeking behind the curtain. In some ways, it's almost disappointing on the surface; diehard fans of the Beatles would prefer to think of every last intricacy of an album like Sgt. Pepper's as intentional genius. Discovering how much serendipity played a role might un-deify the Fab Four a tad, but only momentarily. By the book's end, you're likely to have an even deeper appreciation for what had been accomplished.

However, this book is certainly far more about Geoff Emerick than it is the Beatles, which, as obvious as it may seem, still feels to bear mentioning. It's simply that they play so large a role in his own story that they are front and center for the vast majority of the book. But the revelation here is in how large a role Emerick himself played in the groundbreaking sounds of the Beatles, particularly in albums like Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's, albums that are also often seen as turning points for the band.

As a recording and mixing engineer as well as a music production student myself, I find it fascinating how Mr. Emerick may very well have been the man to invent the close-miked drum kit, and how many other now-typical studio practices may have been birthed in those sessions with the Beatles.

My only mild criticism is in how the timeline of the story seems to get slightly disjointed in the latter third or so of the book. It's understandable as Emerick wants to go into some great detail about events that spanned long periods of time before later returning to an earlier time period to touch on something else, but it did feel a little distracting here and there.

At any rate, even studied Beatles historians are likely to learn new tidbits in this book as it's a nuanced look behind the curtain from the horse's mouth. There's no technical barrier to entry, though musicians and recording engineers are likely to glean just a little bit more from Emerick's insight.

It's ultimately a solid read that has made me far more interested in the music of the Beatles than I had been before.

I finished this book a few days before hearing the news about Sir George Martin's passing. Geoff Emerick was there at the creation of most of the Beatles' recordings, though sometimes his modesty undercuts his role in what came out of the studio and onto tape. I was occasionally troubled about methods, motivations, and meanings behind what Sir George did or how he interacted with others during those years. But what I gained in understanding about the process, the thinking that went into even the early more primitive work... well that was worth the price of admission. A long-time music insider noted that Sir George was at the turning point from the time when raw talent (and a good song or two) determined what made a hit record to the time when the sheet music, the voices and the instruments were more elements on a palette to be created into something more than the sum of its parts.

Geoff Emerick's book is a watershed of insight into The Beatles recordings at Abbey Road. From the beginning of text until the end the book hooks you and keeps you enthralled in the story. I have read a lot of books about The Beatles, but this is a great read because its from the point-of-view of someone who was there and contributed to creating The Beatles unique sound and style. Also, the story of Geoff's life is a fun read too. His story is fasinating and fun to follow. For anyone who is a fan of The Beatles music I highly recommend this book. Have fun and tune-in as the ride begins and takes you on a magical mystery tour.

This book was recommended to me by Ken Dashow (DJ at Q104.3FM in NYC). I started reading this book with the hope of learning what the Beatles songs were about. I was pleasantly surprised when it detailed more about how the Beatles worked and created their music (and craft). I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any Beatles fan.

Excellent book. Gives new insight into the stories behind the Beatles records. I listen to the songs differently now after reading the backgrounds and also what the Beatles were really like as people.

How many Beatles books can you read before they all seem the same? This was a fantastic book and from such a different point of view. At times I felt like I was sitting in the recording studio. I enjoyed this and believe most Beatles fans would.

I hesitated for quite a while before getting this book because of the negative reviews here. Frankly, I think it's some of the reviewers themselves who have been unfair to Mr. Emerick. This is undoubtedly one of the best Beatles books that exist, even though it may contain some inaccuracies. Those who don't like it criticize because Mr. Emerick gave some very raw accounts of their idols' bad behavior. But whose book is it? It's Mr.Emerick's! He only wrote what he saw with his own eyes and what he thought and thinks. He knows better than any of us. He didn't write the book to please everyone (maybe that's why he waited so long).