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

not bad at all(you know my name,look up the number)
A reviewer (d_pitcock@yahoo.com), as free as a bird, 12/28/2007

pretty good overview of the beatles' recording career and their failed business side. The author is one of those rare people there with the beatles virtually from the very beginning of their storied career to the bitter, lackluster end. the author has a nice,optimistic narration with lots of cool anecdotes about recording,the beatles, and the music business.

Also recommended: no one here gets out alive.

Puts You Right in the Studio
Ken, A reviewer, 07/12/2007

I found this book exciting, fun, and honest. It is absolute must-read material for Beatles fans. The way Emerick describes his first impression of each of the four Beatles is priceless, especially as he compares so-called London sophistication with so-called Liverpool roughness. So are his candid assessments of each of the guys in their subsequent years. So what if he likes Paul best? Maybe he WAS the friendliest. There's just no reason for Emerick to lie. He puts the reader right in the studio as he takes you through the early years, the psychodelic era, and onto Abbey Road and beyond. It's a great read.

Great insights and a great read!
John T, A reviewer, 02/20/2007

'Here, There, and Everywhere' is one of the best books about the Beatles ever written, and it's also totally unique in that it was written by someone who worked intimately with the band during the creation of their greatest recorded works. Geoff Emerick has a fascinating story to tell, and he tells it with refreshing candor and honesty. The writing is clear and gripping, making the book a real page-turner -- you won't be able to put it down once you start reading it. Emerick comes across as humble and unassuming, though he clearly is determined to set the record straight as to who did what. George Martin may have been the guiding force in the recording studio in the early days, and Emerick acknowledges as much, but it appears that he began losing control around the time the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album was recorded. From that point on, Paul McCartney more or less became the band's de facto producer, although it is clear that John Lennon had a lot of say as well, at least as regarded his songs. I thoroughly enjoyed Emerick's detailed descriptions of the basic makeup of each of the four bandmembers as he observed them, up close and personal. John comes across as the complex character he apparently was -- an impatient, moody genius who alternated between kindness and nastiness, depending upon the time of day. In contrast, Paul seems to have the most stable personality and the broadest conventional musical prowess. Emerick doesn't have much to say about Ringo, who he describes as quiet and often sarcastic, but with the occasional burst of insightful comment. But Emerick's interactions with and description of George Harrison are the most interesting, I think, because it gives the reader the opportunity to watch the young, insecure Harrison (who, in the studio, was all too often shown up by an exuberant Paul)blossom into the fine guitarist and songwriter he became in the group's later years, and it's really a pleasure to observe Emerick's admiration of him grow -- a fascinating subtext to an already fascinating book. There are so many great anecdotes here and so many fabulous insights into how the Beatles achieved such a unique sound on record. I highly recommend this wonderful book to anyone with an interest in knowing what the Beatles were REALLY like... and to anyone with an interest in the pop culture of the sixties.

Also recommended: George Martin's ALL YOU NEED IS EARS Barry Miles' MANY YEARS FROM NOW Mark Lewisohn's BEATLES RECORDING SESSIONS

There are better Beatles' books.
Beatlefan, A reviewer, 02/13/2007

This book suffers from too much self congratulation on the part of Mr. Emerick in regards to his role in the Beatles’ recording process. Right from the opening chapter he seems determined to take as much credit as possible for their work. He tends to down play George Martin’s enormous contributions while at the same time inflating his own. George Harrison is also given very little respect. Who knows, I wasn’t there and really don’t know for sure what is fact or fiction. Time has a way of clouding memories and building myths. That is why I would recommend older books written on the Beatles over this one. Hunter Davies’ infinitely more entertaining Beatles' biography is bound to be more accurate. His book was penned in 1968 while the Beatles’ story was still unfolding. There is no chance of rethinking situations through the benefit of hindsight. My suspicion is that Mr. Davies' book gets more to the truth than Geoff Emerick’s does.

Also recommended: Also recommended: THE BEATLES GET BACK by Jonathon Cott (1969), THE TRUE STORY OF THE BEATLES by Billy Shepherd (1964), THE BEATLES by Hunter Davies (1968) and THE LONGEST COCKTAIL PARTY by Richard DiLello (1972)

There are better Beatles' books.
A reviewer, Beatlefan, 02/10/2007

This book suffers from too much self congratulation on the part of Mr. Emerick in regards to his role in the Beatles’ recording process. Right from the opening chapter he seems determined to take as much credit as possible for their work. He tends to down play George Martin’s enormous contributions while at the same time inflating his own. George Harrison is also given very little respect. Who knows, I wasn’t there and really don’t know for sure what is fact or fiction. Time has a way of clouding memories and building myths. That is why I would recommend older books written on the Beatles over this one. Hunter Davies’ infinitely more entertaining Beatles' biography is bound to be more accurate. His book was penned in 1968 while the Beatles’ story was still unfolding. There is no chance of rethinking situations through the benefit of hindsight. My suspicion is that Mr. Davies' book gets more to the truth than Geoff Emerick’s does.

Also recommended: THE BEATLES GET BACK by Jonathon Cott (1969), THE TRUE STORY OF THE BEATLES by Billy Shepherd (1964), THE BEATLES by Hunter Davies (1968) and THE LONGEST COCKTAIL PARTY by Richard DiLello (1972)