Beatles-Freak's Reviews

November 12, 2015 · 7:00 am

Movie Review: “The Beatles: Parting Ways”

I thought I’d throw one more movie review out here before ending my Prime subscription, but it’s not as much a review of this movie, as a warning not to bother wasting even a free membership to Prime on this one.

The Beatles: Parting Ways – is a 52 minute documentary about the life of the Beatles after their split in 1970. Going in the order of John, Paul, George and Ringo, each of the Beatles is given a little over 10 minutes of air time in this film that seems to take a lot of liberties and uses a lot of stock film footage that was also used in Strange Fruit.

One of the first things that caught my attention was that the makers of this film chose other bands’ music to play as a backdrop to their commentary. Really…The Animals “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” as background music in a Beatles documentary? Warning…there is no Beatles music in this film.

The other glaring (disturbing) error was when the narrator says Ringo and Maureen had 3 sons together – Zak, Jason and LEE! Wrong…just so, so wrong. And for that reason…

I rate this film 1 out of 4 Beetles!

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Tagged as Documentary, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr

November 10, 2015 · 8:30 am

Movie Review: “George Harrison: The Quiet One”

I decided to watch another movie from my free trial Prime membership before I have to cancel it within the next week.

George Harrison: The Quiet One is a one hour documentary on…George Harrison! It really didn’t offer up anything new on ‘the quiet Beatle’ that any real Beatles or Harrison fan wouldn’t have already known or read about before now. Though it was nice to see and hear the thoughts of George Martin and one of George Harrison’s childhood friends.

Add this movie to your freebie list, as I don’t feel that it would be worth the money to rent or buy it unless you’re one of those fans that has to own everything. And for that reason….

I rate this movie 2 out of 4 Beetles!

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Tagged as beatles, biography, Documentary, George Harrison, movie review

November 8, 2015 · 8:36 pm

Movie Review: “Strange Fruit: The Beatles Apple Records”

For the second week in a row, I’m reviewing a movie I found on Amazon Prime. I had signed up for a free 30 day trial subscription and decided that watching free Beatles movies would be a good way to enjoy it. Plus, I’ve been trying to read the same book for the past two weeks and I’m struggling to finish it. I hope to finish it up this week for my review next week.

The Beatles – Strange Fruit: The Beatles’ Apple Records is actually a very well made documentary about the birth and death of Apple records. From Mary Hopkins to Badfinger to James Taylor, this film tells of the talent that passed through the door at 3 Saville. With commentary from Beatles experts and Apple musicians Jackie Lomax and Joey Mullond, and longtime Beatle friend Tony Bramwell, the viewer feels like they are being brought into the inner sanctum.

If you’re feeling lucky, buy or rent this movie on Amazon. If you’re feeling thrifty, sign up for a thirty day free Amazon Prime subscription and be sure to include this film in your list of must-see movies. And for that reason….

I rate this movie 4 out of 4 Beetles!

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Tagged as Apple records, beatles, Documentary

November 2, 2015 · 12:34 pm

Movie Review: Mugshots: John Lennon – Death of a Beatle

I found this movie through Amazon Prime and decided to give it a go. Apparently, “Mugshots” is a whole series of movies about either famous people who have been murdered, famous murderers or famous murders.

Mugshots: Mark D. Chapman – John Lennon: Death of a Beatle – is actually not a bad documentary for Lennon fans, if you can get past the taped interview of Mark David Chapman. But if you are one of the folks that lives by the belief that “he who’s name shall not be spoken”, should also not be heard, then you’re going to have a big problem with this film.

The movie is more of the story of John Lennon, his life growing up and his life as a Beatle. Several very familiar people participated in the making of this documentary, including such names as Pete Best, Bob Gruen, and Scott Muni.

At times, it almost appears as if this is two separate stories being told…that of Lennon and that of his killer, with each of the stories being able to stand on it’s own if it had to. Chapman’s words are haunting…his story is strange…and his reasoning just unfathomable when you hear him tell it. Yet, like a train wreck, it’s hard not to look and listen just to try to comprehend what he did.

If you’re a true Lennon fan who has to know every detail, then yes…watch this film. If you love Lennon, but believe Chapman’s name should not be spoken, then watch Hard Day’s Night.

This documentary is well made, but because of my own personal beliefs on the subject…

I rate this movie: 2 out of 4 Beetles!

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Tagged as beatles, Documentary, John Lennon, Mark David Chapman, yoko ono

October 25, 2015 · 9:10 am

Concert Review: Brian Wilson at the Tropicana, Atlantic City 10/24/2015

Continuing with on my Beach Boys kick….Last night, my husband Craig and I had the great pleasure of seeing former Beach Boy Brian Wilson in concert in Atlantic City, NJ. This is one of the geniuses of the rock world that I’m glad I got to see before it was too late.

How could I say anything bad about this show when Brian opened the show with my favorite Beach Boys’ song, Heroes and Villains. And there I was, wondering if they’d even play it. I actually remember where I was the very first time I heard that song in the mid 80s! (intersection of Rt. 401 and Phoenixville Pike in Malvern, PA. I called the radio station when I got home to find out the name of the song and who sung it. The DJ told me the wrong song, despite my objections, so it took me weeks to track it down.)

Anyway, I digress.

This is a must see show for anyone (notice I didn’t say Beach Boys or Beatles fans?). Even though, Brian remains seated at the piano throughout the show, managing to do only some hand-dancing during several songs, the sound and the rest of the band make this a great show that had the fans dancing in the aisles. Al Jardine is in top form, and his son Matt Jardine sings lead on several songs, letting us all know he has followed well in his father’s sandy footsteps. The only part of the show I could have done without was Blondie Chaplin’s stage antics as he ran about the stage as if he was at a Stones show. But hey, if the rest of the band could tolerate it, who am I to criticize.

Check out Brian Wilson‘s website for the cities and dates on the rest of his tour. You’ll be glad you did! And for that reason…

I rate this concert: 4 out of 4 Beetles!

***After thoughts: I decided to add a little bit more to this review after someone commented on the video from last night’s show of “Heroes and Villains” that I posted on Facebook. Brian’s voice is not at it’s best, but the man has been through a lot in his 73 years on this planet and still suffers the effects of years of dealing with his own health issues. If you want an explanation of his issues, watch the movie “Love & Mercy“. At the same time, Paul McCartney isn’t at his vocal best anymore and after seeing him three times in the past 25 years, I’ve decided not to see him live anymore. I’d rather remember his shows from when Linda was still with him. This was my first (and probably last) time ever seeing Brian Wilson in concert, but I am oh-so glad that I made the trip and spent the money to be able to see a musical genius that, in my opinion, is equal to the likes of the Beatles.

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Tagged as Al Jardine, Atlantic City, Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, Concert

October 21, 2015 · 10:35 am

Just Published: ‘From Me To You’ – a novel set to the hysteria of Beatlemania! | PRLog

Just Published: ‘From Me To You’ – a novel set to the hysteria of Beatlemania!. Garry Berman and Kelly Marie Thompson are excited to announce the release of their first novel written via email about 1960’s pen pals during the British invasion. – PR12504099

Source: Just Published: ‘From Me To You’ – a novel set to the hysteria of Beatlemania! | PRLog

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Tagged as beatlemania, fan fiction, novel

October 18, 2015 · 7:00 am

Book Review: “Miss O’Dell” by Chris O’Dell w/ Katherine Ketcham

Ever since I finished Miss O’Dell: Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton two days ago, I’ve been arguing with myself about how to write this review. I know several people who are still very close to Chris O’Dell and they’re really not going to like what I’m about to say. But hey, it’s my website…

This book is very well written, though it became quite obvious where the co-author decided to add filler…or as I like to put it “too many words”. That’s the good news about this book.

The only real word I can use to describe this book is ‘pathetic.’ This women is the most self-absorbed person I’ve ever read about! She not only spends most of her life as the houseguest that overstays her welcome (Ringo, George and Eric Clapton all wanted her out!), she then refers to their wanting her to leave as them rejecting her. Really?! She justifies sleeping with married men by saying she didn’t expect it to last anyway. And then, BOOHOO, she decides that when Maureen Cox tells her to keep an eye on Ringo in L.A., that’s her invitation to sleep with him. OH NO…she’s lost her friend Maureen! Whatever will she do? Wah wah…

When she finally nabs an aristocrat with a British title, she decides her knight in shining armor has finally arrived after all she’s been through. Needless to say, that marriage only lasted long enough to produce a child to inherit his father’s title.

This is woman who, when she realized Pattie and George & Maureen and Ringo where splitting up, rambles on about not knowing where she’ll stay when she’s in London if their marriages collapse. Nothing like being there for your friends, Miss O’Dell!

Now maybe this Miss O’Dell is a nice lady and I have her all wrong. Then again, maybe she should read the book she wrote and the way she portrayed her narcissistic life. And for that reason…

I rate this book: 1 out of 4 Beetles!

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Tagged as beatles, books, Chris O'Dell, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Miss O'Dell, music review, Ringo Starr

October 11, 2015 · 7:00 am

Movie Review: “Love & Mercy”

“I’ve often played Pet Sounds and cried. It’s that kind of an album for me.” – Paul McCartney

“Rubber Soul inspired Pet Sounds, which inspired Sgt. Pepper’s and that inspired me to make Smile,” – Brian Wilson

Ever since watching Love & Mercy 5 days ago, I haven’t been able to stop Beach Boys songs from playing in my head. The movie has that much of an impact.

There’s no doubt that the Beach Boys were the Beatles biggest rivals (or threat). This friendly rivalry between the bands helped to created four of the greatest albums ever made as Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney were determined to out due each other with their songwriting genius.

Love & Mercy is the heartbreaking story of Brian Wilson. Brian is the oldest of the three Wilson brothers who were the foundation of the Beach Boys, along with their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine. Suffering from anxiety and mental disorders from an early age, Brian became a recluse not only physically, but mentally. But it was within his own self-imposed isolated and demented world that he created Pet Sounds…an album that Rolling Stone magazine ranks as the #2 album of all time!

This is one of those times that I believe that the greatest musicians of the world were given their gift from the universe, as you watch a young Brian Wilson (played magnificently by Paul Dano) struggle with the voices and sounds in his head, and turn them into art.

Get yourself a copy of Love & Mercy…this movie is a must see for any true music fan! And for that reason…

I rate this book: 4 out of 4 Beetles!

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Tagged as Beach Boys, beatles, Brian Wilson, Love & Mercy, movie review, Pet Sounds, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, Smile

October 4, 2015 · 5:10 pm

Book Review: “Ringo: With a Little Help” by Michael Seth Starr

The first thing Michael Seth Starr, the author of Ringo: With a Little Help, is going to tell you is that he’s no relation to Ringo Starr…so let’s get that off the table right now.

I began this book on Monday and went cross-eyed trying to get it read in time to review it by Sunday. Nothing against the book, it’s an easy read, but when I got it on Monday, I expected a large print book with a not so detailed story of Ringo Starr’s life (in actuality, it’s over 350 pages of small print). But how does anyone tell Ringo’s story without telling the entire Beatles story along the way?

Author Michael Starr claims in the introduction that he will not be telling the Beatles story, but I’m here to tell you that he lies. There is plenty of Fab Four details in this book and it occasionally looses it’s direction throughout it’s 350 pages. There’s not a lot of new stuff to be told about our hero Ringo that we haven’t already been told. I’d say I could count on two hands the number of details contained in this book that I was unaware of about the life of Richard Starkey. Most of the stories have been told in other biographies, such as Pattie Boyd’s story of Ringo’s wife’s affair with George (then again…who didn’t sleep with George?).

Still though, it’s nice to finally have a book about Ringo, even if Ringo took to Twitter to inform his fans that this book is an unauthorized biography that “has nothing to do with me”.

The author did seem to have a problem with keeping focused throughout the book and would digress into other stories, and then come back to his topic at hand. The chapters also seem to be a little disjointed and appear more to give the reader a break off point to eat, sleep or pee, then to finish off any particular time period.

Unless you’re an over the top Ringo fan, I would recommend borrowing this book from the library. I don’t believe it’ll ever become a collectors item (but then again, a lot of people thought the Beatles were just a fad too, so who am I to say). I also think the publisher may have randomly missed the editing of a few chapters, as the typos seem to come in clumps.

It don’t come easy…but this book is an easy read. And for that reason…

I rate this book: 3 out of 4 Beetles!

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Tagged as beatles books., biography, Maureen Cox, Michael Seth Starr, reviews, Ringo Starr

October 4, 2015 · 7:49 am

Contest Results! Winner of 6 Beatles books

Good morning Beatles Freaks,

I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone that entered to win these FABulous books! And thank you to all my new followers for signing up to get alerts when I post new reviews each week. I’d also like to take a moment to thank Beatles Examiner, Forgotten Hits, and everyone else that shared this contest on social media. AND, a very special thanks to all the authors: Dee Elias, Jim Berkenstadt, Robert Rodriguez, Al Sussman and Garry Berman.

And now for the winner!

Contest Random Num oct 2015