OpenTube

Mark Lewisohn and why writing the real Beatles story just got harder

Word In Your Ear

42,609 views

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
06:30 - The best story of all
08:45 - Writing methodology
12:13 - AI and the Beatles
15:00 - The Woodbine Boys
18:42 - Telegrams, postage and stamps
22:54 - Paul McCartney and Nik Cohn
24:46 - Evolver's audience
26:50 - Tune In, Volume Two
36:19 - I Saw Her Standing There
42:50 - The Beatles and Shakespeare
44:36 - What happens after Paul and Ringo?

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Mark Lewisohn began his Beatles’ trilogy in 2003, the first volume appearing ten years later. He’s hoping the second, Turn On, which covers 1963 to 1966 and every recording session, might be ready by 2031 and working “nine days a week to achieve it, assembling a framework and then sliding it together”. Further good news – his lecture about their life in 1962, Evolver62, is now available on film! “No matter how deep you dig, there’s gold there”. He talks to us here about …

… how you research such an infinite subject and know when to stop

… the one-in-a-million coincidence in the story of I Saw Her Standing There

… the attractive world of telegrams, postage and showbills from the days “when the Beatles were still like us”

... how AI has muddied the waters and misinformation (like “Woodbine’s Boys”) becomes established fact

… “people are reshaping the Beatles’ story as what they want to believe”

… those perilous moments when their career seemed in the balance

… the Beatles v Shakespeare and which has the greater agency

… the Lewisohn work schedule - “6am til bedtime, nine days a week”

… the “rank amateurs” Decca signed the year they turned down the Beatles

… James Brown’s invented spat with Beatles and the struggle to separate fact from fiction

… Paul’s private battle with Nik Cohn

… and the US merchandise disaster, “a book in itself”

https://www.marklewisohn.net/

Order Evolver:62 on these links:
UK
Amazon UK
https://amzn.to/4bP7bGS

US and Canada
Apple TV
https://apple.co/46m6L7x

Google Play
https://bit.ly/4qsUXHy

Fandango at Home
https://bit.ly/45SSvTu

Amazon US
https://amzn.to/4pXf4gL

DVD
https://bit.ly/3Zap37F

And copies of the Tune In book here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beatles-All-...

Tune In (trade edition):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beatles-All-...

Tune In (Extended special edition):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beatles-Thes...

20 Comments

@geraldbrennan7425 5 months ago

Personally, I not worried about Mark Lewisohn dying before he finishes the books, I'm worried abour dying myself before I can read it!

@gilbertgiles 6 months ago

Hang in there Lewisohn! We are with you all the way

@SirFrankieCrisp 3 months ago

I would happily give up my job to deal with the admin work for Mark’s book

@gerrycoogan6544 6 months ago

Brilliant conversation!
It's true that there's something uniquely magical and mesmerising about every detail of the story of The Beatles.

@1rwjwith 6 months ago

The only reason folks get angry at how long it is taking for the comprehensive volume 2 etc.. is THEY ARE AFRAID THEY ARE GOING TO MISS IT! I mean I am 72 and at this rate ….well I wish Mr. Lewisohn good health!

@chris_wright-z4u 6 months ago (edited)

The first book is so utterly superb and this seemingly endless wait for the second is all the more painful because of that. Will the third one ever happen... At this pace I have big doubts.

@The12stringbassist 6 months ago

It will be done when it is done.... WE want it now but we want it to be right.

@artydelrio 3 months ago

5 years!! That gives me time to read vol 1 a few more times and be primed for vol 2.

@samguberman2288 6 months ago (edited)

The Beatles are the gift that keeps on giving. I saw both 62 and Evolver , great shows.

@channelswillbethedeathofyo5925 6 months ago (edited)

Lewisohn is spot on. We are on our way out. We’ve blown it.

@ScottStenten 6 months ago

I got his book tune in on audible and i am at love me do,,, and it is the best book ever,,, i had no idea how amazing this story is,,,,, Big Thanks,, a 40 hour book and i savor every moment!

@maxfinucane5138 6 months ago

The world’s most authoritative and fascinating expert on the Fabs.

@tomnelson2.0 6 months ago

I love that Mark looks into details like the music scene before the Beatles became the band we know

@SteveGad 4 months ago

Having been with David and Mark (Ellen) from the very start (OGWT, NME et al.) it's lovely to just sit and listen to them talk to this incredible author, about The Beatles. It's not too often you get to watch a presentation that features ALL of your favourite people at once.

@basstian 1 month ago

44:08 Everybody who's ever said something like 'a wild-goose chase', 'all that glitters isn't gold', 'break the ice', 'flesh and blood', 'green-eyed monster', 'it's Greek to me', 'star-crossed lovers' or 'what's done is done' is effectively quoting Shakespeare. So yes, he's still that relevant.

@gmb858 6 months ago

As a writer of factual information in different formats, I can confirm with Mark that book writing is the world's longest term paper... that never ends.

@timhall3575 6 months ago

Wonderful stuff. I had the absolute honour of meeting Mark Lewisohn of all places Abbey Road! Studio 3! It was due to the rather strange Art Of McCartney project that I was working on at the time. A drinks and canapes
'do'. Mark gave a wonderful speech. He started by stating that the date we were there in the studio related to absolutely nothing of any note happening in the entire Beatles history. A fallow day! I got to speak to Mark and of course asked him now Vol 2 was progressing.. this was back in 2014! His wife visibly winced when I asked him. I think he replied 'slowly'... Bless him!! I can wait!! thanks for this!:)

@deanadams3099 6 months ago

Cool. I had no idea this project existed on Amazon. $10. I just bought it and it is wonderful.

@edwardmulholland7912 6 months ago

I read the first book and I was stunned by the detail and I liked how the documentation lead the story. I wish you well Mark and I’m looking forward to part two whenever it arrives.