The man who gave the Beatles away

by Allan Williams

Signed BY Alan Williams, November 1978!!

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography

216 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Allan Williams was a British businessman and promoter who was the original booking agent and first manager of The Beatles.

Reviews

[*TUDOR^QUEEN* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a very long time ago, in the 1970's. I remember finding it in my local library. It was probably the first book I ever read about The Beatles. Allan Williams was a Welshman, and the first Beatles manager. He owned a coffee bar in Liverpool where the future Beatles often hung out. As a side business venture, he would assemble rosters of local musical talent and present them in shows. This is how The Beatles wound up performing for months in Hamburg, Germany, which was very crucial to their later success. When The Beatles played in Hamburg, they had to play for very long hours at a time. The German manager of the club would urge them to "Make show!" and The Beatles learned how to perform in an exciting fashion that really stirred the audience up. They even wound up recording a record in Hamburg, backing Tony Sheridan on the song "Ain't She Sweet". People who had seen The Beatles perform in Liverpool prior to them going to Hamburg were blown away by the maturation of their musical performance upon their return. The influence of Allan Williams is one of the first pieces of the puzzle in the history of The Beatles' rise to stardom.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great memoir about the early days of The Beatles, written by their first manager. It is gritty as hell, describing their early days in Liverpool, when they were dirt poor, to playing clubs in Hamburg, Germany (where they really got their act together, so to speak). You see them as they were, warts and all. It's a hell of a good read!

[Chris C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book in a secondhand bookstore in London in the 90s. My copy is so ancient looking that I should really give it another read before it crumbles into dust. My memory of this book was that it came across as a bit dodgy but maybe I was judging it too harshly at the time, not sure. I remember thinking it was a bit silly the way it was written, something about it that didn't make it too believable. I've since read that Allan Williams ran out of anecdotes and the guy who was helping him write it just sort of made up a few additional stories just to pad it out a bit. If that really happened then that doesn't surprise me at all. On the other hand I've also since read that Lennon thought the book was ok. I've just opened it at a random page and Williams is complaining coz Lennon is refusing to get out of the van to look at a war memorial in Holland ha. I guess the resulting photo that was taken at the memorial does indeed show everyone except Lennon. Williams seems to stick it to Lennon in the book a fair bit and that's probably why John enjoyed reading it. "Sneering, jibing, prodding people mentally, prickly, often very very funny in an offbeat way. In fact, he spread his rather baleful and disturbing presence wherever he went. Genius comes in odd packages. Not the least of the odd packages being one John Lennon. Dear John." No wonder Lennon dug this book!

[Shaun Hand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out-of-print, of its time, full of effing and blinding, and likely exaggerated in parts, BUT John Lennon was a fan, and, if I remember rightly, recommended it to Paul McCartney as the truest account of their early years. I've been a Beatlemaniac for years and found stuff out that I didn't know. It's got a lot of heart, is highly readable, and worth scouring eBay for if you're into the pre-fame Beatles (I managed to find a slightly tattered copy for £12.50, which is really good given what some sellers are asking at the time of writing).

[Phil Overeem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I finished it in a day if that tells you anything. The rip-roaring, unexpurgated tale of the rise of The Savage Young Beatles, told by the man who let them off the hook. Not kidding: this is not for the faint of heart.

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent view of the early struggles of the pre-fab four or five.
John recommended this book, Paul and George hated it.
No word from Ringo.
I tend to believe Alan Williams is telling the truth, with only a little embellishment.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read about the Beatles early years and the era of early 60's Liverpool and Hamburg club music scene. The young Beatles originally come off as reasonable but as they start to be idolised they become hedonistic and quite revolting in their habits.

[Colino · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ NEXT..... ALLAN WILLIAMS DROVE THEM TO HAMBURG IN HIS LITTLE VAN AMAZON BOOKS THE FOOL WHO LOST THE BEATLES

[Kirsty Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book about the early Beatles - it's out of print but if you can find a copy it's a must for Beatles fans. It is of its time and can be slightly racist and sexist in parts but if you can look past that it is a really interesting account of what the Beatles were like before they were famous and is also of interest to anyone who likes Liverpool history.

[Jacquie South · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one bitter man ...

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read. I know and love Alan, tells it like it is. One of a kind.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written in the 1970s, therefore wasn't far removed from the time of the events recorded. Some of the "facts" were incorrect (according to everything else I have ever read). For example I have always read George Harrison was deported for being underage and Paul McCartney and Pete Best were deported for setting fire to the Bambi Kino. According to the Allan Williams version Paul and George were deported for the Bambi Kino incident.

I found the book very self serving. Perhaps Allan Williams did all he says he did for The Beatles, but I have a feeling he didn't do it all (although I am sure he did a respectable amount of work on their behalf).

The book was a quick read, but due to the few errors I found I find it difficult to put too much stock in the parts about which I haven't heard.