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Looking Through You: Rare & Unseen Photographs From The Beatles Book Archive
In 1963, it was unusual for a pop group to have a monthly magazine devoted exclusively to their career. Only Elvis Presley had been considered important enough to warrant such an honour. But then the Beatles were unusual. Within the space of that pivotal year, the Fab Four became the biggest thing in British popular culture and their worldwide fame was soon inescapable. One of the first to astutely recognise their greatness was Sean O'Mahony and the monthly magazine he launched with the full blessing of The Beatles and their manager Brian Epstein - The Beatles Book.Looking Through You presents a selection of over 300 images from the precious Beatles Book photo archive, many unpublished or unseen in their original form from the original negatives, as well as the story behind the success of the regular Beatle bulletin.With each new issue, Beatle fans worldwide would voraciously devour the contents from cover-to-cover, discovering the Fab Four's latest news and activities and most of all, savouring the exclusive B&W photographs, captured by in-house photographer, Leslie Bryce. During the magazine's six-year run only a small fraction of these photographs were printed - and then often altered in some way. The Beatles Book Monthly captured the Beatles' development from British provincial theatres - through foreign tours including their ground-breaking first American visit - and onwards to the band's withdrawal into the recording studio. It was unique in its access - as well as concert tours and television shows, the band were photographed off duty, at their homes and in the studio - locales that were generally out-of-bounds to most Beatle observers. This unique and original photographic record preserves many important moments within the Beatles' career, providing a historically important glimpse into the world's greatest ever entertainment phenomenon. Limited slipcase edition of only 3000 copies. Contains a facsimile of a calendar from 1964.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published August 10, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 11, 2015
Although I missed the original publication of The Beatles Book (the original run was from August 1963 to December 1969 – so it ended when I was just three), I began to collect the magazine when it began again in the 1980’s and vividly remember the news section being wrapped around reprints of the original issues. The Beatles Book was a must buy, both in the 1960’s and later – through the magazine I found friends, connected with pen pals and visited Beatle sites from Liverpool to New York; always meeting up with fans that I met through the magazine. So, even though I did not read the original version when first published, it is a magazine I have hugely fond memories of and so was delighted to buy one of the numbered, limited edition books of photographs from the magazine archives.
This coffee table sized book (there is also a kindle version) comes in a slipcase, with a replica 1964 calendar and contains many rare, and some previously unseen, photographs from The Beatles Book archives. Sean O’Mahony (pseudonym Johnny Dean) edited the Beatles official magazine for forty years. Well aware of the success of “Elvis Monthly,” O’Mahony was convinced that The Beatles would be the ‘next big thing’ as early as 1962 and approached manager Brian Epstein about running their only authorised magazine. Of course, Brian was unwilling to do anything without The Beatles consent and invited O’Mahony to “meet the boys.” Having been approved and assuring them he would always promote them positively, their verbal agreement was confirmed by Epstein in 1963 and a mutually beneficial partnership was born.
O’Mahony had great access to The Beatles. His first work for the magazine involved visiting the band in the studio when they were recording, “She Loves You.” John Lennon became annoyed and disliked photographers in the studio, as he had to keep removing his glasses and none of them particularly warmed to showbiz photographer, Philip Gotlop. O’Mahony was wise enough to replace Gotlop with photographer Leslie Bryce and did not insist on photographs being taken at the next studio session. However, generally, he insists The Beatles were professional and obliging to his requests and that Bryce had over forty photography sessions with the band – some in private and some public – from 1963 until 1968.
The Beatles Book was an immediate success – as were The Beatles – and the photographs in this book follow them from Beatlemania to later Sixties recording sessions. I have seen most of the photographs, but these are beautifully presented and – if you haven’t had the pleasure of reading the original Beatles Books – then you are in for a real treat. There are photographs taken backstage, in concert, on their first visit to the US, filming and more. This book perfectly captures the changes The Beatles went through and this is a wonderfully presented collection and well worth any fan adding to their collection.
This coffee table sized book (there is also a kindle version) comes in a slipcase, with a replica 1964 calendar and contains many rare, and some previously unseen, photographs from The Beatles Book archives. Sean O’Mahony (pseudonym Johnny Dean) edited the Beatles official magazine for forty years. Well aware of the success of “Elvis Monthly,” O’Mahony was convinced that The Beatles would be the ‘next big thing’ as early as 1962 and approached manager Brian Epstein about running their only authorised magazine. Of course, Brian was unwilling to do anything without The Beatles consent and invited O’Mahony to “meet the boys.” Having been approved and assuring them he would always promote them positively, their verbal agreement was confirmed by Epstein in 1963 and a mutually beneficial partnership was born.
O’Mahony had great access to The Beatles. His first work for the magazine involved visiting the band in the studio when they were recording, “She Loves You.” John Lennon became annoyed and disliked photographers in the studio, as he had to keep removing his glasses and none of them particularly warmed to showbiz photographer, Philip Gotlop. O’Mahony was wise enough to replace Gotlop with photographer Leslie Bryce and did not insist on photographs being taken at the next studio session. However, generally, he insists The Beatles were professional and obliging to his requests and that Bryce had over forty photography sessions with the band – some in private and some public – from 1963 until 1968.
The Beatles Book was an immediate success – as were The Beatles – and the photographs in this book follow them from Beatlemania to later Sixties recording sessions. I have seen most of the photographs, but these are beautifully presented and – if you haven’t had the pleasure of reading the original Beatles Books – then you are in for a real treat. There are photographs taken backstage, in concert, on their first visit to the US, filming and more. This book perfectly captures the changes The Beatles went through and this is a wonderfully presented collection and well worth any fan adding to their collection.
August 24, 2024
The pictures here are from the 1963 to 1969 monthly magazine The Beatles Book, but some have not previously been published. Most of the photos are posed, but a sense of fun shines through.There are paragraphs containing information about each double page spread, and they follow the various concerts throughout the early years. The photos are excellent quality, and I'm sure Beatles fans will love them. The photos show the Beatles in the studio, on stage, or in various relaxing situations.
This huge coffee table book is perfect for fans who want to refresh memories of their idols. It's not a tell-all, there is nothing negative here.
This huge coffee table book is perfect for fans who want to refresh memories of their idols. It's not a tell-all, there is nothing negative here.
June 27, 2019
Not as special as promoted but still a must for any Beatle fan.
February 16, 2026
Collection of good-quality photos of the Beatles behind the scene/stage accompanied by informative captions and descriptions, presented in chronological order.
October 4, 2016
Brouci jsou fenomén. Byli jím před lety a jsou jím i dnes. Největší slávu zažila Liverpoolská čtveřice v 60. letech minulého století. V roce 1963 začal vydavatel Sean O´Mahony vydávat měsíčník The Beatles Book, ve kterém mohli fanoušci anglických hudebníků hltat žhavé novinky, ohledně dění v kapele a také obdivovat exkluzivní fotografie. V době, kdy neexistoval internet, byl tento měsíčník jediným zdrojem informací o novinkách, týkajících se slavné čtveřice, který byl autorizovaný. Měsíčník vycházel celých šest let. I přesto se na veřejnost dostal pouhý zlomek pořízených materiálů. Nyní poprvé vychází soubor více než 300 neupravovaných fotografií, které pocházejí v originálních negativů Leslie Bryce. Pozoruhodný fotografický archiv vychází v nákladů 3000 kusů v nakladatelství Omega, ve spolupráci s online knihkupectvím Knihy Dobrovský.
Velkoformátová kniha s pevnými deskami je zasazena do krásného, pevného obalu, který má stejnou grafickou podobu, jako samotná kniha. S knihou navíc jako bonus dostanete i přesnou kopii kalendáře The Beatles Book z roku 1964.
Tato kniha je must have kouskem každého obdivovatele The Beatles. Jednotlivé fotografie jsou vytištěné na kvalitním papíře, ostré a velké, nechybí ani popisky zachycených lokací, událostí a lidí.
Ve fotografií nahlédnete nejen do procesů tvorby písní, ale také do soukromí jednotlivých členů The Beatles. Uvidíte je stárnout, dozrávat, budete svědky toho, jak se z mladíků staly hvězdy.
Mě samotnou zaujala na fotografiích také dobová móda u účesy. Takto staré fotografie člověka vždy dokáží přenést o desetiletí zpátky. Fotky navíc působí, díky své vynikající kvalitě, jakoby byly vyfoceny nedávno. Listovat touho knihou je opravdu nevšední zážitek, při kterém máte pocit, jako byste se stali svědkem toho, jak se tvořila historie. Nejen ta hudební.
Fotografie knihy na: http://www.hanka.mablog.eu/2016/10/04...
Velkoformátová kniha s pevnými deskami je zasazena do krásného, pevného obalu, který má stejnou grafickou podobu, jako samotná kniha. S knihou navíc jako bonus dostanete i přesnou kopii kalendáře The Beatles Book z roku 1964.
Tato kniha je must have kouskem každého obdivovatele The Beatles. Jednotlivé fotografie jsou vytištěné na kvalitním papíře, ostré a velké, nechybí ani popisky zachycených lokací, událostí a lidí.
Ve fotografií nahlédnete nejen do procesů tvorby písní, ale také do soukromí jednotlivých členů The Beatles. Uvidíte je stárnout, dozrávat, budete svědky toho, jak se z mladíků staly hvězdy.
Mě samotnou zaujala na fotografiích také dobová móda u účesy. Takto staré fotografie člověka vždy dokáží přenést o desetiletí zpátky. Fotky navíc působí, díky své vynikající kvalitě, jakoby byly vyfoceny nedávno. Listovat touho knihou je opravdu nevšední zážitek, při kterém máte pocit, jako byste se stali svědkem toho, jak se tvořila historie. Nejen ta hudební.
Fotografie knihy na: http://www.hanka.mablog.eu/2016/10/04...
December 30, 2016
As part of my nostalgic after-glow from seeing Eight Days a Week, I snapped up this book at my library when I saw it on the New Non Fiction shelves. It features beautifully clear photographs that were taken by photographer Leslie Bryce who, along with published Sean O'Mahony, issued a small monthly booklet called 'The Beatles Monthly Magazine'.
Now fetching about $30 each on E-Bay, they originally cost 1/6d (15 cents for those readers who are P.D. [pre-decimal]) and there were 77 editions issued between 1963 and 1969. It was resuscitated in 1976 and finally ceased publication in 2003.
At first, the Beatles Book contained biographical articles to introduce 'the boys' to their fans, but increasingly it became a way of keeping the world at bay. The Beatles of 1963 and 1964 welcomed the photographic publicity, but by late 1966/early 1967 the torrent of photographs had slowed to a trickle. The final photographs in the book are mainly taken at recording sessions - Sgt Peppers, Revolver etc- where the tension between them is palpable.
Ah, but those younger photos are so clear and exuberant! Did they brush their hair specially each time the camera came out, I wonder?- it's certainly shiny clean hair, and suit and tie were their 'brand'.
The photographs have interesting little captions and snippets of fascinating facts. They are beautiful photos that I certainly hadn't seen before and an interesting flip-through if you're in the mood for some innocent nostalgia.
Now fetching about $30 each on E-Bay, they originally cost 1/6d (15 cents for those readers who are P.D. [pre-decimal]) and there were 77 editions issued between 1963 and 1969. It was resuscitated in 1976 and finally ceased publication in 2003.
At first, the Beatles Book contained biographical articles to introduce 'the boys' to their fans, but increasingly it became a way of keeping the world at bay. The Beatles of 1963 and 1964 welcomed the photographic publicity, but by late 1966/early 1967 the torrent of photographs had slowed to a trickle. The final photographs in the book are mainly taken at recording sessions - Sgt Peppers, Revolver etc- where the tension between them is palpable.
Ah, but those younger photos are so clear and exuberant! Did they brush their hair specially each time the camera came out, I wonder?- it's certainly shiny clean hair, and suit and tie were their 'brand'.
The photographs have interesting little captions and snippets of fascinating facts. They are beautiful photos that I certainly hadn't seen before and an interesting flip-through if you're in the mood for some innocent nostalgia.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews