By revealing and publishing these original manuscripts for the first time we gain a unique insight into the creative process of Lennon and McCartney, how they did it, what they were thinking, how they changed their minds, and then came up with the words we now all know.
Such a book has never been published, firstly because of copyright reasons, with ownership divided between Michael Jackson and Sony, and secondly because no one has been able to track them all down. The author of the only authorised biography of The Beatles, Hunter Davies, has sought out nearly one hundred Beatles lyrics. His expert introduction describes the creativity of the greatest ever rock band -- then he lists and illustrates each song, in chronological order, putting each song in context: what the Beatles were doing at the time, how and when they came to write and then record it, how the original version differs from the final one. The wonder is that almost every Beatles song has a great story behind it -- whether it is 'In My Life', 'For No One', 'Yesterday', 'Eleanor Rigby', or 'Yellow Submarine'.
Hunter Davies is the author of over thirty books which include such modern classics as the authorised biography of The Beatles, THE GLORY GAME and A WALK AROUND THE LAKES, as well as editing THE BEATLES LYRICS and THE JOHN LENNON LETTERS. He is also well known as a broadcaster and journalist and writes for the INDEPENDENT, SUNDAY TIMES, DAILY MAIL and NEW STATESMAN.
The Beatles formed in Liverpool in 1960. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they are widely regarded as the foremost of the most influential bands of the twentieth centry.