In All You Need is Ears, legendary Grammy Award-winning and Academy
Award-nominated record producer George Martin shares tales from his life
and musical career with the Fab Four.
George, he said, I don't know if you'd be interested, but there's a
chap who's come in with a tape of a group he runs. They haven't got a
recording contract, and I wonder if you'd like to see him and listen to
what he's got?
Certainly, I said, I'm willing to listen to anything. Ask him to come
and see me.
OK, I will. His name's Brian Epstein . . .
George Martin spotted the Beatles' talent, and recorded and produced The
Fab Four from the start right through to The Beatles Anthology. Often
called "the fifth Beatle," Martin not only produced but also arranged
some of the band's most iconic and distinctive songs, including
"Yesterday." In this witty and charming autobiography, Martin describes
exactly what it was like to work in the studio with the Beatles--from
their first audition (and his decision to scrap Pete Best on drums) to
the wild experimentation of Sgt. Pepper, complete with sound effects,
animal noises, and full orchestras in evening dress at the direct
request of Paul McCartney.
All You Need Is Ears is an intimate insider's look at the most
important pop group of all time, and how they made the music that
changed the world: it's an inimitable look at the Beatles' creative
process, and at the interplay of genius and practical improvisation that
gave them their sound. It's an indispensable read for Beatle lovers and
anyone interested in how the world of popular music really works.
