When John Lennon was asked many years ago about what he considered to be the best Beatles book, he referred to the Michael Braun, Love Me Do title published in 1964 published by Penguin Books. The publication of this book followed Braun’s accompanying the Beatles on their 1963 UK tour. Lennon was impressed that Braun made less of an attempt to portray the Beatles as being squeaky clean and in avoiding describing them in consistently positive terms. He talked about their warts and negative attributes as well. Lennon was impressed with that lack of a polished public relations dimension because he felt it was more honest and realistic.
Why you should read the FIRST Beatles book | Love Me Do!
This book from my collection was featured in an earlier post on this blog but this post goes into greater detail as to why I consider it to be a special memento in the library! It must also be noted that I have not seen many signed copies of this book over the years. The book is not a lengthy one It is 141-page paperback though a revised edition years later published by Graymalkin Media appeared as a listing on Amazon as being 208 pages.
FASCINATED WITH SIGNED COPIES OF BEATLES BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR:
The Mysterious Michael Braun: Love Me Do!
Colin Fleming’s review of the book:
The author’s own life can be considered somewhat zany and unpredictable as his obituary from 1997 would attest:
Michael Braun’s Obituary featured Online at the Independent:
Obituary: Michael Braun | The Independent | The Independent
Back cover of the Love Me Do book:
WE ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT DICK ROWE AND MIKE SMITH’S FOLLY REGARDING THE BEATLES BUT WHAT ABOUT THE GOOD JUDGEMENT DEMONSTRATED BY DECCA’S MANAGER, HUGH MENDL???
THE HISTORIC CONNECTION WITH THIS SIGNED COPY BY THE AUTHOR & THE PERSON THE BOOK WAS INSCRIBED TO ORIGINALLY ADVISED DECCA RECORDS TO SIGN THE BEATLES. WE ALL KNOW WHAT TRANSPIRED DESPITE THAT ADVICE…
Quoted from Wikipedia:
“Hugh Rees Christopher Mendl (6 August 1919, London – 7 July 2008) was a British record producer, A&R representative, and manager who worked for Decca Records for over 40 years.”
The lengthier 2019 edition of the book:
Hope you enjoyed this discussion of one of the first Beatles books. What held my fascination for me was that it is a rare, signed copy and additionally it was inscribed to a man that had recommended that Decca records should sign the band and the label foolishly did not heed the man’s advice!
The rest as the postscript reads —-is history!!!
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
I cant read through it all because of A bad sight. But I”m sure John Lennon would understand. Also I feel in my heart this is something very special.
Kindly Ann
One can se how Lennon would have had a laugh over this book. The Brian Epstein remake of the Beatles image made them the nost marketable thing since sliced bread, but the back story as we know it now was much more earthy and interesting – four teenagers finding their way in a harsh postwar Britain and learing that friendship, a common goal, love, and tming could lift them out of the ashes and change the world.