Last night, when I was griping about writing in the blog, I was taking a short break from finishing this book, 1964: Eyes of the Storm, by Paul McCartney (with a great introductory essay by Harvard history professor Jill Lepore).
The book features a treasure trove of photographs taken by McCartney in late 1963 and early 1964, none of which had been published before, and in fact had been in storage for decades. These candid photos of the Beatles and their entourage (Brian Epstein, George Martin, Mal Evans, Neil Aspinall, Cynthia Lennon, and others) document Beatlemania as it was exploding and taking the world by storm.
As I said, Jill Lepore's accompanying essay is excellent, as she places the Beatles in historical context by discussing many of the world events of '63 and '64 (Kennedy assassination, Civil Rights Act, Freedom Summer, Barry Goldwater and the Republican National Convention) and how the Beatles fit in.
Of course, the photos are the real selling point. The best ones have to be the color pics Paul took in Miami. We see the Fab Four relaxing poolside surrounded by their friends and loved ones. One gets the sense that these quite possibly were the last moments of bliss and serenity the band would experience until, say, they went to India in 1968. (And even that India trip was fraught with Ringo's dislike of the food, John's fallout with the Maharishi, and the crumbling relationships between Paul & Jane Asher and John& Cynthia). The Beatles look completely at ease in Miami Beach, splashing around in the pool, smiling, lounging, and just looking content with life just before their lives (and the lives of their entourage) will irrevocably change.
If you like the Beatles, I highly recommend this book. I only checked it out of the library, but might have to break down and buy it.
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