A Tale of Two Beatles Books
A Comparison
By a lifelong fan who was there when it all happened
When it comes to the Fab Four, I've seen it all, heard it all, and—dare I say—read it all. From the heady days of Beatlemania to the cosmic explorations of their later years, I've been on that magical mystery tour since the beginning. Today, I'm taking you through two rather different approaches to chronicling the lads from Liverpool: Edward Davis's scholarly collection "The Beatles Book" from 1968 and Darlene Jaramillo's more elusive "Darlene's Beatles."
The Long and Winding Road: An Introduction to Both Books
"The Beatles Book," edited by Edward Davis, emerged right when the moptops were transforming into mystical explorers. Published in 1968—just as the White Album was about to blow our minds—this hardback gem assembles 14 diverse voices from scholars, writers, and cultural critics to examine the phenomenon that was changing the world, one harmony at a time.
"Darlene's Beatles," on the other hand, is something of a mystery ticket to ride. Unlike the well-documented Davis collection, Jaramillo's work has remained largely under the radar, a bit like finding an unlabelled tape in the Abbey Road archives. It represents a more personal, fan-oriented perspective on the band's impact, particularly focusing on their cultural reverberations across the pond.
Yesterday: The History and Context of "The Beatles Book"
Davis's collection arrived at the perfect moment—November 1968—when the Beatles were no longer just pop stars but had become, as Nat Hentoff declares in its pages, "Art" with a capital A. This first edition emerged when the boys had transformed from those cheeky Edwardian suits to their bearded, philosophical phase.
The book's timing couldn't have been better, landing on shelves just as the White Album was being unwrapped by millions of eager hands. The cultural landscape was shifting dramatically—peace movements, psychedelia, and social revolution were blooming like George's garden, and the Beatles were both reflecting and driving this change.
Contemporary reviews recognised its significance immediately. Kirkus Reviews called it "responsible and entertaining," praising the selections as "imaginative, pioneering." The book was clearly distinguished from other Beatles publications of the era, particularly Hunter Davies' biography released around the same time. Even when critics didn't necessarily agree with all the takes, they acknowledged the collection was a proper "good show," as we'd say over here.
Getting Better: My Personal Take on Davis's Collection
I must say, flipping through Davis's book feels like being transported back to those days when we were all trying to decipher the meaning behind "I Am the Walrus." What makes this collection particularly groovy is its diversity of voices—from jazz critic Ralph Gleason to classical composer Ned Rorem, with even William Buckley rolling his eyes in disdain.
The essays capture that electric moment when the world was still processing how four lads from Liverpool could evolve from "Love Me Do" to "A Day in the Life" in just five years. Timothy Leary's playful riff on Apple and the Garden of Eden perfectly encapsulates the intellectual and spiritual dimensions the band had taken on.
What's particularly fascinating is reading Richard Goldstein defending his infamous critical review of "Sgt. Pepper"—a review that caused quite the dustup when it appeared in The New York Times. It's like watching history unfold, with all its contradictions and passionate arguments intact.
Hello, Goodbye: The Curious Case of "Darlene's Beatles"
Unlike Davis's well-documented tome, "Darlene's Beatles" remains something of a whisper in Beatles literature. Jaramillo's perspective comes from a different angle—less academic, more devoted follower. Her book eschews the scholarly approach for something more akin to what we might call a labour of love.
From what I've gathered, this harder-to-find volume focuses more intimately on the fan experience, particularly from an American perspective. While lacking the critical accolades of Davis's collection, it captures something equally valuable—the raw emotional connection that millions of us felt with John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
Contemporary reviews were scarce, which explains its relative obscurity. Unlike Davis's book, which was immediately recognised as culturally significant, Jaramillo's work seems to have been embraced primarily by dedicated fans rather than literary critics or cultural commentators.
I've Got a Feeling: My Assessment of Jaramillo's Perspective
There's something wonderfully authentic about Jaramillo's approach that reminds me of those moments when fans would gather outside Abbey Road, hoping for a glimpse of magic in the making. While lacking the intellectual firepower of Davis's contributors, it compensates with genuine passion and personal connection.
Reading her account reminds me of those days when we'd drop the needle on a new Beatles record and just let the sound wash over us, not analysing, just feeling. Sometimes that immediate emotional response tells us more than a dozen scholarly essays ever could.
The End: Which Book Takes the Trophy?
If forced to declare a winner in this little competition, I'd have to give the nod to Davis's "The Beatles Book." Its historical significance, capturing that precise moment when the world realised the Beatles were more than just a pop group, makes it an essential document of not just music history but cultural history.
That said, both books, like the Beatles themselves, serve different needs and moods. When I want to understand the intellectual and cultural impact of the band, I reach for Davis. But when I want to remember what it felt like to be there, to experience that joyous communal moment, Jaramillo's more heartfelt approach hits the spot.
In the end, it's a bit like trying to choose between "Revolver" and "Abbey Road"—they're both brilliant for different reasons, and the true fan needs both on their shelf. As the lads themselves might say, "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." Both these authors, in their own ways, have taken their love of the Beatles and transformed it into something that continues to illuminate their legacy decades later.
All things must pass, but these books, like the music that inspired them, endure. Now, I think I'll put on "Penny Lane," close my eyes, and slip back to 1967. Care to join me?