A Secret History

Rating:
Summary: Honest Memoir
Review: I believe Alistair writes it as he remembers it. When facts here differ from other versions, I think he honestly believes what he tells in this book. Aside from Neil Aspinall and Mal Evans, he was probably the next closest insider to them from early to the end. He questions Peter Brown's version which is interesting to note. Much here is anecdotal and told in a conversational manner. It is true that there are not too many secrets revealed, but like other "insider" accounts,it does shed light on it all. Most interesting is how the Fabs refused his calls when Allen Klein gave him the ax. Oh, and Taylor co-authored "Hello Goodbye" but is too humble to ask for his name as co-writer.

Rating:
Summary: NOTHING REALLY SECRET HERE
Review: I don't know, for some reason I was already doubting the validity of this book when I read the little bio of the author on the dust jacket describing Taylor as "the ultimate Beatles insider". It also said that "only one person knows exactly what was behind the Fab Four." Please! Actually, only the four Beatles knew that and then only what was in their own individual minds. We are not a race of telepaths!

I should right off tell you that Alistair worked for the Beatles or more correctly, their manager, for a period of years and then was fired and after not amounting to much in life after that is finally exposing all their secrets for the world to know! This book is packaged like a National Enquirer but the inside is quite tame.

Taylor hired on to Brian Epsteins record store and discovered alongside Epstein those then scruffy, cursing, leather-clad teddy boys who would later become our suit wearing Fab Four playing in the Cavern Club. Alistair soon came to be called "Mr. Fix-it" by the Beatles and handled all the grub work of the group and Epstein. This book tells about his years with the Beatles, and offers nothing shocking but still is entertaining for some of the personal anecdotes. For example, one time when George Harrison wanted to look at a house, he disguises himself as a chauffeur while Taylor and Patti Harrison charade themselves as a married couple looking at mansions. It does offer glimpses at the personalities of all the Beatles but only in snatches.

The Beatle that Taylor seemed to be closest to and gets the most attention in the book is Paul McCartney. Taylor makes a big deal of how Paul had to cry on his shoulder, literally after his break up with Jane Asher in the 60s. It is basically put on that Taylor was the only person Paul could turn to and there's a little too much self-satisfaction in his reaction to it. Look at me, I was there for a Beatle!

Ringo is hardly even mentioned and is even insulted in my opinion. He seems to be characterized as dumb and just lucky to have landed in the band. John is seen as a genius while Paul is just a good songwriter. George, like Ringo, doesn't really appear in the book even though Alistair does mention that he could have been a good songwriter in his own right if he had stuck up for himself. I guess this erases the fact that towards the end he was writing better songs than Lennon or McCartney (Something/ Here Comes the Sun).

I took a lot of this book with a grain of salt. It feels too much the work of a disgruntled ex-employee sometimes. Or the work of wounded friend who believes in the aftermath of rejection that he had a special connection with the Beatles when it seems as if he was just an acquaintance. With the packaging of the book, it seems like an exploitation. Sometimes, it almost feels like Taylor is going to say "If it hadn't been for me, the Beatles would never have existed."

It is not a secret history. I learned nothing new. Just heard some new stories about the boys personalities, but no new facts. But I did like it though. I welcome any new perspective, however biased, about the greatest group that has ever been....well, ever been to this point.

Rating:
Summary: Not a lot of secrets shared
Review: I was very excited to see this book published as I am a big Beatle fan and there are not many "insiders" who have written books. While this book was interesting enough, ninety percent of it would already be known by a serious Beatle fan. Also, the emphasis of the book is on Brian Epstein and Paul McCartney. If you are a fan of George Harrison or Ringo Starr, you will be disappointed as they are rarely mentioned individually.

Rating:
Summary: Honest Memoir
Review: I was very excited to see this book published as I am a big Beatle fan and there are not many "insiders" who have written books. While this book was interesting enough, ninety percent of it would already be known by a serious Beatle fan. Also, the emphasis of the book is on Brian Epstein and Paul McCartney. If you are a fan of George Harrison or Ringo Starr, you will be disappointed as they are rarely mentioned individually.

Rating:
Summary: A lesson to all employee claiming to be friend of his boss
Review: This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to know the other side of the Beatles. It is written in simple language and English colloquial terms and phrases which are very easily understandable. It is basically a rectification, as the author claims, of a considerable amount of myths or rumours about the Beatles and Brian Epstein, their manager. The author also described his personal relationship with Brian Epstein and the Beatles.
As a personal assistant of Mr. Epstein, the author had first hand knowledge of the personality and daily affairs of his boss as well as the artists his boss was managing. That gave the author a certain amount of credibility in the account he made in the book and I have no reason to doubt otherwise. Overall, the author seemed to have an excellent working relationship with Mr. Epstein and the individual members of the Beatles. Nevertheless, he had committed the biggest mistake of being an employee of an institution- he did not merely consider himself as an employee, he became too personal with his boss (Mr. Epstein earlier and, following his death in 1967, the Beatles later) and even regarded, viewed and treated himslf as a close friend of his boss, particularly with Paul McCartney (as he claimed to be).
That is very dangerous. A friend is a friend, a good friend is a good friend, a close friend is a close friend, but a boss is and always remains as a boss. You do not have a close friend who is also your boss and vice versa. It is also doubtful whether your boss will view and treat you as a friend, a good friend or a close friend even though you feel, claim or treat yourself to be so. Mind you, you work hard for your boss and make a living from the salary he pays you for your hard work. Your boss will not pay you a salary just because you are his friend, his good friend or his close friend. He pays you because you are worth to be his employee, and your ability as an employee is worth for the amount of pay and worth to be employed continuously. If you are not worth your pay, your salary will be cut. If you are not worth to be continuously employed, you are fired. It is as simple as that. Your boss will not stop firing you just because you think you are (or treat yourself to be) his friend, a good friend or a close friend. Being an employee, you must draw up for yourself a line not to cross from being an employee of someone to being too personal with that person. If you fail to do so or if you allow yourself to cross that line your judgment would be clouded resulting in your work messing up with your personal feelings.That would affect your work in an adverse manner, and will not be leading you to a successful (professional) career.
If the author was careful enough not to have become or to have enabled or allowed himself to become a friend of his boss, he would not have had such a terrible resentment after being rejected and fired by the Beatles (and I believe he still bears a grudge against the Beatles considerably).
My account sounds very cruel. Nevertheless we are living in a cruel commercial world and we must always protect ourselves and not allow our feelings from being hurt by anyone within our business circle.