Rating: 
Summary: The 15th Beatle
Review: A blonde in a low-cut dress presses $50 into Larry Kane's hand. "I will do anything to meet the Beatles," she purrs. "Anything." Kane shoves the money back in her purse, and then scarpers. Just 21, he is lucky enough to be the only US journalist accompanying the Beatles on their tumultuous 1964 US tour, and he is growing up fast.
Nearly 40 years later, the Miami radio news reporter has written an account of the tour and he doesn't seem to have lost that ingénue air he had while witnessing utter mayhem. Maybe it's this charm that persuaded Brian Epstein to extend the invitation to Kane - though the Beatles manager later made a pass at him - because Kane retains a wide-eyed bemusement and naivety in this breathless memoir. Not even a year into Beatlemania "the boys" are already world weary and wise to the tricks of pushy promoters and obsessive fans. If in 1964 Kane was shocked by the fans running onto tarmacs, rushing the stage, invading his bedroom, and crushing a car roof in a Beatles motorcade, he still conveys surprise at the seamier goings-on: the band's fondness for pot once they were introduced to it by Dylan, at the roadie Mal Evans's deftness at procuring appropriate women among the nutters, the jailbait and the prostitutes making themselves available to the band, and at the inner management circle's slickness at avoiding scandal.
Despite all-areas access during the tour, Kane manages to miss (or turn a blind eye) to the "Fellini's Satyricon" described by Lennon. He was trusted then and isn't going to betray that trust now, two dead Beatles and a dead manager later. There's a nudge-nudge hint of Lennon's possible flings with Jayne Mansfield and Joan Baez, and he firmly asserts that any road girlfriends were strictly over the age of consent.
All these years later, Kane still gets asked, "What were they really like?" His verdict: Lennon was outspoken (particularly on Vietnam), Harrison serious but the friendliest, Starr's genial nature masked an inferiority complex, and McCartney's "suspect superficiality" made him a "PR delight".
Compared to classic on-the-road books such as Michael Braun's Love Me Do (re-issued by Penguin) and Robert Greenfield's Stones Touring Party (also recently re-issued), this is poorly written and heavily padded. A CD of Kane's contemporary interviews with the Beatles is, like the text, repetitive and banal: just like much of life on the road, no matter whose tour it is.
Rating: 
Summary: Author's Personality Overshadows Book
Review: A moderately interesting book about the 1964 and 1965 U.S. tours. Some cool behind the scenes moments recounted. However, the author's incessant self promotion is obnoxious. I'm certain that the most common words in this book are "Larry Kane", the author's name. He reminds us on every page that he, Larry Kane, had unprecedented and incredible interaction with the Beatles which was even more amazing than the many, many other famous people that he, Larry Kane, had met. It would seem that every interaction he had with the Beatles involved them invoking his name several times. Sure.
Ok, Larry, maybe you've had a sucessful life. Likely your self promoting personality has served you well in broadcasting. You sure don't sound like someone I would want to be stuck on a plane with, though!
Rating: 
Summary: This is a handsome and exciting one!
Review: For a reader like me, this book personifies the best in writing. It was so exciting to follow this reporter on his travels, but especially to get his insight. As a twenty something, I never quite understood just how wild it was.I love the Beatles music. I love Kane's honesty in writing this book. That CD is awesome. Awesome. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what life was apparently like in those times. I give it five big stars. Two thumbsup!!!
Rating: 
Summary: I Wanna Be A Paperback Writer
Review: Good journalism or good storytelling? There are times in this book when I suspected both. But what-the-hey, Mr. Kane was there and I wasn't so I'm in for the whole ride. The book definitely bridges the gap between factual reporting (which Mr. K undoubtedly was and is) and the fantasy we all share about complete access to celebrities at their peak. I often felt I knew Mr. K better than his subjects, so tightly woven is the fabric of this tale. Nonetheless, many excellent conversations illuminate the innocence of the period. How could anyone have truly known what The Beatles tours would do to change the course of entertainment? How can anyone imagine what the world would be like had there never been The Beatles and subsequent dual conquests of the States? These platforms alone are amazing foundations upon which to build this story. And the celebrated Mr. K superbly utilized his opportunity-of-a-lifetime.
Rating:
Summary: So many years ago but it's just like yesterday.
Review: Having grown up in the Philadelphia area I was familiar with Larry Kane and his style of broadcast journalism - a style of fairness and sincere interest. That style follows through in this book. To learn what Larry experienced with the Beatles in 1964, 1965 and beyond was incredible. Larry Kane provides a vivid picture of what it was like to travel with the icons of the period, even though it wasn't fully realized then that the Beatles were going to be musical icons. I enjoyed listening to the CD included with the book as it added an extra dimension to the content. Reading the book and hearing the CD caused me to pull out my old Beatle albums and see something in the songs I had not seen before. It's quite something to know what Larry experienced and then think that while listening again to an old Beatles song. As I said, the book adds a another dimension to your Beatle's listening pleasure. Larry's book is a good read, it captured my attention and didn't let go. To Larry - thank you for sharing your experiences with us. I wish the Fab Four were still able to compose and tour - can you imagine what they would sound like today?
Rating:
Summary: Great Beatles Book and CD
Review: I 've read almost every Beatles book out there, and this one ranks at the top. It's one of the few written by an insider, and you get to experience the Beatles N. American tours as real events and not just as hype.
Larry Kane does a great job of capturing the daily madness of the tour, and adds interesting commentary about the sixties himself and in quotes by the band. Unlike all the other reporters, Kane got the Beatles to talk openly about issues besides their hairdos and jellybeans, so you get a sense of what they were really all about. And they way they goofed on Kane is hilarious!
The bonus CD is amazing, filled with Kane's radio interviews with the Beatles in '64-'65. I've never heard any of this material before, and I thought I had heard it all.
Overall, an excellent book and CD package.
Rating:
Summary: An incredible book...and CD!
Review: I 've read almost every Beatles book out there, and this one ranks right at the top. It's one of the few "Beatles books" that give a true insider's account, and for the first time I feel I experienced the Beatles tours of America as real events and not just as hype. Amazingly, the daily reality of the tours was even more outrageous than the hype!
One of the most interesting things about this book is the author's relationship with the Beatles and his interaction with them throughout the tour. When most reporters and deejays were asking the Beatles about their hair and jellybeans, Larry Kane thankfully took another route. He managed to get the Beatles to trust him, and they clearly responded by talking candidly about a range of issues that give you a deeper sense of who they really were.
As a bonus, the CD that comes with this book is a rare treasure, filled with the author's interviews with the Beatles from the '64-'65 tours. I've never heard any of this material before, and I thought I had heard it all when it comes to the Beatles!
If you're a Beatles fan, check this package out.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful read...excellent bonus CD!!!
Review: I 've read almost every Beatles book out there, and this one ranks right at the top. It's one of the few "Beatles books" written by a true insider, and you get to experience the Beatles tours of America as real events and not just as hype. Amazingly, the daily reality of the tours was even more outrageous than the hype!
Kane not only does a great job of capturing the daily madness of the tours, but he also puts them in historical perspective by adding seamless commentary about the hot-button issues of the sixties. It's also interesting to see the author's interaction with the Beatles (especially John) throughout the tour. When most reporters and deejays were asking the Beatles about their hairdos and jellybeans, Kane thankfully took another route, asking them about the things that concerned them, and society at large. The Beatles really seemed to respond to Kane, and opened up to talk candidly about a range of issues that give you a sense of what they were really all about. And they way they playfully harass him is hilarious!
Besides being an excellent book, the bonus CD is a rare treasure, filled with the author's interviews with the Beatles from the '64-'65 tours. I've never heard any of this material before, and I thought I had heard it all when it comes to the Beatles.
If you're a Beatles fan, check this package out.
Rating:
Summary: An incredible book...and CD!
Review: I 've read almost every Beatles book out there, and this one ranks right at the top. It's one of the few "Beatles books" that give a true insider's account, and for the first time I feel I experienced the Beatles tours of America as real events and not just as hype. Amazingly, the daily reality of the tours was even more outrageous than the hype!
One of the most interesting things about this book is the author's relationship with the Beatles and his interaction with them throughout the tour. When most reporters and deejays were asking the Beatles about their hair and jellybeans, Larry Kane thankfully took another route. He managed to get the Beatles to trust him, and they clearly responded by talking candidly about a range of issues that give you a deeper sense of who they really were.
As a bonus, the CD that comes with this book is a rare treasure, filled with the author's interviews with the Beatles from the '64-'65 tours. I've never heard any of this material before, and I thought I had heard it all when it comes to the Beatles!
If you're a Beatles fan, check this package out.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful read...excellent bonus CD!!!
Review: I 've read almost every Beatles book out there, and this one ranks right at the top. It's one of the few "Beatles books" written by a true insider, and you get to experience the Beatles tours of America as real events and not just as hype. Amazingly, the daily reality of the tours was even more outrageous than the hype!
Kane not only does a great job of capturing the daily madness of the tours, but he also puts them in historical perspective by adding seamless commentary about the hot-button issues of the sixties. It's also interesting to see the author's interaction with the Beatles (especially John) throughout the tour. When most reporters and deejays were asking the Beatles about their hairdos and jellybeans, Kane thankfully took another route, asking them about the things that concerned them, and society at large. The Beatles really seemed to respond to Kane, and opened up to talk candidly about a range of issues that give you a sense of what they were really all about. And they way they playfully harass him is hilarious!
Besides being an excellent book, the bonus CD is a rare treasure, filled with the author's interviews with the Beatles from the '64-'65 tours. I've never heard any of this material before, and I thought I had heard it all when it comes to the Beatles.
If you're a Beatles fan, check this package out.
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