AFTER ABBEY ROAD - Part 2

Gary Fearon            @Gary_Fearon_

Part 2 continued from June 16

There were some stories I was already familiar with, like how Paul McCartney was robbed at knifepoint while in Nigeria to record Band on the Run. Or how George Harrison was sued because “My Sweet Lord” bears more than a passing resemblance to The Chiffons’ “He’s So Fine”. But what was the inspiration behind “Imagine”, “It Don’t Come Easy”, “Silly Love Songs”, and the rest of the 220 singles they have released as solo artists?

Knowing other fans would be as interested in learning these stories as I was, I set about to research the most interesting and insightful details behind each song. At the same time, I was also mindful of the historical significance of these works, so I made sure to include events that happened alongside the writing, such as 9/11 or the death of one of their close friends. My research and writing spanned over six months while I scoured books, Internet sites, newspaper articles, interviews, anything I could get my hands on. Sometimes my biggest challenge was what to leave out. Throughout the process, my Beatlemaniac brother was a huge help, proofreading and making excellent suggestions for clarity.

In the end, instead of the single “year of wonder” I had first envisioned, After Abbey Road covers the entire fifty years of their solo singles in chronological order. Like Clemency Burton-Hill’s book, the songs themselves can be found on YouTube and other streaming sites. As readers go through After Abbey Road, it’s eye-opening to listen to each song and gain a greater appreciation for the individual genius that contributed to the most acclaimed band of all time.

The 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ last album was May 2020, so I timed the release accordingly. The paperback and eBook of After Abbey Road are available on Amazon, and I have to admit I get a little thrill each time I see a sale coming from Great Britain. I may never get to Liverpool, but maybe my book will!

As we speak, I’m working on the audio version. That will keep me busy for the next few weeks, and I still have other books in me that I can’t wait to get back to. But when I do finish with the audiobook and have a little time to relax and read again, I plan to check out Clemency’s book that gave me the initial spark. It’s the least I can do. 

Musician and songwriter Gary Fearon has written over 300 songs, advertising jingles and morning show parodies. He is also a veteran DJ and producer. As a Beatleologist and avid analyst of entertainment, Gary has produced radio specials on the Beatles, John Lennon, and numerous other recording artists.

A former Billboard Air Personality of the Year, his broadcast work has been recognized by the Associated Press, Radio and Production magazine, and over two dozen MARS awards for commercial production. His voice is heard daily on radio and TV stations across the USA and Canada as well as on audio books such as Eddie: The Life and Times of America's Preeminent Bad Boy.

http://www.garyfearon.com/

AFTER ABBEY ROAD - Part 1

Gary Fearon          @Gary_Fearon_

As I always do when visiting my local bookstore, I found myself browsing the music section. On this particular occasion I came across a book by radio host and violinist Clemency Burton-Hill called Year of Wonder. It’s a book for classical music fans but it’s also for anyone seeking an introduction to the music of the masters. Its 366 entries present one famous classical work for each day of the year and shares background information about it.

What little I know about classical music could fill an orchestra pit, but the premise of Year of Wonder struck me as brilliant, if not classic in its own right. To take a giant genre like classical music and break it down into bite-sized pieces made it much more accessible and appealing. I immediately wondered if anyone had ever written a book using this premise that focused on the music masters of my generation, The Beatles.

What Sgt. Pepper Can Teach Writers

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine

It was fifty years ago this week that The Beatles released the album that made the music world's head spin. Sgt. Pepper may have "taught the band to play", but he also provided some teachable moments for writers.

A little friendly competition can be a good thing
Wordsmiths readily draw inspiration from other wordsmiths. The Beatles' Rubber Soul album (1965) motivated The Beach Boy's Brian Wilson to create their most ambitious album, Pet Sounds (1966). Then, after hearing Pet Sounds, Paul McCartney set out to create an album capable of topping that. To this day, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) and Pet Sounds remain the #1 and #2 albums on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.

No filler
Albums traditionally contain only a couple of hit-worthy heavyweights, with less catchy songs comprising the rest of the collection. In order to produce an album that would surpass any before it, the fab four pledged to make every song a standout. During these sessions, it became typical for Paul to spend three hours of studio time capturing the perfect bass track, or for all four to run through a song till dawn trying different tempos and instruments till they found the exact sound they were looking for.

Putting that same painstaking care into every chapter of our book (including the middle that tends to sag) will ensure that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Mixing Fact and Fantasy into Creative Nonfiction
Some of Sgt. Pepper's most acclaimed cuts came from real-life influences: an 1843 circus poster in John Lennon's house ("Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite"); a classmate of his young son ("Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"); a runaway in a news story ("She's Leaving Home"); a parking ticket left on Paul's car by a meter maid ("Lovely Rita"); the death of a rich acquaintance ("A Day in the Life").

Each time we write, it's a mix of reality and our imagination. If we have the eyes to see it, everything in life can be a trigger for creativity.

Variety is the spice of life
No other group in history experimented as much as The Beatles, who created many of the innovations that are now staples of the studio. From aural innovations to genre-hopping (pop, rock, psychedelic, vaudeville, classical, Indian music), they refused to settle into the comfort of familiarity. Recording engineer Geoff Emerick learned to never say no to their crazy requests, instead finding a way to make it happen.

Writers who challenge themselves to move forward into uncharted territory are the ones who break new ground.

Establish the mood with the right title
Although Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is widely considered to be the first "concept album", the only connective elements are the opening medley introducing the fictional singers and a wrap-up near the end as the "band" leaves the stage.  Otherwise it's a collection of unrelated songs, not unlike an anthology of short stories. But the distinctive title (inspired by salt and pepper packets on a plane) ties it all together as one cohesive unit. Strive to make your book title just as memorable.

A little help from a (talented) friend
Perfectionists though they were, the fab four benefited from fine tuning. Enter the objective, experienced ear of producer George Martin (regarded as the fifth Beatle). His background in classical music, jazz, comedy albums and children's records gave him the unique ability to take anything the lads could throw at him and refine it into a polished production.

Geniuses though we humbly be, we're also too close to our own writing to see what other people see. Seek the feedback of carefully-chosen first readers as well as an established editor before releasing your latest masterpiece.

First impressions are lasting
The famous cover of Sgt. Pepper was groundbreaking for several reasons. For the first time, lyrics were included. Never before had there been a pop album with a folding sleeve. The cover design was the most expensive in history, costing the equivalent of over $3000. It's the most imitated and parodied cover of all time, with the possible exception of Abbey Road.

Buyers will always judge a book (and an album) by its cover, so coming up with that key visual is not a time to skimp. The Beatles stuck to their specialty of music, and left the cover design up to the professionals. (Most of whom won't cost you $3000.)

Take it to the limit
The 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper sees the release of a remastered set that includes six discs of remixes, outtakes, rarities and videos. Modern digital wizardry has revived the original recordings to a brilliance and clarity they've never had before. Which makes it even more amazing that The Beatles accomplished what they did with the limited technology available in 1967.

Today's creative mind has never had it so good. With computers to easily capture and edit every word we write, the Internet to research any story detail, and specialized software to help us plan each aspect of our outline, what's our excuse for not creating something that people will still be celebrating fifty years from now?