While many of us were too young to have witnessed The Beatles’ crazy impact on the world first-hand, there have been countless books and essays written about all things Fab Four.
In musician-turned-author Daniel Rachel’s Like Some Forgotten Dream, the reader is guided through the band’s history and a “what if the Beatles hadn’t split up” scenario, centered around a would-be final album.
Why did The Beatles break up? Well, there’s obviously the disconnect that The Fab Four felt from their audiences (they ended touring in 1966) as well as each member’s increased endeavours outside the band.
In addition, John and Paul didn’t often see eye to eye, George began to write more songs (which added to the McCartney/Lennon competition for the song tally on albums), and John believed that the band were holding him back creatively.
There’s much more to it, of course, and that’s the beauty of this read: We get to learn all the ins and outs of what led to their final days.
[Paul at the Apple office on Wigmore Street, with press officer Derek Taylor and Ronald Kass, head of Apple Records, 13 June 1968]
I was amazed at the sheer amount of detail that went into creating this book. The first part, broken down into four sections, contains stories following their beloved manager Brian Epstein’s death, Yoko Ono entering the Fab Four’s lair, label executive Allen Klein’s arrival, various interview snippets as well as key moments leading to the group’s break-up.
If were weren’t all together, then we’ll all be together separately. — Ringo Starr, Mojo, 1988
Rachel uses a specific timeframe of the concept dream album, from September 1969, when John Lennon proposed Cold Turkey as the next Beatles single, to December 31, 1970, when Paul served lawsuit to the High Court to sue both former bandmates and Apple Inc., their label and corporation.
The second part contains a chapter for each Beatle as well as a few final chapters to round out the vision and to close off the book. There’s so many quotes from the Fab Four that it at times feels like an insiders look at the band. I really enjoyed the book for this aspect alone.
In 1994, Paul, George and Ringo actually played their own version of Like Some Forgotten Dream by recording Free as a Bird and then Real Love, pretending that John hadn’t been murdered 14 years earlier, but had instead headed out on holiday or even popped out of the studio for a cup of tea.
Decades later, this cherished band continues to garner record sales in the millions. Like Some Forgotten Dream will send Beatles fans of all levels into an educational, entertaining rabbit hole and allow them to fantasize a world with that final gem, Four Sides of the Beatles.
Like Some Forgotten Dream is available via Octopus Books (CAD $27.99, USD 24.99, £20) and at booksellers around the globe. Visit Octopus Publishing online for more info.
Photos by Michael Ward/Iconic Images.