Book Review: The Beatles, The Bible, And Bodega Bay: My Long And Winding Road By Ken Mansfield
Published August 05, 2006
There was no hell and brimstone preaching to be found anywhere in the entire presentation. Yet, I was absolutely riveted by it. The part where he talked about one day not being able to find a job in the business he devoted so much of his life to hit me especially hard. As someone who worked in that business myself for over twenty years (though at nowhere near Mansfield's level), his was a testimony I had no problem relating to myself.
I decided to buy a copy from Amazon the very next day and devoured it in a single six-hour sitting. In much the same laid-back style of the presentation I saw in church, The Beatles, The Bible, And Bodega Bay alternates chapters between Mansfield's Beatles memories of the past, with his present-day prayers and meditations with God, most taking place from the idyllic Bodega Bay home he so clearly loves.
Alongside the Beatles pages, run chronological event summaries in the form of bullet points highlighting the Beatles' career milestones. Meanwhile, selected biblical passages run alongside the pages recounting his bayside devotional conversations with God. Despite what one might see as a contradiction here, the two themes weave together remarkably well, and never for one second does the Christian part of his story come across as preachy or judgmental.
In the Beatles portion of the narrative, Mansfield traces his journey from his humble Idaho beginnings to the ivory tower of Capitol Records in Hollywood, to being asked by the Fab Four themselves to run their Apple Records operation in the United States. Along the way, Mansfield recounts numerous personal recollections from those heady days in the form of some very interesting and telling anecdotes.
This is all wonderfully illustrated with priceless, never before seen pictures and memorabilia from his personal collection. He even tells the story of nearly selling one such piece — a handwritten and signed note from John Lennon — to a used record dealer when he was later down on his luck. As soon as he realized what he almost did, he snatched back the picture as well as the 25 cents the dealer was about to pay him for it.
Mansfield describes the thrill of being at the Beatles historic final London rooftop concert for the Let It Be film, with all of the excitement and awe of being a kid in what had to be the world's greatest candy store. He also details the negotiation tactics of a ruthless Allen Klein as he was in the process of taking over Apple. In what came down to a tennis match for Mansfield's job, Mansfield won, enabling him to wisely walk away from Klein's offer. He talks about how Capitol Records handled the "Paul Is Dead" rumors which swirled about after the release of Abbey Road. They eventually got a handwriting expert to verify that everything Paul had signed for Capitol came from the same man.
- Book Review: The Beatles, The Bible, And Bodega Bay: My Long And Winding Road By Ken Mansfield
- Published: August 05, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Books
- Filed Under: Books: Religion, Books: Nonfiction, Books: Entertainment, Books: Biography, Books: Arts
- Writer: Glen Boyd
- Glen Boyd's BC Writer page
- Glen Boyd's personal site
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Thanx Gordon.
I not only found Mansfield's memories absolutely fascinating, but I found his perspective to be the purest I've ever read on the Beatles.
This is a guy who was unquestionably there, and witnessed everything first hand, yet came out of it not only relatively unscathed, but with his very soul rejuvenated at the end of the day.
In my personal opinion, it is the single best book I have ever read about the phenomonon that was the Beatles.
But more impotantly it's about a guy who lived through it all from the inside, and came out on the other side with his soul not only intact but unscathed.
As a guy who has experienced the "music business" (albeit at a far lesser level than Mansfield did), I know exactly of what he talks about in this book.
I cannot recommend Mansfield's book highly enough.
Thanx for publishing the review Gordon.
-Glen
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States. Nice work!
Wow...very cool. Thanx for the good news Natalie.
-Glen
Sounds like a pretty good book. From his lofty position, Mr. Mansfield had to have seen it all. As a Christian, I'd be very interested in hearing his thoughts this many years later as to what exactly motivated Lennon's statement about the Beatles being bigger than Jesus. Everybody knows that Lennon, despite his genius, could be a very impulsive guy...and the quote heard round the world was also clearly cast out of context. I just wonder how Mansfield feels in retrospect about it...now that he has found his peace with the Lord himself. Good review and I'm sure I'll check out the book.
Mr. Eggman,
I wouldn't mind hearing Mansfield's take on that question myself. Unfortunately, it isn't addressed in the book. Maybe in the sequel?
Goo Goo Ga Joob Mr. Eggman.
-Glen
This is one of those times when I realized I had the book on my shelf but had not read it. Thank you, Glen, for the pleasant review (a sensation I normally don't experience when reading a book review--be it a positive or negative review).
As for the Lennon/Jesus controversy, I suspect (although it occurred a year before I entered the planet) it was overblown and what Lennon was saying was more of a tough truth than him saying "they" were "better" than Jesus.
Scott,
My reviews have been called a lot of things over the years, but I don't recall "pleasant" ever being of them. So thanks for the compliment, I guess anyway...LOL. Glad you enjoyed reading it.
I remember the Lennon comment about Jesus pretty well, though I was just a young kid myself at the time. And I think you have the gist of it correct. Lennon was not saying his band was "better" than Jesus at all, but like you say making a comment on the ridiculous popularity of the Beatles at the time.
Like Eggman though, I still would be interested in Mansfield's take on this all these years later in light of the author himself having found his own faith in the Lord though.
Anyway thanks for the comment Scott and I'm glad you enjoyed the review.
-Glen
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Nice write-up, Glen--evocative.