Book Review: Can't Buy Me Love - The Beatles, Britain, And America by Jonathan Gould - Page 2

Because of this, Can't Buy Me Love reads as part straightforward history lesson, and part music critique. Gould goes to great lengths to describe songs like "Eleanor Rigby" in acute detail. At the same time, he reveals the story behind many of them — such as how the song "She Said, She Said" was inspired by John Lennon's run-in at a Hollywood party with Peter Fonda, who in describing an acid trip to the Beatle repeatedly used the words Lennon would later make famous, "I know what it's like to be dead."

In particular, when Gould devotes nearly an entire chapter to a song by song analysis of the album Abbey Road, his narrative literally sings itself off of the pages. Gould clearly loves the music, and it shows through in every single word of his lovingly worded prose here.

Of course, Gould also recounts how the Beatles ultimately disbanded. It is perhaps here that Gould offers the freshest perspective. As a non-insider, Gould holds the story up to a more objective light than the other insider versions do, simply because he refuses to allow his opinions of the usual "villains" of the story — Allen Klein, Yoko Ono, etc. — to be colored by personal experiences or opinion — good, bad, or indifferent.

Still, with the inner fan coming out in the narrative, it is hard to miss the author's own sadness as he tells the story. Gould paints a painful picture of the Beatles dying a slow death that began with the untimely passing of their manager Brian Epstein and the band's own decision to stop touring. From there, the songwriting (and personal) partnership of John Lennon and Paul McCartney begins to dissolve, while George Harrison and Ringo Starr begin to feel more and more creatively outcast from the group. By the time Lennon replaces his "marriage" to McCartney with Yoko Ono, and Allen Klein insinuates his way into the band's business dealings, the writing is clearly on the wall.

Again though, what makes this book an essential read is the way Gould recounts the events with the careful eye to detail of an historian, while remembering the music with the fondness of a devoted fan.

For any Beatles fan, reading Can't Buy Me Love will definitely take you back.

Article Author: Glen Boyd

You'll find Blogcritics assistant music editor Glen Boyd sharing his Thoughtmares on his personal blogs The World Wide Glen, and The Rockologist. In a previous life, Glen was a music professional and journalist whose work has appeared in The Rocket, SPIN, Pulse!, and The Source. …

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