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List Price: $14.95 | | Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
Salesrank: 246997
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| Our Price: $18.52 |
| Used Price: $4.96 |
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| Media: Paperback |
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Editorial Review:
A must-have for every Fab Four fan, this classic visual tribute to their music is now available in a handsomely repackaged and affordable paperback edition.
The music and lyrics of the Beatles have proven them to be artists of the page as well as the stage and have here provided inspiration to dozens of artists. Rendered in full color on every page are extravagantly colorful scenes and images, from the psychedelic visions evoked by “Strawberry Fields” to the youthful innocence that springs from “She Loves You.” Witty commentary and candid insights from John, Paul, George and Ringo make this a very special and personal tribute.
Description of The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics:
First published in 1969, this reissued collection of illustrated lyrics for 200 Beatles songs will be a treasure for any fan of the Fab Four. Editor and Beatle-buddy Alan Aldridge states in his introduction to the original edition: "What I have tried to do is present a book [that] is as entertaining to the eye and the imagination as a Beatles album is to the ear." Indeed, he more than succeeds, creating a lavish pageant of art and music that embraces not only the Beatles but also the psychedelic spirit of the entire era.
In 320 photos and illustrations, renowned artists offer their interpretations of various songs. "Help" is visualized by Ronald Searle; "Fixing a Hole," by Tomi Ungerer; "Glass Onion," by Peter Max; "I'm So Tired," by David Hockney; and "Oh, Darling," by Ralph Steadman. Aldridge also contributes his own trippy illustrations, which reflect the bold, bulbous, cartoons-on-acid style of 1960s poster art. This rich compilation also has brief quotes from the Beatles explaining the origins of the themes and lyrics of certain songs. For example, despite the buzz that "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is about LSD, according to Paul, "What happened was that John's son Julian did a drawing at school and brought it home, and he has a schoolmate named Lucy, and John said, 'What's that?' and he said 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds.'" Band members also share their thoughts on superstardom, including this now weighty comment from John: "I don't intend to be a performing flea anymore. I was the dreamweaver, but although I'll be around I don't intend to be running at 20,000 miles an hour trying to prove myself. I don't want to die at 40." It can't bring them back, but The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics can take you on a long and winding road of nostalgia. --Brangien Davis
The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics Reviews:
You've heard the famous words,now see them artistically! 
2009-11-28 - "I have the original edition of this book which provides Aldridge's vision and other artists interpretations of the Beatle's lyrics. These images are contemporary to the songs, so expect psychedelia, surrealism and the stuff of which dreams were made in the 1960s.
Newer editions have omitted Aldridge's vision of what the Beatles would look like when they turned 64. Because Lennon and Harrison didn't make that age, I gather they felt it was politically incorrect. It's too bad, I remember staring at the picture as a teenager, not being able to imagine my heroes as old men. I was half right - :-( "
Nudity inside 
2009-11-05 - I ordered the book for my teen aged son who has been a Beatles fan for years (I got him hooked!) I received the book today and I wanted to check it out bvefore giving it to him and never seeing it again and as I was flipping thru the pages I was surprised by the nudity in the book. There is both animated nudity and nude photos as well as a nude photo of a young boy and girl standing side by side which in some states people have been locked up for child pornography over similar "art" photos.
I guess I will wait a few years until I let him see it if at all. Otherwise the book is a good source of song lyrics and does have alot of nice Beatles related images. definitely a book that a adult Beatles fan will like.
New Review
2009-06-24 - I wish to leave a new review, really for the 'seller' not for the item. The seller did get back to me, and was good enough to give me a full refund on the book, after I returned it to him. Please learn from my mistake so that you don't have to make it yourself ... always click on 'more' in order to read the total discrption of what you are about to purchase, because there could be ... as there was in this case ... some very important information to be still to be read.
BAD PRINT!!!! 
2006-01-17 - I am comparing this book to an older version published 1969 by a different publisher. As The Beatles fan and maniac I was literally hypnotized watching the pictures of Alan Aldridge, Peter Max, and others when I saw it for the first time. It so perfectly creates an image of the 60s and atmosphere of that time.
I was holding the same expectations for this version but it was a kind of disappointment to see the low quality of the pictures - prints.
Let's make one point clear here: This book is NOT about The Beatles lyrics, this is ABOUT the ILLUSTRATIONS-pictures to each of the lyrics that make this book so valuable.
You can download lyrics anywhere on the net for free so I was devastated to see why the publisher Mariner Books DOES NOT GET IT?! How can they cheat us in such deceptive way?! Hey, this is not fair really. People who buy this book are doing so mainly because of the pictures, not for the lyrics!!!
If you pay cash for something, it should have more value in it than the cash you pay for it. This is not rocket science and suckers just don't seem to get it.
GREAT IDEA
2005-11-22 - The Beatles were among the first to be treated to an "Illustrated Songs of..." and so this book,originally issued as 2 seperate ones,is pretty essential stuff when you realise the Beatles were ascloseasthis to Art.
There's plenty of variety here
