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Reader's Reviews
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WE all know that the test of a good book
is not being able to put it down… but in Sam's case, not only could
I not put it down, but I just had to start reading it again once I
had finished! There are one or two books that give you a flavour of
the amazing birth of The Beatles in Liverpool… in Sam's book you can
taste it. |
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"Beatles' First
Manager Is A Real Nowhere Man" HE WAS the man who helped create the biggest-ever British gig for the Beatle's. Around 4,600 fans - each paying a mere five shillings and sixpence (27.5=20 pence) to take part in an event that would become a legend - packed into The Tower Ballroom in New Brighton for the performance on November 10, 1961. It was just one of around 40 concerts put on by Sam Leach, who ran The Beatles before Brian Epstein took over. But, despite his undoubted influence on the future of the band, Mr. Leach has been written out of the band's historic Anthology. Yet at Sir Paul McCartney's investiture as a Freeman of the City of Liverpool 1984, the musician acknowledged the part the self-effacing manager played when he spoke of the Merseybeat era as "The Sam Leach Years". In the early '60s, Mr. Leach invested his cash and experience to promote the Fab Four and help make their name as one of the big bands on Merseyside. The Tower Ballroom concert remains the largest ever live audience for The Beatles in Britain, but Mr. Leach is devastated to discover that his contribution has been entirely ignored in the official Beatles' Anthology. The 370-page tome boasts how John, Paul, George and Ringo: "Tell the astonishing story of life as The Beatles: The first rough gigs, the phenomenon of their rise to fame, the musical and social change of their heyday." But Mr. Leach - affectionately known as "Leachy" to the band - and the massive Tower Ballroom gig, receive no mention in 40 pages covering 1960-62. Nor is there any mention of another Beatles milestone - staged by Sam - an all-night "Rock Around the Clock" gig at Liverpool's Iron Door club. At his modest home in Woolton, Liverpool, Sam, 64, said: "There are just two things in my life I am proud of - my family and my part in helping The Beatles on the road to success. "I could have made my pot of gold from The Beatles but I never wanted to. I was just a rock 'n' roll fan masquerading as a promoter. 'THE anthology makes out the band just fell into Brian Epstein's lap and it all started at The Cavern, but that is wrong. "I worked my socks off to put on gigs for The Beatles when Eppy had never heard of them and The Cavern would only play jazz of an evening. "Two thousand kids queued to get into The Iron Door when I had The Beatles headlining there. "According to the book, they were never allowed in to the Iron Door but that is just plain wrong. "I even managed to secure a ladies' toilet for the boys to use as a dressing room. They got the star treatment! "And, as for the Tower Ballroom, that was the biggest gig the Beatles played on these shores and it doesn't get a mention. "They include a poster for the normal Saturday night at the Tower but those nights were atrocious - they got 350 punters if they were lucky. "I packed the place with 4,600 fans for Operation Big Beat in November, 1961. "The kids were screaming and crying. I still shiver when I recall the atmosphere because it was so electric. "That was the night Beatlemania was born and they never played to a bigger crowd in Britain. Surely that is worth a mention." Sam is never named in the anthology but his attempt to sign the Beatles is the subject of a fleeting reference by John Lennon. Lennon writes: "I remember one hall we were at. There were so many people that we told each other that there must be other managers around and that we'd get a lot of work out of it. "What we didn't know was that the management had laid on lots of bouncers to stop the other promoters getting near. "So nobody came to us except this bloke from the management who said he liked us and would give us a long series of dates at a night. It was a couple quid more than we were getting anyway, so we were pleased." Following Lennon's death in 1980, Sam shouldered the responsibility of staging an impromptu people's tribute concert in a Liverpool city centre. However, it was only a one-off event for Mr. Leach, who left the glamorous world of music promotion in the '60s to set up his own damp-proofing company. He is now retired. Yesterday, he insisted that he was not trying to claim credit for The Beatles' success. He said: "I would never suggest I am a better manager than Brian Epstein. He had the talent and drive to take the band further than I ever could have. "I am not seeking money or fame or even thanks. All I am asking for is a little recognition for the part I played in Beatles' history. "I do not believe the band members never mentioned me in their accounts but someone must think I should be written out. 'IT IS incredibly hurtful to be left out and has totally destroyed my enjoyment of the Anthology. "I will normally devour any Beatles book in a day but looking at this is like a knife in the heart. "The book is sure to be a huge hit and it will definitely go into a second run. All I can hope now is to be included in the re-print." Last night, an Apple spokesman said leaving Sam Leach out of The Beatles' Anthology was "neither personal or purposeful". He said: "We never intended to upset Sam by leaving him out of The Beatles Anthology. "The Beatles story is a big and panoramic tale. To have included everything that happened would have meant running to 20 volumes. "Sam Leach was very good to The Beatles and he certainly did a lot for the band. "The stories told by the band had to be edited down and he just did not make it to the final edit. |
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The Birth of the Beatles is published in the UK as The Rocking City, because that is how the city of Liverpool is known over here. The book contains many early photos never published before (courtesy of Apple who have been most co operative in the publication of the book). The photographer, Dick Matthews, still a great friend of Sam Leach took what everyone will agree are the finest photos of those early days of the Beatles. As the director of Pharaoh Press, I do not normally read manuscript proofs but I read The Birth of the Beatles four times and laughed and cried every time. Without self pity or bitterness (which makes a refreshing change) Sam describes how he virtually handed the Beatles over to Brian Epstein on a plate. Today, he is promoting them much as he did back then in the early Sixties, with humour and enthusiasm. If you don't thoroughly enjoy this book, even if you're not a particular Beatles fan, then you need embalming! |
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For years Beatle fans and authors have asked me to write my account of the events that changed the face of rock music. The 'Fabs' split almost 25 years ago, yet books on their life and times still make compulsive reading. But is there anything new? You bet there is. As a Rock'n'Roll fan who by chance became a promoter, I can give a fresh slant to their story. For starters, I have an advantage over authors who have to ask where Mathew Street is. One erstwhile writer commenced an interview by asking me what instrument Rory Storm played! It's ludicrous for 'Out of Town' writers to expect to hit 'pay dirt' by haphazard delving into Merseybeat lore. If you didn't elbow your way through heaving, sweating masses to watch The Beatles performing LIVE in 1961 --- forget it ---you're too late. It's History. If you weren't there how could you transmit into print the medium rare sound of the Beatles cooking at full power. How do you explain the paradox of John and Paul! 's intense rivalry, even though retaining a close knit teamwork? Could anyone who wasn't there describe, with accuracy and feeling, their individual performances on stage? John, his legs spread wide, guitar held high like a shield, sneering like a 'big Ted'. That distinctive voice making you shiver as he snarled' Slow Down' or ' Twist and Shout' between numbers a ciggie perched precariously between his lips. He would exchange caustic comments with the front row groupies. He never lost. The World has never seen the real Beatles. Unrefined, Untamed, Unsophisticated. We stood transfixed as the walls reverberated with their awesome power, every word crystal clear. They were primitive rockers ---with class. Brian managed The Beatles brilliantly, but much primeval earthiness was lost during his grooming process. I can well imagine readers finding my contention hard to swallow. How can I prove it? Okay. I'll write the book. |
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When history takes a critical look back on the formative years of The Beatles, it will discover Sam Leach at the very epicenter of the story. This was the man, the savvy promoter who took The Beatles from the smaller Liverpool clubs and first booked them into the larger venues e.g. The Tower where their unique style of rock 'n roll could be heard by a greater number of locals. Sam's promotions (like his "Operation Big Beat" concert series of 1961-62) are the stuff of legend! His wonderful style of storytelling takes you back to those halcyon days when The Beatles were honing their playing skills, building their fan base and crafting the persona that would blast them to international fame just two short years later. But most revealing are Sam's stories of the intense rivalries between the local promoters...conflicts which seemed to escalate with the unexpected appearance of Brian Epstein. Sam Leach places readers in a Liverpudlian Time Machine, transporting them back to the heart-pounding, adrenalin-pumping early Beatle days when pure rock 'n roll was all they played! "The Birth of the Beatles" is an amazing document filled with story after amazing story...written in the words of an under appreciated, but pivotal character in the evolution of the world's greatest band. So grow those sideboards, grease back your hair, slip into a pair of black leather pants and sit down for one tremendous read! |
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1after909 from Chicago, IL, USA Sam Leach has written the best Beatles book of its kind. He takes you back - back to the days before Beatlemania and tells how it actually was when the Fabs were unknown to the rest of the world. He offers a rare glimpse into the beginning of an era that has affected us all. You feel like you are there, transported back to a more simple, less complicated time. You get an insider's view to an exciting time in Liverpool. It is one of those books that you want to read from cover to cover, again and again. I could not put it down. The local flavor is fantastic. The style in which it was written makes you feel as if you were there. You can touch the buildings, feel the beat, see the groups, and hear the music. You can taste the fish n' chips! The energy jumps off the pages at you. It leaves you wanting for more when you are finished reading it. Sam deserves much more credit than the world has given him for the early days of the true Merseybeat. I sincerely hope this book is just the start of the recognition for him that he truly deserves. Sam should be included in every discussion, program, documentary, TV show, and movie about the emerging Beatles. Tell everyone you know to buy this book for the real story of how the Beatles started. They will thank you and you will be doing your part to set history straight. Thank you Sam, for letting us know how it really was and for writing such a great account of what must have been a great time to witness! Peace. |
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Hal Toomer from San Diego, CA, USA If you're a Beatles fan, or even just interested in the Mersey sound aborning, you must read this book! I recently had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Leach at a Beatles Faire in San Diego, California. He is a charming, delightful man who tells his story of the birth of not just the Beatles, but the whole phenomenon of Merseyside rock 'n' roll, with wit and wisdom. Make no mistake, this is not just another me-too book from some Beatles hanger-on. This man was a player, an active participant who helped to make it all possible. Without him it would not have been quite the same. Who knows, fate is a fickle thing: without him it might not have been at all. Read the book and you'll see what I mean. |
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Greg Sandell from MARQUETTE, MI, USA Just an excellent book of how it was like in the early Beatle days. One of my absolute favorite Beatle books. I felt like I was there living the story of the Liverpool scene in those days. Of course I wasn't there, and I didn't live those days...but Sam Leach did! Thanks for the great book. Greg |
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Ed Raineri from Pennsylvania, USA Before the world first heard about The Beatles, Sam Leach was booking them in dance halls all around Liverpool. His book captures the raw energy of the Merseyside music scene in a way that only a person "close to the action" could have described. At times, he makes you laugh. At times, he forces you to pause...and reflect on the music and the personalities that emanated from the place where Beatlemania first began. Sam Leach may have "never found his pot of gold" but fate placed him in a unique and wonderful spot in music history. He talks about it, here, with a genuine fondness for the era, and a certain amount of pride. Make no mistake about it, as John Lennon once said, "Sam Leach WAS the pulse of the Merseybeat Scene" |
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James Berkenstadt from Wisconsin, IL, USA Sam Leach's book, Birth of The Beatles, is a MUST HAVE for Beatles fans, music historians, Mersey Beat fans, deejays, and music promoters. Leach's amazing way with words help the reader to actually feel as if they are living through the amazing rock 'n roll concerts he promoted. His narrative preserves an amazing, exciting era through brilliant descriptions of the people, sounds, shows, the bands' interpersonal dynamics, horseplay and even the fights. The book gives the reader a perfect, behind-the-scenes view of the early concert promotion business, before there were any rules! And Leach should know! He was the music promoter for Liverpool. His name is probably on more collectible British concert posters than anyone else. There would have been no Mersey Beat and indeed The Beatles might never have been discovered by Brian Epstein, without Leach's effort. Sam Leach knew the true meaning of "A Hard Day's Night" as a concert promoter. And the reader learns this along the way. The narration and crisp Liverpool dialogue brings to life the backstage dressing room banter and on-stage rock of the early Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes and other Merseyside groups. The raw, powerful rock and roll competition between these bands provides plenty of drama throughout the book, in a manner that makes the reader feel as if he or she is sweating out front of the stage on the dance floor. And all of these great shows are occurring long before The Beatles were stolen away by The Cavern Club (which the mass media incorrectly credits for discovering and first promoting the group). The story of Leach's dealings with The Cavern and Brian Epstein are wonderful revelations to understanding the complete Beatles story. The book is rounded out by amazing, previously unpublished photos of The Beatles and the other bands promoted by Leach. The groups are shown on stage and at play. History will always remember that before Shea Stadium, Ed Sullivan, George Martin and Brian Epstein, there was the humble, hard working Sam Leach to encourage and promote The Beatles, The Pacemakers, The Hurricanes, Cilla Black and many more. This is truly the best book on The Beatles' early years. Sam Leach made it possible all those years ago. Now his book reveals how it all happened. Long live the Mersey Beat and long live Sam Leach. Jim Berkenstadt Author: Black Market Beatles: The Story Behind The Lost Recordings and Nevermind: Nirvana Editor: Before The Beatles: John, Paul & Me by Len Garry |
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John Murray from Scotland This book explodes the myth that Merseybeat started with The Cavern. The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Big Three and Rory Storm were all actively selling out shows according to author Sam Leach, a pioneering promoter who saw the management of The Beatles slip through his grasp by an ambitious and wealthy Brian Epstein. The anecdotes and stories reveal the way it was in Liverpool 1961 and with many unpublished photos we can see an insight from one who was there before the boom. |
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Steven Schindler from Los Angeles, CA, USA I've read just about every Beatle related book there is and "The Birth of The Beatles" (NOT to be confused with the TV Movie of the same name) is my current favorite. Written with an authentic Liverpudlian accent, Sam Leach gives a first-person eye-witness account of the earliest days of The Beatles. Going beyond the myths of the Fab Four, Sam Leach brilliantly, and with the voice of a street poet, describes the days BEFORE Beatlemania; when they still had to hustle to get fannies into ballrooms, mixed it up with the local hooligans, and played for hours on end for little or no money merely for the love of rock and roll! It's a rare look at the least publicized period in The Beatles storied history, told in a compelling and vivid voice. Whether you're just discovering The Beatles or a veteran BeatleFreak, you'll enjoy this FAB book! |
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Joe Howes from The Channel Isles. This is by far the best account of the Merseybeat era and the Beatles story that I have ever read and I can assure you I have read the lot. From the moment I started reading Sam's book I couldn't put it down until I had finished it. In fact I'm thinking of asking Sam Leach for a new pair of eyeballs as mine are now worn out. I urge everyone to read this brilliant account of an era sadly that we will probably never see the like of again. It's as if you were actually there your self. How Sam Leach hasn't had the recognition he deserves is beyond me. |
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guitarslimey from Southern California, USA If you think you know everything there is to know about John, Paul, George, Ringo -- and even Pete and Stu -- you'd better think again. Why? Because chances are, you don't. The early years of the Beatles are the most elusive to us all. What really happened? How did the four dashing young lads from Liverpool really get their start? Was Brian Epstein really the man who "discovered" the Beatles? Was the Cavern Club always so gracious and open to the Fab Four? Where else did Beatlemania begin? The answers to all of those questions (and many more) can be found in Sam Leach's marvelous book. Mr Leach does an excellent job of relaying the hidden truth behind Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Starr, Best and Sutcliffe. The stories within the book do an outstanding job of providing insight into the personalities of the men involved in changing the world -- and are reason enough to read (or at least buy) this book. Throw in some excellent (and exclusive photographs) and you have a perfect addition to any library -- especially you. |
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M Gordon of CHICAGO, IL, USA An unprecedented personal and humanizing account of The Beatles on the rise in early-60s Liverpool. Moreover, the author provides a no-holds-barred look into what the early years of rock 'n' roll promotion were like before the corporations took over. The blow-by-blow writing style places the reader in the thick of all the action, and the generous collection of rare photographs is well worth the cover price alone. |
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Readers
Review (12)
Alastair Baker Just finished your
amazing book on the Fabs. It was finally good to read about the man, Mr.
Merseybeat no less, who had the crazy notion to run marathon Beat gigs,
and who took the Beatles down South for the first time. |
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Readers
Review (13)
Robin Wells, Sugar Grove, IL (USA) I have been a Beatles fan since the day they arrived in the USA, I was ten years old at the time and currently am 49 years old. I remember exactly how the music made me feel as we danced to it in the basement of one of my friends houses. It was defining moment in my life even at that early age. I knew that I had a actual physical and emotional encounter while listening and dancing to the 45 rpm records on a extremely lame system. I can't imagine what a 'live" show would have done to me. The White Album came out when I was seventeen and in the Army, that rocked my world and those at the base. Pretty much every album had some profound effect on me and my friends. They raised the bar with Sgt. Peppers and blew away the whole damn base. Enough about me....
Your book was the first book that I read
about the Beatles that actually captured the experience. I felt like
I could have been sitting at a pub pounding down a pint while and
sitting back as you shared your experiences in life that very much
included the Beatles. It was a wonderful read and I suspect that I
would have interested even if the Beatles had not been the drawing
card, but that got the money out of my wallet.
I learned a great deal as you filled in
the gaps that had been missing. You took things in stride, better
than most would have been able to had they been involved. I have
twice been involved in millions of dollars that have escaped my
grasp. Both times I could have been on easy street but I would have
had to compromise myself and refused sell my soul for a "bowl of
rice". I have never regretted walking away from the sure thing but
some of my friends get ill as I relate the stories. So I can relate
to what happened to you and am proud of how you handled it and moved
on in life, since NOBODY gets out alive each day counts, so I why
waste it being pissy about things that are in the past.
And as a foot note I finished the book
while in the hospital recovering from a 'triple by-pass'. So this
book will always hold a special place in my heart for a couple of
reasons. Thanks for taking the time to write it and I wish you all
the best in your life.
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Readers
Review (14)
Ron McCarthy, (UK) Got a copy of your book by pure chance,
and it is by far the best book on the band scene and the Fab Four, and
the local scene and time that I have read. I was part of it myself,
running round with various non-descript bands in a battered old Morris
Minor van thinking we were going to be famous, when in reality we were
crap, but what a great time, when I try to tell people it's hard to
convey the atmosphere of the time and the optimism, thanks for the
book, Sam, and if you have a mailing list, please add me.
Incidentally, you are the only person I know to make reference to
Tommy Lowe & the Metronomes, every one I've mentioned his name to has
never heard of him. Tommy was a great lad! Although I am a north
ender, your book has all the lads, Beech Keatly etc, great people,
great book. |
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Readers
Review (15)
(Fedora) Breanne Kanak, Villa
Park, IL, (USA) |
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Readers
Review (16) Jim Boylan, Cumbria, UK One sunny day, not so long ago, I walked
into the Grapes pub in Matthew Street Liverpool. |
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