There are more than 500 books on the
Beatles currently for sale at Amazon.com. Hundreds more have been published since the
early 1960s, when the Fab four first broke onto the music scene. Only a few of these works
contain real "inside" information about the group. Sadly, many of them are
loaded with misinformation and rumors - which hasn't prevented their great success among
readers hungry for any news of the Fabs.
With so little good material out about the Beatles, there are but a few selected books in
my extensive Beatles library that I completely trust. One of them was published last year
by the remarkable Ken Mansfield, who was the U.S. Manager of Apple Records in the late
1960's (before the arrival of Allen Klein). The book, The Beatles, the Bible, and Bodega Bay,
not only highlights Ken's time working with the Beatles, but also tells of his own
life before, during and after show business. Readers should be aware that "BBBB"
(as I'll call it here) will captivate them whether they're Beatles fans or not. It's one
man's journey through a life full of fascinating and remarkable stories. So! If you happen to be a Beatles fan, pull up a chair and cancel your
plans for the evening.
My Dad once told me "dynamite comes in small
packages." This could easily be said of "BBBB." The inside information is
abundant, and comes from a sincere, honest and reliable source. As a close friend to all
four Beatles during the '60s, Ken was allowed access to events we mere mortals can only
dream about. You'll get a first-hand account of many business situations Ken was involved
in during his time with the Beatles, as well as his personal insights about the group
members themselves. After reading this book, you'll understand why it's virtually the only
published book about the Beatles (besides the Beatles Anthology) endorsed by all
organizations and persons involved with the group, as well as the three surviving Beatles,
Neil Aspinall, and Yoko Ono.
"Ok," you're probably asking yourself, "so
Ken is a personal friend of Paul, George, Ringo, and Neil Aspinall. He was a friend of
John Lennon and Mal Evans before their tragic and untimely deaths. What's that got to do
with the Bible and Bodega Bay? In fact, what is Bodega Bay?" The answers lie
in Ken's wonderfully written book. For each chapter on his recollections of the Beatles,
there is a chapter on Ken's personal spirituality and relationship with God. He doesn't
try to "sell" Christianity in this book. Rather, he takes you on his journey,
with lots of breathtaking stops along the way. The Beatles, the Bible, and Bodega
Bay" could have been called My Past, My Present, and My Future."
Incidentally, Bodega Bay is a picturesque fishing village on the California
coast, north of San Francisco where Ken lives with his wife Connie. They operate a
romantic seaside shop, Gourmet au Bay (www.gourmetaubay.com) near the water's edge, surrounded by colorful
functional art pieces from around the world, and the bounty of local growers and
craftsmen. Here are millions of memories from the fast-paced entertainment industry
Mansfield worked in for over 30 years - memories worked into Ken's book, written in quiet
Bodega Bay.
I was lucky enough to speak with Ken about his years at the
top, and hear some of his reflections and memories about working with the incredible
Beatles.
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