The Roof: The Beatles' Final Concert

Admittedly, I'm a fan of Ken Mansfield's past work, which offers fresh and original takes on the Beatles. In "The Roof," Mansfield manages to top himself. It's hard to believe, but the Beatles' rooftop concert on Apple is approaching its 50th anniversary on Jan. 30, 1969. Ken was one of a handful of people on the roof that historic day. This book, however, is much more than about that one singular event: it's about his relationship with the Fabs, the formation of Apple, the "Get Back" sessions, filming for "Let It Be" and how they ended up on the roof. I really enjoyed this book and Ken's Lennon-esque style of writing.

Boring and very little about the Beatles. The author just recounts his time at Capital Records and Apple. When he FINALLY get to the concert the only remarks were about him and three others being the only audience members. Got tired of I,I,I, in just about every sentence. To be fair I got about 2/3 through and gave up. Have much better books to read.

This is the first book of Ken's that I've read, but won't be the last. The writing style is engaging and fun. It provides a rare look into the people behind the Beatles that you so often see in the various pictures scurrying around the band (most clearly in the video documentary "Let It Be") while at the same time giving insight as to how the FAB Four interacted with each other and the people that keep the business running. I can't say I'd really care to read about just any Band's activities behind the scenes, but Ken does a great job of taking you into a world that most anyone would have loved to experience, but at the same time, come out realizing what a long and winding road it was. I was initially interested in learning about what happened that day on a roof top when one of the greatest show on Earth took place. I learned not only what I was interested in, but also some really interesting history about England, and how the various individuals that made up Apple fit together.One question I would have loved to ask Ken is, "Who is the individual that pops in an out of the 'Let It Be' video documentary that has the spitting image of Woody Allen?" He appears in various scenes on the roof top, specifically, when the British Police make there way onto the roof, and appears earlier in the film while the recording of "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is filmed as providing the talent for the hammer "bang bang" sounds earlier in the video. Caught my attention and I was hoping there would be a clue in the book. :)Update: After reading the entire book, I believe the individual that is standing by the entrance to the roof and, as I said, looks (to me) like Woody Allen, is Mal Evans, Apple Executive. As I mentioned before, he can be seen in the "Let It Be" documentary film banging the hammer during the filming of the Beatles recording "Maxwell's Silver Hammer". I thought at first that Woody Allen was in the studio that day and always wondered if it was Woody Allen. So, although I am green with envy, I have believe I have found the answer. Now, if only Ken would confirm it is Mal :) Crazy I know, but putting together the history behind some of the 60's bands can be interesting. Ken's book is certainly a great book in my opinion!Update (2). I just read one of the review postings confirming my suspicions. I can now sleep :) Thanks to that individual (Ken?). As I said, this book is great and a fun read.

I was wondering how a book could be written about a 42 minute event, but I gave it a try. Well, I gave it a try for 2 and a half chapters... just feels like an old guy telling us stories about a time period so long ago. Not really about the Beatles, just general stories about the authors life and where he was and what he was seeing and feeling. I was wide awake when I started reading this book, but soon I was dropping my iPad and drifting away into a restful sleep. One star for each chapter I read. 5 stars as a safe, non-addicting sleep aid.

I just completed Ken Mansfield's "The Roof: The Beatle's Final Concert". It reads with the kind of honesty and sincerity of a friend recounting a special chapter in their lives. I found it open, funny, touching.In this case your hypothetical friend is telling the story about his time with the Beatles and in close proximity. Not as a girlfriend, a fellow musician, or a fan but as someone who had professional working responsibilities as well as comradery with these four idolized giants of music.One is more tested and, in effect, entitled when one is accountable in such high profile relationships and not simply a social friend or acquaintance. This perspective, in my opinion, brought me into the experience as a vicarious participant. You never know where life takes you until you get there. That's how Ken seems to tell his story and others at Apple. He clearly makes his story anyone's story as in "Had I been here or there at this time or that, I might have worked for The Beatles, I might have ended up on that rooftop."Ken is at once speaking to the reader and to himself at times. He seems amazed, nostalgic, moved and even self critical at times. And isn't this what most of us do later in life and rare times of our lives that have now passed. I felt I had lived just a little bit of that time thru Ken's expressed memories with real people who became The Beatles, unexpectedly, and knew they were on an adventure of "how about we try this now?" like any other young artists in motion.And if anything expresses how much he loved that group of cohabitants it is in his touching reflection on his friendship with Mal Evans. The piece on Mal near the end of the book is a place where you will read the clues that go backward thru the whole preceding narrative.So I would recommend reading this as an honest unburnished memoir by someone who was close to The Beatles et al, uniquely for a fleeting moment. Fleeting in a similar way as the moment The Beatles came and went as a group.A little bittersweet at times while also being funny and celebratory about a once in a lifetime (once in a century?) experience. The close of the story includes a moment of recorded self-discovery by the author, elements of which informed my own perspective on my life with its collection of experiences, albeit at a fair distance from "a day in the life" at Apple.There are plenty of books about The Beatles with facts, figures, biographies, lyrics, etc. These are all inevitable by-products of fascination, respect, honor, inspiration, obligations to posterity. But if I wanted to hang out with a glass of wine in front of a fireplace with an academic or fan versus a friend with personal reminiscences, I would choose the reminiscing friend every time.

Bought for a gift for my visiting auntie from Australia and she loves it!

A good book of The Beatles

Uma excelente resenha contando os bastidores e os sortudos protagonistas da última apresentação do Fab Four no teto da Apple, em Londres. Muitos detalhes me eram desconhecidos. Recomendo a todos os que se interessam pela história dos Beatles.

A nice read on my vacation.

Muito bom livro. Gostaria de ter também o vídeo daque acontecimento.

表紙の写真で期待しましたが、中身は写真がほとんどなく、英語の文章ばかりです。英語を読める方はいいですが、そうでない方は買わない方がいいです。