Bound To Stay Bound

Bulletin for the Center... - 02/01/2014 Yes, it really has been half a century since the opening salvo of the British Invasion, the Beatles’ February 9, 1964 debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. In this adulatory volume Sandler attempts to recapture the frenzy of Beatlemania and to consider the broader influence of the band on aspects of American culture from fashion to religion, studio recording to movies. There’s something here for every Beatle interest—band history, mob scenes, album-burning backlash, facial-hair evolutions, Iron Curtain censorship, record-breaking musical triumphs, and alas, break-up and deaths. Organizational switches between chronological narration and subject themes, however, require nimbleness on the reader’s part to keep milestones in alignment, and not every picture in Sandler’s extensive photo gallery matches neatly with text. Readers who truly want to understand social and musical forces behind the hoopla will find the context a bit thin, with only a couple of lines addressing the dynamics of, for example, the Vietnam War and the Rolling Stones. For kids who simply want to know why Grandma still swoons over Sir Paul, however, and why Grandpa speaks of “the white album” with reverence, this is just the breezy, image-rich source to consult. The bound book will include a discography, bibliography, and index. EB - Copyright 2014 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Booklist - 02/01/2014 Even Beatles fans who have done their homework will find something new in this in-depth examination of the band’s influence on music, religion, fashion, and movies on a global scale. The opening chapter begins with the “British invasion” of America, in February 1964, kicked off by the Beatles’ appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, but the book is not simply a chronology of their career. Rather, it is organized topically, including thematic chapters on the band’s impact on individual aspects of culture. Some effects may seem superficial, such as the influences on hairstyles and suit coats, but others are far more profound, such as the feelings that Western music stirred in young people east of the Iron Curtain. Sandler heavily quotes contemporary interviews with band members themselves and those close to them to lend a behind-the-scenes feel to the narrative. Well-selected photographs emphasize the phenomenal popularity and undeniable impact of the Beatles and drive home the assertion that a rock band can have significance far beyond its music. - Copyright 2014 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 02/01/2014 Gr 5–8—It's been 50 years since the Beatles' groundbreaking performance on the Ed Sullivan Show, and that is where Sandler begins this book about the band's influence on everything from music to movies, and even religion. It is an event that illustrates the scope and intensity of Beatlemania, which would transform popular music, and according to Sandler, other forms of entertainment. How they changed various aspects of culture provides the framework for each chapter, but Sandler still takes a linear approach to the Beatles' history, covering their early days in Liverpool as teenagers to their post-breakup activities. Readers will find that the band introduced or revolutionized several music industry norms such as music videos, merchandising, stadium concert tours, and album cover design. Over the years, the Beatles' sound evolved, but they were the first band to think about their album as a whole piece of art rather than a compilation of individual songs. Sandler offers insights into their musical legacy as well as their work as political activists. The penultimate chapter of the book describes the social turmoil of the 1960s and how the Beatles' music inspired Russian teens behind the Iron Curtain. The book's design mostly allows for continuous reading, with special spreads occurring at natural breaks in the text. Various anecdotes and quotes from the band and others who were close to them enrich the text. Overall, this book is a welcome reminder that popular entertainment can be a powerful force for positive change in the world.—Joy Piedmont, LREI, New York City - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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