It might seem strange that a pastor would write a book review on the Beatles, but all of history is God’s history, all of life is theological, and to some degree, the Beatles’ creativity reflected the glory of their Creator, even though they apparently didn’t know it, and sadly didn’t give proper thanks for the gifts God gave them.
So much has been written about the Beatles over the years, but after Mark Lewisohn finishes this exhaustive three-volume project, it's hard to imagine what else could be said. Lewisohn is devoting his life to uncovering every interview, reading every article, and interviewing every surviving eyewitness that might have anything at all to say about the band who changed everything during their time together in the 1960s.
Because the Beatles are frequently praised ad nauseum by music fans everywhere, it has become fashionable lately to deconstruct their legacy and suggest that maybe they weren't so great after all. This book is not intended as a Beatles apologetic, but the case for their greatness is implicit throughout -- how they combined cutting edge originality with mainstream popularity; how their earliest songs were catchy yet struck listening ears as something they'd never heard before; and how they resisted all branding, commercial sponsorship and hype. "The Beatles didn't invent the electric guitar..., but every rock band since 1963 is fulfilling their legacy." (p.2)
It was surprising to learn how hard it was for the Beatles to finally "make it." They were rejected by record companies frequently. They were often on the verge of quitting. They desperately needed the right manager (Brian Epstein) and the right studio producer (George Martin) to make the whole thing work. But at just the right time, or, according to God's providence, all the pieces fell together.
Speaking of God's providence, the Beatles and their handlers were certainly no fans of the church or the Christian faith, and there are legitimate concerns that can be raised about their influence on 1960s youth culture. But John, Paul, George and Ringo were all raised in either Protestant or Catholic homes, which had an effect on them. John Lennon once remarked, "I've always suspected there was a God even when I thought I was an atheist." (p.84) And George Harrison, reflecting on his time in church as a kid, took notice of the oil paintings of Christ carrying the cross on his back, acknowledging that, “There’s something going on there.” (p.65).
One of the most striking features of this entire project is that after a full 800 pages in this first volume, the story has only reached the beginning of 1963. The Beatles haven't even released an album yet. Beatlemania has not yet happened. The boys haven't even visited America. That will be explained in volume 2, which all readers of this book are eagerly awaiting.