George Martin publishes his autobiography, Playback - October 2, 2002
From BeatlesWiki
| Event | |
| Date | October 2, 2002 |
| Short description | Beatles producer George Martin releases a limited-edition autobiography, Playback. |
| Location | |
Former Beatles producer George Martin released his limited-edition autobiography, Playback. Martin, premiering his book at the Hard Rock Cafe in Melbourne, announced the release of his book. Each of the 2000 copies was personally autographed by Sir George Martin himself and contained a CD. The book, which cost $880.00 contained previously-unseen documents, diaries, and recording notes Martin had made while working with The Beatles. In the book, he also listed his favorite Beatles albums, in order: Abbey Road, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Rubber Soul. When being interviewed by Simon Plant of Herald Sun, Martin said of his favorite albums, "I love them all, really. It's a bit like asking, 'Who's your favourite child?'" Forty years later, Martin still recognizes the importance of John Lennon and Paul McCartney as a songwriting partnership, saying, "[W]hen they worked together they produced something a little bit bigger than the sum of the individual parts. It wasn't just a collaboration, it was a rivalry as well. I don't think either of them really achieved the heights they did as Beatles in their solo careers. They needed each other," he told The Age press, "I'm sure Paul misses John very much. And George." Martin also said of the songwriting partnership, "I'm not saying it's as good as Ravel or Beethoven -- though it might be -- but there is no other form of musical art in the late 20th century that is any better," he told the Herald Sun." George Martin had won five Grammies at the time, and holds the record for producing the most British Number One hit singles. Playback was published by Hedley Australia.
