Wednesday, March 22, 2023

The Book of Top 10 Beatles Lists


The other day we told you about a new book by Charles Rosenay called "The Book of Top 10 Beatles Lists."

Within hours, we heard from several readers who had already ordered copies of Charles' new book after reading about it in Forgotten Hits.  (Our copy is also on the way!) 

Although we've never actually met, I've known Charles Rosenay for close to twenty years, if only thru his celebrated Beatles tours, taking fans thru Liverpool (and more) to show some of the early Beatles' favorites haunts.  (Speaking of haunts, Charles is also quite known for his fondness ... and tours ... of horror films and monsters!)

Frequent FH contributor David Salidor (who is also helping to promote the new book) sent us this interview that he did with Charles in support of this new venture.

Favorites are a big part of the just-released book, The Book of Top 10 Beatles Lists, which is very different from the hundreds of Beatles titles that have come out before. It contains 64 Top 10 Lists of favorite songs, albums, films, appearances, and a whole lot of memories and insights from music legends, actors, athletes, authors, disc jockeys, and many friends and relatives of The Beatles … including two former Beatles!

Here’s our interview with the book’s author Charles F. Rosenay:

DAVID SALIDOR:  When did you become a Beatles fan?

CHARLES ROSENAY:  One of my first memories in life was seeing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show. The girls who watched that wanted to marry - or sleep with - a Beatle. The boys wanted to be a Beatle! There's no way to quantify how many became musicians after that night, but clearly millions became fans. On February 9, 1964, I was one of those countless fans, except I never stopped loving them, studying them, collecting them, and continuing my fascination with them as musical geniuses.

DS:  How were you different from those millions of fans? 

CR:  When I grew up, The Beatles became a much bigger part of my life. While still in school I started producing Beatles conventions; I published / edited  / designed / distributed a Beatles magazine called "Good Day Sunshine" (which lasted nearly two decades); I booked and managed Beatles bands (and even one of The Beatles for a short while in the 80’s - Pete Best); I began hosting and organizing "Magical History Tours," which brought fans and travelers to Liverpool & London every Summer since 1983; and I promote music Beatles festivals.

DS:  Did you ever meet any of The Beatles?

CR:  I've met and taken photos with Paul McCartney the most, I have had close encounters with Ringo Starr through the years (and even asked him a question on national television), and got up-close with George Harrison only once - in Japan when he was touring with Eric Clapton. I nearly had my John Lennon moment in October of 1980, but that's a story for another interview. When people ask which Beatles I met, I also include Pete Best, the drummer before Ringo, and Chas Newby, who was the band's first left-handed bassist before Paul. Both of them have chapters in my book.

DS:  Why does the world need another Beatles book?

CR:  Why does the world need another Kennedy or Elvis or Marilyn Monroe book? Why does the world need more Beatles tribute acts? Because there are still fans and collectors who - like myself - love not just the music but every bit of trivia and information about them.  

DS:  What prompted you to write a Beatles book?

CR:  For years, people asked when I was going to put out a Beatles book. They thought I should possibly write a book containing all the interviews I’ve conducted at my conventions and for my magazine, or perhaps a book detailing my Beatles or tour encounters, or maybe even just a biography or memoir. Believe or not, I always said I never would write a Beatles book because I felt that every topic was already covered. So many great new Beatles books are still coming out all the time. Boy, was I wrong. I'd like to think that "The Book Of Top 10 Beatles Lists" is so different from any of the others.

There was another reason I thought I’d never do a Beatles book. For nearly 20 years, that Beatles magazine I mentioned, "Good Day Sunshine," came out every other month and, although I loved each and every issue, it was one of the hardest things I’d ever done in my life. Most issues were about 80 pages. So, I always felt that I was putting out six books a year! After that run, I never expected to do an actual book.

Then came COVID.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, just like you, I was safely isolating. I had the good fortune of being able to be home with my wife, Melissa, and my three children, Lauren, Harry, and Ian. With no DJ gigs (my main vocation), no tours, no band bookings, no promotions, and actually a little extra time on my hands, I mostly watched a lot of movies, played lots of pinball, tried to get my kids deeper into the Beatles' solo and rarer tracks, and went bicycling and hiking with my family when the weather was nice. But late at night, after my wife and kids went to sleep, I stayed up late and put together my first book, "The Book of Top 10 Horror Lists." Monsters were one of my other passions growing up. That title was so well-received, it only made sense to follow it up with another Top 10 list collection, but this time it just had to be on The Beatles! In putting together that first book, I came up with the most fitting photo of myself as a kid. In my family’s Bronx, New York apartment, I am playing with all my monster models. Hanging up on the wall behind me, though, is a magazine cover poster of The Beatles! That sums it up!

DS:  How is this different from any other Beatles books out there?

 

CR:  First of all, it's a fun read. It's not just fact after fact, and it's not minutiae. It's very personal and is of interest to more than Beatles fans. While Beatles fans will love it, and the die-hards will learn a lot of new stuff from it, it is also of interest to the general reader, because it's equally a celebrity, pop-culture book. The top ten lists come from not only Beatles relatives and friends, musicians who toured or recorded with them, and others who are part of The Beatles universe, but also from film and television actors, radio and TV personalities, authors, athletes, rock stars, and other notables.

 

DS:  Why sixty-four top 10 Lists?

 

CR:  My first book - of horror lists - had 100 lists, but was many years in the making. When I hit fifty Beatles top ten lists, I realized I could've gone another few years and reached 100. But this was a huge year for me - the 40th anniversary of me presenting tours to England for Beatles fans, and I really wanted to have the book available for Beatleweek. When I hit sixty, the song "When I'm 64" was playing, and I realized I should end it "When I'm (at) 64." Besides, '64 was that magical year when The Beatles invaded America and my world, so that number made sense. Another consideration was when it took so long to release my first book, some of the people who contributed horror lists (actors Ed Asner and Karen Black comes to mind), passed away before the book came out. I wanted everyone in the book to be able to enjoy the final product. 

 

DS:  Are there also photos?

 

CR:  Yes, the book is over 200 pages and is fully illustrated. Along with some classic and rarely-seen period photos, there are many pictures of the contributors with the author. That's on the inside; on the cover are images of three eras of The Beatles by Shannon, recognized as the world's greatest Beatles artist.

DS:  What other elements of the book are there besides top ten lists?

 

CR:  It should be pointed out that there's much more than just top 10 lists, as each list is accompanied by comments from a celebrity or Beatles associate. Sure, we all love the lists, but it is the commentary and reasons for the choices which give the collection more substance. Whether it's original Beatle Pete Best's memories, or Paul McCartney's step-sister Ruth McCartney's top ten important Liverpool locations, or author Larry Kane's recollections of his ten most outstanding U.S. concerts, or Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Elliot Easton's (of The Cars) choices of The Beatles' best "middle eights," or television personality Dick Cavett's most memorable moments with The Beatles, every chapter is captivating, enlightening, fascinating, often humorous, and always entertaining. 

 

Additionally, there's a comprehensive index, should the reader wish to see which pop-culture icons or Beatles-connected-individuals picked certain songs or albums. There is also a Foreword by John Lennon's sister, Julia Baird, and an Afterword by Beatles friend and confidante, Bill Harry, who was the publisher of Mersey Beat Magazine in the sixties.

 

DS:  How can one get a copy of "The Book Of Top 10 Beatles Lists?"

 

CR:  Released by Kiwi Publishing, the soft-cover is now on sale on Amazon in all countries ($19.99 U.S. here: 

https://a.co/d/bQfe2nj ... 

and personally-signed editions are available directly by emailing  

BookOfTop10BeatlesLists@gmail.com or by phoning (203) 795-4737. 

The website is www.BookOfTop10BeatlesLists.com.  

 

Be sure to order your copy today!!!

 

(Watch for a Forgotten Hits review after I've had a chance to make my way thru my copy!)

 

Thanks, Guys!  (kk)