Lennon and McCartney: Together Alone - A Critical Discography of Their Solo Work

by John Blaney

TOGETHER ALONE tells the stories behind the songs and recordings of two of the biggest names in pop music.

When The Beatles split in 1970, John Lennon and Paul McCartney each struggled to make their mark in the wake of their world-beating group. Each began to create a new body of work as they gradually defined their individual musical signatures.

This book examines their growing confidence, their magnificent peaks, and their ill-considered lows. John Blaney does this through a careful and entertaining examination of every major record release by the two, from the 1960s to the present day (including posthumous releases since Lennon's death in 1980). The author brings to his aid many archive quotes from Lennon and McCartney to illustrate and underline the discographically-based history that unfolds.

There is a good deal of information for record collectors along the way, including release dates, catalogue numbers, composer credits, recording personnel, studios and production credits, and an index to help located the commentary and information on every song and album.

This book is the most detailed study yet of the solo work of these two giants of pop and deserves a place in the library of every student of modern music.

This is the definitive book on the solo work of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, two of popular music's greatest writers and performers. The story of their songs is told chronologically, record by record, starting with their first work outside The Beatles -- McCartney with his theme for The Family Way movie, Lennon his Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins with Yoko Ono.

The book then continues to detail Lennon's and McCartney's work since the 1960s, mapping the creative highs -- and the lows -- in an authoritative, complete, and often provocative fashion. Archive quotes along the way from both Lennon and McCartney help to illustrate the story.

Beside the narrative, information for collectors includes release dates, catalogue numbers, composer credits, recording personnel, studio locations, and producer credits, and there is an index to assist you in tracing every song. Author John Blaney's perceptive style makes this a fascinating read as well as a work of reference, covering everything from McCartney's hypnotic epics as The Fireman for Rushes to the self-assured excellence of his recent Chaos And Creation In The Back Yard, and from Lennon's sprawling, engaging Some Time In New York City to the ubiquitous 'Imagine'.

TOGETHER ALONE tells the stories behind the songs and recordings of two giants of modern music, and this absorbing book is a must for every serious Beatles fan and record collector.

John Blaney is a passionate fan of The Beatles who brings to his writing the expertise and rigour of a professional historian. Born in Devon, England, he trained as a graphic designer before starting a career in music retail. He subsequently studied History of Art at Camberwell College Of Arts and at Goldsmith College (both in London) before taking up his present post as curator of a museum of technology. He is author and publisher of previous books on both Paul McCartney and John Lennon.