You Never Give Me Your Money: The Battle For The Soul Of The Beatles
by Peter Doggett

How The Beatles fought to control their “funny paper”

As the song which gave this book its title suggests, money was almost as central to The Beatles’ story as the music. It ultimately tore them apart, yet ensured they were bound together in decades of legal wrangles. In fact, the four’s musical genius was matched only by their breathtaking talent for unwise business decisions.

Unsurprisingly, the most contentious figure here is Allen Klein, whose management of The Beatles’ finances after Brian Epstein’s death sparked fierce litigation between McCartney and the others. Doggett takes trouble to portray Klein as more than just the money-grabbing shark of legend, detailing how he helped Lennon avoid legal traps even after the latter sued him. As Klein recently passed away, perhaps it’s fitting that this book restores his reputation a little. Such sensitivity is extended throughout this balanced account of the band’s journey from reckless idealists to astute, weary businessmen, fighting for artistic and financial control while feeling trapped by success and wealth.

Ex-RC editor Doggett takes us right up to the present day and the entrenchment of The Beatles as brand. Remastered albums and The Beatles edition of the Rock Band computer game prove that there’s seemingly no end to our desire to buy into the long-gone dream of four loveable, inseperable visionaries.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

ISBN 9781847920744, 357 pages

Reviewed by Richard Morris
<< Back to Issue 369

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