Reading the 20th Century discussion

I am not adverse to non-Fabs stories, I should say.

Singsongs around the piano were certainly popular in those days, weren't they? Just a fun snippet - did you know that Paul's father brought their family piano from Brian Epstein's family store?

I have just read the chapter about the time when John and Yoko got busted (by Detective Sergeant Norman Pilcher the anti-drug zealot who made a career of busting 60s pop stars and who was later found guilty of corruption).

When the matter finally approached trial, Lennon pleaded guilty because he was worried that Yoko would be deported. He was fined £150 and warned he'd go to jail if caught again.

The chapter illuminates how he and Neil Aspinall had to fire fight on the day, contending with other day to day stuff, tracking down the other Beatles to update them etc. A very good chapter.

Neil Aspinall was the man who knew everything, wasn't he, and was utterly loyal to the end. Did you know that he had a child with Mona Best, Pete Best's mother? When the Beatles ditched Pete, he had to make a choice about whether to be loyal to his friend, and the son of his lover, or stay with the Beatles. He never wavered and was Mr Fixit all the way through, as well as keeping everything after the band broke up, with the Anthology in his mind as early as 1970.

Sometimes I get the feeling that Derek, given the self confessed difficulty he had writing this book, has written anything that came into his head. It’s astonishingly variable and extremely scattershot.

Susan wrote: "Sorry, Nigeyb. Obviously, I found the Beatles related content much more interesting than Captain Beefheart (I have no idea who he is, to be honest!) or his time outside of the Beatles orbit."

Wasn't Captain Beefheart Frank Zappa?

Jan C wrote: "Wasn't Captain Beefheart Frank Zappa?"


No Jan. Two very different and distinctive musical artistes. Although they did collaborate in their younger days and remained friends.

I should finish As Time Goes By later today and will post a few concluding thoughts once I achieve that milestone

Interested to hear your thoughts, Nigeyb. To be honest, it is an important record of the times, rather than a good book, in my opinion. I am glad it was re-published, and I am glad that I read it, but - like some Sixties books of the time, obviously influenced by drugs - it is a bit tiresome in places!

Susan wrote: "To be honest, it is an important record of the times, rather than a good book, in my opinion. I am glad it was re-published, and I am glad that I read it, but - like some Sixties books of the time, obviously influenced by drugs - it is a bit tiresome in places!"

I would definitely echo those sentiments Susan. Fundamentally I am glad to have read it, and in a way it feels quite important, but scattershot and also very variable. He mentioned how he found writing it a chore and that was obvious in certain sections.

He didn't think of how reading it could be a chore :) I think some of his comments probably sounded very intelligent under the influence of LSD, but possibly sound less so in hindsight.

Finally finished this one and definitely glad to have read it.


As Time Goes By is astonishingly variable and extremely scattershot but still worth reading if you're interested in Derek Taylor, The Beatles, or their era more generally.

Click here to read my spoiler-free review

3/5