New Orleans, LA (May 27, 2019)

498 Productions, LLC is pleased to announce that Bruce Spizer’s latest book, THE BEATLES GET BACK TO ABBEY ROAD, is nearing completion. According to Spizer, layouts are finished and the text is being proofed. The book’s publication date is set for September 26, 2019, the 50^th anniversary of the U.K. release of Abbey Road.

In addition to the Abbey Road LP,  the book covers the standalone singles released by the Beatles in 1969: “Get Back”/“Don’t Let Me Down” and “The Ballad Of John And Yoko”/“Old Brown Shoe.” As was the case with Bruce’s prior books in the album series, separate chapters cover these records from the American, British and Canadian perspective (the latter courtesy of Piers Hemmingsen). These historical overviews include how the records were covered by the press, marketed by the record companies and reviewed by magazines and newspapers, along with chart and sales information. Al Sussman returns with a chapter on the major events of 1969, and Frank Daniels writes on the music and films of the year. Jude Southerland Kessler contributes a commentary on John Lennon in 1969. And, rumor has it, Bruce has included a chapter or two on the Paul McCartney death hoax that reared its head just as ABBEY ROAD was going on sale.

In keeping with the format of the previous books in this series, there are dozens of fan recollections from first and second generation Beatles fans, plus fan’s notes from Beatlefan publisher/editor Bill King. The book’s final chapters cover the packaging of the album and song-by-song detailed notes on the recording sessions.

The book measures 9″ x 9″ and has 184 pages (plus 8 introductory pages), with over 170 images in color or original black and white. 498 Productions was able to keep the retail list price of the book at $29.98. There is also a signed and numbered Collector’s Edition (limited to 500 copies and priced at $100) that comes with an O-case, two posters, bookmark and free download of the $20 digital edition of the book. 498 Productions will begin taking orders on July 1, 2019, at 8:00 AM Central Daylight Time. If all goes according to plan, those ordering from 498 Productions shall receive their books in mid-September, a week or so ahead of the book’s publication date of September 26, 2019.

FROM THE BACK COVER OF THE BOOK:

In January 1969, the Beatles abandoned the familiar confines of EMI Studios on Abbey Road by rehearsing at Twickenham Film Studios and recording an album worth of songs in the basement and on the roof of Apple’s Savile Row headquarters. Their next session was held on February 22 at Trident Studios. During the next few months, the Beatles held recording sessions at Abbey Road and Olympic Sound Studios, with three different producers, Glyn Johns, George Martin and Chris Thomas, alternating at the helm.

After this erratic start to the year, the group decided it was time to get back to where they once belonged. That July, the Beatles returned to Abbey Road, where seven years earlier they had their first recording session with EMI and producer George Martin. During the next few months, the Beatles and Martin recaptured the magic and camaraderie that at times was missing during the January sessions. The resulting album, Abbey Road, was issued on September 26 in the U.K. and on October 1 in America, quickly topping the charts in both countries. Although the group’s January 1969 recordings would eventually be issued on the Let It Be album in May 1970, Abbey Road would be the last album recorded by the Beatles.

This latest book in Bruce Spizer’s Beatles album series covers all of the records released by the Beatles in 1969 from the “Get Back” single to Abbey Road.

OTHER BOOKS IN THE BEATLES ALBUM SERIES