McCartney Times

Ian Leslie’s John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs (Celadon Books) takes a different approach in its examination of the celebrated songwriting partnership. Instead of a straight forward biography, Leslie unveils the story piece by piece, each chapter using a specific song as a jumping off point to further explore their creative relationship. And it doesn’t just cover the songs they wrote; chapters also deal with songs that influenced these keen music fans, such as The Dell Vikings’ “Come Go With Me” and Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say,” as well as their solo material. Leslie’s analysis is occasionally over the top, as when he refers to Chantels’ lead singer Arlene Smith’s “almost occult hormonal energies,” and his argument that “Till There Was You” was an “important” song to the Beatles’ early career didn’t convince this reader. But it’s still refreshing to read a book that doesn’t plod over the same territory and actually has something new to say. However much you know about John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s work, Leslie will make you see their accomplishments in a new light.

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Source: Beatles Roundup for Summer 2025 – Goldmine Magazine: Record Collector & Music Memorabilia