"We're Going to See the Beatles!" An Oral History of Beatlemania as Told by the Fans Who Were There (review)

Almost every American of a certain age can recall exactly what they were doing on the evening of February 9, 1964. These baby boomers were glued to the television set watching The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS, eagerly anticipating the performance by that new rock group from England, the Beatles. Those heady days dubbed "Beatlemania" brought a new excitement, energy, and joy to a nation devastated by the recent assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Although we are now approaching the fiftieth anniversary of that landmark pop culture event, many Americans fondly remember their close encounter of a Beatle kind in the 1960s. In "We're Going to See the Beatles!" An Oral History of Beatlemania, author Garry Berman captures the exhilaration of the British Invasion as seen through the memories of people who were lucky enough to attend a live Beatles performance or encounter the Fab Four in some other venue, whether in person or through their music.

Berman interviewed a cross-section of forty-two people who were caught up in Beatlemania and remained dedicated fans throughout their lives. He organized the book chronologically, beginning with "Early Rumblings" and concluding with final reflections by these original Beatle fans on their over-forty-year-long devotion to the group and their music. The experiences range from those who were in the audience at The Ed Sullivan Show or other concert venues to those who stood vigil outside of the hotels where the Beatles stayed to those who never saw their idols in person but were—and still are—devoted fans.

Throughout the book, Berman provides context for the interviewees' reflections. For example, in chapter two, "The First Invasion," Berman discusses the events leading up to the Beatles' first trip to the U.S. He notes that the musicians were anxious to cross the Atlantic, but only after they had a number one hit in the U.S. The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, "needed to stay ahead of the curve" and thus booked his "boys" on The Ed Sullivan Show in November of 1963 with top billing (56). Thanks to Epstein's hard work, the Beatles did have their first number one hit in America, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" prior to Sullivan's show. Berman's commentary is useful in reminding readers of landmark occasions in Beatles history that he juxtaposes with his interviewees' thoughts and memories of these events.

Berman lists all of the interviewees at the beginning of the book and provides a brief statement on his or her encounter with Beatlemania. They include Maryanne Laffin who attended both Shea Stadium concerts, Charles Pfeiffer whose mother would not allow him to attend the Beatles 1964 concert in Kansas City, Leslie Barratt who was a part of the 1964 vigil at the Plaza Hotel in New York, and Linda Binns Liles who, at the age of nine, rode on the train with the group from New York to Washington, DC, and was lucky enough to chat with them during the trip. Although Berman interviewed only a few people, their experiences resonate with the millions of Beatles fans, whether of that first generation or those who are just now becoming enthralled with this remarkable foursome.

Volumes have and will be written about the Beatles. Few would argue about their impact on mass culture, not just in the U.S. and Great Britain, but globally. What Berman has done is looked at the experience of young American baby boomers that came of age in a world changed by four young lads from Liverpool. This book is almost purely oral history interviews with Berman's commentary. There is a forward by Sid Bernstein, the concert promoter who early on saw the great potential in the Beatles, and booked them to a Carnegie Hall concert months before they...