Baby You're a Rich Man

June 15, 2015

Soocher (music & industry studies, Univ. of Colorado-Denver; They Fought the Law) details the various legal disputes involving the Beatles, either individually or as a group, during their years together as well as the decade following their litigious 1970 split. Chapters devoted to famous battles such as Paul McCartney's lawsuit to dissolve the Beatles partnership and the copyright infringement litigations over John Lennon's classic "Come Together" and George Harrison's post-Beatles hit "My Sweet Lord" offer a detailed rehash of stories familiar to many of the group's fans. Soocher also covers the Fab Four's lesser-known legal hassles, including early manager Brian Epstein's merchandising contract fights at the height of Beatlemania, complex but clearly explained record contract royalty disputes involving Apple and Capitol, Lennon's custody battle over stepdaughter Kyoko while the outspoken political activist faced deportation charges, and former manager Allen Klein's various vengeful lawsuits throughout the 1970s. VERDICT Although similar in style and content to Peter Doggett's You Never Give Me Your Money, there's enough fresh material here to make this accessible and well-written book a worthwhile read for serious Beatles fans interested in the legal and financial details of the world's most popular band.--Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia

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