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Received Vol. 1 in the mail on Friday and am about 40 pages deep. This is Jerry Hammack's attempt at corrolating the information in The Beatles Recording Sessions with Beatles Gear in an exhaustive session by session breakdown that includes the former information along with charts detailing the superimposition (overdub) process and mixdowns. (This is the information I was interested in, how the sub tracks were grouped prior to mixing).
It also attempts to clarify any errors in the earlier works, though there is already some controversy about the information presented in this book as well.
Whilst definitely being of interest to the hardcore Beatles fan, this book is really aimed at recording nerds; every session is broken down into what microphones, plug ins, outboard gear, tape types, consoles, and recording decks were used; what takes were bounced down and why; how the final remix was compiled from the individual elements.
What I find amazing is how much pre planning went into a single song. With just two tracks, and many times just one, a live take had to be recorded over another take and then you were married to that version or had to start over (or use the mono backup presumably). Mind blowing concept in today's age of infinite choice and options.
The book itself has a textbook look and feel, marred by a few typos but nothing numerous or egregious.
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