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We
All Shine On:
The Stories Behind Every John Lennon Song 1970-1980
Synopsis
The great unfulfilled ambition of my career was to interview
John Lennon. He was killed in 1980, just as I was beginning
to get established in journalism. At least, over the years,
I have had the opportunity to speak to people who knew him
well, including his wives Cynthia and Yoko, his son Sean,
his fellow Beatles Paul and Ringo and numerous others.
These encounters and a lifetime of listening to John Lennon’s
music led me to write an account of his solo work. It has
always surprised me that the books written about his life
pay so little attention to his songs. In his later years,
especially, they are wonderfully revealing.
We All Shine On is title taken from the chorus of my favourite
Lennon hit, Instant Karma!. Among the other tracks I examine
in depth in this book are:
Give Peace A Chance
Imagine
Mother
Working Class Hero
Cold Turkey
Jealous Guy
How Do You Sleep?
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
#9 Dream
(Just Like) Starting Over
What they’ve said about We All Shine On…
“In the hands of one as fluent and well-informed as
Du Noyer, both the songs and the troubled life that informed
them emerge with fascinating clarity.”
The Sunday Times
“Superbly researched and pacy… A fascinating
window into the life and work of a 20th century icon.”
Maxim
“Nobody’s better qualified to author this book
than Du Noyer, a highly-knowledgable Liverpudlian who doesn’t
know how to write badly.”
MOJO
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