World-renowned Lennon historian Jude Southerland Kessler, author of The John Lennon Series historical narrative, has just released her first ever audiobook – or rather, audiodrama – version of “She Loves You,” Volume 3 in her acclaimed book series. It is available for purchase through Audible here and all major platforms.
The audiobook took months to prepare. In addition to the source material written by Kessler, it is narrated by professional voice actor Scott R. McKinley and features original music by British Invasion-inspired band The Black Ties as well as background music and cover art by Rande Kessler. “She Loves You” takes the listener "into the eye of the hurricane" that was Beatlemania – from John Lennon's trip to the Spanish Rivera with Brian Epstein in the spring of 1963 to taking America by storm on three Ed Sullivan shows and the first concerts in America. Readers get to join the band as their fame not only explodes, but begins to take its toll.
Annotated with authoritative sources and heavily documented with end notes, the audiobook edition also boasts two new chapters (chronicling the events of The John Lennon Series Volume 1, Shoulda Been There, and Volume 2, Shivering Inside), a chapter featuring the author telling intimate stories of her interviews with Allan Williams, Bob Wooler, Charlie Lennon, Louise Harrison and more, plus personalized notes read by the author herself.
"This a time machine,” says Kessler. “Nothing less. The audiobook of She Loves You will transport you back to 1963...and for 33 fab hours, you will be living with John and Cynthia Lennon, The Beatles, the powers-that-be at NEMS, and the crazed fans experiencing the outbreak of Beatlemania. For Beatles fans, this is a chance to relive it all. For those who missed The Beatles, hang on! This is one wild ride!"
Voice actor Scott McKinley studied and captured the voices of 183 people for the book, including all four Beatles, Brian Epstein, Neil Aspinall, Tony Barrow, Ed Sullivan, Murray the K, Cynthia Lennon, George Martin, Bobby Goldsboro, Trini Lopez and many more.
“For this book in particular I listened to every interview that every participant gave as close to 1963 as I could find, on YouTube or from my own collections of recordings,” says McKinley. “I got to not only narrate a book about John Lennon and The Beatles during their breakthrough year of 1963-4, but I had a chance to voice-act all of the participants. Jude's style includes enough authentic dialogue to really breathe life into the narrative.”
As for ‘60s authenticity in the
music, Kessler selected songs by New York metro-based band The Black Ties after
hearing them perform at the Fest for Beatles Fans in Jersey City. “They have
the perfect ‘Beatles’ sound for the project!” she says. And the background
music was supplied by Rande Kessler, Jude’s husband and an accomplished
musician and artist.
To learn more about Scott McKinley, visit www.mckinleyco.com and listen to an exclusive excerpt from the “She Loves You” audiobook here.
To learn more about The Black Ties, visit www.blacktiesband.com and listen to two of their original songs here.