FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE NEW YORK TIMES AND BYLINER PUBLISH
GOT THAT SOMETHING! How the Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand” Changed Everything
By Allan Kozinn
NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO—November 12, 2013—On the fiftieth anniversary of the Beatles’ release of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and the arrival of Beatlemania on American shores, The New York Times and Byliner are publishing Got That Something! by Allan Kozinn, New York Times music critic and noted authority on the Fab Four.
Got That Something! chronicles the birth of the iconic Lennon-McCartney song and explains how “I Want to Hold Your Hand” became the hit single that sparked the British Invasion. In this definitive, sharply detailed portrait of a song and its legacy, Kozinn, who has taught at the Juilliard School and New York University, geeks out over chord progressions, double-tracked vocals, and the two simple words “You” and “I,” which together would carry the group to the top of the charts over and over. His fascination is contagious, bringing to life a seminal moment in rock history, when this “two-and-a-half-minute miracle” forged new possibilities for pop music throughout the sixties and beyond.
In Got That Something! the author paints a vivid picture of the legendary songwriting duo at work, and the emergence of this distinctively British-sounding tune that—contrary to the assumptions of American record labels—became beloved in the United States, paving the way for the invasion to come and the lasting impact on American music that continues even today.
About the Author: Allan Kozinn (@kozinn) began writing about music for The New York Times in 1977, and joined its culture staff in 1991. A classical music critic for much of his career, he is currently a cultural reporter for The Times. His previous books include The Guitar: The History, the Players, the Music (William Morrow/Quill, 1984), Mischa Elman and the Romantic Style (Harwood, 1990), The Beatles: From the Cavern to the Rooftop (Phaidon, 1995), and The New York Times Essential Library: Classical Music (Times Books, 2004). He was born in New York and studied music and journalism at Syracuse University.
About Byliner: Byliner works directly with the world’s best writers to deliver great stories to readers. Named “one of the 10 Most Innovative Media Companies in the World” (Fast Company), Byliner is a subscription reading service and digital publisher of award-winning short fiction and nonfiction. A Byliner subscription provides unlimited access to more than 30,000 stories by hundreds of bestselling authors, as well as personalized story suggestions based on your reading time and interests. The entire library of Byliner Originals—including bestselling e-books by Margaret Atwood, Nick Hornby, Jon Krakauer, Ann Patchett, Nicole Krauss, Simon Winchester, Alexandra Fuller, Richard Russo, and Sebastian Junger—is available in the subscription service and through the major digital bookstores.
About The New York Times Company: The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT) is a global media organization dedicated to enhancing society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news and information. The company includes The New York Times, International New York Times, NYTimes.com, INYT.com and related properties. It is known globally for excellence in its journalism, and innovation in its print and digital storytelling and its business model. Follow news about the company at @NYTimesComm.
Got That Something! is available for $2.99 as a Kindle Single at Amazon, a Quick Read at Apple’s iBookstore, a Nook Snap at BarnesAndNoble.com, and a Short Read at Kobo. The story is free to Byliner subscribers at Byliner.com. For an Advance Reading Copy or to schedule an interview with Allan Kozinn, please contact Danielle Rhoades Ha, Danielle.Rhoades- [email protected], 212-556-8719 or Erin Cox, [email protected], 347-581-0211.
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