“The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present” wins a British Book Award

The book entitled “The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present” was published in November 2021. First announced in February 2021, it covers Paul McCartney’s early Liverpool days, the Beatles, Wings, and solo careers, by pairing the lyrics of 154 of his songs with first-person commentaries of the circumstances in which they were written, the people and places that inspired them, and what he thinks of them now.

On this day, “The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present” won the “Non-Fiction: Lifestyle” award at the British Book Award ceremony.

This visual autobiography, a self-portrait in 154 songs from musician Paul McCartney, developed through conversations with poet Paul Muldoon, certainly made an impression on the judges: “A work of art”; “a unique piece of publishing”; and a book that “belongs in a museum, not just our bookshelves.” The judges praised the two-volume set as a “fantastic visual diary”, singling out the original hand-written lyrics. The book was supported by a free exhibition at the British Library and McCartney in conversation at the Southbank Royal Festival Hall. Allen Lane co-ordinated a global launch, simultaneously in 11 languages, attaining extensive broadsheet and radio coverage. What could have been a niche publication for fans of The Beatles became a bestseller and a major cultural moment, topping 70,000 copies through Nielsen’s TCM.

From The Bookseller – Awards – The British Book Awards

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