The Cambridge Companion to the Beatles Cambridge Companions to Music

From Please Please Me to Abbey Road, this collection of essays tells the fascinating story of the Beatles - the creation of the band, their musical influences, and their cultural significance, with emphasis on their genesis and practices as musicians, songwriters, and recording artists. Through detailed biographical and album analyses, the book uncovers the background of each band member and provides expansive readings of the band's music. - Traces the group's creative output from their earliest recordings through their career - Pays particular attention to the social and historical factors which contributed to the creation of the band - Investigates the Beatles' unique enduring musical legacy and cultural power - Clearly organized into three sections, covering Background, Works, and History and Influence, the Companion is ideal for course usage, and is also a must-read for all Beatles fans Foreword Anthony DeCurtis Chronology of the Beatles' lives and works Introducing the Beatles Kenneth Womack Part I. Background: 1. Six boys, six Beatles: the formative years, 1950–1962 Dave Laing Appendix: the repertoire, 1957–1962 2. The Beatles as recording artists Jerry Zolten Part II. Works: 3. Rock and roll music Howard Kramer 4. 'Try thinking more': Rubber Soul and the Beatles' transformation of pop James M. Decker 5. Magical mystery tours, and other trips: yellow submarines, newspaper taxis, and the Beatles' psychedelic years Russell Reising and Jim LeBlanc 6. Revolution Ian Inglis 7. On their way home: the Beatles in 1969 and 1970 Steve Hamelman 8. Apple records Bruce Spizer 9. The solo years Michael Frontani 10. Any time at all: the Beatles' free phrase rhythms Walter Everett Appendix: the Beatles' canon on compact disc Part III. History and Influence: 11. The Beatles as zeitgeist Sheila Whiteley 12. Beatles news: product line extensions and the rock canon Gary Burns 13. 'An abstraction, like Christmas': the Beatles for sale and for keeps John Kimsey General discography. Part I : Background. Six Boys, Six Beatles : The Formative Years, 1950-1962 / Dave Laing ; The Beatles As Recording Artists / Jerry Zolten -- Part Ii : Works. Rock And Roll Music / Howard Kramer ; Try Thinking More : Rubber Soul And The Beatles' Transformation Of Pop / James M. Decker ; Magical Mystery Tours, And Other Trips : Yellow Submarines, Newspaper Taxis, And The Beatles' Psychedelic Years / Russell Reising And Jim Leblanc ; Revolution / Ian Inglis ; On Their Way Home : The Beatles In 1969 And 1970 / Steve Hamelman ; Apple Records / Bruce Spizer ; The Solo Years / Michael Frontani ; Any Time At All : The Beatles' Free Phrase Rhythms / Walter Everett -- Part Iii : History And Influence. The Beatles As Zeitgeist / Sheila Whiteley ; Beatles News : Product Line Extensions And The Rock Canon / Gary Burns ; An Abstraction, Like Christmas : The Beatles For Sale And For Keeps / John Kimsey. Edited By Kenneth Womack. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 294-310) And Index. Includes Discography. Frontmatter 2 Introducing the Beatles 28 Part One: Background 34 1 Six boys, six Beatles: the formative years, 1950-1962 36 2 The Beatles as recording artists 60 Part Two: Works 90 3 Rock and roll music 92 4 "Try thinking more": Rubber Soul and the Beatles' transformation of pop 102 5 Magical mystery tours, and other trips: yellow submarines, newspaper taxis, and the Beatles' psychedelic years 117 6 Revolution 139 7 On their way home: the Beatles in 1969 and 1970 152 8 Apple Records 169 9 The solo years 180 10 Any time at all: the Beatles' free phrase rhythms 210 Part Three: History and influence 228 11 The Beatles as zeitgeist 230 12 Beatles news: product line extensions and the rock canon 244 13 "An abstraction, like Christmas": the Beatles for sale and for keeps 257 Notes 282 Beatles discography, 1962-1970 313 Select bibliography 321 Index 338 "From Please Please Me to Abbey Road, this collection of essays tells the story of the Beatles - the creation of the band, their musical influences, and their cultural significance, with emphasis on their genesis and practices as musicians, songwriters, and recording artists. Through detailed biographical and album analyses, the book uncovers the background of each band member and provides expansive readings of the band's music."--Jacket

From Please Please Me to Abbey Road - the fascinating story of the Fab Four's creation, works, and enduring musical legacy.