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The Beatles: Will You Read My Book?

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DOI: 10.5860/CHOICE.53.09.1267

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Bibliographic Essay

The Beatles: Will You Read My Book?

By Paul O. Jenkins

T
and over the last twenty years faculty at
he Beatles redefined popular music. Between 1962 and dozens of colleges and universities in the
United States and Europe have created entire
1970, they released thirteen albums and twenty singles. They courses devoted to the Fab Four. This essay
evaluates materials instructors and students
are the most popular, critically respected, and influential may find beneficial in their study of all things
John, Paul, George, and Ringo. It further
band to ever enter the recording studio. Forty-five years after serves as a guide to collection development
librarians looking to identify relevant
their breakup, millions of Beatles albums and tracks are sold via iTunes. materials on the Beatles.

Though the Beatles built on the output of their heroes (notably Elvis, The essay is divided into seven main
sections. The first, and longest, covers
Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, the Everly Brothers, and Carl biographies of the band, the individual
Beatles, and their inner circle. The
Perkins), creating music that had elements of rock, pop, blues, folk, jazz, remaining sections discuss works on the
group’s music and lyrics; their recordings,
and Motown, the sound the Beatles the lives and music of the Beatles, both albums, and business; the Beatles as
created was entirely original. Their as individuals and as a group, attention phenomenon; the solo Beatles; reference
influence on musicians who have recorded theretofore rarely granted to popular works and general collections; and films,
after them is staggering. musicians. Even today rock scholarship DVDs, and websites.
remains an immature field, and its skillful
If the Beatles were an extraordinary practitioners are few. This is hardly
group, they also lived and recorded surprising. One need only consider the quip Biographies: The Band,
during extraordinary times. Nearly every that “writing about music is like dancing
discussion of the quartet touches in some about architecture” (variously attributed to the Boys, and the Inner
way on the 1960s, the turbulent decade Elvis Costello, Frank Zappa, and Michael
with which they have become so closely Mull, among others). But this has not Circle
associated. As Aaron Copland (among stopped many from trying to write about
others) is reported to have written, “If music, and books about the Beatles number The Band
you want to understand the sixties, play in the thousands. Not surprisingly, the vast
The first biography of the Beatles as a
the music of the Beatles.” At the heart of majority of these are directed at fans, not
group appeared in the late 1960s. Written
much of the literature on the Beatles lies an scholars. Such works are often entertaining
by English journalist Hunter Davies, The
interest in what made their times so special. and sometimes well crafted, but most of
Beatles is an authorized biography, which
them lie outside the scope of this essay.
Before the Beatles, rock scholarship was means that Davies was obligated to get
Titles discussed here are the best and most
in its infancy. But the impact of the approval from the members of the band and
useful resources—books, DVDs, films,
Beatles was such that journalists and other interested parties before the initial
websites—on the Beatles. The writers and
musicologists—not to mention sociologists publication. The volume has since been
creators of these works represent a range
and psychologists—began examining of disciplines, and their approaches to revised and updated, and the 2009 edition
analyzing the group vary greatly. includes an introduction by Davies, in
Paul Jenkins is director of library services at Mount which he details how this agreement affected
St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, Ohio, where he also Courses on the history of rock ‘n’ roll are now the contents of the book. Davies reveals,
teaches a course on the Beatles part of most every undergraduate curriculum, for example, that Beatles manager Brian

May 2016 Choice 1267

Epstein had given permission to disclose book is engaging, readable, and still widely those vitally important to the Beatles’
that he was homosexual, but Epstein died hailed as one of the definitive biographies success, notably manager Brian Epstein
before the biography appeared in print, and of the group. (1934–67) and producer George Martin
his parents forbade mention of Epstein’s (1926–2016). No significant biographical
sexual orientation. In addition, John Of the dozens of books devoted to the
detail is left uncovered, and Lewisohn
Lennon’s aunt, Mimi Smith, who had group in the 1980s and 1990s, Bob Spitz’s
provides an excellent account of the music
raised John as her son, objected to Davies’s The Beatles: The Biography is by far the most
scene the Beatles revolutionized. Lewisohn
thorough and scholarly biography to appear.
depiction of John’s childhood, so Davies is the only professional, full-time Beatles
At more than 900 pages, Spitz’s biography
had to make changes. Davies’s introduction scholar, and his devotion to the group
is twice the length of Norman’s book, and it
also reveals that he jotted down general and the research process is on full display
includes 854 endnotes. Spitz had previously
impressions rather than employing a tape throughout the book. The first volume of
written an acclaimed biography of Bob
recorder, and that he made a number of this detailed account of the band’s career is
Dylan (Dylan: A Biography, McGraw-Hill,
other mistakes—for example, the vital first a godsend for true fans and scholars. Even
1989), so he was no newcomer to the
meeting of John and Paul at the Woolton those already familiar with the lives of
genre. The Beatles took him eight years to
Parish Fete occurred on July 6, 1957, not Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr
research and write, and fans and scholars
June 15, 1956, as Davies states. He did will discover new facts on nearly every
alike appreciated the effort. The strength of
not correct these for the book’s reissue, page. Those who study and love the Beatles
the book lies in its examination of the early
preferring to preserve it as a work “of its eagerly await the next volume in the set.
years of the band and in Spitz’s willingness
time.” Despite its numerous flaws, however,
to shed the image of the Beatles as “good
The Beatles remains an important source
boys.” He spares no details in bringing
for scholars. Based largely on interviews
with band members and those in their
to light many of the less-than-lovable The Boys
characteristics of the band, which was once
inner circle, the book provided all future styled as a counterpart to the bad boys of In addition to biographical treatments
biographers with precious primary source rock, the Rolling Stones. And Spitz leaves of the Beatles as a group, numerous titles
information and acquainted readers with little doubt that Yoko Ono sowed the seeds document the lives of individual members
the major details of the Beatles’ humble of the Beatles’ demise. He portrays Ono as of the band. That John Lennon has
beginnings. Equally important, the very determined to gain control of John Lennon, attracted more biographers than any of
publication of a biography of the Beatles a view held by many. Another excellent his bandmates is not surprising. His was a
lent credibility to the Beatles as artists and biography is Jonathan Gould’s Can’t Buy tragic and tumultuous life. Raised by his
not just teen idols—thus opening the door Me Love: The Beatles, Britain, and America, aunt after being abandoned by both his
for further examinations of the group’s lives a lengthy treatment that succeeds as both mother and his father, Lennon was forever
and recordings. an entertaining look at the lives of the psychologically scarred. Rock ‘n’ roll gave
band members and as a scholarly treatment his life much-needed direction, but he
A decade later, Nicholas Schaffner’s The never truly came to terms with his demons.
Beatles Forever broke a long fast for Beatles with a clear and important thesis: i.e., the
former colony helped repay the formidable Lennon’s post-Beatles life was similarly
fans eager to learn more about the group fraught with personal problems and included
than was available in sketchy accounts literary and cultural debt owed to the
mother country. In contrast to Spitz, Gould run-ins with the FBI after he moved to New
offered in magazines. A musician and York. Of the books written by those who
journalist, Schaffner provides a brief conducted few interviews for the book and
instead relied on the research of others. He knew him personally, the most interesting are
biographical overview of the band from those by his childhood friend Pete Shotton
an American fan’s perspective. The goes well beyond conventional biography
to show how the band revolutionized the and by his first wife, Cynthia Lennon.
text is complemented by hundreds of Shotton remained friends with Lennon
popular culture of both their native England
photographs, many of them examples after he became famous, and his firsthand
and the United States, which adopted the
of the then-burgeoning memorabilia accounts of Lennon in John Lennon: In My
group as its own. Gould is less interested in
associated with the Beatles. The book’s Life, coauthored by Nicholas Schaffner, as
the character flaws of the Beatles than in the
discography and extensive bibliography bossy boy, troubled adolescent, and famous
positive vibe they brought to two countries
were among the first on the Beatles to star are revelatory. Cynthia Lennon wrote
in their eight-year recording period.
appear in print. Philip Norman’s Shout! two accounts of her life with John: A Twist
The Beatles in Their Generation, an As good as Gould’s book is, the first volume of Lennon and John. Though the first is
important expansion of Davies’s biography, of Mark Lewisohn’s All These Years gives interesting, the second is superior. In it she
casts a more objective eye on the group. By evidence that this the three-volume set will writes openly of all sides of Lennon, pulling
this time, the band had acquired legendary be the most comprehensive, accurate, and no punches. This engaging account ends
status, and rumors and unsubstantiated thorough biography of the group available. with the chilling statement that if she had
stories abounded. Tempering his Published in 2013, the first volume (bearing known all that lay ahead when she first met
obvious enthusiasm for the Beatles by the volume title Tune In), which covers the John, she would have walked away from him.
acknowledging their human frailties, band’s beginnings, concludes on the eve of
Norman offers insight into their popularity, 1963, which was to be the Beatles’ annus The first work by a professional biographer
artistry, and impact on their peers. Though mirabilis. In addition to dispelling many to appear after Lennon’s death was Ray
Norman relies heavily on Lennon’s longstanding myths and correcting dozens Coleman’s two-part biography, issued as
notoriously unreliable aunt, Mimi Smith, of factual mistakes in earlier biographies, separate volumes: John Winston Lennon
for his account of Lennon’s childhood, the Lewisohn provides detailed profiles of (covering 1940–66) and John Ono Lennon

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May 2016 Choice 1269
(covering 1967–80). These complementary the Seventies is sympathetic to Lennon as hours of interviews between 1991 and 1996.
books provide a solid overview of Lennon’s a “practical dreamer” and concentrates on Not surprisingly, the book is sympathetic
life as a Beatle and solo artist. Coleman his solo years. Gary Tillery’s The Cynical to its subject. In some ways, Miles comes
is largely sympathetic to his subject. By Idealist: A Spiritual Biography of John Lennon off as McCartney’s mouthpiece, and some
contrast, Albert Goldman’s The Lives of John addresses the musician’s largely unresolved have seen the book as McCartney’s effort to
Lennon has been described by many fans thoughts on God. The author invokes set the record straight and refute the belief
and more than a few reviewers as character psychiatrist Viktor Frankl in exploring that Lennon was the brains of the operation.
assassination. Goldman paints a picture of Lennon’s struggles to come to grips with Nevertheless, Miles paints the most detailed
John as a puppet controlled by Yoko Ono, the meaning of his life and life in general. picture of McCartney as Beatle, especially
a man who had completely lost direction Francis Kenny’s The Making of John Lennon his relationship with producer George
and control of his life by the time the group picks up on the theme of Lennon as a man Martin. Miles also discusses McCartney’s
disbanded. The author includes a mass attempting to come to terms with opposing involvement with London’s avant-garde
of sordid details gleaned from more than forces within, positing that Lennon’s scene in the late 1960s. Though the book
a thousand interviews. After Lennon’s difficult childhood led to the creation of sketches McCartney’s solo years only in a
death in 1980, some accounts of his life a “self-contradictory persona.” Anthony brief afterword, other titles cover that period
veered toward hagiography; Goldman’s Elliott categorizes his The Mourning of John of McCartney’s life. For example, in Man
on the Run: Paul McCartney in the Seventies,
Tom Doyle effectively explores McCartney’s
George Harrison attained great fame as initial struggles after the 1970 breakup and
ultimate triumph as the decade progressed.
a Beatle, but he came to find that fame Peter Carlin and Howard Sounes cover Mc-
wanting. Cartney’s entire solo career with varying
degrees of success. Carlin’s account, Paul
McCartney: A Life, is breezy and breaks
Lennon as a “metabiography,” an attempt little new ground. But though it draws too
diatribe more than redressed this imbalance. to explore what the wide range of reactions heavily on Miles to be of much interest to
Though many disregard the entire book, toward Lennon revealed about society. This scholars, it has value for those interested in
Goldman did uncover some new truths is an unusual approach, and Elliott largely a straightforward biography. In his com-
about Lennon, so the book—though strewn succeeds in providing another way to view prehensive Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul
with factual errors and unsubstantiated this complex man. Some sixty authors are McCartney, Sounes devotes equal space to
allegations—is not entirely without merit. anthologized in The Lennon Companion: his subject’s Beatles and solo years. Sounes
Philip Norman’s John Lennon: The Life is Twenty-Five Years of Comment, edited by is refreshingly opinionated and covers all
more levelheaded. In his previous work Elizabeth Thomson, and the fact that they aspects of McCartney’s personality. In the
on the band (mentioned above), Norman represent a number of different countries end, those wishing to get the full picture of
betrayed his interest in Lennon by stating and disciplines testifies to the fallen Beatle’s McCartney will be best served by relying not
that he was “80% of the Beatles.” The on a single account but on three: Miles on
vast influence.
book is more a biography of the man than McCartney’s years as a Beatle, Doyle on Mc-
the musician: Norman is particularly good Though viewed by most as Lennon’s equal in Cartney’s struggles to establish himself as a
on how Lennon helped transform the class terms of talent and importance to the band’s solo artist, and Sounes on McCartney from
system in Britain, but he is less effective in success, Paul McCartney led a much more 1980 to 2010.
describing the nature of Lennon’s creative conventional life and has attracted less inter-
gifts. Nor is he much interested in Lennon’s est among biographers. That said, his life George Harrison attained great fame as
post-Beatles activities. In the end, the book has not been without significant challenges. a Beatle, but he came to find that fame
is a solid piece of scholarship, sympathetic Like Lennon, he lost his mother at an early wanting. His interest in Indian music led
to Lennon but not fawning. Tim Riley’s age. And he was hit the hardest by the dis- him to explore Eastern spirituality, and his
Lennon: The Man, the Myth, the Music solution of the group in 1970. Though life after 1965 can be seen as a struggle to
delivers on all three accounts. Though brief, Geoffrey Giuliano’s Blackbird: The Life renounce the material world and concentrate
acknowledging Lennon’s many flaws, Riley and Times of Paul McCartney shows all sides on matters of greater import to him. When
focuses on what made him a remarkable of the man. Ross Benson’s Paul McCartney: it broke in 1980, the news that Harrison
musician and an important cultural figure. Behind the Myth nicely portrays the artist’s would write an autobiography, the first by
His description of Lennon as having relationships with his father, with Lennon, any member of the group, raised great hopes
“another kind of mind” sounds vague at and with his wife Linda. Barry Miles’s among fans and scholars. First published
first, but Riley fleshes it out gradually. Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now was as a limited edition, and subsequently by
Lennon’s turbulent life is difficult to convey the first truly important biography of Mc- Simon & Schuster, that book, I, Me, Mine,
clearly, but Riley succeeds where others Cartney and remains definitive, at least in proved to be a disappointment. But while it
have failed. Those seeking a balanced and its treatment of the Beatles years. Miles is is a snack rather than a meal, it is straight
analytical account of Lennon’s life and music an experienced biographer, having written from the mouth of the musician. Although
will find Riley’s biography ideal. Other books on Allen Ginsberg and William Bur- a surprising number of biographers have
books are less ambitious, though some merit roughs, but he is also an intimate friend of explored Harrison’s life, they differ in
mention. Anthony Fawcett’s John Lennon: McCartney, who granted him hundreds of focus, and no one book stands out. Joshua
One Day at a Time: A Personal Biography of Greene and Gary Tillery concentrate on

1270 Choice May 2016

his spiritual side in, respectively, Here who managed the group before Epstein did, with the respect they deserve. Tim Riley’s
Comes the Sun: The Spiritual and Musical discusses the early days of the band in The Tell Me Why: A Beatles Companion, another
Journey of George Harrison and Working Man Who Gave the Beatles Away. outstanding piece of scholarship, offers
Class Mystic: A Spiritual Biography of invaluable insights that, although now well
George Harrison. Though they provide The Beatles were isolated during their years understood, were fresh when the book first
few genuine insights into Harrison the of fame. They trusted few to guard their appeared. Ian MacDonald’s Revolution
man, Alan Clayson’s The Quiet One, Dale privacy and keep their secrets. However, in the Head is revolutionary, a fascinating
Allison’s The Love There That’s Sleeping, after the band broke up, a number of and discriminating read that celebrates
and Marc Shapiro’s All Things Must Pass the inner circle published books about the band’s highest achievements while
capably cover both Harrison’s beliefs the group. Though none of those books taking them to task for what the author
and his music. Even better is Ian Inglis’s is particularly remarkable, a few deserve deems their less inspired efforts. Walter
similarly themed The Words and Music mention. Tony Barrow was one of the Everett divides his analysis of the group’s
of George Harrison. Graeme Thomson’s first in the music industry to publicize music into two companion volumes: The
George Harrison: Behind the Locked Door is the Beatles, and he subsequently became Beatles as Musicians: Revolver through the
the most complete and recent biography. close to members of the group. His John, Anthology, which came first and examines
Pattie Boyd, Harrison’s first wife, offers Paul, George, Ringo & Me, edited by Julian the later years, and The Beatles as Musicians:
her memories in the entertaining (albeit Newby, makes good reading and is especially The Quarry Men through Rubber Soul,
slight) Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, useful for those interested in the band’s first which covers the early years. Both are
Eric Clapton, and Me (written with Penny few years of success. Peter Brown, who was highly regarded and slightly more accessible
Junor). Olivia Harrison, his second wife, a personal assistant first to Brian Epstein and to nonmusicologists than the works of
contributes George Harrison: Living in the then to the Beatles, cowrote (with Steven Mellers, Kozinn, and MacDonald. In his
Material World, edited by Mark Holborn (a Gaines) The Love You Make: An Insider’s A Day in the Life: The Music and Artistry
companion to Martin Scorsese’s 2011 film Story of the Beatles. Alistair Taylor, known of the Beatles, Mark Hertsgaard examines
by the same title); it combines photographs to the Beatles as Mr. Fixit, held a position
the Beatles’ creative process. Though
and some text and includes an introduction similar to Brown’s. His Yesterday: The
perhaps not as insightful as the titles named
by Paul Theroux and a foreword by Scorsese. Beatles Remembered, coauthored by Martin
above, Hertsgaard’s book is well executed.
Roberts, is organized as a series of letters
And Devin McKinney’s discursive Magic
It is not surprising that only two biographies to an imaginary pen pal. Julia Baird (John
Circles is a multidisciplinary exploration of
of the group’s least heralded member, Ringo Lennon’s half sister) wrote Imagine This,
Beatles music as “both timeless expression
Starr (born Richard Starkey), have appeared. which formed the basis for a 2011 biopic on
and visceral response to their historical
Starr’s skill as a drummer was discounted Lennon, Nowhere Boy. Astrid Kirchherr, a
moment.” There is certainly nothing else
for a number of years, but recently his German photographer who met the Beatles
like it in the literature, and in places it is
reputation has been restored. Although his in Hamburg in 1960, was the first of many
insightful and even poetic.
work was integral to the Beatles sound, few to extensively photograph members of the
have seemed interested in writing a book- group. While photo collections of the band The Beatles’ lyrics improved dramatically
length treatment of his life. For anyone so abound and are normally not important to after 1964. Lennon and McCartney
inclined, both Ringo Starr: Straight Man or scholars, Kirchherr’s excellent When We Was stopped writing to a formula and, following
Joker? by Alan Clayson and Ringo: With a Fab provides a look at their initial attempts Bob Dylan’s lead, began to write more
Little Help by Michael Starr (no relation) to develop an image, before Brian Epstein personal songs. Lennon had written stories
are fine. The latter is more complete and changed their look. and poems since his adolescence and had
up-to-date. published his writings (In His Own Write
and A Spaniard in the Works) before songs
Music and Lyrics like “I Am the Walrus” ever appeared.
Some of his correspondence, collected by
The Inner Circle As early as 1963, music critics detected Hunter Davies in The John Lennon Letters,
It is impossible to overstate the something special in the Beatles’ music. provides insight into his methods. That
importance of the inner circle—in Thanks to the group’s transformation of said, Lennon’s words could not always be
particular, manager Brian Epstein—to the genre, musicologists began to take pop trusted. Lennon Remembers, the transcript
the Beatles and the eventual success they music seriously for the first time. Some of of an interview with Rolling Stone’s Jann
enjoyed. Epstein took four talented but the best work on the Beatles is that written Wenner, is interesting as evidence of
sloppy and unprofessional young men and about their music and lyrics. Among these Lennon’s attempt to rewrite history. By
transformed them into a tight outfit fully is Wilfrid Mellers’s excellent Twilight of the far the most scholarly treatment of the
able to realize their abilities in the world Gods: The Beatles in Retrospect. Though Beatles’ lyrics is Matthew Schneider’s The
of professional music and entertainment. less experienced readers may find it slow Long and Winding Road from Blake to the
Epstein’s memoir, A Cellarful of Noise, going, Mellers’s book is required reading Beatles. Schneider, an English professor,
though bland, is worth noting. For for those with a serious interest in the compares Lennon and McCartney’s
better insights into Epstein’s personality, Beatles. Allan Kozinn’s The Beatles is also relationship to that of Wordsworth
readers will want Lewisohn’s All These Years well done. Published in the “20th-Century and Coleridge. Though Lennon would
(discussed above) or Ray Coleman’s The Composers” series alongside works on Béla perhaps have guffawed at the comparison,
Man Who Made the Beatles: An Intimate Bartók, Richard Strauss, and other musical Schneider argues his points well and
Biography of Brian Epstein. Alan Williams, luminaries, Kozinn’s book treats the Beatles makes a compelling case for this more

May 2016 Choice 1271

“serious” view of the group’s lyrics. established Lewisohn as an expert on the Lonely Hearts Club Band, by musicologist
Harrison and Starr also feature in this group and provides details many had waited Allan Moore, which sets the stage for the
book, Harrison being compared to Lord years to learn. It remains essential. John production of the album and provides
Byron and Starr to William Blake. While Winn’s The Beatles’ Recorded Legacy, which detailed analysis of its music.
not as robust as Schneider’s study, Hunter comprises two chronological volumes (Way
Davies’s The Beatles Lyrics is serviceable In recent years, some have begun to make
beyond Compare, covering 1957–65, and
the case for Revolver as the group’s most
and includes, as a fascinating bonus, more That Magic Feeling, covering 1966–70)
important and innovative album. Robert
than one hundred images of the original and features an introduction by Lewisohn,
Rodriguez’s book on the subject, Revolver:
manuscripts of the songs. Steve Turner’s includes the particulars of the Beatles’ many
How the Beatles Re-imagined Rock ‘n’ Roll,
A Hard Day’s Write: The Story behind Every interviews, press conferences, film clips, and
is readable and enlightening, but Russell
Beatles Song includes no analysis of the radio and television performances. Richard
Reising’s edited collection Every Sound
lyrics but does reveal what inspired each Unterberger’s The Unreleased Beatles, Music and
There Is: The Beatles’ Revolver and the
composition. Jean-Michel Guesdon’s All Film—which does for the unreleased tracks
Transformation of Rock ‘n’ Roll is more
the Songs: The Story behind Every Beatles what Lewisohn does for the material that is
scholarly. Thomas MacFarlane’s The Beatles’
Release is similar, but Guesdon goes into already familiar—is commendable, particularly
Abbey Road Medley: Extended Forms of
more detail and also includes information for more advanced scholars. Thomas
Popular Music looks at the song suite that
on songs the band covered. MacFarlane’s The Beatles and McLuhan
makes up side two of the band’s last album
brings the group together with another
and is quite valuable (if uneven). Other
influential voice of the 1960s. This complex
titles are interesting but of varying quality.
The Recording Studio, study explores the relationship between the
These include David Quantick’s Revolution:
multitrack technology employed by the
the Albums, and Apple Beatles and Marshall McLuhan’s notions of,
The Making of the Beatles’ White Album;
Steve Matteo’s Let It Be (part of the “33
as MacFarlane writes, quoting McLuhan, “an
Corps electrical world of ‘all-at-once-ness.’”
1/3” series); and John Kruth’s This Bird
Has Flown: The Enduring Beauty of Rubber
As their producer, George Martin Among their many contributions to popular Soul Fifty Years On. Dave Marsh’s book
was vital to the Beatles’ success. Martin music, the Beatles raised the album to a The Beatles’ Second Album should also be
formed a remarkable bond with the group true art form. In the early 1960s, when mentioned here. Marsh is one of rock’s
and was able to transcribe their vague and the group began recording, the single was most distinguished journalists, and he
king. Albums often came out simply to celebrates the R&B tracks that dominate
uneducated musical ideas into notation.
exploit the success of an artist’s single and the second album the group released in
Martin was also an artist himself; his
too often consisted of filler tracks. The the United States. Unfortunately, he is
arranging ideas, especially in the band’s
Beatles, however, took each track seriously also intent on disparaging Capitol Records
early years in the studio, helped set them
and began to craft LPs that had distinctive executive Dave Dexter Jr., the man
apart from their peers. Martin’s memoir
and recognizable sounds. Their efforts responsible for repurposing the Beatles
(written with Jeremy Hornby), All You
raised the bar for contemporaries like the original UK albums into additional LPs
Need Is Ears, is valuable, but his skills and
Rolling Stones, the Who, the Byrds, the to make more money for his company.
stature are best described by others. Here,
Kinks, and the Beach Boys. Brian Wilson, Though many of Marsh’s points about
There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the
in fact, is said to have been inspired to Dexter are well taken, the book is most
Beatles, by recording engineer Geoff Emerick
record the groundbreaking Pet Sounds (in useful when it sticks to its purported subject.
(one Martin’s chief lieutenants) and music
journalist Howard Massey, is fascinating. 1966) after hearing the Beatles’ Rubber At the height of their fame, the Beatles
The book makes no secret of Emerick’s Soul (released in 1965). For years, fans experimented with what they called “Western
admiration of McCartney (and his disdain and scholars alike agreed that Sgt. Pepper’s communism.” Their idea was to form a
for Harrison’s abilities as guitarist), and it Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), which company that would encourage and promote
provides numerous interesting details about was unprecedented when released, was the young musicians and other artists. Apple
how Emerick and Martin were able to coax acme of the Beatles’ career, and the album Corps, founded in 1968, was that company.
such amazing sounds out of four- and eight- inspired numerous books. Among these Among those employed at Apple Corps
track equipment. Kevin Ryan and Brian is Sgt. Pepper and the Beatles, a collection from the beginning was Richard DiLello,
Kehew’s Recording the Beatles: The Studio of essays edited by Olivier Julien. The who began working there as a teenager and
Equipment and Techniques Used to Create best of the essays is Michael Hannan’s eventually rose to the position of director
Their Classic Albums is excellent and serves “The Sound Design of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely of public relations. In his remarkable book
as a nice complement to Emerick’s book. Hearts Club Band.” Other titles about the The Longest Cocktail Party, DiLello provides
Andy Babiuk’s Beatles Gear, edited by Tony album include Belmo’s The Making of the wonderful material about this piece of Beatles
Bacon, catalogs all the instruments the band Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club history. Stefan Granados updates DiLello’s
used in the studio and is a useful resource. Band, which is more popular in nature and work in Those Were the Days: An Unofficial
Although it has since been superseded, describes how the album and its songs were History of the Beatles Apple Organization,
Allen Wiener’s The Beatles: A Recording created; George Martin’s With a Little Help 1967–2001, in which he examines the group’s
History was important when it first appeared from My Friends: The Making of Sgt. Pepper influence on other bands, among them
in the mid-1980s. Mark Lewisohn’s The (written with William Pearson), which Badfinger (the first group Apple signed). In
Beatles Recording Sessions, which includes an provides valuable details on the production Beatles for Sale, John Blaney adroitly examines
introductory interview with Paul McCartney, of the album; and The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s the myriad business deals made first by Brian

1272 Choice May 2016

Epstein and then by manager Allan Klein. Reading the Beatles: Cultural Studies, Literary Beatleness: How the Beatles and Their Fans
Peter Doggett’s You Never Give Me Your Criticism, and the Fab Four, edited by Remade the World, in which she explores
Money dutifully details the sordid business Kenneth Womack and Todd Davis, is an the unique relationship between the group
details of the group’s breakup. Fans’ hearts excellent, wide-ranging collection of essays and its fans. This valuable book goes well
may break while reading of the infighting that probe the band’s intellectual and cultural beyond the usual study of Beatlemania.
that went on during these negotiations, but significance. Though rather misleadingly
the book is required reading for scholars. titled, The Beatles Literary Anthology, edited
by Mike Evans, is a fascinating selection of
more than ninety book excerpts, essays, and
The Solo Beatles
The Beatles as magazine articles spanning four decades. Though the members of the Beatles
Evans followed that up with another edited were never able to individually reproduce
Phenomenon volume, The Beatles: Paperback Writer, which the magic of their work together, each made
covers much the same ground. In My Life: some influential music after the breakup.
A. J. Millard’s interesting Beatlemania: Encounters with the Beatles, edited by Robert Paul McCartney had the most successful
Technology, Business, and Teen Culture Cording, Shelli Jankowski-Smith, and E. J. solo career in a commercial sense, but he
in Cold War America studies the social Miller Laino, is more “literary” than Evans’s failed to produce a hit with the gravitas
phenomenon of the Beatles. He explores earlier work: its fifty-five pieces on the Beatles of Lennon’s “Imagine” or Harrison’s “My
how Beatles music was marketed and include twenty-five poems and fifteen short Sweet Lord.” Ben Urish and Ken Bielen’s
consumed by young Americans. Steve stories about the group. In Read the Beatles: The Words and Music of John Lennon and
Turner’s The Gospel according to the Beatles Classic and New Writings on the Beatles, Their Vincent Benitez’s The Words and Music of
is one of several similarly titled books Legacy, and Why They Still Matter, editor Paul McCartney: The Solo Years shed light
from Westminster John Knox Press June Skinner Sawyers collects work by Allen on Lennon’s and McCartney’s works. Both
examining spiritual dimensions of icons Ginsberg, Gloria Steinem, Philip Glass, and are excellent resources. Eliot Huntley’s
of contemporary culture. Turner argues more than forty other luminaries who plead Behind That Locked Door: George Harrison:
that the lives and music of the Beatles can the case of the book’s subtitle. The Beatles, After the Break-Up of the Beatles provides
be seen as a kind of spiritual narrative—
that their music represents a quest for
transcendence shared by many of their Paul McCartney had the most successful
fans. Larry Kane’s Ticket to Ride provides
a personal view of the 1964 concerts that
solo career in a commercial sense.
brought Beatlemania to the United States.
Kane covered the tour as one of his first Popular Music, and Society: A Thousand Voices, analysis of songs but mixes in unnecessary
major assignments as a journalist, and his edited by Ian Inglis, is another important observations about some of Harrison’s
valuable insights often run contrary to collection that demonstrates the group’s collaborators. Simon Leng’s While My
established treatments. A CD that features influence beyond the world of music. The Guitar Gently Weeps offers perhaps the
interviews he conducted is included with Beatles Reader: A Selection of Contemporary best analysis of Harrison’s music, both as
the book. Martin King’s Men, Masculinity, Views, edited by Charles Neises, includes a Beatle and as a solo artist. Among the
and the Beatles explores how the Beatles, via good essays on the group’s albums and books that treat the music of more than
fashion, music, and particularly their films, movies. Mike Evans’s The Art of the Beatles one of the band’s former members, John
influenced social change in the 1960s. is evidence of another discipline the group Blaney’s Lennon and McCartney, Together
In Artificial Paradise: The Dark Side of the influenced—the visual arts. Based on Evans’s Alone, Robert Rodriguez’s Fab Four FAQ
Beatles’ Utopian Dream, Kevin Courrier 1984 exhibition of the same name at the 2.0: The Beatles Solo Years, 1970–1980, and
makes a persuasive argument that the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, the book Andrew Jackson’s Still the Greatest are the
inevitable disillusionment that resulted from is the only one of its kind and concisely most useful.
the failure of society to realize the group’s examines the Beatles’ influence on all the
vision of a life devoted to love and peace visual arts. In his Fab Gear: The Beatles and
indirectly led to the attacks on first John Fashion, Paolo Hewitt uses more than 200
photos to illustrate the Beatles’ impact on
Reference Works and
Lennon (1980) and then George Harrison
(1999). Michael Frontani’s The Beatles: how people dressed in the 1960s. General Collections
Image and the Media examines how the Several titles explore Beatles fans. Garry
quartet evolved from teen idols to significant The number and scope of reference
Berman’s “We’re Going to See the Beatles!” is books on the Beatles is impressive. Among
agents of cultural change. Frontani, a an enjoyable collection of fan memories,
professor of communications at Elon the most valuable are Michael Brocken and
some of which will astound those who were Melissa Davis’s The Beatles Bibliography:
University, utilizes a wide range of sources in not part of the phenomenon. The Beatles
this useful study. Yury Pelyushonok’s Strings A New Guide to the Literature, which is
Are Here!, edited by Penelope Rowlands, essential for scholars intent on reviewing
for a Beatle Bass: The Beatles Generation in is similar but includes contributions
the USSR offers an Eastern perspective on the literature. A labor of love, this volume
from journalists, critics, and musicians. provides sage, concise reviews of nearly
the group and illustrates its considerable Sociologist Candy Leonard did hundreds of
influence on young people living behind the 3,000 books, articles, films, and websites.
phone and face-to-face interviews to write The Cambridge Companion to the Beatles,
Iron Curtain.

May 2016 Choice 1273

edited by Kenneth Womack, comprises animated film made without any input from Of the hundreds of online resources on
thirteen essays on the Beatles’ background, the Beatles but loosely based on their song, the Beatles, a few are worthy of mention
works, history, and influence; a useful was another triumph. In his Up Periscope here. The Beatles, the official site of the
appendix includes their complete repertoire Yellow, Al Brodax, the film’s producer, Beatles, provides access to all their music
from 1957 to 1962. The Beatles Anthology provides a breezy, behind-the-scenes view through streaming services all over the
comprises excerpts from the video series of how the film came to be made. Help! globe. BeatleLinks takes the visitor to all
(broadcast on network television in 1995) was a less successful follow-up to A Hard conceivable things Beatles, from music and
and supplementary text by members of the Day’s Night and has received little scholarly books to history and interviews to discussion
group’s inner circle (Neil Aspinall, George attention. The documentary Let It Be set forums. The Beatles Ultimate Experience is a
Martin, and Derek Taylor). Brief selections out to capture how the Beatles worked in the Beatles treasury, offering, among much else,
from the interviews are tied together studio; instead it portrayed the beginning of “The Beatles Interviews Database,” where
skillfully and organized thematically. Bill the band’s dissolution. In the “Rethinking visitors can find transcripts of interviews
Harry knew the Beatles when their fame British Cinema” series, The Beatles Movies with the Beatles from 1962 to 1984. And
did not extend beyond Liverpool. He by Bob Neaverson provides an excellent The Internet Beatles Album features links to
has written a number of reference works overview of each of the group’s films, and a some important articles and provides good
on the group and the individual Beatles, solid analysis and defense of Magical Mystery historical information on the band.
including The Beatles Encyclopedia, The Tour, the home movie the Beatles released
John Lennon Encyclopedia, The Paul to an underwhelmed UK audience in 1967.
McCartney Encyclopedia, and The George
Harrison Encyclopedia. Kenneth Womack
Roland Reiter’s The Beatles on Film is less
important, but it does include information
Closing Thoughts
contributes to the literature with The Beatles on the US cartoon series The Beatles, which Former Rolling Stone associate editor
Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four. Another aired on ABC from 1965 to 1969. Robert Greenfield is said to have likened
good source is The Mammoth Book of the the Beatles to Picasso as “artists who broke
Beatles, edited by Sean Egan, which covers Among the most important Beatles DVDs
through the constraints of their time
every facet of the group concisely and is Anthology, a set offering the eleven-hour
period to come up with something that
clearly. Chris Ingham’s helpful The Rough television documentary series the surviving
was unique and original.” It is perhaps
Guide to the Beatles sets about establishing group members put together in 1996. The
this very originality that continues to
a canon of the Beatles’ fifty most important Beatles: The First U.S. Visit is an excellent
fascinate those who listen to and write
songs. Scrutiny of the Beatles even extends reminder of the impact the group had on a
about popular music. More than forty
to the group’s daily activities. Terry country still reeling from the assassination
years after the Beatles broke up, new
Burrows’s The Beatles Day by Day is nicely of its president a year earlier. Its producers
studies of the band continue to appear.
illustrated and covers all the highlights, cleverly include no narration, letting the
Apparently, curiosity concerning how
but Barry Miles and Keith Badman’s two- sounds and images tell the story. Composing
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George
volume set, The Beatles Diary, includes more the Beatles Songbook is an effective
Harrison, and Ringo Starr changed the
detail, including where the Beatles were exploration of the Lennon-McCartney
world remains unsated. The titles covered
and what they did together and after they songwriting partnership. Strange Fruit:
in this essay are the best available to date,
had gone their separate ways. Miles wrote The Beatles’ Apple Records serves as a nice
but scholars will undoubtedly continue
volume 1, The Beatles Years, and Badman primer on the group’s attempt to establish its
to examine the Beatles’ lives and work for
volume 2, After the Break-Up, 1970–2001. own record label. Martin Scorsese’s George
many years to come.
Mark Lewisohn’s The Complete Beatles Harrison: Living in the Material World is a
Chronicle covers the group’s activities only groundbreaking portrait of the Beatles’ lead
until April 1970 but is very well done. The guitarist, who eventually established himself
as a skilled songwriter. Both Imagine: John
Works Cited
Beatles even rate a concordance: Things We
Said Today, edited by Colin Campbell and Lennon and LennoNYC are heartfelt, if Allison, Dale C., Jr. The Love There That’s Sleep-
Allan Murphy. not entirely objective, documentaries on ing: The Art and Spirituality of George Harrison.
the band’s founder. The former provides a Continuum International Publishers Group,
somewhat reverential overview of Lennon’s 2006.

Beatles Films, DVDs, and Beatles and solo years, showing all sides
of the man; the latter focuses on Lennon’s
Babiuk, Andy. Beatles Gear, ed. by Tony Bacon.
Backbeat, 2001.
Websites struggles to establish himself as a solo artist
and US citizen. Also interesting is John
Baird, Julia. Imagine This: Growing Up with My
Brother, John Lennon. London: Hodder &
The Beatles made five films during Lennon: Love Is All You Need, which includes Stoughton, 2007.
their eight years together. A Hard Day’s extensive interviews with Cynthia Lennon.
Barrow, Tony. John, Paul, George, Ringo &
Night, their first, was a smash hit in the UK The U.S. vs. John Lennon depicts how the Me: The Real Beatles Story. London: Andre
and the United States and helped to revitalize singer’s activism brought him unwelcome Deutsch, 2005.
the moribund British film industry. Stephen attention from the US government. On the
Beatles. The Beatles Anthology. Chronicle Books,
Glynn’s A Hard Day’s Night and Ray Morton’s lighter side is All You Need Is Cash (better
2000.
A Hard Day’s Night (released in the “Music known as The Rutles), created by Monty
Python’s Eric Idle, which neatly satirizes the The Beatles: Paperback Writer: 40 Years of Classic
on Film” series) are both useful treatments Writing, ed. by Mike Evans. London: Plexus,
of the movie many describe as the Citizen group’s rise to fame—and found favor in the
2009.
Kane of rock films. Yellow Submarine, an eyes of the originals.

1274 Choice May 2016

The Beatles Are Here!: 50 Years after the Band Courrier, Kevin. Artificial Paradise: The Dark Side Guesdon, Jean-Michel, and Philippe Margotin.
Arrived in America, Writers and Other Fans of the Beatles’ Utopian Dream. Praeger, 2009. All the Songs: The Story behind Every Beatles
Remember, ed. by Penelope Rowlands. Algon- Release. Black Dog & Leventhal, [2013].
Davies, Hunter. The Beatles: The Authorized Bi-
quin Books of Chapel Hill, 2014.
ography. McGraw-Hill, 1968 (CH, Mar’70); Harrison, George. I, Me, Mine. Simon & Schus-
The Beatles Literary Anthology, ed. by Mike Evans. updated and rev. ed., London: Ebury, 2009. ter, 1981.
London: Plexus, 2004.
____. The Beatles Lyrics: The Stories behind the Harrison, Olivia. George Harrison: Living in
The Beatles, Popular Music, and Society: A Thou- Music, Including the Handwritten Drafts of the Material World, ed. by Mark Holborn.
sand Voices, ed. by Ian Inglis. St. Martin’s, More than 100 Classic Beatles Songs. Little, Abrams, 2011.
2000 (CH, Feb’01, 38-3244). Brown, 2014.
Harry, Bill. The Ultimate Beatles Encyclopedia.
The Beatles Reader: A Selection of Contemporary DiLello, Richard. The Longest Cocktail Party: An Hyperion, 1992; rev. and updated as The Bea-
Views, News & Reviews of the Beatles in Their Insider’s Diary of the Beatles, Their Million-Dol- tles Encyclopedia, London: Virgin, 2000.
Heyday, ed. by Charles P. Neises. Pierian Press, lar Empire, and Its Wild Rise and Fall. Playboy
1984 (CH, Jan’85). ____. The George Harrison Encyclopedia. Lon-
Press, 1972.
don: Virgin, 2003.
Belmo. The Making of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Doggett, Peter. You Never Give Me Your Money:
Lonely Hearts Club Band. CG Pub., 1996. ____. The John Lennon Encyclopedia. London:
The Battle for the Soul of the Beatles. Harper-
Collins, 2009. Virgin, 2000.
Benitez, Vincent P. The Words and Music of Paul
McCartney: The Solo Years. Praeger, 2010 Doyle, Tom. Man on the Run: Paul McCartney in ____. The Paul McCartney Encyclopedia. Lon-
(CH, Jan’11, 48-2575). the Seventies. Ballantine Books, 2014. don: Virgin, 2002.

Benson, Ross. Paul McCartney: Behind the Myth. Elliott, Anthony. The Mourning of John Lennon. Hertsgaard, Mark. A Day in the Life: The Music and
London: Gollancz, 1992. California, 1999 (CH, Sep’99, 37-0213). Artistry of the Beatles. Delacorte Press, 1995.
Berman, Garry. “We’re Going to See the Beatles!”: An Emerick, Geoff, and Howard Massey. Here, Hewitt, Paolo. Fab Gear: The Beatles and Fashion.
Oral History of Beatlemania as Told by the Fans There, and Everywhere: My Life Recording Prestel, 2011.
Who Were There. Santa Monica Press, 2008. the Music of the Beatles. Gotham Books, Huntley, Eliot J. Behind That Locked Door:
Blaney, John. Beatles for Sale: How Everything 2007. George Harrison: After the Break-Up of the
They Touched Turned to Gold. London: Jaw- Epstein, Brian. A Cellarful of Noise. Doubleday, Beatles. Xerostar Holdings, 2002.
bone Press, 2008. 1964. In My Life: Encounters with the Beatles, ed. by
____. Lennon and McCartney: Together Alone: A Evans, Mike. The Art of the Beatles. Beech Tree Robert Cording, Shelli Jankowski-Smith, and
Critical Discography of Their Solo Work. Lon- Books, 1984. E. J. Miller Laino. Fromm International,
don: Jawbone Press, 2007. 1998.
Everett, Walter. The Beatles as Musicians: The
Boyd, Pattie, with Penny Junior. Wonderful To- Quarry Men through Rubber Soul. Oxford, Ingham, Chris. The Rough Guide to the Beatles.
night: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me. 2001. Rough Guides, 2003; 3rd ed., 2009.
Harmony Books, 2007.
____. The Beatles as Musicians: Revolver through Inglis, Ian. The Words and Music of George Harri-
Brocken, Michael, and Melissa Davis. The Beatles the Anthology. Oxford, 1999 (CH, Nov’99, son. Praeger, 2010 (CH, Oct’10, 48-0769).
Bibliography: A New Guide to the Literature. 37-1454). Jackson, Andrew Grant. Still the Greatest: The Es-
Beatle Works, 2012.
Every Sound There Is: The Beatles’ Revolver and sential Songs of the Beatles’ Solo Careers. Scare-
Brodax, Al. Up Periscope Yellow: The Making of the the Transformation of Rock and Roll, ed. by crow, 2012 (CH, Jan’13, 50-2412).
Beatles’ Yellow Submarine. Limelight, 2004. Russell Reising. Ashgate, 2002 (CH, Nov’02, Kane, Larry. Ticket to Ride: Inside the Beatles’
Brown, Peter, and Steven Gaines. The Love You 40-1442). 1964 Tour That Changed the World. Running
Make: An Insider’s Story of the Beatles. Mc- Fawcett, Anthony. John Lennon: One Day at a Press, 2003.
Graw-Hill, 1983. Time: A Personal Biography of the Seventies. Kenny, Francis. The Making of John Lennon: The
Burrows, Terry. The Beatles Day by Day. Chart- Grove, 1976. Untold Story behind the Rise and Fall of the
well Books, 2013. Frontani, Michael R. The Beatles: Image and the Beatles. Edinburgh: Luath Press Ltd., 2014.
The Cambridge Companion to the Beatles, ed. by Media. University Press of Mississippi, 2007 King, Martin. Men, Masculinity, and the Beatles.
Kenneth Womack. Cambridge, 2009 (CH, (CH, Sep’08, 46-0182). Ashgate, 2013.
Sep’10, 48-0170). Giuliano, Geoffrey. Blackbird: The Life and Times Kirchherr, Astrid. When We Was Fab. Guildford:
Carlin, Peter Ames. Paul McCartney: A Life. Si- of Paul McCartney. Dutton, 1991. Genesis Publications, 2003.
mon and Schuster, 2009. Glynn, Stephen. A Hard Day’s Night. I. B. Tau-
Kozinn, Allan. The Beatles. Phaidon, 1995.
Clayson, Alan. The Quiet One: A Life of George ris, 2005.
Harrison. London: Sidgwick & Jackson, Kruth, John. This Bird Has Flown: The Enduring
Goldman, Albert. The Lives of John Lennon. W.
1990. Beauty of Rubber Soul Fifty Years On. Back-
Morrow, 1988.
beat Books, 2015.
____. Ringo Starr: Straight Man or Joker? Para- Gould, Jonathan. Can’t Buy Me Love: The Beatles,
gon House, 1992 (CH, Feb’93, 30-3187). Leng, Simon. While My Guitar Gently Weeps:
Britain, and America. Harmony Books, 2007
The Music of George Harrison. Hal Leonard,
Coleman, Ray. John Ono Lennon. London: Sidg- (CH, Oct’08, 46-0796).
2006.
wick & Jackson, 1984. Granados, Stefan. Those Were the Days: An Unof-
The Lennon Companion: Twenty-Five Years of
____. John Winston Lennon. London: Sidgwick ficial History of the Beatles Apple Organization,
Comment, ed. by Elizabeth Thomson and Da-
& Jackson, 1984. 1967–2001. London: Cherry Red, 2002.
vid Gutman. Schirmer, 1988.
____. The Man Who Made the Beatles: An Inti- Greene, Joshua. Here Comes the Sun: The Spiri-
Lennon, Cynthia. John. Crown, 2005.
mate Biography of Brian Epstein. McGraw- tual and Musical Journey of George Harrison.
Hill, 1989 (CH, Nov’89, 27-1442). Wiley, 2006. ____. A Twist of Lennon. Avon, 1978.

May 2016 Choice 1275

Lennon, John. In His Own Write. Simon and ____. Shout! The Beatles in Their Generation. Thomson, Graeme. George Harrison: Behind the
Schuster, 1964. Simon & Schuster, 1981. Locked Door. London: Omnibus, 2013.
____. The John Lennon Letters, ed. and introd. by O’Donnell, Jim. The Day John Met Paul: An Tillery, Gary. The Cynical Idealist: A Spiritual
Hunter Davies. Little, Brown, 2012. Hour-by-Hour Account of How the Beatles Be- Biography of John Lennon. Theosophical Pub.
gan. Penguin Books, 1996. House, 2009.
____. Lennon Remembers, [interviews by] Jann S.
Wenner. Straight Arrow Books, 1971. Pelyushonok, Yury. Strings for a Beatle Bass: The ____. Working Class Mystic: A Spiritual Biography
Beatles Generation in the USSR, tr. by Olga of George Harrison. Quest Books/Theosophical
____. A Spaniard in the Works. J. Cape., 1965.
Sansom. Ottawa: PLY Publisher, 1999. Pub. House, 2011.
Leonard, Candy. Beatleness: How the Beatles and
Quantick, David. Revolution: The Making of the Turner, Steve. The Gospel according to the Beatles.
Their Fans Remade the World. Arcade, 2014.
Beatles’ White Album. A Cappella Books, 2002. Westminster John Knox, 2006.
Lewisohn, Mark. All These Years: v.1: Tune In.
Read the Beatles: Classic and New Writings on the ____. A Hard Day’s Write: The Story behind Every
Little, Brown, 2013- .
Beatles, Their Legacy, and Why They Still Mat- Beatles Song. HarperPerennial, 1994.
____. The Beatles Recording Sessions. Harmony ter, ed. by June Skinner Sawyers. Penguin
Books, 1988. Books, 2006. Unterberger, Richie. The Unreleased Beatles, Mu-
sic and Film. Backbeat Books, 2006.
____. The Complete Beatles Chronicle. Harmony Reading the Beatles: Cultural Studies, Literary
Books, 1992. Criticism, and the Fab Four, ed. by Kenneth Urish, Ben, and Ken Bielen. The Words and Music
Womack and Todd F. Davis. SUNY Press, of John Lennon. Praeger, 2007 (CH, Jan’08,
MacDonald, Ian. Revolution in the Head: The
2006 (CH, Oct’06, 44-0854). 45-2527).
Beatles’ Records and the Sixties. H. Holt, 1994
(CH, May’95, 32-4993). Reiter, Roland. The Beatles on Film: Analysis of Wiener, Allen J. The Beatles: A Recording History.
Movies, Documentaries, Spoofs and Cartoons. McFarland, 1986 (CH, Feb’87).
MacFarlane, Thomas. The Beatles’ Abbey Road
Transcript, 2008.
Medley: Extended Forms of Popular Music. Williams, Allan, and William Marshall. The Man
Scarecrow, 2008 (CH, Jun’08, 45-5480). Riley, Tim. Lennon: The Man, the Myth, the Mu- Who Gave the Beatles Away. Macmillan, 1975.
sic—The Definitive Life. Hyperion, 2011.
____. The Beatles and McLuhan: Understanding Winn, John C. The Beatles’ Recorded Legacy. 2v.
the Electric Age. Scarecrow, 2013 (CH, Jun’13, ____. Tell Me Why: A Beatles Commentary. Three Rivers Press, 2008-09.
50-5504). Knopf, 1988 (CH, Nov’88, 26-1467).
Womack, Kenneth. The Beatles Encyclopedia:
The Mammoth Book of the Beatles, ed. and introd. Rodriguez, Robert. Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Bea- Everything Fab Four. Greenwood, 2014 (CH,
by Sean Egan. London: Robinson, 2009. tles Solo Years, 1970–1980. Backbeat Books, Jan’15, 52-2310).
2010.
Marsh, Dave. The Beatles’ Second Album. Rodale,
2007. ____. Revolver: How the Beatles Re-imagined
Rock ‘n’ Roll. Backbeat Books, 2012.
Martin, George, with Jeremy Hornsby. All DVDs/Films and Websites
You Need Is Ears. St. Martin’s, 1979 (CH, Ryan, Kevin, and Brian Kehew. Recording the
Sep’80). Beatles: The Studio Equipment and Techniques All You Need Is Cash. Directed by Eric Idle and
Used to Create Their Classic Albums. Curve- Gary Weis; written and conceived by Eric Idle.
Martin, George, with William Pearson. With a bender, 2006. 1978. Broadway Video, 2001. DVD.
Little Help from My Friends: The Making of Sgt.
Pepper. Little, Brown, 1994. Schaffner, Nicholas. The Beatles Forever. Cam- BeatleLinks: The Beatles Internet Resource Guide
eron House, 1977 (CH, Apr’78). www.beatlelinks.net. Website.
Matteo, Steve. Let It Be. Continuum Interna-
tional Publishers Group, 2004. Schneider, Matthew. The Long and Winding Road The Beatles. Created by Al Brodax and Sylban
from Blake to the Beatles. Palgrave Macmillan, Buck; written by Dennis Marks et al. 1965-
McKinney, Devin. Magic Circles: The Beatles 2008 (CH, Jan’09, 46-2573).
in Dream and History. Harvard, 2003 (CH, 69. Rhino Home Video, 1995. DVD.
May’04, 41-5205). Sgt. Pepper and the Beatles: It Was Forty Years Ago The Beatles. www.thebeatles.com. Website.
Today, ed. by Olivier Julien. Ashgate, 2008
Mellers, Wilfrid. Twilight of the Gods: The Beatles (CH, Apr’09, 46-4342). The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit. 1964. [London]:
in Retrospect. Viking, 1973 (CH, Nov’74). Apple Corps, 2003. DVD.
Shapiro, Marc. All Things Must Pass: The Life of
Miles, Barry. Paul McCartney: Many Years from George Harrison. London: Virgin, 2002. The Beatles Anthology. Produced by Chips Chip-
Now. H. Holt, 1997. perfield; directed by Geoff Wonfor; written by
Shotton, Pete, and Nicholas Schaffner. John Len-
Miles, Barry, and Keith Badman. The Beatles Di- Bob Smeaton. 1995. [London]: Apple Corps,
non: In My Life. Stein and Day, 1983.
ary. 2v. Omnibus, 2001. 1996. 5 DVD set.
Sounes, Howard. Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul
Millard, A. J. Beatlemania: Technology, Business, McCartney. Da Capo, 2010. The Beatles Ultimate Experience. www.beatlesin-
and Teen Culture in Cold War America. Johns terviews.org. Website.
Spitz, Bob. The Beatles: The Biography. Little,
Hopkins, 2012 (CH, Dec’12, 50-1979). Composing the Beatles Songbook: Lennon and Mc-
Brown, 2005.
Moore, Allan F. The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Cartney 1957–1965. Surrey, England: Pride
Starr, Michael Seth. Ringo: With a Little Help. Productions, 2008. DVD.
Hearts Club Band. Cambridge, 1997 (CH,
Backbeat Books, 2015.
Jul’98, 35-6154). George Harrison: Living in the Material World.
Taylor, Alistair, and Martin Roberts. Yesterday: Directed by Martin Scorsese. Lionsgate, 2011.
Morton, Ray. A Hard Day’s Night. Limelight,
The Beatles Remembered. Sidgwick & Jackson,
2011. 2 DVD set.
1988.
Neaverson, Bob. The Beatles Movies. Cassell, A Hard Day’s Night. Directed by Richard Lester.
Things We Said Today: The Complete Lyrics and
1997. 1964. MPI Home Video, 1997. DVD.
Concordance to the Beatles’ Songs, 1962–1970,
Norman, Philip. John Lennon: The Life. Ecco, ed. by Colin Campbell and Allan Murphy. Help! Directed by Richard Lester. 1965. MPI
2008. Pierian Press, 1980 (CH, May’81). Home Video, 1997. DVD.

1276 Choice May 2016

Imagine: John Lennon. Directed by Andrew Solt;
written by Sam Egan and Andrew Solt. War-
ner Bros., 1988. DVD.
The Internet Beatles Album. www.beatlesagain.
com/breflib.html. Website.
John Lennon: Love Is All You Need. Directed by
Alan Byron and Ashley Hall. A2B Media,
2010. DVD.
LennoNYC. Produced by Susan Lacy, Jessica
Levin, and Michael Epstein; written and di-
rected by Michael Epstein. Two Lefts Don’t
Make a Right Productions, 2010. DVD.
Let It Be. Directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg.
London: Apple Films, 1970.
Nowhere Boy. Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson.
Ecosse Films, 2009. DVD.
Strange Fruit: The Beatles’ Apple Records. Produced
by Prism Films. Surrey, UK: Sexy Intellectual/
Chrome Dreams Media, 2011. DVD.
The U.S. vs. John Lennon. Directed and written
by David Leaf and John Scheinfeld. Lions-
gate, 2008. DVD.
Yellow Submarine. Directed by George Dunning.
1968. London: Apple Corps, 2012. DVD.

Corrections
The author of “U.S. College Book Price
Information, 2015” uncovered a minor error
after the special feature went to print in the
April ‘16 issue. A revised and corrected
version is available on Choice Reviews
Online.
~
The March 2016 issue contained a review
of the Readex collection of American
pamphlets held at the New-York Historical
Society. The title contained an incorrect
range of dates of coverage, which should
read American Pamphlets, Series 1,
1820-1922 (CH, Mar’16, 53-2889). We
apologize for the error.
~
An editorial error in the March 2016 issue
of Choice in the review for Republican Lens:
Gender, Visuality, and Experience in the Early
Chinese Periodical Press, by Joan Judge (53-
3168), moved York University in Toronto to
the UK. Toronto is, of course, in Canada.
Choice regrets the error.

May 2016 Choice 1277

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