Includes bibliographical references and index.

Background. Six boys, six Beatles : the formative years, 1950-1962 / Dave Laing ; The Beatles as recording artists / Jerry Zolten -- 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 -- 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.