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.