Still the greatest : the essential songs of the Beatles' solo careers
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references (pages 303-307), discography and index.

More than 40 years after breaking up, the Beatles remain the biggest-selling and most influential group in the history of popular music. Fans endlessly replay their songs, craving more, while thousands of cover versions of their songs have been recorded or performed by artists. Band biographies, pop music histories, song books, and academic titles clutter shelves on the Fab Four. But never has there been a definitive guide to the finest songs of The Beatles after they called it quits. This is a love song to the songwriting and recording achievements of Paul, John, George, and Ringo after each struck out on his own. In this creative history, Jackson selects the best songs by the each in his solo career and organizes them into fantasy albums they might have formed had they stuck it out. This romp through the post-Beatle history of each artist delves into the circumstances behind the composition, recording, and reception of each work, offering a refreshing take on how spectacular much of the Beatles' second act truly is. Jackson assesses the over 70 albums and 900 songs they collectively released, selecting the crème de la crème of their output. This book brims with facts (release dates, writing and performing credits, and information about production techniques) and insightful analyses of the music and lyrics. In telling the stories behind the songs, Jackson recounts the remarkable influence the Post-Fab Four continued to have long after the big split. Both a handy reference and an engrossing cover-to-cover read, this is an invaluable companion for those who thought it all ended with their 1970 album Let it be.