The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four

Womack (English, dean of the Wayne D. McMurray Sch. of Humanities & Social Sciences, Monmouth Univ., NJ; Long and Winding Roads: The Evolving Artistry of the Beatles) presents a condensed version of his 2014 two-volume encyclopedia. This edition concentrates on the group's musical output during the 1960s, with some coverage of key figures and moments. Articles related to John, Paul, George, and Ringo's solo efforts or nonmusical accomplishments have been eliminated, giving the book a clearer focus than its more sprawling predecessor. The content is nearly identical to that of the 2014 version, but the entries in this revised edition lack further reading references and miscellaneous trivia about the songs. Well written, meticulously researched, and full of cross-references, this work concludes with a detailed index, a lengthy discography, and pages of recommended resources. Beatles aficionados won't be disappointed. Accessible to more casual fans, Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin's All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Beatles Release covers similar material in a much more eye-catching format than Womack's title, which features just a handful of black-and-white photos and takes a more scholarly approach.