This “Bible of the Beatles” captures the iconic band’s magical and mysterious journey from adorable teenagers to revered cultural emissaries. In this fully updated version, each of their 241 tracks is assessed chronologically from their first amateur recordings in 1957 to their final “reunion” recording in 1995. It also incorporates new information from the Anthology series and recent interviews with Paul McCartney. This comprehensive guide offers fascinating details about the Beatles’ lives, music, and era, never losing sight of what made the band so important, unique, and enjoyable.
Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“A triumph—compelling, seductive, delightful.” —Nick Hornby, author, High Fidelity
“A brilliant electrical storm of a book.” —Newsweek
“The most astute piece of Fabs exegesis ever published—brilliant on the group’s triumphs, refreshingly scathing about its shortcomings . . . One of the twenty greatest rock & roll books.” —Blender
“The finest piece of fabs scholarship ever published.” —Mojo
"Among the few essential commentaries on their music and its meaning." —Shepherd Express
"Dipping into [this] book will make you want to rush to put on a set of good headphones and really listen to what MacDonald points out. . . . This is a great read both for old fans and younger generations seeking to see what the fuss was all about." — Law Practice Magazine
"A valuable resource." —newsblaze.com
"I have worn out three—yes three—copies." —newscritics.com
About the Author
Ian MacDonald was a songwriter, a record producer, and the author of The Beatles at No. 1, The New Shostakovich, and The People’s Music. He died in 2003.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The late Ian MacDonald really nailed it with this book. I try to read any comprehensive analysis of the Beatles recorded catalog that I can - and none even come close to this. Simply put, this book changed the way I listened to the Beatles music. It made me a more attentive, discerning listener. It broadened the scope of my knowledge of '60s music by pointing the way towards other music of the era that I hadn't yet heard. I find it hard to overstate the influence this book has had on me personally - I have read it cover to cover numerous times and still find myself going back to it.
This isn't a history of the Beatles - it is a song-by-song analysis, in the order the songs were recorded, of everything officially released by the group. And make no mistake, it is not an objective collection of facts - there ARE mostly reliable recording dates, release dates, and song credits for every entry, so it can be used as a quick reference. But this is a highly opinionated piece of writing - Mr. MacDonald was not afraid to ruffle feathers by offering critical evaluations of some of the Beatles most popular songs (he is quite harsh, for instance, towards classics like "Across the Universe" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps").
Mr. MacDonald does a great job of placing this body of work within the context of the time it was released - but he also manages to assess each song purely on its own terms, as well. While quite obviously a true-blue Beatles fan, MacDonald maintained a certain level of objectivity throughout - never getting caught up in fanboy idolization. He's tough on this music - when he feels a song isn't up to the band's established standards, he makes it very clear what he doesn't like.... Read more ›
This isn't a history of the Beatles - it is a song-by-song analysis, in the order the songs were recorded, of everything officially released by the group. And make no mistake, it is not an objective collection of facts - there ARE mostly reliable recording dates, release dates, and song credits for every entry, so it can be used as a quick reference. But this is a highly opinionated piece of writing - Mr. MacDonald was not afraid to ruffle feathers by offering critical evaluations of some of the Beatles most popular songs (he is quite harsh, for instance, towards classics like "Across the Universe" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps").
Mr. MacDonald does a great job of placing this body of work within the context of the time it was released - but he also manages to assess each song purely on its own terms, as well. While quite obviously a true-blue Beatles fan, MacDonald maintained a certain level of objectivity throughout - never getting caught up in fanboy idolization. He's tough on this music - when he feels a song isn't up to the band's established standards, he makes it very clear what he doesn't like.... Read more ›
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By Magnus
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an indispensable book about Beatles music appreciation. MacDonald was one of the most idiosyncratic critics of music that ever lived. This book must be owned by anyone, especially musicians and songwriters, who wants to truly get to the heart of the music of the Beatles.
The only disappointment for me (and for anyone who's been faithfully buying and reading the updates of this book since its release in the mid-1990s) is that the 3rd edition is NOT REVISED. If you own the second edition, you do not need to buy this book. There is not one difference in the text.
Oddly enough, this edition has slightly better quality paper, for some reason, whereas the previous edition uses sort of newspaper/telephone book quality sheets that tear easily. Two other subtle changes are: a different pic on the front cover, and the omission of one of the members of Oasis' profanely worded endorsement of the book.
Happy reading if you've never been inside the book before, but if you have the 2nd revised edition, you can sit this one out.
The only disappointment for me (and for anyone who's been faithfully buying and reading the updates of this book since its release in the mid-1990s) is that the 3rd edition is NOT REVISED. If you own the second edition, you do not need to buy this book. There is not one difference in the text.
Oddly enough, this edition has slightly better quality paper, for some reason, whereas the previous edition uses sort of newspaper/telephone book quality sheets that tear easily. Two other subtle changes are: a different pic on the front cover, and the omission of one of the members of Oasis' profanely worded endorsement of the book.
Happy reading if you've never been inside the book before, but if you have the 2nd revised edition, you can sit this one out.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There's a real joy in reading Ian Macdonald's "Revolution in the Head," because even if you disagree with his assessments, you know you're in the presence of an introspective but tough critic. He reads the Beatles against the cultural politics of the 1960s in order to assess the extent to which their music shaped and reflected the changing values of those times. His introductory essay, in fact, is one of the finest and nuanced summaries that I've read on the Sixties Revolution - neither congratulatory nor scornful but rather fair-minded. The individual song assessments presume some familiarity with music terminology (a glossary in the back helps) and non-specialists like me will tend to gloss over descriptions like "...endlessly uncoiling B flat Mixolydian melody around a standard three-cord progression." ("She Said, She Said")
While many people here think that MacDonald is harsh in his assessments of McCartney, on the whole I find his take on both Lennon and McCartney to be fairly accurate. It is true that he takes Lennon's songs more seriously and almost all of his extended analyses - in which he shows how a particular Beatles composition embodied the spirit of its moment - are from Lennon's catalogue: "Tomorrow Never Knows," "Strawberry Fields," and "Revolution 1." yet, he does show a deep appreciation for McCartney's musicianship, his innovative and complex melodic arrangements, and the deep empathy that characterizes his best work. He is hardest, though, on Harrison. His low opinion of Harrison's early songs carries over into a serious under-estimation of his later work, especially "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Here Comes The Sun.... Read more ›
While many people here think that MacDonald is harsh in his assessments of McCartney, on the whole I find his take on both Lennon and McCartney to be fairly accurate. It is true that he takes Lennon's songs more seriously and almost all of his extended analyses - in which he shows how a particular Beatles composition embodied the spirit of its moment - are from Lennon's catalogue: "Tomorrow Never Knows," "Strawberry Fields," and "Revolution 1." yet, he does show a deep appreciation for McCartney's musicianship, his innovative and complex melodic arrangements, and the deep empathy that characterizes his best work. He is hardest, though, on Harrison. His low opinion of Harrison's early songs carries over into a serious under-estimation of his later work, especially "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Here Comes The Sun.... Read more ›
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By D. Finch
Format:Paperback
Do NOT be put off by negative reviews of this fantastic literary achievement.
I am a 58 year old musician that saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan show live in '64 and life after was never the same. I defy ANYONE who "was there" i.e. in their late 50's, early 60's now who would have anything but praise for this book.
MacDonald puts into words exactly WHY and WHAT the music of the Beatles was about in social,political,cultural context song by song. He is a musician's musician as he describes the middle 16 part of No Reply as the greatest 30 seconds ever... he is dead on.
Song after chronological song he gives us insight and critiques like no one else.
Do NOT be put off by FANBOYS that weren't even born when the Fabs were young. This book is a MUST for Beatle fans as is the Anthology Huge book; The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions by Lewisohn and the Beatles Gear book.
I am a 58 year old musician that saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan show live in '64 and life after was never the same. I defy ANYONE who "was there" i.e. in their late 50's, early 60's now who would have anything but praise for this book.
MacDonald puts into words exactly WHY and WHAT the music of the Beatles was about in social,political,cultural context song by song. He is a musician's musician as he describes the middle 16 part of No Reply as the greatest 30 seconds ever... he is dead on.
Song after chronological song he gives us insight and critiques like no one else.
Do NOT be put off by FANBOYS that weren't even born when the Fabs were young. This book is a MUST for Beatle fans as is the Anthology Huge book; The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions by Lewisohn and the Beatles Gear book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A useful part of the cannon
This book aims to deal with a critique of the full recorded cannon of the Beatles, and it does though its a shame that he puts his commentary in such a strident political... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr Campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Impeccably researched, remarkably insightful
MacDonald does much more than provide a history of each Beatles track they ever recorded (which he does as well). Read more
Published 2 months ago by Roger D. Plothow
2.0 out of 5 stars
Is The Author Bitter?
I had hoped that this would be an in depth and unbiased review of each recorded Beatles track. Unfortunately, the author seems completely absorbed with proving his own,... Read more
Published 2 months ago by atlbsky
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book.
Best book on individual Beatle songs I've ever read. Good for us completists. Here are my seven more required words.
Published 2 months ago by Paul Macri
5.0 out of 5 stars
For those who love the Beatles, their music, and the1960s
Great insight and information especially on the recording details of some of the best pop music ever created? Good read!
Published 3 months ago by Michael J. McCoobery
5.0 out of 5 stars
Even-Handed Analysis and Criticism, Not Hagiography
I disagree with maybe 75 percent of the late Ian MacDonald's judgments. Songs he finds trite I think are masterpieces. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Eclecticism
4.0 out of 5 stars
Revolution in the Head
I just don't get the impression this guy liked the Beatles very much. That, and I felt like a total philistine for liking so many of the songs that he basically tore apart. Read more
Published 4 months ago by M. Steckiel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, but probably for hardcore Beatles fans only
This is a great book for the hardcore Beatles fan who is already deeply familiar with the band's output and wants to take his or her understanding and appreciation to a new level... Read more
Published 4 months ago by buster
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good book, subpar format
Let's get this out of the way - I liked the content. I was interested in MacDonald's general argument and both intrigued and entertained by his analysis. Read more
Published 5 months ago by A. Mitchell
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beatles songs
Very knowledgeable and in depth of each song and what transpired in the studio. I probably would have liked more of the personal sides to each artist. Read more
Published 5 months ago by anthony lindsey
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