The Beatles

The Beatles:
John Lennon - 9.10.40 - 8.12.1980 (rhythm guitar - lead vocals)
Paul McCartney - 18.6.42 - (bass - lead vocals)
George Harrison - 24.2.43 - 29.11.2001 (lead guitar - vocals)
Ringo Starr - 7.7.40 - (drums - vocals)

Like many teenagers in the 60s, I grew up listening to the music of The Beatles - undoubtedly the world's most commercially successful and critically acclaimed band.

John, Paul, George and Ringo were four talented guys from Liverpool who create the most astounding phenomemon the world has ever seen, or is ever likely to see.

The rise of The Beatles in 1963 was the most significant event in pop music. Within a year, they had surpassed the fame and success of premier idol Elvis Presley, and thrusted British pop to worldwide attention.

In the eight years between their first chart toppers to their split, the band changed the course of Pop and Rock, leaving a body of recorded work rarely rivalled for quality, originality and - as subsequent generations discovered - durability. Their influence on 60s was incalculable and until now, their legacy was still undiminished and continuing to inspire musicians of every genre.

The Beatles sold more than 1 billion records internationally. In the UK, they released more than 40 different singles, albums and EPs that reached No1, earning more number one albums (15) than any other group in the UK chart history. Rolling Stone magazine ranked them number one on its list of 100 Greatest Artistes Of All Time.

Though disbanded in 1971, their music continues to delight and entertain millions of of music lovers throughout the world wherever and whenever it is heard.

As a fan of The Beatles, I bought all their albums (in vinyl/cassette/CD formats) which I still listen to at home or while driving.

During the period from 1963 to 1970, The Beatles released 13 studio albums (from UK):

Please Please Me
With The Beatles
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles For Sale
Help!
Rubber Soul
Revolver
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Magical Mystery Tour
The Beatles (While Album)
Yellow Submarine
Abbey Road
Let It Be

and there were also many basement tapes (The Decca Tapes, etc), compilations (The Beatles 1962-1966 Red Album, The Beatles 1967-1970 Blue Album, The Beatles No. 1s, etc), unreleased materials from vaults (Live At The BBC, The Beatles Anthology, etc) released during and after that period.

I also own a few Beatles books as well, which I treasured and among them are:

The Beatles Anthology
The Beatles: The Authorised Biogrphy - Hunter Davis
The Beatles Albums File and Complete Discography - Jeff Russel
The Complete Beatles recording sessions - Mark Lewisohn
The Beatles Song Book - 124 song with chords and lyrics
The Beatles (Band of the Century) - Q magazine

(I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my cousin CK Leong who, whenever he travelled overseas, would bring back a book or two on The Beatles or on JPGR for me. Not forgetting my friend JE, too, who has also bought me a couple of Beatles books from UK.)