Who Could Ask For More: Reclaiming The Beatles

Who Could Ask For More? is both an in-depth study of The Beatles’ songs and an often oblique commentary on their life and times. Identifying the constant fear of an imminent nuclear holocaust as the spark for the huge social changes of the decade, Chris Gregory seeks to ‘reclaim’ The Beatles from the tendency to position them within a fake ‘sixties nostalgia’ industry. Combining analysis of their words and music with fictionalised sequences depicting key episodes in their career, the book provides a unique insight into an artistic and cultural phenomenon whose effects still resonate strongly many decades after the group broke up. The extraordinary evolution of their art is discussed in relation to the musical context of their day, with particular emphasis on the influence of 50s rock and roll and 60s soul music.