A unique combination of musical analysis and cultural history,
Tell Me Why
stands alone among Beatles books with its single-minded focus on the most important aspect of the band: its music. Riley offers a new, deeper understanding of the Beatles by closely considering each song and album they recorded in an exploration as rigorous as it is soulful. He tirelessly sifts through the Beatles discography, making clear that the legendary four were more than mere teen idols: They were brilliant innovators who mastered an extremely detailed art. Since the first publication of
in 1988, much new primary source material has appeared — Paul McCartney's authorized biography, the
Anthology
CDs and videos, the complete Parlophone-sequenced albums on CD, the
Live at the BBC
sessions, and the global smash
1
. Riley incorporates all the new material in an update that makes this a crucial book for Beatles fans.