The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four. By Kenneth Womack. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood, 2016. 621 p. Acid free $30 (ISBN 978-1-4408-4426-3). E-book available (978-1-4408-4427-0), call for pricing.
The Beatles were indisputably towering figures in twentieth-century popular culture. Consequently, much has been written about the lives, work, and influence of the Fab Four. The title under discussion here is a unique entry into that body of literature. The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four is a condensed (and more affordable) version of a two-volume hardcover encyclopedia with the same title. While the larger edition aims to be a comprehensive resource, the condensed version aims instead to hit the highlights.
While numerous other titles may offer much of the same information, The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four is unique primarily due to its reference book format. The title provides the reader with a wealth of in-depth Beatles history one would expect from a narrative account, but conveniently arranges that information in easy-to-access alphabetical entries. The entries dealing with specific compositions (which comprise the bulk of the volume) identify the author(s) of the song, provide details about the origins of the song, the recording sessions, the performers and their instruments, and the album(s) on which the song appeared. Entries devoted to albums provide similar information as well as cover art and chart performance. Additionally, readers will find biographical information on not only the individual Beatles, but also spouses, relatives, collaborators, and producers. Notable events in Beatles history, such as the Ed Sullivan Show performance and the Shea Stadium and Rooftop concerts, are also included. Other helpful features are a chronology and discography.
The entries are written in an accessible style and provide details ranging from the technical aspects of recording certain songs to excerpts from interviews in which individual Beatles provide their own accounts of the song writing and recording process. The result is a collection of vivid accounts of the band members and their creative processes.
In his preface, author Kenneth Womack states that the title is aimed at “readers of all levels, from the general public and students at the secondary and postsecondary ranks through advanced scholars and dyed-in-the-wool Beatlemaniacs” (xv). The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four is indeed suitable for such a diverse audience. It is therefore recommended for public, high school, and academic libraries. If your budget allows, you may want to consider purchasing the expanded two-volume edition, which also provides entries on the band members’ post-breakup solo efforts.—Edward Whatley, Instruction and Research Services Librarian, Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, Georgia