The Beatles: Music Roots (PVG)

The Beatles: Music Roots delves into the influences behind the Fab Four’s early hits, analysing and teaching you to play the songs that Lennon and McCartney learned, played and loved. Each song is arranged for piano, voice and guitar, accompanied with extensive notes on its history and recording.

Through these songs we uncover the story of British post-war youth demanding a musical revolution and finding through American Soul, R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll. The Beatles would revolutionise popular music, but they first learned their craft from the dazzling electric guitar of Les Paul and the soulful struggles of Ray Charles; the anarchistic rock of Little Richard and harmonious hope of The Miracles. All of these artists played their part in The Beatles phenomenon. This book explains why.

The songlist:

The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise [Les Paul & Mary Ford]
That’s Alright [Elvis Presley]
My Bonnie [Ray Charles]
Freight Train [The Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group ft. Nancy Whiskey]
Cumberland Gap [Lonnie Donegan]
Last Train To San Fernando [Duncan & The Blue Grass Boys]
Be-Bop-A-Lula [Gene Vincent & His Bluecaps]
That’s When Your Heartaches Begin [Elvis Presley]
Lawdy Miss Clawdy [Lloyd price]
Bye Bye Love [The Everly Brothers]
Ain’t It A Shame [Fats Domino]
Lucille [Little Richard]
That’ll Be The Day [Buddy Holly & The Crickets]
Honey Don’t [Carl Perkins]
Twenty Flight Rock [Eddie Cochran]
Baby It’s You [the Shirellles]
Anna [Arthur Alexander]
Chains [The Cookies]
Till There Was You [Barbara Cook & Robert Preston]
You Really Got A Hold On Me [The Miracles]