Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years: 1970-1980

by Robert Rodriguez

In the years following the 1960s, Beatle fans around the world were in 1970, when their beloved group disbanded, and ten years later when the murder of John Lennon ended a decade of hope that somehow the Fab Four would reunite. Between those milestones were astounding highs and unfathomable lows. George Harrison's 1971 benefit for the suffering of Bangladesh showed the world the possibilities of rock's altruism, while Lennon asked the world to “imagine” universal peace before sitting out half the decade to raise his son. Ringo Starr, the most overlooked Beatle, carved himself a surprising niche in film before launching a string of hit singles. And Paul McCartney, widely seen as the instigator of the Fabs' breakup, became one of rock's most beloved performers, racking up record-breaking smashes that climaxed with a triumphant world tour in 1976.

Fab Four FAQ 2.0 picks up the story where the acclaimed Fab Four FAQ left off. Loaded with images of rare period ephemera, including periodicals, single sleeves, and movie stills, this is the first comprehensive biography of all four ex-Beatles. This book covers everything from their recording careers in the decade after the band's dissolution to the musicians they played with, the bands they influenced, the manifestations of latter-day Beatlemania, and the constant clamor for reunion expressed by fans and – sometimes – by the four themselves.

Genres: Music

496 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Pop culture historian Robert Rodriguez has written or contributed to nine books. 2012 saw the publication of two: Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years 1970-1980 and The Beatles: Fifty Fabulous Years. The first is the acclaimed sequel to his previous volume, Fab Four FAQ, a much lauded fan and critic favorite. The second is a colorful gift book, on sale exclusively at Barnes & Noble, and features a bonus documentary DVD.


See Fab Four FAQ 2.0 on Facebook for daily archival video postings.

Reviews

[James Hartley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting, piecemeal, dip-in-and-out-of book for anyone into the Beatles. Not as comprehensive as The Beatles: After The Breakup but lighter and more readable, the book covers their solo records, meetings, partners and various career options.

[Deirdre Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serious scholarship on the Beatles; I highly recommend this to pop culture enthusiasts as well as the fans.

[F.C. Etier]

Looking forward to reading it.

[Frank Marzano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a Beatlemaniac my whole adult life, but when I read this book, I learned something new on every page. The author is incredibly knowledgeable on, not only the Beatles, but on rock music in general.

[Aaron Badgley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource book, and at times very funny.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

You might think that the follow-up to Fab Four FAQ would be the less interesting volume, as it picks up where the Beatles end. But you'd be wrong. The period 1970 - 1980 was every bit as stuffed with drama, heartbreak, redemption, and -- it must be said -- great music as the prior decade. The real revelation of this book is finding out just how much great music you might have missed by not following the solo Fabs as they make their way through the fallout of the Love Generation. Sure, you know you like "All Things Must Pass." But when was the last time you listened to "Ram"? Or "Ringo"? Or the badly underestimated "Walls & Bridges"? Or maybe, like me, you've managed to miss them altogether. Fab Four FAQ 2.0 gives you a clear path through the wilderness of little-heard Ringo albums (an all-country album! And it's good!), much-maligned johnandyoko albums (I may not ever convince you to snap up "The Wedding Albums," but you've probably at least been curious to know what it sounds like, yes?), and weird aberrations like George's "Electronic Sound" LP.

Unlike the first, Fab 2.0 does have an chronological order, alternating its list style with chapters dedicated to each decade of the '70s and what each member was doing at the time. The other chapters are again broken into topic/list format -- most underrated solo album, most overrated, highest charting, lowest charting, TV appearances, almost-reunions, Fab kids and spurned lovers -- allowing you to dip your toe in anywhere. I may have skipped past the section about each member of Wings, but who knows -- if I ever get obsessed with them, I'll have it to come back to! The book covers any and every area of obsession you may want to explore, and thanks to youtube, a lot of these moments are on permanent display to see for yourself. The main issue of information these days is not restricted access, but a starting point. Fab Four FAQ 2.0 gives you tons of starting points to a lifetime of intrepid sleuthing, again covering little-known Fab moments with loads of tongue-in-cheek wit.

Now, go put on George Harrison's "Wah-Wah" again. You haven't heard it for a while (or possibly ever). That song COOKS! That and many other hidden-in-plain-sight jams await you.

[Ric Sierra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started strong. Rodriguez did a good job of placing the single releases in the context of the times. I especially enjoyed which songs the singles replaced on the chart and by whom they were in turn bumped out. Some interesting chapters on the best and the worst releases and the side players that contributed. But by the end the book was choking on fumes and gasping for content. Do we really need to know who was at Pattie Boyd and Eric Clapton's wedding?

The final chapter covers the murder of John Lennon. It was a poignant and fitting ending for the book. It almost redeemed the padding of the final fourth of the book, but not quite. A worthwhile, but not totally satisfying read.

[Dave Biggus · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book. I've enjoyed finding out new things about the Beatles, as a group and individually, since I was a kid. Love their music, so unique. This is a very thorough history of their post-Beatle work and lives, and probably contains the most new information that I've ever read. Kudos! Very fun.

[Kathy Guilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book, found it at the library, but a bit long for my interests. I had to skim much of it.

[Kym · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, enjoyed every bit

[Larry Eskridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

TONS of information, but repetition and organization make the book a bit of a slog at various points.