The Best Gifts for Fans of The Beatles

This holiday season may be the greatest one ever if you’re a Beatles fan. While this may sound like hyperbole, after you read this, you will agree. The publishing event of the season is Paul McCartney’s The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present, published by Liveright, on sale November 2nd. It’s a two-volume set in an elegant green case with Paul McCartney’s face on the spine. The beauty on the outside sets the stage for the magnificence that lies within. Every song by McCartney from his pre-Beatles days, through the Fab Four, Wings and his solo work are here. That’s 154 songs if you’re counting. Along with the lyrics are precious commentary, personal stories, photos, handwritten notes and private ephemera, all breathtakingly arranged. This is a rare opportunity to peer inside the creative genius of Paul McCartney. It is, without a doubt, the gift book of the season.
Adding to the embarrassment of riches is The Beatles: Get Back by The Beatles with a foreword by Peter Jackson, published by Callaway Arts & Entertainment, on sale October 12th. If you recognize Peter Jackson’s name — yes, THAT Peter Jackson, the one responsible for The Lord of the Rings movies — you may not be surprised he’s a Beatles fan but he went one step further and produced a documentary on The Beatles’ final album, Let It Be. Jackson stitched together incredible audio and video of their final session at Apple Records and the result of his work is this eye-opening documentary called Get Back, airing on Disney+ November 25-27. The book adds necessary heft to the film describing the creativity, comradery and output of what may be The Beatles’ greatest recording. Both provide a mind-blowing Beatles experience.  
Along with these gems are a few other books to round out this Beatles holiday. Paul McCartney: The Stories Behind the Classic Songs by Mike Evans, published by Welbeck Publishing, uncovers fascinating background material behind his famous songs such as who was at the recording session, the musicians involved and the inspiration behind each song. The Beatles 1962-1969: From Liverpool to Abbey Road by Ernesto Assante, published by White Star Publishers looks at the band’s history year by year from all angles, not just at the songs, to give fans a fuller picture of their success. And finally, Grandude’s Green Submarine by Paul McCartney and published by Random House Books for Young Readers follows up Sir Paul’s bestseller, Hey Grandude!, with an illustrated undersea adventure sure to delight the young and the young at heart.
The Beatles gift-giving extravaganza doesn’t end there! After all, this is about music so Barnes & Noble has a special edition of The Beatles Let It Be on vinyl that comes with an exclusive tote bag. Other unique Beatles gifts: a Lego Art-The Beatles which is nearly 3000 pieces to build four different brick portraits of The Fab Four; from Happy Socks, a Beatles socks set to walk those long and winding roads (or “zebra crossings”) in style; a Magical Mystery Tour of 100 Beatles Songs in a 3000-piece jigsaw puzzle that will keep you busy for hours and hours.