Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties is a 1994 book by British music critic and author Ian MacDonald, discussing the music of The Beatles and the band's relationship to the social and cultural changes of the 1960s. It was published in revised forms in 1997 and 2005, the second following MacDonald's death in 2003.
MacDonald took a song-by-song approach in the book and carefully analysed every song The Beatles recorded, drawing attention to broad themes, particular examples of inspiration and moments of human frailty alike. The book's introduction consists of MacDonald's essay "Fabled Foursome, Disappearing Decade", an analysis of the social and cultural changes of the 1960s and their aftereffects.
The book was first revised in 1997 and included material that had been released by Apple Records between 1994 and 1996 (Live at the BBC, the Anthology series). Additionally, MacDonald made minor changes in accordance with selected books that had been released since the first publication, most notably Barry Miles' official biography of Paul McCartney, Many Years from Now. In 2002, it was edited into The Beatles' No. 1 Hits; the edit featured a new, shorter introduction, and only included the essays on the songs on The Beatles' compilation album 1. A Second Revised Edition was published in 2005 according to plans MacDonald had made prior to his death in 2003. A 2008 printing of the book claims "Third Revised Edition" on the cover and "Second Revised Edition" inside.
Read more about Revolution In The Head: The Beatles' Records And The Sixties: Structure, "Fabled Foursome, Disappearing Decade"
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