Returning to songs by the Beatles, Talking Heads, R.E.M. and others that – despite being pretty much incomprehensible – captured the public’s imagination.

As these songs by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and others show: Sometimes, having special guests provides just enough competition to make the main act work a little harder.

“I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party” reveals the Beatles’ country and rockabilly roots, even as it foreshadows – like much of ‘Beatles for Sale’ – the musical changes to come.

Tellingly, Paul McCartney still occasionally performs the Beatles’ “I’ll Follow the Sun” in concert. It’s an important stepping stone in his artistic development.

Find out why George Harrison had to be convinced to sing “The Inner Light,” an unlikely b-side to the Beatles’ more commercial “Lady Madonna.”

Kit O’Toole counts down the best Beatles-related releases of the past year, ranging from books to CDs to DVDs to calendars and more.

John Lennon’s willingness to shatter traditional notions of song structure and lyrical themes helped set the Beatles apart from other groups.

Pity the poor Brits, who didn’t initially receive the full 11-song U.S. version of the Beatles’ ‘Magical Mystery Tour,’ released on Nov. 27, 1967.

The Beatles’ Love, released this month in 2006, was at its best when George Martin got outside of convention – but that didn’t happen nearly enough.

Another step in the Beatles’ development, “Another Girl” turned conventional love songs and traditional pop structures on their heads.