And In The End: The Last Days Of The Beatles, McNab - B+

        New Year's 1969 saw the world's most famous band on the cusp of dissolution and bankruptcy. Paul organized a 'Get Back' project, whereby they would create straight-forward music without all the production sophistication of Sergeant Pepper and the White Album, while being filmed for a tv documentary. John was taking heroin, bereft of ideas and annoying everyone by insisting Yoko be ever-present. George was tired of his songs and ideas being ignored by Paul and came very close to quitting in January. John introduced Allen Klein, a famous NY manager, to the group and insisted that Klein be given free rein to fix Apple Corps' financial problems. The contretemps between Klein and Paul would prove to be the final rift on the road to the break-up. Somehow, they managed to pull off the 42 minutes of perfectly performed  music on the roof of 3 Savile Row on January 30, for their first live performance since September 1966. 

     The month of March saw Paul and Linda and John and Yoko marry. John and Yoko spent a week in bed in Amsterdam to promote world peace. Back in London, the band actually began working on the songs that would eventually comprise Abbey Road. Concurrently, John and Paul almost came to blows at a meeting involving an attempt to recover their copyrights from London investors. In May, they lost the copyrights to their classic creations. They all took off for different overseas vacations, with John and Yoko in Canada, where they recorded Give Peace A Chance. Back at Abbey Road, the Get Back tapes sat without any resolution toward completing the album. When everyone returned to London, Paul suggested they defer Get Back and make an album like they used to. With George Martin on board, they were going back to Abbey Road.

     Away from their business problems and in the studio, with John delayed because of a minor auto accident, Paul, George and Ringo began finishing the 9 almost complete songs. George introduced Something and Here Comes The Sun, solidifying himself as a writer on par with his two famous bandmates. John showed up with Yoko and two beds, but managed to contribute Come Together. The Fab Four found the old magic that July in the studio. In the early hours of August 21st, the four men left Abbey Road for the final time. The iconic album cover is considered the end piece of the decade and the group. 

    The following month, all but George were at a meeting to sign the new paperwork for a deal with EMI/Capital. Klein had deftly renegotiated the Beatles' royalties to everyone's satisfaction. Paul pitched John about going back on the road when John told him "I'm leaving." Abbey Road was released a week later to mixed reviews, but blockbuster sales and Beatlemania-like enthusiasm from the public. The Beatles were no more, but the news was kept under wraps for months. It wasn't announced until May of the following year. The fighting over Klein and the structure of their work continued for decades. 

     In the end, this is a sad read for any fan. But the music remains fresh and awe-inspiring even after half-a-century has passed.