The strangest item in the Beatles’ catalogue turns 50.

Talk about meta.

Half a century ago, Hunter Davies got permission to write an authorized biography of the band. The next thing he knew, they were his collaborators.

Just in time for holiday season, Apple has gifted us with ‘The Christmas Records’—a vinyl box set comprised of very rare fan-club recordings by the Fab Four.

Released fifty years ago—on November 27, 1967—the Beatles’ last slice of psychedelia is an underrated masterpiece, and more fun than ‘Sgt. Pepper.’

In the spring of 1966, riding high on the artistic success of ‘Rubber Soul,’ the Beatles went into the studio to begin crafting what would become their greatest record.

It’s been 50 years since The Beatles invaded America and changed, well, everything. What made the boys from Liverpool so unique and so damn great? Read the first of four short excerpts from Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!: The Beatles and America, Then and Now. You can order the book, for $5.99, here.