How do you explain the continuing popularity of the Beatles, a pop group that broke up officially in 1970? The Beatles break up was marked with rancor and resentment between McCartney and Lennon. Lawsuits were filed and legal matters dragged out for years. The principles hardly talked for years. Harrison recorded all those songs unappreciated by the Lennon/McCartney juggernaut on the double album 'All Things Must Pass.' And even though McCartney and even Ringo Starr have had viable post Beatle careers, the parts are less than the whole, especially those who remember the Beatlemania of the 1960s.

This sour end to the most popular music group of all time has not cooled the ardor from their fans in the ensuing decades. Each CD re-incarnation of the vinyl album sells in the millions. The Beatles Anthology, a complete and pricey retrospective set of their entire career, became a run-away best seller in 2003. The Cirque du Soleil's "Love" Las Vegas show is the ticket of the year and is garnering rave reviews. The film "Across the Universe" weaves a late 1960s tale around Beatles songs and becomes a cult favorite. And Beatle fanatics continue to make pilgrimages to iconic Liverpool and London locations to experience the landmarks of the Beatles history.

So what is going on here? Besides Elvis Presley, it's hard to think of any other non current artist or group that still commands attention and record sales like the Beatles. It's no stretch to say that, as a group, the Beatles penned more quality tunes than any other pop/rock musical group or artist. The sweep of their material, from the charming "From Me To You" to the personal pleas of "Help," to rave ups like "Helter Skelter" is unrivalled in modern popdom. It was the Beatles who established the long playing album as an artistic medium that showcased original compositions and compelling performances with no discernable duplication or flagging of inspiration through almost 10 years.

Before the Beatles, albums were afterthoughts to the radio hit, with one or two hits filled out with lesser formula tunes. Even King Elvis suffered from this syndrome with his movie soundtrack albums. Blame manager Tom Parker who foisted on Elvis mostly forgettable tunes cranked out by composers willing to sell their songs cheap to the Colonial's in-house publishing company. But most albums of the day were of this ilk, a hit tune or movie title song surrounded by often forgettable dross.

The Beatles were lucky to hook up with George Martin, a creative and sympathetic producer and musician. Up until the Beatles, most artists had little control over their product, deferring that role to producers and A&R men. Martin familiarized the Beatles with the techniques of studio work and would frequently suggest song arrangements. But even he at that early date realized the rare and extraordinary song writing talent that Lennon/McCartney developed song by song. And it continued and matured through each and every album.

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