Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote songs for The Beatles under Lennon-McCartney, but a new statistical model can be used to tell who actually took the lead. AP hide caption
The Beatles The Beatles artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music
The 1968 release of The Beatles' Yellow Submarine film influenced fashion, graphic design, music — and even a short-lived organization of "submarine churches" based on the gospel of Lennon and McCartney: "All You Need Is Love." Yellow Submarine Movie/Abramorama hide caption
Randy Newman, performing at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Ross Gilmore/Redferns hide caption
John Lennon (left) and Paul McCartney, pictured here circa 1960, met as teenagers in July 1957. Keystone/Getty Images hide caption
The complex soundscape of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was created under technological limitations that have since disappeared. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
'Sgt. Pepper's' At 50: Why The Beatles' Masterpiece Can't Be Replicated
The Beatles celebrate the completion of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band at a press conference on May 19, 1967. John Pratt/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Pop artist Peter Blake poses beside a copy of the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover, which he co-designed in 1967. Matt Cardy/Getty Images hide caption
The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Courtesy of the artist hide caption
The Beatles during the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band sessions in 1967. Courtesy of Apple Corps Ltd. hide caption
LSD tabs on tip of young man's tongue during Woodstock '94 in upstate New York. Mark Peterson/Corbis/Getty Images hide caption
Paul McCartney conducts a 40-piece orchestra during recording sessions for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Larry Ellis/Getty Images hide caption
Top row, left to right: Solange, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen; Middle row, left to right: Mitski, Bon Iver, Frank Ocean; Bottom row, left to right: Anohni, Car Seat Headrest, Beyoncé. Courtesy of the artists hide caption
When The Beatles embarked on tour in the U.S. in 1964, reporter Larry Kane was along for the ride. Jeremy Neech/Courtesy of Apple Corps Ltd. hide caption
Officer Robert Yocum informs Beatle fans Chelie Mylott and Melody Yapscott, right, that they'll have to move from their spot in front of the Hollywood Bowl. The women had no tickets but hoped to get them from scalpers or sneak in. This photo was published in the Aug. 24, 1964 Los Angeles Times. John Malmin/LA Times via Getty Images hide caption
The New York-based orchestra Alarm Will Sound puts a fresh twist on The Beatles' most maligned song. Carl Sander Socolow/Courtesy of the artists hide caption
The Beatles in 1963 with their first silver record. (From left) Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, producer George Martin and John Lennon. Chris Ware/Getty Images hide caption
John Lennon in 1966. Harry Benson/Getty Images hide caption
Austin's 6th Street during the SXSW Music Festival. Michael Buckner/Getty Images hide caption
Paul McCartney. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
The music that makes one of us emotional doesn't always make sense to others. William Lovelace/Getty Images hide caption