Beach Boy Beatles: the Beatles at the height of their fame Seventy-three million Americans had just seen them perform live on The Ed Sullivan Show. They were about to meet a young Cassius Clay. And wherever they went, The Beatles were mobbed by adoring women. Taken by Harry Benson, who was allowed almost unfettered access to the Fab Four as they toured, this image forms part of an intimate record of the band collected in the photographer's book, The Beatles On The Road 1964-1966, to be published by Taschen at the end of April. The band's visit to Miami's 81st Street beach was a surprise trip, planned by Benson because he needed something to show his newspaper picture editor in London. Benson, 82, who was born in Glasgow but now lives in New York, said it was not difficult to persuade the band to go to the beach. "We'd all come from a freezing Britain and New York, and suddenly there was sunshine, sea, and girls in swimsuits hoping to meet a Beatle," he said. Benson admitted he was reluctant to work with the band because he was a serious news photographer, until he saw them perform. He said: "The Beatles were arguably the greatest composers of the 20th century."