The Beatles released “The White Album” in 1968. It was the band's first double LP, amply packed with 30 original songs. Although its officially titled The Beatles, some scholars argue that it's the most “un-Beatle” album the group ever produced. In fact, many think it's better described as a collection of solo-material by the three main songwriters – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison.

The making of “The White Album” was difficult. Both John and Paul have described the project as tense and stressful. According to McCartney, “there was a lot of friction during that album. We were just about to break up,” (Doggett, 2009, p. 130). Ringo Starr briefly quit the band during this period, and was not involved with the recording of Back In The U.S.S.R. and Dear Prudence. He returned within two weeks, but disagreements continued to produce frustration, distraction, and even hurt feelings among the four band members. Less than three years later, the Beatles officially broke-up.

In week six of our course, Prof. Covach argues that “The White Album” was the product of a co-op, not a “band” in the same sense as earlier albums. “[It] really presents three song writers, three separate song writers... more or less operating in singer-songwriter mode… a kind of songwriter's co-op,”.

If we accept the notion that “The White Album” is actually the product of a co-op, we're left with an interesting question. Does it have “unity” – an overall coherence from track-to-track? Or do you think it's better described as three unique albums by John, Paul, and George, packaged together in a double LP? There is no “right” or “wrong” answer. Be sure to check out the discussion on this topic and share YOUR thoughts!

The Course CommunityThe Course Community

Did you know that our vibrant Course Community is filled with

passionate learners from nearly every corner of the world? And that musicians,

historians, and musicologists join each week to discuss the Beatles? Not being a

traditional course, we can't meet “on campus”. But don't worry, We Can Work It Out –

in the Discussion Area!

The White Album: Where's the Unity?

The Music of the BeatlesThe Music of the BeatlesOfficial Mentor NewsletterOfficial Mentor Newsletter

Want to see your name printed in the next Issue? Click HERE

to find out how it works!

Not enrolled in the University of Rochester's free online course, The Music of the Beatles? Sign up here: https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-beatles

December 4th 2015, Issue No. 1

BEATLES NEWSTo read full articles, click on the headlines!

Apple releases “Video Collection ‘1’”...

Move over, MTV: Did the Beatles invent the music video?

Andy White, 'Love Me Do' Studio Drummer, Dead at 85

New Video Sheds Light On John Lennon's 'Revolution'

Paul McCartney Debunks Myth about 'Eight Days A Week'

Ringo to Auction First Pressing of 'The White Album'

SHOCK: Beatles Songs go Classical...

In Mexico City, Beatles Fans Gather to Set World Record

what did the the Beatles say...

about Hamburg?about Hamburg?

What is your favorite Beatles album?What is your favorite Beatles album?Vote Vote HEREHERE in our new community poll! in our new community poll!

Want to learn more about the Beatles and other important rock bands? Check out Prof. Covach's Academia.edu account for more cool stuff!

“[Hamburg is] where we'd really developed. To get the Germans going and keep it up for twelve

hours at a time, we'd really hammer. We would never have

developed as much if we'd stayed at home.”

- John Lennon (Davies, 2009, p. 93)

Do you fully understand the important role that Hamburg played in the story of the Beatles? If

not, check out Prof. Covach's lecture titled Hamburg and Liverpool, located in the week two lectures list. Happy learning!

Duke Ellington, Ludwig Beethoven, Duke Ellington, Ludwig Beethoven, && The Beatles The Beatles

Thinking About the Artistic Merits of “Mr. Kite”

Is it too extreme to suggest that the Beatles are equals to artists like Ludwig Beethoven and Duke Ellington? At the risk of annoying high-brow art critics, I'd like to suggest that there are occasional examples where the Beatles stand shoulder-to-shoulder with “the very best” in musical creativity. One instance is Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!, which appeared on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

The song was written by John Lennon, and inspired by an 1846 circus poster (shown to the right) which he had purchased from an antique store. Actually, we could argue that it provided more than just “inspiration”. Most of the lyrics were taken directly from the poster. In an interview, Lennon called it “a straight lift” (Dowlding, 1989, p. 172).

The song was recorded on February 17th, 1967. Many people quickly shrug it off as simply “weird” – the product of a rock band that was increasingly “experimenting” with the psychedelic drug known as LSD. However, close observation reveals that the song is deliberately using the poster as a “blueprint” to recreate the actual circus through music. In my opinion, this represents one of the finest moments in Beatles songwriting (and perhaps all artistic music in general).

In and of itself, the poster is unrelated to music. Essentially, it's an advertisement. But by modeling the song on the poster, Lennon's composition breathes life into the people, events, and larger-than-life antics depicted in the words and pictures. John Lennon's “approach” with this song is uncannily similar to approaches adopted by other widely acclaimed artists – including Beethoven and Ellington!

Did Ellington or Beethoven ever write songs about zany circus posters from the 1800's? Well, no. But they did find ways to take something unrelated to music, and then recreate it through their art.

“It's all just from that poster. The song is pure, like a

painting, a pure watercolor.”

– John Lennon

Author:Author: Derek ZboranDerek Zboran

For example, classical enthusiasts probably know about Ludwig Beethoven's attempt to recreate a violent storm in the fourth movement of Symphony No. 6. And jazz listeners have long appreciated Duke Ellington's Harlem Airshaft, a big band arrangement which depicted various elements of Harlem's vibrant culture. My point is that artists are known for creating musical art works that depict inherently unmusical experiences.

John Lennon once described Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! as being “pure, like a watercolor” (Dowlding, 1989, p. 173). Indeed, the song plunges the listener directly into a surreal environment that feels eerily similar to that of a circus. And it's here where things get interesting – essentially, this isn't a song about a circus, it is the circus, depicted vividly through music.

Although the song is a Lennon composition (with some help from Paul McCartney), it's clearly a Beatles recording. Ringo's drumming deliberately intends to force the listener into the sense that he or she is in a circus-like environment. And when Lennon was thinking about how to give the song “the idea of a circus”, it was the Beatles' producer, George Martin, who he approached for help.

Many of the Beatles' recordings (particularly the later material) are utterly ingenious. Often, they display similar characteristics in approach to works created by the most esteemed figures in artistic music. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!, a song which brought a forgotten circus back to life, demonstrates the creativity of the Beatles as artists, and contributes to the overall discussion about the artistic merits of their records.

““John got the idea of that from an actual poster - he often John got the idea of that from an actual poster - he often pinched things like that for his songs... When he came to pinched things like that for his songs... When he came to record it he said he wanted to convey the impression of record it he said he wanted to convey the impression of

sawdust in the ring, to give the idea of a sawdust in the ring, to give the idea of a fairground and a circus.”fairground and a circus.”

– George Martin, 1971 interview with 'Melody Maker'

“I got lots and lots of steam-organ sounds, genuine calliope

noises, which are tapes of "Liberty Bell," Sousa marches, that kind of thing. I spent the morning with an engineer, put

them all on one tape, and asked him to cut them up into sections 15 inches long, which is about a

second in length. He did that and they were all in a row on the desk. I said "Now throw

them in the air and pick 'em up and join 'em together." Inevitably

some were backwards and some were forwards, and when

we played it back it was a terrible mish-mash of sounds.

That was fine, and we used it as a background noise.”

– George Martin, 1971 interview with 'Melody Maker'

How did George Martin How did George Martin create the surreal circus create the surreal circus

atmosphere?atmosphere?

COME TOGETHERCOME TOGETHER...... in thein the Discussion Forums! Discussion Forums!

Love studying the Beatles? Yep, we thought so! Right now, you're apart of something special...an amazing university course that traces the development of the Beatles' music from beginning to end. By the time you're finished, you'll have a phenomenal understanding of the band. But why should you stop there?

If you're enrolled in The Music of the Beatles, you have access to a world-wide community of other learners who are just as passionate about the The Fab Four! Why not take advantage of the opportunity? It takes less than five minutes to post a comment or thread to the discussion area. And by contributing to the forums, you'll ensure that you gain the best learning experience possible from this excellent course. So be sure to check it out!

– Derek, Course Mentor

Tips for Being a Fab PosterTips for Being a Fab Poster

Be respectful. Treat your fellow students in the same way that

you'd like to be treated.

Remember that interesting and thoughtful discussions may

involve multiple opinions and perspectives. (Unless John

Lennon is in the room!) Don't be afraid to voice your opinions, and be considerate of those

who have differing viewpoints.

When replying to a thread, try to “add” to the conversation. Ask

questions, challenge arguments, or elaborate on what other

posters write. Don't just respond with “I agree” or “I disagree” –

define a position and then explain it.

When creating new threads, think carefully about what type of discussion you're starting. Are you asking a question? Offering

an opinion? Challenging an argument? Make your point

clear so that other students know how they should respond.

““Please check out the discussion forums... I hope you will contribute to the conversations that will Please check out the discussion forums... I hope you will contribute to the conversations that will unfold there. The only requirements are that we be considerate of one another, and that we try to cast unfold there. The only requirements are that we be considerate of one another, and that we try to cast our remarks as scholars, not so much as fans. We all have opinions – and when it comes to music, these our remarks as scholars, not so much as fans. We all have opinions – and when it comes to music, these can be very strong opinions – but for the purposes of this class, I would ask you to be as objective as can be very strong opinions – but for the purposes of this class, I would ask you to be as objective as you can as you think about this music. Offer reasoned arguments for your position.you can as you think about this music. Offer reasoned arguments for your position.””

– Prof. Covach

IMAGE CREDITS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Who are the Mentors?Who are the Mentors?Great question! 'Mentors' are selected by Coursera and assigned to specific courses. Each Mentor in The Music of the Beatles previously completed the course and received a high grade – while also demonstrating a keen interest in the course community by regularly contributing to the forums. We're here to help YOU succeed, and to ensure that the discussion forums are a productive learning environment for each and every student.

Current Mentors:

Andrew Fraser Cochrane TweedieBryan GriestDerek ZboranPaul Butt

Mentor Newsletter:

Derek Zboran is the creator and editor of The Music of the Beatles Official Mentor Newsletter. New issues are published every 4th and 20th of the month, and are freely available on Derek's Academia.edu profile.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, all contents are Copyright 2015 Derek Zboran

File:Beatles ad 1965 just the beatles crop.jpg (public domain):https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beatles_ad_1965_just_the_beatles_crop.jpg

File:Affiche MrKite.jpg (public domain):https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Affiche_MrKite.jpg

File:The Beatles magical mystery tour.jpg by Parlophone Music Sweden licensed under a CC BY 3.0. license. Image cropped. Original image obtained from the following source:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Beatles_magical_mystery_tour.jpg

Doggett, Peter. The Art And Music of John Lennon. London: Omnibus Press, 2009. Print.

Covach, John. "White Album – George and Ringo Songs." The University of Rochester. www.coursera.com. Lecture.

Dowlding, William. Beatlesongs. New York: Fireside, 1989. Print.

Davies, Hunter. The Beatles. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2009. Print.

LISTEN TO MY STORY: George Martin Interview With Melody Maker. About The Beatles. SMACKBOMB, n.d. Web. 2 December 2015.