The Beatles' White Album: How It Was Made
Brought to you by Odyssey
October 25, 2021 - November 15, 2021
Monday, 6:30 PM - 8:15 PM ET (8 course hours)
In the spring of 1968, The Beatles, the most popular group in history, returned from Rishikesh, India, after studying meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. They brought with them dozens of new songs.
Unknown to their fans, The Beatles were falling apart as a group. John Lennon was reinventing himself with Yoko Ono; George Harrison was no longer satisfied with third place to Lennon and McCartney; Paul McCartney was the nice guy with the big ego; and even Ringo Starr was tired of the other Beatles demeaning his drumming.
Over the summer of 1968 and into the fall, The Beatles created the most ambitious album in history, second only to Brian Wilson's Smile album. 30 songs, over 90 minutes long, and the greatest variety of musical styles on any album to this day.
In many ways, it is three solo albums with one song by Ringo. Many of the tracks were laid down by the individual Beatles alone in the studio. It would be the best-selling Beatles album in history. And the most controversial.
The album was called simply The Beatles, but because of its plain white cover front, back, and inside, the album was quickly nicknamed The White Album. Even group members, Paul, Ringo, Sir George Martin, and even Yoko Ono, refer to it as The White Album in interviews. So do we. Join us for a study of this great masterpiece by the group that was truly the soul of the Zeitgeist.
About the Instructor
Reed Hessler, recently retired after thirty-nine years as classical music host and producer at WBJC-FM, has a degree in English from Washington College, with further studies in music and film at Towson University. Reed Hessler has studied Japanese film for forty years, and has taught and lectured frequently on this, one of his lifelong passions.
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