Classic Beatles album turns 40
The Beatles -- a band that's still loved by many generations of fans. There are many reasons for their success. They had looks, talent, and even the right timing. They first appeared on the music scene in the early 60s.
"At precisely the time we are in the process of defining what popular music is going to sound like, there had been rock and roll before that, but this is the point in time in which the Beatles begin to define what popular music is going to sound like," said Skidmore College Professor Gordon Thompson.
Gordon Thompson is a professor of music at Skidmore College, and teaches a class on the Beatles. This weekend there's a celebration of sorts for the 40th anniversary of the release of the White Album. Not only is a panel discussion called "The Beatles- 40 Years Ago Today" planned, there will also be Sunday afternoon "Beatlemore Skidmania" concert. Most of the songs will be from the White Album, a record that's been classified as rock and roll in a popular music format, but it's really a diverse recording that goes in all different directions.
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"You've got John Lennon doing tape montages with Revolution 9, you've got Paul McCartney going back to music hall style numbers, and then there's imitations of the Beach Boys," said Thompson.
The White Album got its name simply because the album was cover design was completely white, but the official title of the record was simply "The Beatles." Ironic, since it emphasized the group's name, but John, Paul, George, and Ringo were actually developing more as individuals, not just in songwriting, but in their personal lives as well.
"This is a band of individuals who are beginning to mature and become adults, and as adults there are areas where they want to flourish, they also want their own space," said Thompson.
Thompson can also consider himself a "Paperback Writer." He has a book out called "Please Please Me," which covers not just the band, but all the people and events that took place around the group as well. But for right now, the focus is on the 30 songs from the White Album.
"It was an album where you'd say look at all the different to pinpoint in style but very influential because look at all the different things they were doing," said Thompson.
And continue to do for generations to come.