. Read the Epilogue in Kozinn (p. 210-221), before answering the questions. Do you agree with Kozinn? Why or why not?
- First read and view some material about Yoko Ono to gain an understanding of her history.
http://www.a-i-u.net/onolife.html
http://www.a-i-u.net/intervista.html
http://youtu.be/xkn-pmPoVeM
How do you think Yoko Ono’s appearance in the studio started to affect the band? How do you think she started to shift John’s attitudes and behavior? Did her work as an avant-garde visual artist affect John’s songs and projects? If so, how?
- Look at the list of albums (not singles), starting on p. 226 in the Kozinn book.
Write the list of albums down (12 total) and the release date (I would keep this list handy for yourself after this class), and then make a comment about which album is your favorite and one. Please don’t cut and paste the list from other people in the class but collect the list for yourself so you will remember. What is your first memory of hearing a Beatles song? (A family member? A movie?)
- Select one album that a Beatle did after the group broke up. Post one song to discuss (from the album you selected) and include a link to the track for others to hear. Do you think the Beatles were ever as good as soloists or that they were best as a band? What is your reasoning?
“personal note from me. just answer about 50 words for each and we are good”
here are the examples from two students
do not need to be as good as them, just a simple work is fine.
student 1:
1: In terms of Kozinn’s opening statement, I definitely agree with him that no band has achieved such universal acceptance as the Beatles have. The fact that this class exists is proof of the Beatles influence and importance in history. Products such as The Beatles: Rock Band are evidence of the Beatles continued impact on world culture. Their songs are timeless creations, enjoyable for all generations. This class has certainly made me realize why the Beatles have such staying power, and I can’t see their importance in world culture diminishing any time soon.
2: I think that Yoko Ono’s appearance in the studio affected the band because it might have seemed like John Lennon had a conflict of interests. As mentioned in the Yoko Ono Biography, “Though their musical collaboration confounded many, it was a rejuvenating experience for Lennon, who had tired of the Beatles’ conventional image but was at loss as how to find a new direction for his music.” It seems that John Lennon found working with the Plastic Ono Band more exciting than working with the Beatles. Yoko Ono shifted John’s attitudes and behavior by focusing his music to be about sending a message, one about love and peace. I think Yoko Ono’s work as an avant-garde visual artist affected John’s songs and projects by giving him a way to express himself separate from the Beatles’ conventional image.
3: “Please Please Me” (22 March 1963), “With The Beatles” (22 November 1963), “A Hard Day’s Night” (10 July 1964), “Beatles For Sale” (4 December 1964), “HELP!” (6 August 1965), “Rubber Soul” (3 December 1965), “Revolver” (5 August 1966), “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” (1 June 1967), “Magical Mystery Tour” (8 December 1967), “The Beatles” (22 November 1968), “Abbey Road” (26 September 1969), “Let It Be” (8 May 1970). Out of all the Beatles albums my favorite one is “Abbey Road” because it features two of my favorite Beatles songs, “Come Together” and “Here Comes the Sun” In terms of my first memory of hearing a Beatles song, I don’t remember specifically when I was introduced to them, but I can definitely recall hearing snippets of their songs in movies, TV shows, and commercials.
4: I chose to look at Paul McCartney’s “Band on the Run” album. The song from this album that I decided to discuss is the title song of the album. “Band on the Run” (the song) plays out like a medley of three different songs. With three different styles of music, the song has a very diverse and varied feel. Link to the song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBX2dySWGew
In terms of the Beatles as soloists, I think that they were best as a band. With all four members together they are able to combine their talents and create amazing music. Having the four members together allows each song to be finely tuned in accordance with the feedback of every Beatle. The Kozinn reading provides an example of the disadvantage of being a soloist, “Too often, his thin-air creations remained vaporous, and without Lennon’s trusted critical voice, he was unable to separate the wheat from the chaff.” Each member of the Beatles is extremely talented, and having all four members of the group working together on a song is hard to beat. Even though the Beatles may have created some great songs as soloists, when they are all together they are even better.
student 2:
- I agree with Kozinn that although there are many artists who are truly revolutionary for music and some that may have sold more albums than the Beatles, they are unique in their universal acceptance as one of the best and most influential bands in history. Their influence can be heard across many genres of music and many generations of music lovers.
- I think Yoko’s attendance at recording sessions affected the band in a negative way. What used to be a safe space for the four, and especially John and Paul, to collaborate and create magic was suddenly disturbed by Yoko’s appearance. She distracted John, and although she helped him creatively in some ways, her presence can be heard and felt when she was there. John began to slowly separate from the band and she was always around so there was little reprieve from her subtle removal of John from the others. Her work as an artist affected John, as Kozinn said on page 210, even before they were romantically involved, John was moved by an art show she put on and he sponsored a show for her in London in 1966. Her influence on him helped him create more visual art that he had been doing randomly since leaving art school.
- 1) “Please Please Me” – March 22, 1963. 2) “With The Beatles” – November 22, 1963. 3) “A Hard Day’s Night” – July 10, 1964. 4) “Beatles For Sale” – December 4, 1964. 5) “HELP!” – August 6, 1965. 6) “Rubber Soul” – December 3, 1965. 7) “Revolver” – August 5, 1966. 8) “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” – June 1, 1967. 9) “Magical Mystery Tour” – December 8, 1967. 10) “The Beatles” – November 22, 1968. 11) “Abbey Road” – September 26, 1969. 12) “Let It Be” – May 8, 1970.
My earliest memory of hearing the Beatles was one Christmas at my grandfather’s house when I was probably about 6 or 7. My mom bought my dad the White Album on CD because he only had it on vinyl and CDs were becoming popular. He played it on the stereo while we opened the rest of our gifts and I remember a fun catchy poppy song, which as I listen back to it now, I’m sure it was “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.”
My favorite Beatles album changes with my mood, but it usually oscillates between “Revolver”, “Sgt. Pepper’s”, “The Beatles”, and “Abbey Road.”
- One of my favorite post-Bealtes solo albums is Paul McCartney’s “RAM.” One of my favorite songs on it is “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” because it demonstrates Paul’s amazing ear for melody and connection between his songs. It is reminiscent of the medley of songs from the B-side of “Abbey Road.” The awesome horns in the song are a key component, and the entire album features his wife Linda on vocals as shown in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI6C7L66zq8
I love some of the Beatles’ solo work. I like Paul’s and George’s the best. Despite that, none of them were ever as good as they were as a band. That doesn’t mean they should have stopped writing music or recording or touring, but none of the solo music that I have listened to from any of them has had the same impact on me as their work as a group.
