The Music and Lives of the Beatles

CST 3040-200 INI Spring 2010

Instructor: Joe Gallian       phone: 726-7576   e-mail: jgallian

Office: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Solon Campus Center 140E

Accessing Links to Articles: The Beatles class web page is set up so that only those who have UMD computer accounts can access the links to library material. If you have trouble please phone Mary Carlson at 726-8241 or the helpdesk 726-8847. They will assist you.

Distance Education Students: If you live more than 50 miles from UMD the library will send you the required material on reserve by mail. See www.d.umn.edu/lib/distant/index.htm for details.

Office Hours: By appointment (use e-mail to make an appointment). If you wish to stop in my office to see me without an appointment you are welcome to do so anytime I am there.

Text: A Day in the Life by Mark Hertsgaard. Because the book is no longer in print I have put the ten chapters you will need to read on the web so that you can download them (links are below).

Videos/DVDs/CDs: You will need access to the eight 70-minute episodes of the Beatles Anthology on video (on 8 tapes) or DVD (on 5 DVDs) and ten Beatles' CDs. The UMD library has multiple copies. The most convenient way to access the anthologies and other Beatles films for this course is through Netflix. Some video stores carry the anthologies and Beatles films. You can purchase the entire set used on www.amazon.com, or www.ebay.com for under $20. A new set of Anthology DVDs is available at Amazon and eBay for about $50.00

Grading: Your grade will be based on your written critiques of the audio/video assignments, the reading assignments and the final exam. The reading assignments are available on line (see links below). The audio/video materials are available at the library. I caution you not to wait until a few days before the due date to do the assignments since the amount of viewing, reading, and writing is extensive. Each critique and final exam question will be graded on a scale of 0 to 2; 0 for unsatisfactory, 1 for satisfactory, 2 for excellent. A score of 2 points for a critique is not common.

AVOID PLAGIARISM. You may use the web for information but you must cite your sources and you must provide your own thoughs on the topic.

Each critique should have sufficient details to convince me that you have done the entire assignment and have given the content some thought. This can be done by identifying items that you found most interesting or least interesting. Tell me things you with which you agree with or disagree. Tell me if you thought the assignment was informative and worthwhile and why or why not. Express your opinions about the assignment. Feel free to disagree with the authors of the articles. When possible, make your critiques personal. Relate the Beatles and their music to other acts when possible. If you come across some Beatles related item outside of the course such as a reference in a newspaper, magazine, movie or TV show, mention it in one of your critiques. I prefer this sort of detail to merely summarizing the readings. Generally, a satisfactory report can be done in one page. When writing your reports on CDs, rather than tell me what each song was about tell me your reaction to each song. Did you like it or dislike and why. Perhaps comment on the strong starts, energy of the vocals, backing vocals, use of harmonica, hooks, use of "call and response", beat, tempo, the harmonies, use of hand clapping, guitar riffs, bass line, use of piano, use of instruments such as French horn, trumpet, flute, synthesizer, harp, harpsicord, back loops, guitar feedback, difference between Lennon/McCartney compositions and the songs written by others, was the tune catchy to you, influence of others (Barry, Holly, Little Richard, Dylan, Motown etc.), overall theme of the CD, variety of the songs, etc. Here are five sample reports that you can use as models for your reports: Sample report 1; Sample report 2; Sample report 3; Sample report 4; Sample report 5.

There are thousands of interesting Beatles sites on the web. The site www.beatlesarama.com features Beatles related music 24 hours per day. One site that has the lyrics of all Beatles songs as well as numerous interviews is Beatles Beatles Beatles members.tripod.com/~taz4158/pepper.html. The Rolling Stone web site (www.rollingstone.com) has many items pertaining to the Beatles. The site www.youtube.com has many Beatles videos. The site www.songfacts.com provides information about Beatle songs. Other great sites are en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatles, http://beatlesnumber9.com/clips.html www.thebeatlescom/ http://webhome.idirect.com/~faab/AbbeyRoad/, www.geocities.com/~beatleboy1/db.menu.html, www.bagism.com www.geocities.com/Starshyne9 (This one has lists of references to the Beatles in movies, music, TV etc.) www.stevesbeatles.com (Lyrics to Beatles songs). Free Beatles screen savers are at home.att.net/~liveletdie/Screensavers/Screensavers.html. Official sites for the Beatles as solo artists are www.johnlennon.com/, www.paulmccartney.com/, www.georgeharrison.com/, www.ringostarr.com/. You can visit these and write a critique in place of an assignment or for extra credit. I will limit these to five. Be sure to include the web address in your critique of any web site. I am open to other suggestions for substitutions as well. For example, you might find it interesting to check out Beatles' memorabilia for auction at eBay and report on that. Another good way to earn extra credit is to sign up for Yahoo alert to inform you of news about the Beatles. Do this at http://alerts.yahoo.com. Report on items you found particularly interesting or unexpected. With my approval, you may also replace an assignment with a critique of a video such as one of the movie "Back Beat" (about the Beatles in their formative stage--on reserve at library), the movie "Two of Us" (about a meeting between Paul and John after the breakup--on reserve at library), the movie "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (a fictional account--but true to the spirit of the times--of some fans who tried to see the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show--on reserve at library), and the video "The Beatles First Visit to America."

At the end of the course the grades will be determined by the following scale:

80 or more pointsA
75-79 pointsA-
70-74 pointsB+
65-69 pointsB
60-64 pointsB-
55-59 pointsC+
50-54 pointsC
45-49 pointsC-
40-44 pointsD+
35-39 pointsD
fewer than 35 pointsF

Late work will not be accepted. Work must be submitted in an orderly fashion. Clearly identify each item (for example, Week 2 Unit 3) at the top of each page. Include your NAME on the first page of each individual unit (Week 1, Unit 1, Week 1 Unit 2, etc.) USE SINGLE SPACING. PLEASE EMAIL ALL OF YOUR REPORTS FOR EACH WEEK TOGETHER AS A SINGLE ATTACHMENT OR ALL TOGETHER IN THE BODY OF THE EMAIL. (For example, include all reports for Week 1 in one attachment called Week 1.) Keep a copy of all work turned in case something goes wrong with email or something gets lost. You may turn in work early if you wish.

You may check your scores for each assignment at http://www.d.umn.edu/egradebook.

Although I expect correct spelling (use a spell checker), proper grammar and good writing, generally speaking I will not reduce your point value because of shortcomings in these areas. Refrain from sloppy or hurried writing. Much of your success after you graduate will depend on your ability to write well. You should constantly strive to improve your writing skill. This course is a good place to practice. The length of your critique is not as important as the content. In cases where I have two units combined (such as Assignments 11-15) you may turn in a single report. You will receive points for each unit.

Final Exam: Each final exam question will be graded as were your critiques. So, for each final exam question, you will receive 1 point for a satisfactory answer and 1.5 or 2 points for answers better that satisfactory. I advise you to keep the final exam questions in mind as you do your assignments. You should work on these questions during the course so that you won't have to spend time working on them at the end of the course. It is not acceptable to simply copy material found on a web site. Your answers must express your opinions and be based on what you have learned in the course. If you are satisfied with your point total excluding the final exam you do not have to turn in the final exam. If you wish to do only a portion of the final that is fine. You will receive credit for the portion you do. You will not lose points for any questions unanswered. Here are the questions for the final exam:

  1. Discuss the factors that contributed to the popularity of the Beatles.
  2. Discuss Brian Epsteins's contribution to the success of the Beatles. ( Would they have made it big without him? Did his death hasten the break up?)
  3. Discuss the dynamics of the group over the years. That is, the role and contributions each Beatle made to the group at different stages.
  4. Discuss how George Martin's role changed over the years.
  5. Discuss how the Beatles' music changed over the years.
  6. Discuss the factors that led to the cessation of touring.
  7. Discuss the factors that led to the breakup.
  8. Discuss the impact the Beatles have had on our culture.
  9. Discuss the influence that Yoko had on John's music, his interest in art, and his efforts for peace.
  10. How do you explain the Beatles' continuing popularity?
  11. Who is your favorite Beatle and why? Has your choice of your favorite change during the course? Why?

Due Dates: Due dates depend on your official starting date. Use your start date to determine when your assignments are due.

USE SINGLE SPACE. BE SURE TO RETAIN A COPY OF ALL WORK SUBMITTED.

Assignments for weeks 1-2 are due at the end of week 2 (Sunday midnight).
If your start date is January 19 , the first due date is January 31.

Assignments for weeks 3-7 are due at the end of week 7.
If your start date is January 19, the end of week 7 is March 7, Sunday midnight.

Assignments for weeks 8-11 are due at the end of week 11.
If your start date is January 19, the end of week 11 is April 11, Sunday midnight.

Assignments for weeks 12-15 and final exam are due on midnight on your completion date. If your start date is January 19, your completion date is May 14.

Once you achieve your desired grade level you need not complete any further assignments. For example, if you have achieved enough points for a grade of B and you are satisfied with a B as your course grade you need not do any further assignments (nor the final exam). If there is a good reason, I can arrange to have your grade officially recorded before the official ending date of the course.

Special Needs: Individuals who have a disability, either permanent or temporary, that might affect their ability to perform are encouraged to inform me at the start of the course.

Here are some Beatles videos, CDs and DVDs available at the UMD library.

Assignments

With the exception of units designated with an asterisk, you may skip any unit without penalty. If you fail to do an unit with an asterisk you will be penalized one point for each one skipped. Although there is no penalty for not turning in assignments that do not have an asterisk, please note if you skip too many of these optional assignments you will not earn enough points for a good grade. (Doing only those with an asterisk would not give you enough points to even earn a grade of D.) In short, the more assignments you do the better your grade. The better you do them the better the grade.

Use links to download articles.

Assignment 1 (Week 1)

Unit 1* Roots of Beatles' music--DVD and VHS Video Anthology Episode 1 available on overnight reserve at library. A streaming video of Episode 1 is available at the course Moodle web page. You must have Quicktime on the computer to view it. If you prefer to watch the streaming video in full screen, right click the link for the video and save it to your computers hard drive. Then open the link using quicktime.
Although the online version is acceptable, the library copy is much higher quality.
Unit 2* Please Please Me--CD available on overnight reserve at library. A streaming version of the CD is available at the course Moodle web page.
"Notes on Please Please Me"
Unit 3 "Starting a Reputation" (Please, Please Me) Chapter 3 from "Starting a Reputation" from A Day in the Life
Unit 4 Where Music Had to Go (With the Beatles) Chapter 5 from "Where Music Had to Go" from A Day in the Life

Assignment 2 (Week 2)

Unit 1* Early Beatles--Video Anthology Episode 2 available on overnight reserve at the library. A streaming video of Episode 2 is available at the course Moodle web page.
Although the online version is acceptable the library copy is much higher quality.
Unit 2* With the Beatles CD available on overnight reserve at library. A streaming version of the CD is available at the course Moodle web page. "Notes on With the Beatles"
Unit 3 "Hard Days and Nights" chapter from the book All You Need is Ears by George Martin
Unit 4 "Life with Brian: Manager Brian Epstein" Chapter 6 from the book All You Need is Ears

Assignment 3 (Week 3)

Unit 1* Early Beatles--Video Anthology Episode 3 available on overnight reserve at the library. A streaming version is available at the course Moodle web page.
Unit 2* Beatles for Sale--CD available on overnight reserve at library. A streaming version is available at the course Moodle web page. "Notes on Beatles For Sale"
Unit 3* Help! CD available on overnight reserve at library. A streaming version of the CD is available at the course Moodle web page. "Notes on Help!"
Unit 4 (Do both parts)
a. "The Night My Generation Embraced the Beatles" from February 4, 1984 TV Guide by Bob Greene
b. "Thingumybob" from Beatlefan by Al Sussman

Assignment 4 (Week 4)

Unit 1* Early Beatles--Video Anthology Episode 4 available on overnight reserve at the library. A streaming version is available at the course Moodle web page.
Unit 2 "The Burdens of Fame: Beatlemania" Chapter 8 from A Day in the Life
Unit 3 "The Beatles," 1965 Playboy interview
Unit 4 "The Beatles" by Greil Marcus from Rolling Stone History of Rock and Roll

Assignment 5 (Week 5)

Unit 1* Middle Beatles--Video Anthology Episode 5 available on overnight reserve at library. A streaming version is available at the course Moodle web page.
Unit 2* Rubber Soul--CD available on overnight reserve at library. (Ranked #5 Greatest Album ever by Rolling Stone. Read these review before listening to CD). A streaming version is available at the course Moodle web page.
http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=777
http://music.ign.com/articles/681/681058p1.html
Unit 3* Revolver--CD available on overnight reserve at library (Ranked #3 Greatest Album ever by Rolling Stone. Read this review before listening to CD)
Also available online via Moodle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolver_(album)
Unit 4 "Inside Abbey Road Studio" (A Day in the Life) from Chapter 11 from A Day in the Life

Assignment 6 (Week 6)

Unit 1* Middle Beatles--Video Anthology Episode 6 available on overnight reserve at library. Streaming video of Episode 6 available at the Moodle course web page.
Unit 2* Sgt. Pepper --CD available on overnight reserve at library (Ranked #1 Greatest Album ever by Rolling Stone.) A streaming version is available at the Moodle course web page.
Read this web page before listening to the CD.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Pepper%27s_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band

EXTRA CREDIT: The cover art for Sgt. Pepper is the most copied of all times.
See http://www.beatlesagain.com/btsgtppr.html"
and http://www.amiright.com/album-covers/sgt-peppers-parodies/
for information about the cover art and many take offs of the Sgt Pepper cover.

Unit 3* Magical Mystery Tour--CD available on overnight reserve at library Also available online via Moodle.
"Gallian note on "I am the Walrus"
Unit 4 http://www.starbucksloveproject.com/#/main/
View the Starbucks Love Live Event video and Love Drawings. Click on the map button and view videos from several countries. Some of my favorites are the U.S., the United Kingdom, South Korea and Denmark. Click on the Love CD button then the spin button, than Playing for Change video. Write a report about this video and drawings. If you add a video or drawing to the site I will give you extra credit.

Assignment 7 (Week 7)

Unit 1* Late Beatles--Video Anthology Episode 7 available on overnight reserve at library. A streaming video of Episode 7 available at the Moodle web page.
Unit 2* The White Album Two CDs. Available at the library. A streaming version is available at the Moodle web page.
Unit 3 "We All Want to Change the World: Drugs, Politics, and Spirituality from Chapter 11 from A Day in the Life
Unit 4 Rolling Stone review of White Album by Jann Wenner (Founder of Rolling Stone)

Assignment 8 (Week 8)

Units 1 & 2 Let it Be--DVD available on overnight reserve at library. (This is a documentary film about the making of the "Let it Be" album.) A streaming video is available at the Moodle web page.
Unit 3 "Let it Be" article by Paul McCartney the inspriation for the song "Let it Be"
Unit 4* Late Beatles--Video Anthology Episode 8 available on overnight reserve at library. A streaming video of Episode 8 available at the Moodle course web page.

Assignment 9 (Week 9)

Unit 1 Beatles Revolution-- video on VHS and DVD available on overnight reserve at library. A streaming video is available at the Moodle course web page.
Unit 2* Abbey Road--CD available on overnight reserve at library. A streaming version is available at the Moodle course web page.
After listening to Abbey Road search www.youtube.com for Chris Bliss "Amazing Juggling Finale" for an amazing use of a Beatles song. Include your reaction to the Bliss video in your report.
"Notes on Abbey Road"
Unit 3 "The Final Masterpiece (Abbey Road)" from Chapter 11 from A Day in the Life
Unit 4 Provide your reaction to the "Paul is Dead" rumor either by viewing Parts 1 and 2 on You Tube of "Paul McCartney is dead ?!? Is it real? www.youtube.com or reading
the entry "Paul is dead" at http://en.wikipedia.org/ (Search for "Paul is dead."

Assignment 10 (Week 10)

Unit 1 & 2 View either of the following two films.
Either John & Yoko's Year of Peace available on both video and DVD on overnight reserve at library and at the Moodle course web site. (Documentary film about John and Yoko's opposition to the Viet Nam war.)
Or
The U.S. vs. John Lennon DVD on reserve at library. (Documentary film about President Richard Nixon's opposition to John and Yoko's efforts to end the war in Viet Nam).
Units 3 (Do both parts)
a Find any two Beatles websites and report on them (use www.yahoo.com to search the web. Observe how many hits you get.)
b Visit www.ebay.com Search for "Beatles" in all categories. Observe the number of items for sale. Sort by highest price. Comment on anything that catches your attention.
Unit 4 George Harrison and the Concert for Bangladesh by Bill McKibben from Solon.com http://archive.salon.com/people/feature/2001/12/01/harrison_concert/index.html (You can see clips at www.youtube.com by searching for "Concert for Banglasdesh.")

Assignment 11 (Week 11)

Unit 1 How the Beatles rocked the Kremlin DVD available on overnight at library
Unit 2 Paul McCartney in Red Square DVD available on overnight at library
Unit 3 Beatlefan magazine (browse the magazine on overnight reserve at library)
Unit 4 "The Breakup Heard Round the World," Chapter 22 from A Day in the Life

Assignment 12 (Week 12)

Unit 1 & 2 Across the Universe DVD available on overnight reserve at library. Love story based on 1960s events and Beatles music.
Unit 3 "Ecstasy in Liverpool" by David Owen from Harpers
Unit 4 Go to www.youtube.com/ and search for The Beatles covers. Report on Jake Shimabukuro's version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" in Central Park
and at least five others of your choice. (Three of my favorites "Let it Be" from the film Across the Universe--see also "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1YnD2msRXA"> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1YnD2msRXA (have a kleenex ready), "Yesterday" by Boyz II Men and "Day in the Life" by Jeff Beck.) Written lists of covers can be found at www2.wmin.ac.uk/clemenr/covers/covers.html
www.iro.umontreal.ca/~ratib/beatles/
Extra credit The Beatles Love CD on reserve at library. 2006 remixing of Beatle songs.

Assignment 13 (Week 13)

Unit 1 The Beatles on the Simpsons video on overnight reserve at library (3 episodes on one tape--watch all three). Some background information is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_the_Vegetarian.
Unit 2 The Powerpuff Girls Meet the Beat-Alls DVD or video on overnight reserve at library.
Unit 3 The Last Rolling Stone Interview with George Harrison 1987: Looking Back on the Beatles, LSD and the Sixties
Unit 4 Visit www.travelingwilburys.com/default/index/" Read the history of the Traveling Wilburys. View the videos "End of the Line," "Handle with Care," and " Inside Out."

Assignment 14 (Week 14)

Unit 1 & 2 The Rutles: All You Need is Cash--DVD or VC available on overnight reserve at library.
Unit 3 I am Sam (a Beatles related movie with many Beatle covers and numerous Beatles references) On reserve at the UMD library.
Unit 4 "The Classics of Their Time: The Beatles in History" Chapter 24 from A Day in the Life

Assignment 15 (Week 15)

Unit 1 (Do both parts) a Visit "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQYDvQ1HH-E"> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQYDvQ1HH-E Joe Cocker With a Little Help from my Friends (Be sure to select the Woodstock version).
b Visit www.youtube.com/ and search for Beatles. Report on at least five items of your choice (identify the items in your report).
Units 2 & 3 Beatles movie of your choice (Select from Hard Day's Night, Help! (DVD and video available), Magical Mystery Tour, Yellow Submarine--one movie counts for two units)
Unit 4 Review of "A Hard Day's Night" by Roger Ebert