This course is Part 2 in an examination of the Beatles’ recording career in the studio. (This course can be taken independently of Part One.) The thrust is to look at the “revolution” of the Beatles as songwriters and as innovators in the recording studio, without which they would probably have been a colorful, but short-lived British pop band. Elements of the Beatles’ genius as songwriters, their curiosity about the recording process, willingness to experiment with things that had not been done before, and especially, the ingenuity of producer George Martin in shaping, expanding, and putting into practice the Beatles’ ideas, are what we will be devoting our class time to. In the process, we will be playing songs that many of you no doubt have committed to memory over the past half-century. It is hoped that this class will help you re-learn the songs, listening to them with a different ear by using a more analytical approach to how the records sounded.
The class will be dissecting each album, in chronological order, beginning with “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and concluding with their final release, “Abbey Road.” In the final week, we will track the Beatles’ heritage as a group through post-breakup releases.
Week 1: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Week 2: Yellow Submarine / The White Album (1968)
Week 3: Let It Be / Abbey Road (1969)
Week 4: Post-Beatles Discoveries / Live Albums / Studio “Reunions” /
Love (1970 – 2024)

Cary Ginell is a Grammy-nominated writer and author of 12 books on American music. After a 30-year career in radio, he has spent the last 20 years as a public speaker, talking about music in classrooms, at conferences, and on cruise ships. Cary brings a lifelong passion for the recording industry to his work and is one of the world’s foremost authorities on his specialty, western swing. Cary previously served as President of the Association for Recorded Sound Collections, an international organization of music scholars and world-renowned institutions. He holds a master’s degree in Folklore from UCLA and a bachelor’s in Radio/TV/Film from Cal State University Northridge.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people 50+ years of age, seeking intellectual stimulation through university level courses (without the pressure of grades) for the sake of learning and social engagement.

This course can be attended online via Zoom or in-person at our Thousand Oaks campus.