Know the characteristics of each of the three musical styles that fed into the emergence of Rock & Roll; i.e., melody, harmony, rhythm, instrumentation, form, lyrics, & vocal style.
Know the "Elements of Music" and the "Musical Structures" as discussed in class.
Review the list of musical terms included in Module 01A: The Roots of Rock. You still need to know these terms.
What Beatles album do Everette & Riley (2019) describe as "the biggest game changer in rock history"? What two other recordings (singles) do the authors include as constituting "an artistic and commercial high point in [the Beatles'] career"?
What was the name given to Summer 1967, the season when Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released?
After what song (and by what artist) did the Weather Underground, one of the radical sects of the counterculture of this era, name itself?
What famous boxer refused to be drafted for the Vietnam War in April 1967? What was his rationale? What impact did this have on the boxer's professional career?
As the Beatles began to explore spirituality and mysticism, how were George Harrison and his wife Patti influential in this regard?
What tragic event occurred in August 1967 (shortly after the release of Sgt. Pepper's), as the Beatles were attending a weekend workshop in Wales led by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi? What role did the Maharishi become (for a brief period) in the lives of the Beatles?
With the business transitions following the events of 1967, the Beatles formed their own company: Apple Corp. Pretty much everything they had touched since 1964 had "turned gold." How successful was this new business venture?
What was the Beatles' position regarding the Vietnam War? How did they demonstrate this as part of the first-ever, live global satellite television broadcast on June 25, 1967?
What group did Paul McCartney personally recommend to the organizers of the Monterey Pop Festival (June 1967)?
Regarding the Beatles, what is the relevance of Frank Zappa's We're Only In It for the Money (1968)?
What was George Harrison's reaction to the Haight-Ashbury district of the San Francisco Bay Area, when he visited during August 1967? What actions did he take as a result?
Many 1960s rock stars glorified the use of LSD and recreational drugs, leading to arrests, including Mick Jagger, Keith Richard, and Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones in 1967. What members of the Beatles were arrested for possession, on in November 1968 and the other in March 1969? For which of the Beatles did this cause significant problems during the early 1970s, as the Nixon White House attempted to use this as a cause for deportation?
What happened to Sgt. Pilcher, the officer responsible for many of these arrests?
There was a 10-month gap between the releases of Revolver and Sgt. Pepper, a time frame that Everette & Riley (2019) accurately describe as "unprecedented" to that point in the Beatles' career. What rumors swirled as a result? What impact did the arrival of Sgt. Pepper have on these rumors?
Along with Sgt. Pepper, what other three albums (and by what artists) do Everette & Riley point to as further evidence that this may have been an all-time peak period of poetry and musical craft?
What new term was applied to the style of music (and presentation) on Sgt. Pepper as a result of the lyrical exploration of altered states and day-glo colors in shifting forms?
In explaining the overall "concept" of Sgt. Pepper to his bandmates, what specific change to their image did Paul McCartney see as possible?
The "celebrity montage" on the cover of Sgt. Pepper represents a major theme of Sgt. Pepper. What are three of those themes identified by Everette & Riley (2019)?
Regarding the matter of live performance, how did Sgt. Pepper differ from previous album releases by the Beatles?
Who was the sound engineer for Sgt. Pepper's? What was unique about the Grammy Award he received for this album?
To what association in the title of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" point, though Lennon always maintained that was not what the song was about?
How did the studio time required to record Sgt. Pepper compare to the time required to record Please Please Me?
Having worked with experimental composer and musician John Cage, how did Yoko Ono contribute to the philosophical approach to later music by the Beatles?
What very young individual is credited with actually coming up with the title of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"? What was being described with this phrase?
In "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," what is the difference between the meter for the verses and the meter for the choruses?
Compare the reception to Sgt. Pepper to that of the film release for Magical Mystery Tour, released later the same year. Given the continuing "psychedelic" nature of the music for Magical Mystery Tour, what was odd about the BBC's premiere broadcast of the film on December 26, 1967?
Who was responsible for the instrumental arrangements for strings, horns, bass clarinet, and choir in "I Am the Walrus"? What two words did this individual use to describe the song?
As part of the tumultuous year of 1968, there were two assassinations in the U.S. Who were the high-profile U.S. citizens who were killed?
To what tragedy did Yoko Ono's record sleeve for "Now or Never" point?
In what non-musical activity were the Beatles involved during the first quarter of 1968?
What album was released by a member of the Beatles in 1968? What other artist collaborated on this work? What was unprecedented about the album cover?
What song did the Beatles record in early 1968 to assuage continuing concerns and critical backlash resulting from Magical Mystery Tour? After the gap between album releases extended through the summer, what song did the Beatles release to let their fans know that they still had it?
How did the Beatles feel about their obligation to complete the animated feature film Yellow Submarine? What music was added to the four previously unreleased Beatles songs for this film to result in an album release?
What celebrities joined the Beatles on their February 1968 trip to Rishikesh, in the Himalayan foothills of northern India, to learn meditation techniques form Maharishi Mahesh Yogi? On what schedule did the members of the Beatles depart? How were the songs "Dear Prudence" and "Sexy Sadie" inspired by this trip?
What was the initial purpose of Apple, according to Lennon's statement to the Tonight Show audience in May 1968? Who were some of the early musical artists who recorded as part of Apple's early roster?
Without Brian Epstein's business guidance, how did the Beatles' early ventures with Apple work out?
What was the first single released on the Apple label? By what group was it written and recorded? To what previous song by this group was the song considered an "answer"?
During early years of the Apple Corp, how did Yoko Ono's relationship and presence impact the other Beatles?
What was the actual title of what is known as "the White Album"?
How do the songs included on the White Album compare to those on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, especially concerning the purpose and unification (or not) of the tracks to one another?
What technological innovation used in the studio during the sessions for the White Album allowed these recordings to have improved fidelity and required fewer "generations" of tape for overdubs?
What song on the White Album do Everette & Riley (2019) suggest as a "prototype" for Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven"?
As uncommon as double albums were at the time the White Album was released, according to the authors of your textbook, with what artist were the Beatles playing "catch-up"? How does Lennon address this issue lyrically on the the album?
As the recordings revealed the band to be impressively tight, what was happening with their personal and creative relationships during this same period?
How did the role (and occurrence) of vocal duets change in the White Album recordings, compared to previous Beatles tracks?
How do the album covers for the White Album and Sgt. Pepper differ? What did this symbolize regarding the music each contained?
The creativity of which member of the Beatles veered furthest away from the other band members during the recording of tracks for the White Album? In what song(s) is this particularly evident? (hint: refer to "the Revolution series")
What song consistently tops the list of LEAST favorite Beatles songs? Who was the likely source of artistic inspiration for this piece?
What was the first single released from the White Album sessions? What was the song that was replaced as first single by this song (winding up as the B-side for the first release), and how was this second version of the song altered for the single release from its originally recorded version (which appears on the album)?
How would you describe the recording sessions for the White Album? What decision did engineer Geoff Emerick make and for what reason? What band member walked out and why? Was this event reported in the press? How did McCartney assist the band in carrying on during the absence of this bandmate? On what two White Album tracks can this evidence be heard?
A performance of "Yer Blues" in December 1968 involving one member of the Beatles and other musicians proved to be the beginning of another group. Which Beatle was involved, and what was the name of the new band? What two other rock icons appeared in this performance for The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus?
Though fans did not universally like "Revolution 9," upon reflection, how is it likely that Lennon's "experimental impulse" led him to create this particular track? [cite 4-5 tracks from previous Beatles albums in your response]
When the Beatles held an "up or down" vote on the inclusion of "Revolution 9," what was the outcome of this democratic process? How did the other Beatles (and George Martin) "cushion" the eventual outcome?
The authors close the primary section of this chapter with the following sentence: "If anything, the White Album" captures the sound of the Beatles breaking up while clinging together." What did they mean by that statement?
Who was the inspiration for "Dear Prudence"? Where and when had Lennon had the time to get to know this individual?
Which member of the Beatles played drums on "Dear Prudence" and "Back in the U.S.S.R."? [not widely known until Lewisohn's The Beatles Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962-1970, published in 1988]
What rock deity was brought in by George Harrison to play the guitar solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"? What was unique about George Harrison's attempted guitar solo that was replaced by Clapton's?
Who (or what) was the inspiration for "Martha My Dear"?
What was the working title for "Sexy Sadie"? What inspired the betrayal expressed in this song by Lennon?
At over 10 minutes, the complete recording of "Revolution" proved unwieldy (even for Lennon), so what did he decide to do with the track and how are the resulting recording(s) included on the White Album? Who was the uncredited co-composer of this experimental track? Who was the other Beatle most actively involved in recording this track in May & June 1968?
After the unexpected occurrence of "Revolution 9" on the fourth (and final) side of the White Album, how does "Good Night" bring the album to an effective close.
What other album, created by a member of the Beatles & collaborator, was released the same month as the White Album? What was unprecedented about this album cover?
What two negative events occurred regarding members of the Beatles during the recording and production of their final two albums? What is the perspective of many critics regarding the quality of Abbey Road, their final recordings?
What factors contributed to the band's breakup? How many songs from the White Album found their way into the U.S. Top 40 (Billboard charts)? [note: this is kind of a trick question ... but reveals an interesting truth]
What is the connection between the music of the Beatles and the grisly murders by Charles Manson and his "family" of followers?
What Beatles song did Joe Cocker sing while performing at the original Woodstock festival?
At the beginning of 1969, how did the desires of Paul McCartney and George Harrison vary regarding a possible return to live performances? What action did George take during this time, and what was its impact on future hopes for future concerts?
To what did the title of the project ("Get Back") refer, a plan spearheaded by Paul? In addition to the expected album release, once this project was completed, did the band have any other plans for the music and recording sessions? How did those plans evolve as the recording sessions continued?
What song, released on "Let it Be," was one of the Beatles own "oldies"?
How did George react to the studio setting and climate during this filming? What were his conditions to resolve the situation?
What musical artist joined the Beatles for much of the "Get Back" sessions that were released as Let It Be? How did this work out?
During the "Get Back" sessions, how many songs (or parts of songs) from their early club years did they run through? How many new compositions were introduced during this period?
What was the final live performance by the Beatles, the only one since their 1966 concert at Candlestick Park? What songs did they perform? How many were covers and how many were originals (i.e., new compositions by the Beatles)? What other tracks were included on the album (Let It Be)?
What is unique about the order of recording and album releases for Let It Be (resulting from the "Get Back" sessions) and Abbey Road?
What member of the Beatles failed to show up when the other Beatles returned for a recording session at the beginning of 1970?
What well-known producer was brought in late in the process of the "Get Back" project to pull the recordings together for release? For what type of sound was this producer known? What specific additions did he provide to several of the songs? How did McCartney react to these additions and what was done to assuage this reaction? How did Lennon react? What future solo album by one member of the Beatles did this individual produce?
What member of the Beatles was the first to announce they were leaving the group?
Though, on the surface, the lyrics for "Two of Us" appear to be about a romance, what is another way to interpret these lyrics?
What is unique about the delivery of verses in this song? [You will note that the first two verses are similar, the third & fourth verse are similar, then something really interesting happens in the final verse; describe these similarities & differences.] This use of countermelody is similar to the way that a folk melody was integrated into "Paperback Writer"; what folk melody was integrated into that earlier Beatles recording? [Reviewing this interactive listening guide will be helpful.]
What did Dick James do with his shares of Northern Songs, the publishing company formed by himself, Brian Epstein, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney? After this, who owned the Beatles' catalog?
Following John & Yoko's honeymoon, what did the couple do in Amsterdam? What was their intent? What did they carry this idea to Montreal in September 1969, and what song was recorded as a result?
In the context of Beatles songs, what is unique about the lyrics to "The Ballad of John and Yoko"? What two members of the Beatles are responsible for performing all the music on this track? What were the other two members doing at the time?
What band member initiated the recording sessions for Abbey Road? What did he do to get this process started again? How was George Martin feeling about his role after the band's "Get Back" project?
How does Harrison's role change on Abbey Road? What songs on this album did he compose?
Which Beatles album constitutes their "finale" (a farewell to one another and their place in music history)?
How did the concept-album portion of Abbey Road (most of side 2 of the vinyl record or tracks 7-17 of the CD or streamed recordings) differ from the individual tracks presented on other parts of the album. What two band members were primarily responsible for these varying desires, requiring compromise? How does this further represent their approaches to inspiration and creativity?
How did "Her Majesty" become the final song on this album? Where was it originally placed before the decision to make it the final track? Because of the manner in which it was placed (with an extended period of silence before it), what does this song constitute within the history of recorded rock music?
During an interview in 1980, Lennon expressed his wish that he had sung "Oh! Darling." What was his rationale and why did he decide not to make it an issue?
According to Geoff Emerick (engineer), what did McCartney do to prepare singing "Oh! Darling"?
What performance took place the day before Abbey Road was released? What member(s) of the Beatles (and their entourage) were involved? How did the audience react to the 12-minute "John John (Let's Hope for Peace)"?
What member of the Beatles released two solo singles before the band had officially broken up? What were the titles of these two songs?
Which member of the Beatles did some fans suspect had been killed in September 1966? What did they believe about recordings since that time? What were examples of the "evidence" used by these fans to justify their belief?
When Lennon announced his intention to leave the Beatles, what did Alan Klein and the other members of the band ask of him? How did the world learn about the Beatles' breakup? How do you think this made Lennon feel?
Two members of the Beatles are no longer with us. When did each die (month & year) and what were the causes?
What is unique about the two "Beatles songs" for which the three remaining members gathered in 1994 and 1995 ("Free as a Bird" and "Real Love")? How were these recordings made? [NOTE: a third such song ("Now and Then") was released in 2024.]
In two sentences, how would you accurately describe the impact of the Beatles on the evolution of popular music, including rock and roll?
Why is Danger Mouse's 2004 album entitled The Grey Album? What music was "mashed up" for this album? What is the connection made by Everette & Riley between the Beatles and hip-hop?
What chart action did Pepper and the White Album see in 2017-2018? What was the cause for this surprising return?
After reading the final paragraph of Ch. 9 (Everette & Riley, 2019, p. 232), in your own words, explain why the music of the Beatles continues to survive as among the most popular music of all times.