This course will offer a deep dive into the Beatles’ “middle” period, 1964–1966, tracing the path from Beatlemania and their conquering of America to their final concert appearances and decision to quit touring and become a studio band. Along the way, I will offer detailed analyses not only of Beatles songs but also other artists from that era who had a distinct influence on the Beatles (such as Bob Dylan and the Beach Boys). We will also celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of Rubber Soul, which was recorded during October and November of 1965.


COURSE FORMAT
This course is an interactive in-person seminar course in New Haven. This course will meet once a week for 8 classes and will be held in-person at the following location: Yale Campus- Classroom TBD

Weekly reading or other forms of materials may be assigned. There are no papers or grades. This course does not offer any credits or certificates. This course is intended for learning for the love of learning.

COURSE MATERIALS
This course requires participants to obtain reading/listening materials.

Walter Everett and Tim Riley, What Goes On: The Beatles, Their Music, and Their Time (Oxford University Press, 2019).

This is a relatively inexpensive academic paperback, available from Amazon.com or your favorite online bookseller (around $35 new).

As you will see from the course schedule, I have organized the topics for each week’s class around the five Beatles albums released from 1964 to 1966. These albums are the “primary texts” for the course, and I would like everyone to come to each class having already listened to the songs on the album under discussion for that week. Some of you may already own these records in some format, but if not, you can stream the albums for free at Spotify.com.
Registrants will receive access to the course website about two weeks before the course starts.

COURSE CANCELLATION POLICY
Registrants can cancel and receive a full refund up to September 22. After September 22, there will be no refunds issued.
Yale Alumni College courses are subject to schedule changes as well as cancellations. If Yale Alumni College must cancel any course prior to its start due to low enrollment, you will be notified of this by the cancellation date. Upon cancellation of a course, registrants may transfer their registration to another available course or have the registration fee fully refunded.

In the event of a disruption to the original course schedule, including but not limited to; Professor absence, hazardous weather conditions, or local travel restrictions, Yale Alumni College will do its best to reschedule the missed class for the week immediately following the original end date at the same course time and day.

Photo: Robert Freeman Rubber Soul Cover