LOOKING THROUGH A GLASS ONION:
DECONSTRUCTING THE WHITE ALBUM
(2 hours)
In Looking Through A Glass Onion: Deconstructing The White Album, composer/producer Scott Freiman takes Beatles fans young and old into the studio with the Beatles as they create their bestselling album -- The Beatles (commonly referred to as the White Album).
Released in 1968, the White Album’s thirty songs span almost every style of music -- from hard rock to country to chamber music to avant garde. Its recording took place during a remarkable year in Beatles history that included a lengthy trip to India and the arrival of Yoko Ono.
In Looking Through A Glass Onion: Deconstructing The Beatles’ White Album, Scott traces the creation of some of the Beatles’ most memorable songs, such as “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Revolution”, from demo to final version. Scott also covers the recording of “Hey Jude”, the Beatles’ most successful single. Scott discusses the studio techniques used by the Beatles during 1968 and share many examples of rare audio and video of the Beatles in action.
A TRIP THROUGH STRAWBERRY FIELDS
(90 minutes)
In early 1967, the Beatles released a groundbreaking single -- John Lennon's "Strawberry Fields Forever" backed by Paul McCartney's "Penny Lane." In its music, lyrics, arrangement, and subject matter, "Strawberry Fields Forever"/"Penny Lane" was a large step forward for the Beatles and for all of popular music.
In "A Trip Through Strawberry Fields", Scott explores the creation of these two masterpieces with special attention to the evolution of the songs from demos to final recordings. The presentation also includes an in-depth look at Sgt. Pepper's "A Day In The Life" -- one of the Beatles' most remarkable achievements.
DECONSTRUCTING SGT. PEPPER
(2 hours)
The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is one of the most influential albums of our time. In the history of popular music, there is "Before Sgt. Pepper" and "After Sgt. Pepper". Rolling Stone described it as "the most important rock & roll album ever made, an unsurpassed adventure in concept, sound, songwriting, cover art and studio technology by the greatest rock & roll group of all time."
In Deconstructing Sgt. Pepper, composer, musician, and Beatles expert Scott Freiman looks at Sgt. Pepper from multiple angles, exploring the history behind the music. Using rare and unreleased recordings, Scott walks the audience through the construction of songs from take one to the final version. You are guaranteed to leave amazed at the Beatles' innovation in the studio, and have a newfound appreciation for the writing of Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison and even the drumming of Ringo Starr!
Some of the highlights of the lecture include the following:
- Listening to the isolated tracks from classic songs, such as "With A Little Help From My Friends" and "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds".
- Hearing the beautiful string arrangement for "She's Leaving Home" -- the one that George Martin didn't write -- as well as Lennon and McCartney's unadorned harmonies.
- Learning about the experimental compositional and studio techniques used to create the groundbreaking "A Day In the Life."
TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS:
DECONSTRUCTING THE BEATLES' REVOLVER
(2 hours)
The Beatles' Revolver is a groundbreaking album that routinely tops "Best Album" lists. In Tomorrow Never Knows: Deconstructing The Beatles' Revolver, composer/producer and Beatles expert Scott Freiman takes music fans young and old on a journey through this remarkable album.
The 1966 album launched a period of studio experimentation for the Beatles that coincided with the end of their concert performances. With memorable songs, such as "Eleanor Rigby", "Yellow Submarine", and "Tomorrow Never Knows", the Beatles pushed popular music to a place it had never been.
Using rare audio and video clips, as well as anecdotes about the creation of the songs, Tomorrow Never Knows: Deconstructing The Beatles' Revolver, explores the groundbreaking production techniques that went into producing this landmark piece of music history. In addition to many of the tracks from Revolver, Mr. Freiman will also explore the creation of two other songs recorded during the same time period, "Paperback Writer" and "Rain".
