An in-depth overview of the history of the Beatles, the most popular and influential rock group of all time. Using both common and rare recordings and video clips, it traces their artistic evolution from the dawn of their career in the early 1960s through their breakup about a decade later. The numerous styles they pioneered and mastered are explored in detail, from the relatively simple Merseybeat of their first recordings through the folk-rock, hard rock, psychedelia, and progressive art rock they delved into as the 1960s progressed. The Beatles were among the most important agents of social change of the twentieth century, and the course will illuminate their massive effect on the popular music and culture of their era.

 

Instructor Bio:

Richie Unterberger is the author of numerous rock history books, including volumes on the Beatles, the Who, the Velvet Underground, Bob Marley, and 1960s folk-rock. His book The Unreleased Beatles: Music and Film won a 2007 Association for Recorded Sound Collections Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research. He's taught adult education courses on rock and soul music history at Bay Area colleges for a dozen years. His most recent book, published by Taschen in 2022, is San Francisco: Portrait of a City.