eternal_spirit
31-05-2007, 03:55 PM
Academics to discuss Beatles album
Four decades after its launch The Beatles' ground-breaking album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band continues to cause a stir as academics prepare to discuss the cultural impact of the record, which celebrates its 40th anniversary on Friday.
The album, released in the UK on June 1 1967, is regarded by critics and fans alike as the most influential album of all time.
On June 19, experts from the US and the UK will gather at the University of Leeds to analyse the album.
The event, which is open to the public, will examine the social and cultural impact of the album and question why it continues to hold a fascination for new audiences, four decades on after its release. The university already has a strong connection to the album.
Artist Sir Peter Blake, who created the album's iconic cover, donated pieces to a permanent exhibition of his work in the School of Music - where a rare signed print of the original 'Pepper' sleeve takes pride of place alongside examples of his other sleeve art for artists including Paul Weller, Oasis and the Who.
The significance of Blake's revolutionary sleeve art will be discussed by Deena Weinstein of DePaul University in Chicago during the study day. The keynote speech, by Sheila Whiteley of Salford University, will question whether Pepper's "tangerine trees and marmalade skies" set the cultural agenda for the summer of love, or was mere optimistic escapism.
Mark Taylor-Batty of the University of Leeds will ask whether the record's "live" qualities - the noise of an orchestra tuning up, the applause in With A Little Help From My Friends, the creation of an imaginary band - showed The Beatles desperately missing the thrill of live performance.
Event organiser, senior teaching fellow Simon Warner, said: "Put simply, it's the most important album by the most important group.
"It was a ground-breaking moment for popular music, bringing together a vast array of musical styles - the mysticism of Within You Without You, the music hall of When I'm Sixty Four and the fairground sounds of Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite. The whole album has so many colours and nuances - and that amazing multicoloured sleeve perfectly echoes what's going on inside."
A Day in the Life - Sgt Pepper at 40, takes place in the University of Leeds from 10am to 5pm on June 19. Day passes to the event are on sale at £20, with concessions and students £10. For a booking form visit www.leeds.ac.uk/music/populus/index.htm.
www.leeds.ac.uk/music/populus/index.htm(The Centre for the Study of the World's Popular Music)
Four decades after its launch The Beatles' ground-breaking album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band continues to cause a stir as academics prepare to discuss the cultural impact of the record, which celebrates its 40th anniversary on Friday.
The album, released in the UK on June 1 1967, is regarded by critics and fans alike as the most influential album of all time.
On June 19, experts from the US and the UK will gather at the University of Leeds to analyse the album.
The event, which is open to the public, will examine the social and cultural impact of the album and question why it continues to hold a fascination for new audiences, four decades on after its release. The university already has a strong connection to the album.
Artist Sir Peter Blake, who created the album's iconic cover, donated pieces to a permanent exhibition of his work in the School of Music - where a rare signed print of the original 'Pepper' sleeve takes pride of place alongside examples of his other sleeve art for artists including Paul Weller, Oasis and the Who.
The significance of Blake's revolutionary sleeve art will be discussed by Deena Weinstein of DePaul University in Chicago during the study day. The keynote speech, by Sheila Whiteley of Salford University, will question whether Pepper's "tangerine trees and marmalade skies" set the cultural agenda for the summer of love, or was mere optimistic escapism.
Mark Taylor-Batty of the University of Leeds will ask whether the record's "live" qualities - the noise of an orchestra tuning up, the applause in With A Little Help From My Friends, the creation of an imaginary band - showed The Beatles desperately missing the thrill of live performance.
Event organiser, senior teaching fellow Simon Warner, said: "Put simply, it's the most important album by the most important group.
"It was a ground-breaking moment for popular music, bringing together a vast array of musical styles - the mysticism of Within You Without You, the music hall of When I'm Sixty Four and the fairground sounds of Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite. The whole album has so many colours and nuances - and that amazing multicoloured sleeve perfectly echoes what's going on inside."
A Day in the Life - Sgt Pepper at 40, takes place in the University of Leeds from 10am to 5pm on June 19. Day passes to the event are on sale at £20, with concessions and students £10. For a booking form visit www.leeds.ac.uk/music/populus/index.htm.
www.leeds.ac.uk/music/populus/index.htm(The Centre for the Study of the World's Popular Music)