Piece Description

NOTE: THIS IS THE THREE HOUR VERSION OF THIS SPECIAL. IF YOUR STATION CAN CLEAR THE TIME, WE FEEL THIS IS THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR LISTENERS AS IT RECREATES THE EXPERIENCE OF LISTENING TO THE WHOLE ALBUM. IF YOU CAN ONLY ACCOMMODATE A TWO-HOUR SLOT, THERE IS A TWO-HOUR VERSION AVAILABLE NOW AT PRX.  THERE IS ALSO A NEWCAST LENGTHED VERSION OF THIS THREE PART SHOW ON PRX.
http://www.prx.org/pieces/29926

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November 22, 2008 marks the 40th anniversary of one of The Beatles' most remarkable releases. The two-album set was officially called THE BEATLES, but it became known forever after as The White Album. It was the top-selling of all The Beatles' albums and ranks #11 on the all-time album sales list.

Emerging from what many called their three-album psychedelic period that produced Sgt. Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour and Yellow Submarine, The Beatles' White Album was a wildly diverse collection that included instant classics ("Back in the U.S.S.R", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Dear Prudence", "Blackbird"), gentle ballads ("Mother Nature's Son", "I Will", "Julia"), raucous electric rock ("Helter Skelter", "Yer Blues") amusing ditties ("Honey Pie", "Savoy Truffle", "Rocky Raccoon"), and surprising experimental tracks ("Revolution #9"). The writing and performing styles of the four individual Beatles became distinct. Many Beatle fans and historians point to the White Album as the beginning of the break-up of the Beatles. In little over a year, the band would be dissolved.

Join award-winning producer Paul Ingles for another one of his in-depth explorations of The Beatles' experience by airing THE WHITE ALBUM LISTENING PARTY. Ingles recalls being 12 years old in 1968 and listening with his best friend to this challenging and, at times, disturbing collection in the basement of his suburban Maryland home. "I knew I couldn't play this one on the family stereo upstairs," says Ingles. "A lot of the music seemed naughty, tortured and edgy." In an effort to re-create that listening experience, Ingles invited about a dozen Beatle fans into the studio to listen through to the album again and share both their memories and more current observations about the landmark music.

Among the guests are Beatle author Steve Turner who shares the stories behind each of the White Album tracks. Also, a panel of musicians help listeners tune into the musicality of The Beatles, calling attention to a certain bass line here, a drum lick there, a production trick over there. Other friends share stories of dancing to "Ob-La-Di-Ob-La-Da", dropping acid to "Glass Onion", or being scared to death by "Helter Skelter" and wishing for a return of the ol' mop-tops. Hour 3 even includes a special combination of both versions of "Revolution" - the fast single and the slower White Album version, mixed and mashed together, courtesy of engineer Douglas Grant. In addition to Steve Turner, Paul's guest list includes musicians Jon Spurney, David Gans, Kristy Kruger, Douglas Grant, and Rob Martinez. KUNM radio personalities Scott MacNicholl, Luciano Urbano, Suzanne Kryder, and Travis Parkin join in as well.

The program will be offered in several formats to suit your needs. They will be scripted to allow for them to run either consecutively on one hour at a time over multiple days or weeks. - A three-hour version will include full plays of nearly every song on the two albums for the complete White Album experience. - A two-hour version will include most of the best-known tracks in full and excerpts of the rest. - Both versions will be offered at 54:00 lengths to accommodate hourly newscasts. -----

Programming Suggestions:

• November 22 marking the 40th anniversary of the UK release of the album.
• November 25 marking the 40th anniversary of the US release of the album.
• November 27-30 - Thanksgiving Weekend.
• November 29 - 7th anniversary of George Harrison's Death.
• December 8 - 28th anniversary of John Lennon's Death.
• Throughout the November/December/New Year's Holiday Season.
• In a Holiday or Fundraising Beatles' Marathon with Paul Ingles' other Beatles Documentaries:
  • The Beatles In America - 1964 (Hour 1)
  • The Beatles In America - 1964 (Hour 2)
  • Everything Was Right: The Beatles' Revolver
  • The Two Sides of Sgt. Pepper: An Honest Appraisal