The Classic Record Album - 1965-1986 (Part I)

The classic album of the golden age of records was meant to be listened to as a whole - a unified statement. The effects of such a large composition is quite different from the hit parade of the '40's or the 45's of the '50's. It has some of the qualities of elaborate forms of literature (the play, the lyric sequence). In our day the iPod and other technologies have returned us to the age of the single song. Here I discuss the Beatles' Rubber Soul.