On Friday 27 September, renowned music producer Steve Levine will take us across Abbey Road as he explores the back story behind The Beatles’ 11th studio album.
Entitled The Beatles’ Abbey Road: the making of a Masterpiece, the event will see the Grammy award-winning producer in conversation with writer and Beatles fan David Quantick.
Using audio clips, the duo will explore how the tracks were put together to give a completely different perspective on the influences that led to the production of this classic album.
The Liverpool City Council event coincides with the 50th anniversary and re-release of Abbey Road. It will include live performances by Liverpool’s-own newly created choir Library of Soul and musical director Kaya Herstad-Carney.
When first released, Abbey Road topped the charts in both the UK and US and has gone on to become one of the band’s best-selling albums.
The recording sessions for the album were the last in which all four members of The Beatles played together. It was produced by The Beatles’ legendary long-time collaborator George Martin after an insistence by Paul McCartney that the band went back to making records “like they used to”.
Steve Levine, who has worked with acts such as The Beach Boys and Culture Club, said:
“I’m really looking forward to the “in conversation” with David Quantick at Liverpool’s Central Library on the 27 September celebrating the Beatles’ Abbey Road Album.
“The event is almost 50 years to the day of the album’s original release, and it coincides with the official release the new 50th anniversary box set.
“David and I will be discussing how the album has become one of the most important albums of the last 50 years. I’ll also be highlighting the revolutionary recording and production techniques used on those sessions and how they pointed the way forward to future generations of producers, songwriters and musicians.”
Liverpool City Council’s Head of UNESCO City of Music, Kevin McManus said:
“There is going to be a lot of talk about Abbey Road over the next few weeks and not just because the 26 September is the 50th anniversary. But the reality is that if ever there was an album that needs to be celebrated and revisited it is this one. It still resonates half a century after it was released and remains one of the most significant albums ever.
“The Beatles were always about more than just music and the album cover image is probably the most famous there has ever been, managing to create a whole tourist industry around a mere zebra crossing.
“At its heart though the album is another reminder of the amazing, almost unworldly song-writing ability contained within the band. It is another staggering collection of songs but for me the standout tracks are the two George Harrison compositions ‘Something’ and ‘Here Comes The Sun’. “It is really fitting that this special event is taking place in Liverpool. I have worked with Steve Levine before and the unique insights he brings into how individual tracks come together are fascinating whether you are a huge Beatles fan or not.”
- The Beatles’ Abbey Road: the making of a masterpiece will take place at Liverpool Central Library on Friday 27 September from 7pm. Tickets, priced £8 to £10 can be bought from Ticket Quarter: www.ticketquarter.co.uk/Online/abbey-road-with-steve-levine
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/4483952235754259
- You can hear Kevin McManus in discussion with DJ Janice Long about The Beatles’ lasting influence on the city’s music scene on the council’s Mersey Waves podcast:https://www.buzzsprout.com/520102
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