At the mid-point of the 1960’s and after Beatlemania had hit America and the world, The Beatles released their sixth album. Rubber Soul, often referred to as “the departure record,” proved a crucial artistic leap in the band’s career and sound, forever altering what was possible within pop music and the concept of the album overall. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of this landmark release, this course will explore the personal, cultural, and sonic landscapes that shaped the record, from the new sights and sounds The Beatles were consuming, through the impact upon their writing, their peers, and the music world thereafter.