A look into the history, storylines, and players on a given album. What was the historical context surrounding a given record’s creation? What songs stand out, and what impact did the LP have on music history—both in the moment and over the course of the following years and decades? Writers can also examine the album cover itself and its impact on fans. But mostly, the piece should include a deep dive into the tracks: who wrote them and what impact they had on the band, songwriters, and listeners.
19th May 1967: British pop group The Beatles (left to right: Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon (1940 – 1980), George Harrison (1943 – 2001) at manager Brian Epstein's west London home for a photocall for the launch of their new album 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'. (Photo by John Downing/Express/Getty Images)
(MANDATORY CREDIT Watal Asanuma/Shinko Music/Getty Images) American keyboardist, singer and songwriter Billy Preston (1949-2006), circa 1975. (Photo by Watal Asanuma/Shinko Music/Getty Images)