Lennon and McCartney: Painting with Sound explores the work of two of
the most influential composers of the twentieth century. Five decades
after the breakup of the Beatles, the music of John Lennon and Paul
McCartney continues to fascinate and inspire. Evidence suggests that
their uniquely eclectic approach can be traced back to the Liverpool
College of Art. Following on that idea, this book explores the creative
dialogue between John Lennon and Paul McCartney, both with the Beatles
and on their own, that grew out of that early influence. The book is
presented in three sections: I. Stretching the Canvas considers the
Liverpool College of Art as the backdrop for John and Paul's early
collaborations with painter and musician Stuart Sutcliffe. This is
followed by discussions of select works created by the Beatles between
1962-69. II. Extending the Space focuses on the long-distance creative
dialogue between Lennon and McCartney as demonstrated in their
respective solo recordings of the 1970s. III. New Colours considers the
final works of the Lennon and McCartney creative dialogue as well as
various McCartney solo projects released in the years that followed
Lennon's death in 1980. Here, the focus is on Paul's development as a
painter, its effect on his creativity, and his subsequent efforts to
establish the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts as a world-class
arts conservatory.
