Something About the Beatles

So an idea came up: who would SATB like to talk to in Beatle world and sit down for an interview? Qualifications: first, they have to be among the living (as of this taping); Second, they have to be completely honest and not fall back on deflection or "professional Beatle fan" chatter: stories they've entertained with for years that may or may not be factually accurate. Last, they have to be people on the inside who have either not told their stories at all or not told them to death. Though mortality hangs over us all, there are still folks out there who, to the best of my knowledge, range to speaking on record only sparingly or not at all; have written books, but if we discussed them here, it's because their books didn't go deep enough or raised more questions.) Joining in the conversation is a returning guest (182 and 188), retired academic Gary Wenstrup. He came up with his list, I came up with mine, and together we covered as much ground as we could in this, the first of a two-parter (at least). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rock historian and radio interviewer Spencer Leigh has been chronicling the music scene generally and The Beatles specifically from his native Merseyside for decades. He has penned well over two dozen books, half of them on Beatles-specific subjects. In this conversation, we discuss an array of topics, including writing and researching The Beatles; Bob Wooler; Liverpool bands; Bob Dylan, and Ken Dodd, among other topics. Check out Spencer's work here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The continuation of my conversation with musician/singer/songwriter/producer Luther Russell - whom you may recall (SATB 192) as one half of Those Pretty Wrongs, a duo with Jody Stephens (ex-Big Star). As a devout fan from birth and a drummer himself, Luther possesses considerable insight into what made Ringo the essential Beatle: how a combination of unique skills, background and chemistry with the others made him the band's most valuable player in a very real sense. This sprawling conversation addresses Ringo's singular gifts that not only served his band so well over the course of their live and studio career but also how he built the vocabulary that countless others followed in his wake. Luther's thesis here Heard in this show: "Everything You Do" by Luther Russell from the album The Invisible Audience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is musician/singer/songwriter/producer Luther Russell - you may recall him (SATB 192) as one half of Those Pretty Wrongs, a duo with Jody Stephens (ex-Big Star). As a devout fan from birth and a drummer himself, Luther possesses considerable insight into what made Ringo the essential Beatle: how a combination of unique skills, background and chemistry with the others made him the band's most valuable player in a very real sense. This sprawling conversation addresses Ringo's singular gifts that not only served his band so well over the course of their live and studio career but also how he built the vocabulary that countless others followed in his wake. Luther's thesis here Heard in this show: Luther on drums with Liam Hayes on "Eat In Sin" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may know her as the muse who inspired Donovan's "Jennifer Juniper"; maybe you know her as Pattie Boyd's sister who went to Rishikesh with The Beatles. She may be known to some as the one-time flat-mate of Magic Alex or the two-time wife of Mick Fleetwood, but above all, she was a perceptive observer with a ringside seat at some of the most momentous events in 60s youth culture; wise beyond her years but in tune with the zeitgeist as it shifted around her. Meet (Dr.) Jenny Boyd, author of the newly-published Jennifer Juniper: A Journey Beyond The Muse. She also authored Musicians In Tune, republished and expanded as It's Not Only Rock 'n' Roll: Iconic Musicians Reveal The Source of Their Creativity; a fascinating exploration into the creative process with some of her best friends. In this conversation, we discuss her life and times, along with a lots of familiar personas in her circle. Check out all things Jenny Boyd here: http://www.thejennyboyd.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The January 1969 sessions at Twickenham and Apple Studio are The Beatles gift that keeps on giving. Thoroughly taped and filmed, it is a rich vein of material to analyze, especially as it has been chronicled in such a bad light by the group themselves, at odds with much of the evidence that has surfaced. SATB has examined the subject numerous times, notably with the two part Winter of Discontent episodes but also two additional episodes featuring Doug Sulpy (author of the seminal Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image ) and journalist / blogger Dan Rivkin ( They May Be Parted ) . SATB 158 and SATB 151 respectively But with the pending autumn release of the new and revised cut of Let It Be on its way, we thought it would be a good time to both summarize and re-examine what there is to work with, considering that Peter Jackson's work is bound to stand as THE final word for a long time on the subject. Further, it is in the interest of offering a corrective to any public perception that what is to come will be a "whitewash" (the quotes in circulation discuss the group's friendship - as you will hear here, there is ample support for this, counter to the narrative they themselves have put out through the years). Dan Rivkin and I discuss (in a three-hour conversation split over two parts) what we feel are the important and key documented moments that * should * make the cut of Jackson's work. Part Two includes: ~ "Commonwealth" ~ Billy Preston ~ Oldies ~ The Rooftop ~ Afterward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The January 1969 sessions at Twickenham and Apple Studio are The Beatles gift that keeps on giving. Thoroughly taped and filmed, it is a rich vein of material to analyze, especially as it has been chronicled in such a bad light by the group themselves, at odds with much of the evidence that has surfaced. SATB has examined the subject numerous times, notably with the two part Winter of Discontent episodes but also two additional episodes featuring Doug Sulpy (author of the seminal Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image) and journalist/blogger Dan Rivkin (They May Be Parted). SATB 158 and SATB 151 respectively But with the pending autumn release of the new and revised cut of Let It Be on its way, we thought it would be a good time to both summarize and re-examine what there is to work with, considering that Peter Jackson's work is bound to stand as THE final word for a long time on the subject. Further, it is in the interest of offering a corrective to any public perception that what is to come will be a "whitewash" (the quotes in circulation discuss the group's friendship - as you will hear here, there is ample support for this, counter to the narrative they themselves have put out through the years). Dan Rivkin and I discuss (in a three-hour conversation split over two parts) what we feel are the important and key documented moments that *should* make the cut of Jackson's work. Part one includes: ~Discussions on what their goals should be ~The prospect of "divorce" ~ The roots of Abbey Road ~"All Things Must Pass" ~"White Power" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is best known in Beatles world for having published Nowhere Man (originally in 2000 but since revised in 2015), a book in part drawn from Rosen's exclusive access to John Lennon's diaries. He is also the author of the newly-published memoir, Bobby in Naziland, a telling of his coming of age in Flatbush during the late 50s and early 60s. Rosen's work captures the essence of time and place, with an eye for detail and an ear for the rhythm; true for both of the aforementioned titles. Nowhere Man is a fascinating synthesis, based on interviews and original research as well as a reconstruction of the Lennon diaries. Rosen fleshes out a unique perspective on who John was during his last five years, drawn from John's own privately expressed words. You won't want to miss this illuminating discussion. Check out Robert's works and events here: http://www.robertrosennyc.com/blog Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a follow-up to 171 (An Accidental Studio), I revisit the story of George Harrison: Filmmaker with Gary Wenstrup. Coming off the heels of the recent losses of both Neil Innes and Terry Jones, there was certainly more to discuss about George's relationship with the Pythons, encompassing Life of Brian as well as The Rutles and side issues like Dennis O'Brien (and his archetype, Allan Klein). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My (returning) guest is Andrew Grant Jackson, author of the newly-published 1973: Rock at the Crossroads. He makes the case for this period being a time of tremendous conflict: AM vs FM - 60s giants vs emerging upstarts - mainstream vs underground, all achieving levels of success whether at the time or in years later as influences. Against this backdrop, the four ex-Beatles issued five all albums of new material in total; all of which made the Top Ten (while three scored US number one hit singles, two of them back-to-back). We discuss where The Beatles as a collective and individually fit into the picture and how this year set the table for arguably greater triumphs in the year that followed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In which SATB listener favorite Jeff Martin returns, and where we honor you, the listener, by running down nearly three hours' worth of your suggested events to revisit (as winged insects). Loads here covering The Beatles' career from start to finish - loads of music - and a nice way to spend holiday leisure time, while traveling or escaping boredom; posted in time to wrap up 2019 (and to salute Jeff's birthday, too). Thank you, each and every listener! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guests Alex Cain and Terry McCusker are back, presenting a discussion of their newest work, Ringo's White Album. Building on their previous work, Ringo Starr and The Beatles' Beat, this work examines in great detail what Ringo brought to these tumultuous 1968 sessions (which he did walk out of at one point), pushing the boundaries of his art with stylistic innovation as well as advanced studio technique. We also talked a bit about Ringo's work on Abbey Road, which will be the subject of their next deep dive. Alex and Terry are both drummers themselves; tune in to find out which one of them saw The Beatles in Liverpool at The Cavern (with Ringo's predecessor). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2019's Danny Boyle rom-cam featuring a Beatles subtext has inspired a lot of discussion among fans this year, given the pretext of a struggling English musician apparently being the only person on Earth who can remember existence of the group. Most of the chatter was about the film itself, but I thought there were even richer discussions to be had, using the film's core idea as a springboard. The idea for this show was prompted by an article by my guest, Noah Berlatsky (I would encourage listeners to check it out). He forwarded the notion that buying into the film's premise required universal agreement that 1) The Beatles were the greatest rock band ever and 2) that their music was so great that its inherent genius would be universally recognized no matter who was performing it, and when. We shall see.... There has never been a musically more diverse episode of SATB than this one: in addition to The Fabs, you will be hearing from artists ranging from Chuck Berry and Moon Mullican to R.D. Burman and Rhianna; Dee Dee Sharp and Elvis to Mobley and Nick Drake. Yet it all fits together: what it means to be a successful artist and what are the factors that result in our bestowing the term "genius" upon them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special guests don't come much more special: today, a man who needs no introduction. His 1974 album, McGear, was produced with a little help from his big brother ("Our Kid" to you). It features contributions from members of a then-contemporary band, including Linda McCartney, Denny Laine and Jimmy McCulloch, and has often been spoked of as a "missing" Wings album. But Mike's artistry is all his own, making McGear, in a way, the album Paul never did make. This extended conversation covers not only the brand new re-issue from Cherry Red Records (including a bonus disc of unreleased material + DVD and poster, as well as a deluxe vinyl edition) but Mike's work with The Scaffold - the 1968 McGough and McGear album produced by Paul - and an array of artists: Paul Robeson - Tina Turner - Pete Wingfield - Paddy Maloney, and Jimi Hendrix. Check out the reissue series here. Find The Weirdos here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In what will be an ongoing feature of SATBs going forward, I welcome to the show Gary Wenstrup. In addition to being a regular listener, Gary is a college-level teacher and lecturer, whose expertise encompasses an array of 1960s music acts. He saw an opportunity for following up shows to dig deeper, in ways that might not have been possible given time constraints. This episode uses as the starting off point my interview with Susan Shumsky, detailing The Beatles' 1968 visit to Rishikesh; but it also encompasses the White Album, Lennon Remembers, and other ancillary subjects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the return of our favorite Fab historian. In this lengthy dialogue, we discuss an array of literature from the Beatles historical canon: among the works, Many Years From Now - The Love You Make - John Lennon: In My Life - Ray Coleman's bios of John and of Paul - Mike McCartney's The Macs: A Family Album, and others as well. As usual, Erin employs the methodology of a trained historian to assess how reliable these works are, in terms of presenting research and history that are worthy of our time as fans. Be sure to check out her book, The Beatles and The Historians, as well as her blog. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year - upon the 50th anniversary of the release of The Beatles; that eponymous double album issued as the group's Apple debut - a symposium was convened at Monmouth College in New Jersey, as many of you know. An ad hoc band performed some tunes from the record as the accompaniment to a discussion convened for the podcast featuring Jack Petruzelli, multi-instrumentalist/producer/recording artist best known for his membership in the Fab Faux. His insights as a musician who has performed these very songs live many times helps us understand what the Beatles were going for in their unique approach to recording this particular project, a philosophy that spilled over into their next project. Thanks to Jack - Vinnie Zummo (heard in the Monmouth segment) - Marc Pepin - Marc Muller - Dan Eisenberg - Joe Rapolla - Kenneth Womack. (Field recording by BJ Rowling) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fifty years on and the "Paul is dead" hoax has lost none of its power to fascinate on so many levels. Perhaps the most compelling angle for examination is how did something so clearly nonsensical in the light of day get disseminated so widely and not just dismissed out of hand? It seems that a perfect storm of circumstance gave it traction and resonance, with both what was happening within The Beatles and within the community most receptive to believing that truth was not what authority figures told us. Helping unpack all of this is sociologist Candy Leonard, author of Beatleness. Her book covers the subject in some detail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the surviving member of a legendary American power pop band and a Los Angeles musician whose lineage includes two giants of the Great American Songbook, both steeped in Beatles, get together to make music? The result is now two albums deep in a band called Those Pretty Lies. Jody Stephens, formerly of Big Star and Golden Smog is a singer/songwriter/drummer and Luther Russell is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer, formerly of The Freewheelers. Their latest release as Those Pretty Wrongs, Zed For Zulu, has just been released. Their insights into making music and what they gleaned from The Beatles makes for a fascinating discussion. Check out their work (and current tour dates) here: http://www.thoseprettywrongs.com/ https://lutherrussell.com/ https://www.ardentstudios.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The host of the longest running Beatles program on US radio, Carter's passion for The Beatles has taken many forms through the years: buying the records as a child - becoming a musician himself - getting involved in Beatlesque bands - taking on a job as a broadcaster. He has now hosted the Los Angeles franchise of Breakfast with the Beatles since 2001; since its inception in 2018, Chris has also hosted the program on the Sirius XM Beatles channel. Chris is also a producer and documentary filmmaker; a rock writer and a Beatles consultant (connected to the All Things Must Pass reissue in 2000). Mostly though, Chris is a fan like us. Few of us wouldn't exchange places if we could, if just for a little while. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anybody hear anything about a newly-revealed taped Apple meeting from September 1969 that's been public knowledge since the 1970s? You will now, with the return of journalist/writer Ray Connolly. Ray was tight in The Beatles' orbit during their final years; with John and Paul especially. He was the only one outside their inner circle to learn that John had "quit" the group - his bio of John, Being John Lennon: A Restless Life, is now out in paperback, as is his indispensable collection, The Ray Connolly Beatles Archive. Last: his novella, 'Sorry, Boys, You Failed The Audition' is newly-published. It's a work of "alternative history" and has been presented as a BBC radio play. Ray and I discuss the end of The Beatles and their relationships going forward, as well as his 'Sorry Boys' project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This show represents a deep (3 hour) dive into examining the evolving language of rock criticism: the ideology employed - the fluid definitions of "rock" and "pop" - the application of "authenticity" as a value to an artist's work, in this specific case, Paul McCartney and Wings. The 1970s was a time when rock critics achieved nearly the status of rock icons themselves: everyone from John Mendelssohn and Jon Landau to Simon Frith and Lester Bangs. Paul's post-Beatle career stands as an example of an artist that reviewers struggled to get a handle on, resulting in sometimes unfair assessments. Leading this exploration is PhD candidate (with an M.A. in Beatles, Popular Music, and Society) Allison Bumsted, currently studying in England at Liverpool Hope University. For ease of listening, the conversation has been split into two 90 minute parts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This show represents a deep (3 hour) dive into examining the evolving language of rock criticism: the ideology employed - the fluid definitions of "rock" and "pop" - the application of "authenticity" as a value to an artist's work, in this specific case, Paul McCartney and Wings. The 1970s was a time when rock critics achieved nearly the status of rock icons themselves: everyone from John Mendelssohn and Jon Landau to Simon Frith and Lester Bangs. Paul's post-Beatle career stands as an example of an artist that reviewers struggled to get a handle on, resulting in sometimes unfair assessments. Leading this exploration is PhD candidate (with an M.A. in Beatles, Popular Music, and Society) Allison Bumsted, currently studying in England at Liverpool Hope University. For ease of listening, the conversation has been split into two 90 minute parts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[powerpress] An area heretofore unexplored on SATB is jazz: specifically, which artists took raw material from The Beatles and took it in a new direction. It is our good fortune to have within reach a true legend of the idiom: Ramsey Lewis, a multi-Grammy-winning keyboardist whose work spans decades and genres. In late 1968 - mere weeks after The Beatles' "White Album" was released - Ramsey issued a 10-song collection drawing from the Beatles' fresh work. Mother Nature's Son was hailed as a classic, with bold re-imaginings of songs familiar to us fans - but not like this. His reading of "Julia" became a standard in his repertoire, alongside his well-known hit take on "The 'In' Crowd." Ramsey hosted a jazz show for years on radio, so he is well-familiar with the sonic landscape. But joining us to shed further light is a friend to both me and to Ramsey, going back years: Radio Hall of Fame deejay Terri Hemmert. In addition to spinning records on WXRT since the 1970s until announcing her retirement this year, she also hosted a jazz program for many years (and many of you know her as the MC in Chicago at The Fest for Beatles Fans). Together, listen to these two explore the intersection between Beatles and jazz. Artists heard in this show: The Beatles - Ramsey Lewis Trio - Ella Fitzgerald - Count Basie - Duke Ellington - Louis Armstrong - Wes Montgomery - Ramsey Lewis - Esther Phillips - Vince Guaraldi Trio - George Benson - Earth, Wind and Fire - Paul McCartney - Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Fats Domino - John Scofield - Danger Mouse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

[powerpress] 1969 was a tremendous year, in the world generally and with The Beatles as well. We find ourselves commemorating (if not celebrating) a number of 50th anniversaries this year, among them the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders; tangentially tied to the "White Album" by Charles Manson's (mis)reading of certain lyrics. That he was able to incite a bunch of confused misfits into sociopathy remains a fascinating area of study, and SATB has previously explored the purported ties between Charlie's "gospel" and what the rest of the world heard as simply great music. But reporter and Beatles confidant Ivor Davis is back, with a new book summarizing his investigation into the case, which dates back to day one. Manson Exposed: A Reporter’s 50-Year Journey into Madness and Murder has just been published, and he's here to present a timely summation of the case, just as public interest has been again raised with director Quentin Tarantino's latest, Once Upon A Time...in Hollywood. Not only is Ivor uniquely placed to discuss the film, but also to talk about a couple of Beatles events he'd personally witnessed while accompanying them on tour: their 1964 meeting with Bob Dylan, as well as their 1965 visit with Elvis. Check out all his works at ivordavisbooks.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Few professional scribes received access to The Beatles like Ray Connolly. As a journalist with the Evening Standard, he found himself in the right place at the right time to cover the group during their final years. (It was to him that John confided that he'd quit the group; it was to Ray that Paul divulged: "I didn't leave the Beatles - The Beatles left the Beatles.") He later scripted the films That'll Be The Day and Stardust; he also wrote radio plays and biographies. In 2018, he published Being John Lennon: A Restless Life. His e-book, The Ray Connolly Beatles Archive is essential. We discuss John as he knew him, abetted by Lennon biographer Jude Kessler. Ray's site: https://www.rayconnolly.co.uk/ "In My Life" performed by Mary Ruane (Talent scouted by Lisa Kasco) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in 2017, SATB first explored of Beatles collectors. This year, a terrific addition to Beatle literature arrived with the publication of Terry Crain's new book, NEMS and the Business of Selling Beatles Merchandise in the U.S. 1964-1966. Terry didn't merely catalog the merchandise of the period: instead, he methodically researched the history of the items marketed stateside, each of which tells a story itself. There's a ton of history to be gleaned from these ephemeral footnotes of the era - each one a memory trigger - as well as from Terry's book. Terry's site Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beginning in 1978, George Harrison became drawn into a vocation he'd only dabbled in previously: filmmaker. HandMade Films came into being serendipitously, simply because he wanted to see Monty Python's Life of Brian get made. This "accidental studio" went on to produce work of staggeringly high quality, resulting in works ranging from Time Bandits and The Long Good Friday to Mona Lisa and Withnail and I. (Also: Shanghai Surprise.) The story of George's cinematic career has now been told, in a new documentary produced by AMC UK: An Accidental Studio. My guests today are two of the documentary's producers and directors, Bill Jones and Ben Timlett. Join us for this discussion of a surprisingly sturdy cinematic legacy, brought to us by the Quiet Beatle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The full story of The Beatles' Rishikesh visit and their relationship with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had never been explored in detail and from the inside before - until now. Susan Shumsky spent over twenty years studying TM, including seven working directly with the Maharishi. The author of 14 books, her newest - Maharishi and Me: Seeking Enlightenment with the Beatles' Guru - sheds light on the Rishikesh experience and how it impacted The Beatles' lives and art. Years of misinformation is cleared aside by her direct knowledge and insider accounts of the good, the bad and the ugly of the Maharishi experience. Susan Shumsky's site: http://www.divinerevelation.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In which I resume the conversation with engineer/producer Jerry Hammack, begun earlier this year. This time, our sounding board is writer/musician/engineer/producer/podcaster/returning guest Anthony Robustelli. We discuss the specifics of their studio work throughout 1967 and into 1968, encompassing Magical Mystery Tour and then some. Jerry's third volume of The Beatles' Recording Reference Manual series was recently published. My guests: https://www.beatlesrecordingreferencemanuals.com/ https://www.anthonyrobustelli.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first break-out star at Apple Records was, of course, Mary Hopkin with "Those Were The Days." A huge international hit, it typed her as a cheery ingénue, somewhat removed from her folk roots (and aspirations). Other hits followed, diverging from her preferred stylistic path, until her second Apple album, Earth Song / Ocean Song (produced by her future husband, Tony Visconti) at last gave her some artistic satisfaction. Her story - at Apple and beyond (including session work for David Bowie, Linda McCartney...and The Beatles) - is recounted here by her daughter, Jessica Lee Morgan (herself a recording artist). Check out Mary's releases - including archival studio and live recordings, as well as recent work - here: http://www.maryhopkin.com/ Jessica's releases and tour news can be found here: http://www.jessicaleemorgan.com/ Jessica live in Belgium 2018 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apple Jam is a Seattle-based recording and performing outfit specializing in Beatles music; specifically, songs written by Lennon-McCartney and Harrison that, for the most part, went unrecorded/released as "Beatles" product. My guests today are Richard Lovrovich, Jaekal Tristram and Doug Kilishek. In this conversation, they discuss the curation of obscure Beatles material: the selection process (what makes the cut - and what doesn't), the recording and the performance of this music. Off The Beatle Track was released in 2009: 1. I'm In Love 2. Tip Of My Tongue 3. Love Of The Loved 4. You Know What To Do 5. I'll Be on My Way 6. I Don't Want To See You Again 7. Nobody I Know 8. I'll Keep You Satisfied 9. It's For You 10. Hello Little Girl 11. Like Dreamers Do 12. Bad To Me 13. A World Without Love 14. From A Window 15. One And One Is Two Off The White Album was released in 2018: 1. Not Guilty 2. Child of Nature 3. Goodbye 4. Step Inside Love 5. The Rishi Kesh Song 6. Cosmically Conscious 7. India, India 8. Sour Milk Sea 9. What’s the New Mary Jane 10. Circles 11. Suicide https://applejamband.com/home Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is not a unique observation to note that bandleader Duke Ellington and The Beatles shared some commonalities, creativity-wise. They were unclassifiable musically, and a great deal of what made their art magic came from the collaborative process, hardwired into their working method. My guest, musicologist Thomas Brothers, has written a terrific new book - Help: The Beatles, Duke Ellington and the Magic of Collaboration. This conversation provides an overview of his thesis (to be followed up with a deeper exploration soon...). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in 2017, SATB featured a conversation with Ken Womack on the publication of volume one of his George Martin biography, Maximum Volume (here). In late 2018, volume two emerged, this one taking up the story where George Martin resumed production chores with The Beatles, this time as an independent contractor. It marked the era of their highest artistic achievement as well as an eventual erosion in relations between producer and proteges. This discussion also covers the post-Beatles years and Sir George Martin's other productions, as well as his curation of The Beatles' latter-day collections. More about Sound Pictures: The Life of Beatles Producer George Martin (The Later Years 1966 - 2016) here More about Ken's new novel, I Am Lemonade Lucy here Check out Ken's site here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He’s back, and with a terrific topic: each of us choosing 7 moments in the history of The Beatles that we would’ve liked to have been around to witness as a fly on the wall. The criteria being, occasions where the history is unclear, or simply moments that would’ve been amazing to witness. This ended up as an interesting Rorschach exercise, mapping out our respective concentrated areas of interest as well. You’ll hear ours but we want to hear yours: leave ’em for consideration on Twitter, Facebook or on the site. We’ll take ’em up for a future show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know him as the photographer responsible for one Beatles album cover (two in the US); their last group photo shoot, and as the official photographer on the “Get Back” / Let It Be project (his photos filled the book packaged with the original issue). But Ethan Russell also produced iconic images for the Rolling Stones and The Who, as well as album covers and short films for an array of artists, plus wrote several books (including Dear Mr. Fantasy). His latest is in the works as part of a Kickstarter campaign – check out EthanRussell.com for details. In this first conversation, we present an overview of his life and career. More detailed Beatle-centric recollections will come in the second installment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is the second part of a discussion begun with Doug Sulpy (co-author of Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image/Get Back), this time with blogger Dan Rivkin. His blog, They May Be Parted, is a detailed examination of the Nagra tapes of the “Get Back”/Let It Be project. Dan adds detail, analysis and context to the recordings, and we dive deep into what all there is to be gleaned from the extant record (and speculate on what to expect from Peter Jackson). Part one of January 1969 here. Dan’s blog: https://theymaybeparted.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheyMayBeParted Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theymaybeparted/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know him as the human music stand kneeling before John Lennon for “Dig A Pony” during the rooftop session of January 1969. But Kevin Harrington was much more than that: coming into The Beatles’ orbit beginning in January 1966 as an office boy at NEMS; an employee of the Saville Theatre the following year, and lastly, a roadie/gofer at Apple from 1968 on, setting up their musical gear for recording sessions (and hanging out otherwise). Kevin’s stories are entertaining and insightful: The Beatles as seen up-close from day-to-day through the eyes of a teenager. “What a Beatle wants, a Beatle gets!” Some links for Who’s The Redhead on the Roof?US: https://www.amazon.com/Whos-Redhead-Roof-life-Beatles-ebook/dp/B00XRCZDD2 UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Whos-Redhead-Roof-life-Beatles-ebook/dp/B00XRCZDD2 plus https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/KevinHarrington and https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/who-s-the-redhead-on-the-roof Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in 2000, Chip Madinger and Mark Easter produced an exhaustive study of every extant recording of the solo Beatles, up to that very year: studio sessions, live concerts and broadcasts. Eight Arms To Hold You was a one-of-a-kind detailed examination of what the four ex-Beatles did musically, when and with whom. The book went out of print, but the good news is, it’s back (in PDF form) and updated with another 20,000 words, further detailing the ground covered (though it still ends at 2000). I talked with Mark and Chip about the lay of the land, unreleased recording-wise; what else is out there and what we can make of what we have been given. Eight Arms To Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium (2018 edition) can be found here. Lennonology: A Scrapbook of Madness, by Chip and Scott Raile, can be found here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two words: Peter Jackson Remember the “Winter of Discontent”? My guest today is Doug Sulpy, co-author (with Ray Schweighardt) of Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image (AKA Get Back: The Unauthorized Chronicle of the Beatles’ “Let It Be” Disaster.) With the announcement of the long-desired fresh look at the Let It Be project being in the works, we discuss what can be learned from a close study of the Nagra reels, and where the common perceptions have missed the mark. This episode is an overview: we take a deeper dive in January 1969 part two. The revised version of Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image can be found at dougsulpy.com Check out Doug’s 910 newsletter here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Robert and Richard discuss some of the Beatle novelty recordings of fifty years ago, plus the new box set release of all their American albums. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the return of Jerry Hammack – creator of the Beatles Recording Reference Manual series. Volume 3, covering the end of 1966 (“Strawberry Fields Forever”) through the whole of Sgt. Pepper (plus Magical Mystery Tour) has just been published. Producer Ben Rowling and I discuss the high level of studio innovation that typified the post-touring era, and though we didn’t get to Magical Mystery Tour in this conversation (part two to come), we did discuss elements of their work habits through the White Album, Let It Be and Abbey Road. (Plus, Jerry tips his hand as to what’s next…) Check out Jerry’s work here Twitter Facebook The post 157: In the Studio; 1967 (The Ben and Jerry Show) appeared first on Something About The Beatles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a slight departure from the SATB norm, I present an account of the career of a Beatles peer: session guitarist Vic Flick, whose work appeared in 1960s music charts alongside The Beatles. Every Fab fan will know his soundtrack work on their first two United Artist films, but in addition to this, he contributed to a McCartney solo project, worked with George Martin (and Beatle acolytes Peter and Gordon), as well as scores of other “British Invasion” acts. And yes – it was he who played the iconic 007 James Bond theme guitar riff. Check out his memoir, Guitarman, on Amazon or direct from Vic (http://vicflick.com/). Special thanks to Bob Rush! The post 156: A Conversation with Vic Flick appeared first on Something About The Beatles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First off, listeners: kindly indulge the first 15 minutes, which represents an audio document of 1968 (January through end of August). It’s one thing to know what happened that year, but it’s quite another to hear the immediacy of actual sound, both news and music. 1968 was a convulsive stream of history and it is with that context in mind that we can come to a better understanding of the world The Beatles operated in. Second: this conversation was an attempt to discuss how the Beatles and their audience interacted at a critical moment: between the triumph of Sgt. Pepper and the year of breakdown. Candy Leonard, author and sociologist, is ideally suited to illuminate this dynamic. Her book, Beatleness, explores “how The Beatles and their fans remade the world.” As always in such discussions, a certain amount of meandering occurs, and therefore a lot more than 1968 is fair game in this conversation. Check out more of Candy’s writings here: http://beatleness.com/beatleness-blog/ The post 155: 1968 with Candy Leonard appeared first on Something About The Beatles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The long-awaited conversation with producer Chris Thomas, recorded at the White Album Symposium in Monmouth University. Audio deficiencies with the sound due to the electrical system; deficiencies in my voice due to an ill-timed tribute to George’s Dark Horse Tour. Thanks to Ben Rowling Joe Rapolla, Dr. Kenneth Womack and everyone at Monmouth University. The post 154: IT’S CHRIS ThoMAS TIME! appeared first on Something About The Beatles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In general, you can tell how well a conversation went by how long the show runs. At just past the two hour mark, you get an idea of how well things went with Lon Van Eaton, one-time Apple recording artist and protege of George Harrison. In addition to being one half of the Van Eaton brothers, who issued an album and single in the US in 1972, he did session work for Ringo beginning with the 1973 self-titled release (and performed live with him on TV), as well as other 1970s acts produced by Richard Perry. He went on to good works with his charitable organization, Imagine A Better World, inspired by examples gleaned from The Beatles. While this may be the most spiritual discussion yet had on SATB, it is also perhaps one of the most lighthearted. One can easily see how Lon connected with George and Ringo particularly: being equal parts deep-thinker/philosopher and everyman comedian. Lon witnessed life with the ex-Beatles (and acolytes like Klaus Voormann, Pete Ham and Harry Nilsson) up close. He has the stories and the insight – you don’t want to miss this one. Lon’s new album is called Cupid. Find it at Imagineabetterworld.com The post 153: Lon Looks Back (And Forward) appeared first on Something About The Beatles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a sonic landscape to accompany your holiday season demands: driving places – online shopping – gift-wrapping, and so forth, SATB presents an end-of-year look at the highlights of this years’ shows. We had some terrific guests this year, ranging from notables like Randy Bachman and the Mona Lisa Twins to SATB favorites like Erin Weber and Jeff Martin. Tons of great discussions and explorations – more to come in the New Year. Special thanks to: Ben Rowling – Vinnie Zummo – Jeff Martin – Erin Weber – Jack Petruzzelli – Ivor Davis – Axel Korinth – Jon Savage – Bill Wyman – Michael Salfino – Andy Martino – Candy Leonard – Ken Mansfield – Carol Tyler – Tom Murray – Jerry Hammack – Michael Hill – Bob Heironimus – Laura Cortner – Randy Bachman – Michaela Wagner – Anthony Robustelli – Kenneth Womack The post 152: Best of SATB 2018 appeared first on Something About The Beatles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 2nd of a quartet of shows recorded (in part) at the White Album Symposium at Monmouth University (as well as the 2nd in a trio of shows covering Apple in its 50th year), I speak with my friend, Ken Mansfield: former manager of US operations of Apple, as well as author of several books, including two published this year: a novel, Philco and a memoir, The Roof: The Beatles’ Final Concert. Ken is a natural storyteller as well as a confidant of the Beatles, whose accomplishments include work with artists ranging from the Beach Boys to Waylon Jennings. We cover it all here. NOTE: as pointed out in the show’s intro, field recordings are susceptible to issues beyond our control, in this case a fluctuation in the current every time the heat came on in the room we were in. That’s why you hear crackling/static noise throughout the first half hour. Like Live At Leeds, do not attempt to correct – Ben Rowling and I have already tried. The post 151: On The Roof with Ken Mansfield appeared first on Something About The Beatles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first of what will be a series of shows originating from the White Album symposium held at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey, I am presenting my opening remarks, followed by a brief Q&A. For those who couldn’t attend, it gives you a good flavor of how these events go down. Asked to present on the Kinfauns recordings, newly remastered and issued as part of the 50th anniversary White Album package, I opted to offer my take on what the recording of these songs meant to The Beatles, as a way of getting back to where they once belonged. Special thanks to Ben Rowling for capturing this field recording and to Dr. Kenneth Womack for making the event possible. The post 150: Behind The Esher Demos appeared first on Something About The Beatles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may know his name from his years on tour and in the studio with Joe Jackson; possibly from his series of solo projects (Swinging Guitar Sounds of Young America Vol 1-3, plus The Coyote and two Christmas collections – find them here). But this multi-instrumentalist has been a lifelong Beatle fan, and as he says here, the group served as proxy tutors, as he learned ALL the instrumental parts of their records as they were released. This show began as an examination of George’s evolution as a guitarist, as seen by a professional musician, but it became much more than that, with observations on band dynamics, Ringo’s drumming, John’s guitar, personal interactions (Vinnie’s sister worked at ABKCO) and much more! Vinnie’s musical tributes to each Beatle can be found here: John Paul George Ringo Vinnie’s works on Spotify The post 149: No Obvious Title – A Conversation with Vinnie Zummo appeared first on Something About The Beatles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices