When They Was Fab: Electric Arguments About the Beatles
Ed Chen and Jon Stone, Lonnie Pena, Martin Quibell
Show overview
When They Was Fab: Electric Arguments About the Beatles has been publishing since 2021, and across the 5 years since has built a catalogue of 288 episodes. That works out to roughly 320 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run an hour to ninety minutes — most land between 1h 1m and 1h 14m — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Music show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 4 days ago, with 20 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Ed Chen and Jon Stone, Lonnie Pena, Martin Quibell.
From the publisher
Talk, more talk, chat, more chat - We’re happy to do it for you (Beatles)
Latest Episodes
View all 288 episodes2026.18 With Ken Womack! (A not-quite illustrated journey through his work and the current state of Beatle-dom)
2026.17 Review - The Hunt for the Lost Bass and the "Boys of Dungeon Lane" listening party
2026.b02 Long Long Road (First Listen Thoughts)
2026.16 Paul on SNL, Rock 'n' Roll Side 2
2026.15 Lennon Rock 'n' Roll - The songs, pt.1
2026.14 The Boys of Dungeon Lane promotion, ponderings on the next Macca Doc and more...
Ep 2842026.13 The Days We Left Behind
Marv and I go through some news, and then the power of a new McCartney song summoned Jon Stone from the ether, so the three of us discuss the song, the radio reveal, and lead into next week where we talk about the "Taylorization" (and that's not a negative thing!) of music promotion, even for former Beatles! #madeonzencastr
Ep 2832026.12 Chris Purcell - Evolver 62, The Beatles and Us.
Film maker Chris Purcell joins to discuss his new documentary, "Evolver 62" and some of his previous Beatles-related work ("The Beatles and Us"). Along the way we chat about why some Beatles docs work, and others ... not so much. #madeonzencastr
Ep 2822026.11 Power to the People - The Evolution Mixes.
Marv and I discuss the Evolution Mixes of the re-christened "New York City" album. Nine tracks running the demos, early versions, breakdowns and modifications that became "Some Time in New York City" (and then evolved into just "New York City"). #madeonzencastr.
Ep 2812026.10 Eric Clapton, Belinda Carlisle, Del Shannon, Jimmy Nail and more...
Following a news segment, more of George Harrison's guest appearances on other people's records. The "Romanian Angel" collaboration with Eric has just been rereleased, we look through the Wilburys adjacent Del Shannon and Jeff Lynne releases, and wonder just how effective rabbits are at playing cricket! #madeonzencastr.
Ep 2802026.09 Man on the Run
Ethan Alexanian and I discuss the theatrical (now streaming) incarnation of Morgan Neville's McCartney documentary "Man on the Run". Incomplete, but highly entertaining. Lots of Bert too! #madeonzencastr
Ep 2792026.b01 George Harrison Birthday 2026
Bonus episode! A little news, but mostly Marv and I celebrate George Harrison 83 years after his birth. A reminder of the "British Double Summer" during the second world war, some thoughts on where the new Dark Horse might be headed, and more! #madeonzencastr.
Ep 2782026.08 News Update
While we wait for the Amazon premiere of "Man on the Run", we update the news. Lots of filming on the Beatles quadrology. A soundtrack for "Man on the Run", and some new zoetrope LPs from George Harrison for record store day! #madeonzencastr.
Ep 2772026.07 Macca in the Eighties.
Tom Hunyady joins as we look at the decade after Paul was a "Man on the Run". Tug of War through Flowers in the Dirt. Paul and Linda. Paul and Stevie. Paul and Michael. Paul and Declan. More than just Tom Hunyady (2 Legs) joins for a chat on the decade bookended by the tour that wasn't and the tour that was. #madeonzencastr.
Ep 2762026.06 The Beatles at Shea Stadium
It is Sixty Years since "The Beatles at Shea Stadium" (the TV production) was completed. This week, we discuss many different aspects. Why was the premiere on the BBC, and why did it take "A-Beatle-C" eighteen months to bring the special to American screens. We talk the re-records, the fun and excitement and the evening at large! #madeonzencastr.
Ep 2752026.05 The McCartney Archive Editions ... Past, Present (and Future?)
Marv and I go back to 2010 - and actually a bit before, as we briefly sum up the 16-disc "Paul McCartney Collection". November of this year will mark the fifteenth anniversary of the debut of the McCartney Archive series. If we don't get another disc in the series by summer, it will be six years since the most recent one entered our lives. Marv and I consider the past, present and future of McCartney/Wings reissues, and contemplate a physical-media-less reissue future. #madeonzencastr.
Ep 2742026.04 The Beatles Anthology Review (episode 4/5)
Sam Whiles (Paul or Nothing), and "our own" Ethan Alexanian (Fans on the Run) join for a crossover, since none of us want to devote that many episodes to the revised Anthology! We join the boys in progress, as they move from August of 1964 all the way through a visit to the Philippines! #madeonzencstr
Ep 2732026.03 Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Vicki Brown, Deep Purple and more...
A news update (all best wishes to Lonnie Pena and family), some chat about "rethinking" the Fest for Beatles Fans, which leads into Marv and I chatting about some more of George Harrison's guest appearances from the eighties and into the early nineties.
Ep 2722026.02 Duane Eddy, Ravi Shankar, Sylvia Griffin and Billy J. Kramer?
News, more of George's guest appearances (some Duane Eddy, some Ravi Shankar, and a bit of Sylvia Griffin), and an interview from Summer 2025 with the one and only Billy J. Kramer. Marv co-hosts and Kit O'Toole magically appears, filling out our Toppermost trio (http://www.toppermostofthepoppermost.net) on Fab. #madeonzencastr.
Ep 2712026.01 2025 in Review
Ethan Alexanian joins to complete the six-pack of former hosts as we consider the last 12 months (and a little bit more) in the world of the Beatles. Ringo hit number one on the UK country charts, Paul played three shows in a small New York City venue all the way through the tours, box sets, books, films and more. #madeonzencastr