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Reminisce with Robert and Richard through a post-Beatles year where residual mania was still rampant, taking the form of two motion pictures – two television specials – two albums from ex-Beatles – (at least) two new books – and a resurgence of re-releases, re-packaged in visually attractive forms. Songs include “Hard Times,” “With A Little Luck” and “Flying Hour.”
Find Richard’s books here.
Find Robert’s books here.
Wow , a great show so far. I’m writing this having listened up to the Rutles. I remember it all , Bad Boy ,which the NME gave a better review than London Town , Scouse , and being caught out by George on This is Your Life. I did the same Robert , pre video , and recorded all the stuff on to cassette ,Mic propped up in front the tv. I still have those tapes, all the Beatles films , the Beatles show in Tony Palmers series , and the Pirate Song. Fantastic.
Another funny and interesting show gents. I’m a huge fan of python and of course Rutles. So happy George saved Life of Brian.
I don’t know much about Pauls solo music. But I don’t see him being a guy who hangs his dirty linen out to dry. He protects his reputation. Therefore I just can’t see him writing these lyrics about Linda?
Good listen. The Ringo TV special was broadcast in UK I am thinking either Christmas 1978 or 1979, was on ITV late at night, may have been only in some of the regions. Oh and I’m Carrying is a beautiful song, London Town is uneven, but I think a little better than you gave it credit.
Richard mentions “the late Aaron Neville” at around the 13:25 mark, as co-writer of the Ringo cover “Lipstick Traces.” Maybe my Google’s just slow, but it shows the famous singer/songwriter is still alive and performing this Friday in Detroit.
Lipstick Traces was credited to Naomi Neville aka the late and very very very great songwriter/producer Allen Toussaint.
Re Peter Skellern and Beatles links: Derek Taylor produced his early album Not Without a Friend (which is well worth exploration and includes the lovely and touching Hymn Song). George Harrison played guitar on Make Love, Not War on Skellern’s Hard Times album. And like George, Peter Skellern is a big fan of Hoagy Carmichael, and has recorded many of his songs.
Sad to report that it has recently been announced that Peter Skellern is terminally ill.
Guys, it’s Jimmy McCullOCH.
Hey guys. One of your best topics of the year but disagree with most of the shows opinions in the first 30 minutes. What saves “Ognir Rrats” is what saves “Magical Mystery Tour” and “Broad Street”- the songs!. I think “Bad Boy” is Ringo’s 3rd best 70’s album. I think Ringo’s “Tonight” is one of the most overlooked Beatles/Solo Beatles ballads ever. Incredible song. The concert sequence at the end of the special with that great band had my friends and I hoping that Ringo was going to follow Paul’s lead and go back on the road. But not to be…
Robert, I remember hearing on WLUP and other stations in Chicago the “Girls School” single and loved the risqué lyrics and great rocker it is. Sad that it was not on the “Pure McCartney” box….. I also like the “London Town” album for what it is…a largely soft/folk rock album with a couple exceptions (love the title track and “I’ve Had Enough” (another great forgotten Wings single/rocker). Yes some were disappointed following “Wings Over America” but a huge #1 album and #1 single (“With A Little Luck”) in the US.
But yes I agree the “Sgt.Pepper” movie in spite of the stars is a wreck even with the amazing songs!
Regarding the Jeff Bridges show- I DID record that on Beta. Still have it somewhere. “I can remember this like it was yesterday, etc.”. First time I’d seen the “Hello Goodbye” clip and some other stuff too. Very cool show at the time.
I started laughing out loud when you mentioned the Charlie Chaplin un-burial. Your discussion of the events of 1978 got funnier and funnier after that. I love it when you guys get in a wise-cracking mood.
The show also highlighted a few tracks I hadn’t thought about in years. It’s great to take a new look and get some fresh perspective.
Thanks!
1978 was the year that I became a superfan. Thank you so much for this trip down memory lane — I *love* the Zemekis film, and that Mark Shipper book is one of my absolute favorites. I remember seeing the Ognir Rrats special when it aired, and devoured “A Twist Of Lennon” when it came out.
What I avoided, after hearing tracks from the soundtrack, was the Sgt. Pepper movie. And boy am I glad I did… when I finally saw it decades later, I was… well, you know. C’mon. You know.
Great show I gotta know! Where did you get that recording of “My Flying Hour”?? It makes me so sad for George that the Record label rejected that one among other greats.
Jonathan Davis of Korn plays the bagpipe too, though it doesn’t have much to do with the rest of their music. It’s not a very rock instrument.
However, strangely, so far nobody has ever named my YouTube channel for references to videos such “all the Beatles adverts”, “all the Beatles biographical movies”, “all the Beatles references on movies, cartoons and popular music”.
It happens very often that my videos are used as main source for researches and sometimes part of them are even used on podcasts but, somehow nobody has ever named my channel, not even thanked me for (or asked permission) for using them.
I upload a video every week and I strongly suggest to visit the videos page. I leave the link here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/SgtPepperChannel/videos
Wow! This brings the memories back from the year I was in 8th and 9th grade. Never bothered with the “Sgt. Pepper” movie but did watch the Rutles and Ringo shows that year. I also bought Cynthia’s book through one of the newsletter fan clubs, maybe “Strawberry Fields Forever” but think it was “With A Little Help From My Friends” or “the Barb Fenick one (The Write Thing?). Seems like the book was the British edition since the American wasn’t out yet.
Also bought Japanese copies of “The Wedding Album” and “The Beatles Story,” both box sets, from a mail order list called Ticket To Ride.
And I went to the Palmer House in Chicago for my first Beatlefest, a wonderful, overwhelming experience.
Have yet to get around to “Bad Boy” but still have the copy of “London Town” I bought upon release.
Great show guys, brought up a lot of good memories.
I’ve just discovered your podcast and I’ve enjoyed it– great for pandemic quarantines. I just listened to this episode and I know that what I am about to tell you will mean that you will immediately ignore anything that I may ever say ever: I like the Sgt Pepper’s movie. I’m not saying it is good– it really isn’t. But it figures as a major focal point in my life. I was seven. And my sister was a “big” Beatles fan (she was 11). We were nuts for Bee Gees and Peter Frampton. We also had a weekend father who loved to take to the movies. He took us to see Sgt Pepper and we watched it 3 times in a row (back when you could do that). The movie theater played the soundtrack in between. Oh we owed the double album soundtrack. (I have the movie on DVD and the soundtrack on CD) We wore it out. We did dances to all the songs. We loved this thing. Still today when I sing ‘Here Comes the Sun’ and I sometimes slip into Strawberry’s harmony (it’s in my key!) We saw in the theaters MORE than that 3x marathon. We went back over and over again. We even went to the Tower Records on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood (from the Good Morning track) just to go. I know this thing backwards and forwards.
At any rate, it may have meant nothing to you, but it was everything to me and my sister. When she dies I plan on singing “You Never Give Me Your Money” at her funeral and taking the Lucy part (she would never let me sing the girl part).
Thanks for entertaining me during the pandemic. Maybe I’ll get caught up.
Amy
Hi Amy,
Thanks for taking the time, and for relating your wonderful memories! We can disagree on the merits of the Pepper film, but I would certainly not fault you for enjoying it. As I often tell myself about other artistic works enjoyed be people other than myself, maybe I’m not the target audience.
Cheers,
RR