Podcast: Play in new window | Download
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.
Great interview. Great radio play. Great podcast. Charming man and writer. Thank you, Robert.
Great interview. Great radio play. Great podcast. Charming man and writer. Thank you, Robert.
Have loved your interviews with Ray, Robert.
And really enjoyed listening to Rays radio play.
Have loved your interviews with Ray, Robert.
And really enjoyed listening to Rays radio play.
fan-flippin-tastic
fan-flippin-tastic
As Ray Connolly says Yoko was an impediment. No matter how you look at it and of course John Lennon stayed in that mindset and allowed it. It lasted until the very end through Double Fantasy, and the unexpected horrific end to his life. I mean to me it was ludicrous to give half an album space to Yoko’s amatuer songwriting and singing. Of course McCartney put Linda in there himself but she didn’t get half an album!
As Ray Connolly says Yoko was an impediment. No matter how you look at it and of course John Lennon stayed in that mindset and allowed it. It lasted until the very end through Double Fantasy, and the unexpected horrific end to his life. I mean to me it was ludicrous to give half an album space to Yoko’s amatuer songwriting and singing. Of course McCartney put Linda in there himself but she didn’t get half an album!
Thank you Robert and Ray… this interview was fun and informative — the novella and radio play are fantastic — walked away angry from this podcast, as given that Paul never said he left the Beatles and that John was mercurial and the paint not dry yet on his “decision” to get a divorce, then, had it not been for that false headline “Paul quits Beatles” igniting John to quit for good after that, the Beatles would never have been officially over! And there was a fair chance they would have chilled out and teamed back up. The road would have been open for that. So lets blame the press for the breakup, for the final death blow. Sleazy journalists who lacked the integrity of a Ray Connolly broke up the Beatles. Damn them!
Thank you Robert and Ray… this interview was fun and informative — the novella and radio play are fantastic — walked away angry from this podcast, as given that Paul never said he left the Beatles and that John was mercurial and the paint not dry yet on his “decision” to get a divorce, then, had it not been for that false headline “Paul quits Beatles” igniting John to quit for good after that, the Beatles would never have been officially over! And there was a fair chance they would have chilled out and teamed back up. The road would have been open for that. So lets blame the press for the breakup, for the final death blow. Sleazy journalists who lacked the integrity of a Ray Connolly broke up the Beatles. Damn them!
I could have listened to this conversation all day. Such an interesting guest and so well served by the thoughtful and lively questioning. I listened to the radio play afterwards as well. As I expected, it was both charming and insightful.
More from Ray, please.
I could have listened to this conversation all day. Such an interesting guest and so well served by the thoughtful and lively questioning. I listened to the radio play afterwards as well. As I expected, it was both charming and insightful.
More from Ray, please.
I loved listening to Connolly – thanks so much for an entertaining episode.
I loved listening to Connolly – thanks so much for an entertaining episode.