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Back in May 2025, two hardcore Beatle historians haling from down under came on the show for an analysis of the conventional wisdom regarding Beatles instrumental credits and how, in certain instances, it was found to be lacking.
They’re back again, and this time we examine:
“Long Tall Sally”
“I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party”
“Michelle”
“We Can Work It Out”
“Paperback Writer”/”Rain”
“Sgt. Pepper (reprise)”
“Piggies”
“Don’t Pass Me By”
“Not Guilty”
Marcus Phelan and Andrew Shakespeare have been studying the recordings for decades, as fans and as musicians themselves. The sources critiqued include:
Ian McDonald’s Revolution in the Head
Mark Lewisohn’s The Beatles Recording Sessions
Kevin Howlett’s liner notes to The Beatles special deluxe editions
The public pronouncements of Giles Martin
Much of this is as much speculation as the material they smugly dismiss. Cut all of that out and one would have about 30 minutes of serious analysis and clarification. It’s not an uninteresting episode, but the self-admiration is off the scale.