Newsletter

Hello all,  Again, thanks to all who’ve signed up. If you think you are getting this by mistake or it’s not anything you asked for, just shoot me a response, subject line “Unsubscribe” and we’ll get you back to where you once belonged.  I have some good news to report, some of which some of you might already be aware of… First, May Pang is coming back to the show, next month I think. She is a delight and someone who has had an amazingly busy year and then some with the doc and her continued photo exhibitions traveling around the country (and UK too). For those who look for all sides of the story, Elliot Mintz – he of the recently published memoir, We All Shine On, was twice invited on to the show and twice, crickets. I usually get at least a perfunctory “thanks but no thanks,” so ghosting carries its own meaning and interpretation. Unlike Philip Norman, he had his chance and didn’t take it.  Second, what should also be good news but I must admit I am slightly conflicted, because in a perfect world, the opportunity would be open to all, and in this case, it isn’t. Universal Music Group reached out, offering a giveaway: the upcoming Beatles ’64 mono box set some of you may have heard about? I will be giving out copies of individual albums to randomly selected listeners. I am sorry that necessarily this will be limited to US listeners only (since they will be doing the fulfillment) but hopefully there will be other opportunities down the road for global giveaways – stay tuned…  On the subject of Beatles ’64, there’s that Scorsese-produced film of the same name, coming to Disney+ on Thanksgiving (US). I have been in touch with the producers (thanks Deb! ♥️ ) and maybe will have someone connected to the project coming on – we’ll see 🤞. That’s what put me on UMG’s radar.  But I can say that another Olympiad is coming. As I mentioned last time, the showdown between David Whelan and Robert Rosen is also coming. Not everyone’s cup of tea, no doubt, but compelling listening for sure. Sometimes if you are being intellectually honest, you must go into the unpleasant places where there’s no fun to be had, but turning your back on what you know is out there doesn’t sit well either. For those who don’t savor the subject, I will tell you that this will be the last visit to that subject I plan.  This has been a year of some newsworthy reissues: One Hand Clapping – Mind Games – and now, Living in the Material World. Additionally, Ringo’s upcoming country project with T-Bone Burnette. I don’t see the well drying up anytime soon, for better or worse. But if any of you have an interest in my taking up any of these projects for a show – if there is support – let me know. It’s hard for me to work up any enthusiasm for serving as a corporate commercial for something I may or may not believe in, but if listener interest is there, I will give it a thought.  Last week was the book launch event for Allison Bumsted’s TeenSet: Teen Fan Magazines and Rock Journalism – Don’t Let The Name Fool You. It was a terrific and informative presentation on a Beatles-adjacent topic and Allison is a star in this realm. I am hoping to make at least part of the video available on the SATB YouTube channel but we’ll see. I expect we’ll be doing more of these.  On the subject of books, it’s been awhile since I presented the idea of a show on Carr and Tyler’s Beatles Illustrated Record book. It will still happen – and thanks to all who stepped up. I just want to include a particular guest as soon as they are ready and available – it’s worth the wait.  Also on books, this is coming. I am expecting something will manifest on my own show in whatever form, but there’s an equal likelihood of popping up on other people’s podcasts as well – I guess we’ll see. On this day, I will be guesting on the fab RPM-School class being held on the Let It Be album with Beatle dab hands Walter Everett, Cameron Greider and Jack Petruzzelli. Not a public event per se – you need to take the class – but check out their site; they have great guests and terrific classes. (Always a joy to have them on SATB too!)  If you made it this far, here’s a reward. For this week’s share, how many of you remember seeing The Compleat Beatles back in the day? It got spiked once Anthology became a thing in the ’90s (word is that Apple bought the rights and then killed it). But for whatever its shortcomings (lack of access to data, for starters), it is bolstered by the number of then-living (1982) Beatle witnesses interviewed. Plus Malcolm McDowell narrates.  This version is enhanced (you be the judge). 

Hello again,  I wouldn’t ordinarily bug you guys again so soon, but a couple of things to call out.  First, I was saddened to hear of the passing of Vic Flick yesterday. (Apparently he departed on the 14th, but it was only just announced.)  Courtesy of Bob Rush (of The Rip Chords), I was introduced to Flick awhile back and thought he might be a good subject for a show. He was terrific! If you don’t already know, he was a British session guitarist who played on tons of hit records of the 60s and 70s, but most notably played guitar on the James Bond 007 theme. (He also aped it for the Help! score in 1965.) For Beatle fans, he was on the soundtrack to A Hard Day’s Night, most notably playing that evocative guitar line of “Ringo’s Theme” (aka “This Boy”) during Ringo’s parading sequence.  If I am remembering the sequence of events correctly, subsequent to our recording that show, I happened to be out on the west coast and had a chance to visit Vic. He was everything you’d want him to be: kind, warm and generous with his time. Just a lovely man. Some time later, he put that James Bond guitar up for auction, citing the need for funds for medical bills. He was ready to let it go to a happy collector somewhere, and even more happy to reduce a little stress in his life. I did not know that he was suffering from Alzheimer’s at the end, but that’s what they announced. The music he made will live on forever – I am eternally grateful that he and I got a chance to discuss his career: https://somethingaboutthebeatles.com/2019/01/13/156-conversation-vic-flick-2/  So that’s the sad news. Here’s the good: as I mentioned in #2, The 1964 US Albums in Mono box is coming, due out on Friday. By virtue of subscribing to the newsletter, you are all enrolled in the drawing for the album giveaway. I’d love for them to have given me a whole box to give out, but I guess to hit as many people as possible, they are making available single albums. So since people are asking me how to get signed up for the giveaway, you already are! But because you’re special, you know this before I say a word publicly, which I am about to…  Here’s a video Apple put out discussing the set.  That’s it for now – till next time! 

Hello SATB people! Consider this a beta test. If you’re receiving this, it is likely because you signed up for the newsletter or we have corresponded in the past. In any event, I don’t want anybody feeling like they’re being spammed right out of the gate and if you think you got this by mistake or wish to opt out, please return an email, subject line “unsubscribe” and we’ll sort it out. But if you are here on purpose, good on you and thank you for supporting the show. I’ve long wanted to do this and enter into it with the trepidation of taking on another task that will take time, but I think will also pay off with getting your direct input in the shows going forward. A win-win for everyone. Here’s some announcements for the short-term: As you may have heard from the most recent show and social postings, November 12th is fast coming. That’s the day I will be hosting an online book launch for Allison Bumsted, author of the newly published, TeenSet, Teen Fan Magazines, and Rock Journalism: Don’t Let the Name Fool You.  If you never heard of it, know this: It began publishing in 1964, essentially as a Capitol records promotional tool. But it quickly morphed into something far more substantial, with pioneering editor Judith Sims at the helm, producing substantive articles belied by the magazine’s own title and featuring photography by the likes of Jim Marshall and Bob Bonis. TeenSet was a treasure hidden in plain sight that never got its due, in part because when they finally did change their name, it was a little late and they’d become superseded by other publications that lasted substantially longer.  In any event, Allison’s book shines a light on the unsung role that magazines directed at fans and a largely female audience played as part of the promotional infrastructure of artists we revere today, and how historically they have been undervalued and certainly under examined. So this will be a free event where Allison will present her book, I’ll ask questions and you can too. Not a podcast taping per se, although if things go well… You can sign up for it here.  SATB hosts an awful lot of authors and I’m thinking if this goes well, it may become a part of future endeavors, giving the listenership a chance to ask questions directly. On the subject of books, books is what got me here and there’s another one coming soon if you haven’t heard. It’s a co-write with Jerry Hammack, author of The Beatles Recording Reference Manual series and essentially serves to contextualize the history going on in and around The Beatles at every juncture that the committed music to tape.  Volume 1 (because it’s a series!) presents a prehistory, which may strike you as a bit odd until you realize their first Beatle-related recording came in 1957, on the very day John and Paul were formally introduced. The following year, The Quarry Men lay down a Buddy Holly cover and an original tune. This was followed by home recordings at Forthlin Road, then recordings in Hamburg, followed by an unsuccessful audition at Decca and a successful one at EMI. Then there were the live records captured in Hamburg at the end of 62. That’s a lot to discuss and a lot of history; the point of this book would be to trace how instruments got put in these guys hands and how they were put on their path as well as their true motivations. More on that later. Also upcoming: SATB’s 300th show. I’m absolutely not one to bang on about my own birthday or any such self-celebrations, but a long-time listener to the show offered up a great suggestion recently, one that essentially hands the microphone over to you. More on this later… Here’s the newsletter part: we are now one year on from the issue of the “last” new Beatles song, “Now and Then.” With a year to absorb it, what do we think? Please post your thoughts on the SATB socials for everyone to see. Now for all those who got on this list immediately, here’s my attached bonus. Back just before COVID started, a massive collection of curated video files were shared with me – we’re talking around six hours a pop! I sent the link out to a few friends at the time but now I’m going to share them with you. This is the first installment of a chronological series that I’ll parcel out over time. In the meanwhile, I am sitting on a mountain of files, video and audio. There’s no call for the former on the show and the latter can be problematic. But if you are interested in anything that you know to exist, chances are I might have it. Just shoot an email back to this address, subject line Dutch Imports and I’ll say what I got and we’ll share it with the group. Thanks to each and everyone for your continued support of this show!