Something About The Beatles

Category: Podcasting

  • 217: It’s All In The Mind

    217: It’s All In The Mind

    [powerpress]

    Back in 2018, I had a conversation with Dr. Robert Hieronimus  and Laura Cortner, authors of Inside the Yellow Submarine: The Making of the Beatles’ Animated Classic – the definitive history of the 1968 film. But they are back with a sequel, delving deeper into the story: profiling others who made the vision a reality as well as exploring the greater context of the times and the deeper meanings to be gleaned from the film in It’s All In The Mind: Inside The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine Vol. 2. This newly-published follow-up is richly illustrated in full color and presents new stories from the creative minds who made the project a reality, despite considerable odds. It also illustrates how what shouldn’t have worked did, and what meanings can be found, drawing upon classic myth and literary tradition.

    Their website here.
    Check out a book excerpt here.

    On Facebook here.
    See here for prizes.
  • 216: Dear Friend

    216: Dear Friend

    [powerpress]

    There’s been loads of speculation as to the exact nature of the friendship between John Lennon and Paul McCartney; during and after The Beatles. And when I say “loads,” it runs the gamut from former bandmates who recalled each other fondly from a distance to something encompassing a physical nature. What does seem clear is that between the two of them, while Paul’s descriptions of their relationship stayed pretty constant, John’s went from demonizing Paul in print and song to describing him as his best (male) friend. Somewhere in there lies a truth, and to help unearth it, my guest today is journalist and author Glenn Greenberg, who recently penned an 80th birthday magabook on John.

  • 215: Four Sides of a Square

    215: Four Sides of a Square

    [powerpress]

    In this discussion, Dr. Duncan Driver (SATB 205, Fab4ConJam, One Sweet Dream podcast) springboard off of the title Paul McCartney quote, in which he asserted that each Beatle was as important as another to the group’s success. We explore the shifting power dynamics within the group and the question of leadership; we also discuss Duncan’s thesis of the four distinctive elements of the Beatles collective identity: live performers – singles makers – album makers – songwriters.

  • 214: Beatle Production

    214: Beatle Production

    [powerpress]

    In this episode, we examine the process of a song becoming a record, as heard through the ears of those in the producer’s chair. Luther Russell, previous SATB guest and Fab4ConJam star, has operated as a composer, performer, collaborator, engineer and producer and is therefore more than qualified to offer his insights as a musical idea gets transformed into a production and how creative decisions are made along the way.
    Non-Beatles music heard in this episode:
    Ned Roberts: “Falling Away” – produced by Luther Russell
    Weezer: “L.A. Girlz” – co-written by Luther Russell, Brian Bell and Rivers Cuomo, released on The White Album by Weezer (2016)
    Those Pretty Wrongs: “Lucky Man” from the album Those Pretty Wrongs (2016), co-written by Jody Stephens and Luther Russell
    Luther Russell: “Tomorrow’s Papers” from the album The Invisible Audience (2011) by Luther Russell
  • 213: John Lennon’s 1980 Playlist

    213: John Lennon’s 1980 Playlist

    [powerpress]

    My guest Tim English (Sounds Like Teen Spirit, Popology) discuss his newest book, examining the artists that John was listening to in the last few years of his life and how certain artists and records influenced the recordings he (and Yoko) made during the summer of 1980. Some of the acts we’ve known about for awhile (B-52s, Lene Lovich, etc) but many others were less obvious (The Selecter, Christopher Cross, The Doobie Brothers).

    John Lennon: 1980 Playlist is out now.

  • 212: Countdown To Break-Up II

    212: Countdown To Break-Up II

    [powerpress]

    Back in SATB 205, Dr. Duncan Driver (showcased 2+xs at Fab4ConJam) and discussed his article on the timeline to The Beatles break-up.  In this episode, returning guest Gary Wenstrup and I dissect the subject further: when exactly did The Beatles – or individual members within – decide they were quits exactly? The answer – like so much else in Fab history – is not as straightforward as you might think.

  • 211: Meeting Paul Saltzman in India

    211: Meeting Paul Saltzman in India

    [powerpress]

    It was in 1968 that a young Canadian filmmaker, seeking solace in TM for a broken heart, was befriended by The Beatles in Rishikesh during their immersive study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. In 2000, Paul Saltzman published his wonderfully immediate photos in a book (The Beatles in Rishikesh), later augmented and re-published as The Beatles in India in 2018. 2020 saw the release of his documentary, Meeting The Beatles in India – a film that brings together others who were there (Pattie and Jenny Boyd) as well as the real “Bungalow Bill,” Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn and filmmaker David Lynch, a major booster of TM.

    You can check out Paul’s website here, and see the film as well as participate in a Q&A with Paul at the first Fab4ConJam on February 21, 2021.

    Details: fab4conjam.com

  • 210: The Beatles 1962 – 1970

    210: The Beatles 1962 – 1970

    [powerpress]

    Big things take much time to execute: both this episode and the long-awaited event I’ve been teasing for the last few months….

    First: the new show. SATB 210 features no guests and no host; instead, it depicts in rigid but scaled down time, the unfolding of their career from the October 5, 1962 issue of “Love Me Do” to the May 1970 issue of “The Long and Winding Road” as a final US single. What lies between are the sounds of their hectic pace, with interviews, concerts, projects, radio, film and TV populating their days. There is no greater way to get the context of their hard work and success than experiencing it in context.

    (Want to hear a version, Beatles only? Click here . )

    Next: the really big show – welcome to the first Fab4ConJam, coming February 20-21, 2021. It’s two days of global community, featuring speakers, panels and music celebrating the world’s greatest unifying force.

    Check out the site now for details as they unfold.

  • 209: The Wish List

    209: The Wish List

    [powerpress]

    In which Luther Russell and myself detail our picks for the things in the vault known to exist, group and solo, that we one day hope for Apple to release, in well-presented packages. This episode was the live round-the-world broadcast we did from Chicago back in September 2020, powered by in.live (thanks David Simon!) and that is why you get to hear a bit of the city in the background, along with loads of rare audio detailing what we’re talking about.

    Happy Holidays to all and onward and upward in 2021!

  • 208: The Beatles As Guitarists with Mike Pachelli

    208: The Beatles As Guitarists with Mike Pachelli

    [powerpress]

    If you aren’t already aware of this veteran jazz/blues guitarist’s Youtube channel with loads of deconstructions of their music, by all means, check it out. Mike has been performing and recording for decades (18 solo albums), as well as with artists ranging from Phil Keaggy to Micky Dolenz. Like so many others, his life was changed on the evening of February 9th, 1964. Much of the what he absorbed beginning then became the basis for his career, which he now shares in the form of informative videos.

    In this discussion, he offers his insights into what The Beatles’ primary guitar players were up to and the basis of their brilliance.

    Check out MikePachelli.com, and his most recent project – High Standards – which features Tony Levin and Danny Gottleib.

    Mike Pachelli recordings heard in this podcast:
    1) “What A Wonderful World” (excerpt) – from High Standards 
    2) “Swing 42” (excerpt) – from Impressions
    3) “Skylark” (excerpt) – from High Standards
    4) “These Are Soulful Days” – from High Standards