When They Was Fab: Electric Arguments About the Beatles

In honor of Brian Wilson's posting, a bonus episode.     Queen of All Beatles Media Kit O'Toole joins Marv and myself as we honor and remember two musical giants, on the occasion of the anniversary of Brian Wilson's birth.   A bit off topic, but there is plenty of Beatles content, and there is no question the Beatles as we know them would've been very different without Brian Wilson and the Beach boys spurring them through the mid-sixties.

This week Lonnie and I go back to 2010/2011 and consider the most recent world tour of Ringo and the All Starr's.    From "Hang on Sloopy" to "Frankenstein" to Kyrie, and lots from Ringo's then new record!     All we are saying is Give Peace a Chance with a Little Help from Your Friends.

Two appearances from Brian Epstein in 1964.     An October spot on "What's My Line?", where panelists try and deduce the role that [sic] "Barry Epstein" plays within the Beatles organization.    Despite Paul Anka excusing himself (Anka knew Brian), the other panelists managed to figure out the "line" of Brian pretty quickly!    This is followed by a discussion surrounding Brian on "Talking Frankly", where he sat for thirty minutes with Bill Grundy in March of 1964.

Marv and I are honored to be joined by Chris O'Dell, as we discuss her travels through rock and roll.     After some initial forays into the industry, she met Derek Taylor (who introduced her to her new roommate, Teri Garr.     Soon enough, she found herself in EMI with the Beatles (and cameo-ing on both "Hey Jude" and "Revolution"), the Apple rooftop, then the Concert for BanglaDesh, the Rolling Stones, and a decade WORKING for both the solo Beatles and many other members of rock royalty.     Her story is now streaming in a documentary "Miss O'Dell" (based in part on her book), available on Peacock, Tubi, Amazon Prime in the US with UK (and worldwide) distribution in the works.

More from the Gab Four.    Jon, Lonnie, Martin and I continue our thoughts on Beatles 1969 - Abbey Road and ???    What else might the sessions of January 1969 become?     Each of us assembled significantly different album(s) from the multitudes of songs rehearsed, jammed or half-remembered by the Beatles (and captured for us on the nagras).    Tune in and see who you agree with, or who you don't!    A cameo from the Queen of all Beatles Media herself (defending her title) as some of us discuss the Beatles news!

Gab Four together again.     Jon Stone, Lonnie Pena, Martin Quibell and myself sit down to consider alternate albums that might've come out of the January 1969 sessions.     Beware, the ripples through time extend well beyond a single record.    What happens to the film?    Abbey Road?    Do all roads lead to "For You Blue?"    George Martin, Glyn Johns and others guest.     More next week!

George Harrison played with many associates of both Dylan and the Stones.    Bobby Keys was one of the most renowned sax men of rock and roll, Nicky Hopkins contributed to the buzz of "Revolution", and Jesse "Ed" Davis had his fingerprints all over early seventies solo Beatles.   This week, we consider some recordings, most made at Apple Studios, most featuring George Harrison on electric (usually slide) guitar.      Who knew George could compose Mexicali blues (as some call "The Holdup")

More of Paul McCartney and his political notions.    Animal Rights, Gun Violence, "No More Landmines", and the environment have been a big part of the "McCartney brand" for the last 30-35 years.     We continue from last week, as we touch on nearly a full album of political thought from "the cute Beatle", and how Paul's brand of radicalism was both similar and different to that of his bandmate John Lennon.

Following on from "One to One", Martin and I spend this week and next discussing the politics of Paul (and Linda) McCartney.     This week, the Beatle years.    How Paul brought John into the peace movement (and possibly why he deserves that credit on "Give Peace a Chance"), McCartney and Bertrand Russell, Blackbird, Commonwealth and on through the early solo years.    Next week, a rundown on solo McCartney's political songs! #madeonzencastr

Lonnie Pena and I (separately) saw "One to One: John & Yoko" in IMAX from Magnolia Pictures during it's recent run (it is still available in selected theaters, and pay streaming in May).     Our first thought?     They really should have emphasized that "Year in the Life" subtitle a bit more.    Other than that?     Tune in and find out!

More from Lonnie's Scrapbook as we shoot back to the late nineteen seventies and consider the Knack (the band, not the noun or the film), George Harrison's wedding to Olivia, the 1979 fire at Ringo's residence, the aftermath of Paul McCartney / January 1981, and  the farms of John and Yoko - including their Holstein cattle (Mango the cow!).    

More from the Gab Four!    Lonnie, Jon, Martin and I wander from Revolver through the Beatles era, passing by landmarks including "Teddy Boy", "Ms. L.", "Goodnight Vienna", "Lavatory Lil", Mr. Double-It-Up", and the "Dark Sweet Lady".    Stories and characters you know and love, and maybe some you should discover!    Who doesn't want two girls [or young men] in the back, calling them Daddy?

A Gab Four spectacular!    Jon Stone, Lonnie Pena, Martin Quibell and I gathered to talk about the characters and stories in Beatles songs.     They started with covers of folks like Long Tall Sally, and this episode takes us through Rubber Soul, where the band gives us Michelle, the Nowhere Man, and asks about the possibility of exchanging golden rings in favor of getting behind the wheel to "Drive My Car!"

George was quite busy between "All Things Must Pass" and "The Concert for Bangladesh".      However, many of the things he played on were not under his own name!    We look at two projects where George was a significant contributer: Gary Wright's "Footprint", and Billy Preston's "I Wrote a Simple Song".      Excellent playing, and a link between George's Beatles guitar-playing, his work on "All Things Must Pass", and his turn on John Lennon's "Imagine" (when he finally turned back to his own projects with "Living in the Material World!")

Lonnie and I chat about the CBS version of "Ringo and Friends at the Ryman" which aired on Monday, March 10, 2025.     Jack White, Sheryl Crow, and even Larkin Poe honor the man, the music, the COUNTRY legend that is Ringo Starr.

Marv and I sit down to talk the first disc of the new 2024 edition of the Internet favorite "Spot the Looney".    Ever wondered where you could find those rarities George Harrison played on that are not readily available from Apple (records or Music)?     Try this box.     Harry, Derek and the Dominoes, the Remo Four, the Silkie, Bobby Whitlock, Ashton Gardner & Dyke and MORE can be found on just the first disc of this set      Nine more to come, but don't worry, they will be spread out over the next year or maybe more!

Kit O'Toole and I are honored to speak with Sally Martin Katz, the Photo Curator for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco as Paul McCartney's "Eyes of the Storm" photo exhibition comes to the deYoung museum in the Bay Area.    We talk about the exhibition, the photos, and the role photography and photographers weave around the life story of Paul McCartney.

What ties Studio Two, the Casbah Coffee Club, the Bahamas, Rishikesh, and an airplane returning to London with the Beatles?      George Harrison's birthday!      After the news (where Kit once again drops in her mellifluous tones), we consider the changes in George and the Beatles as he moved from his nineteenth birthday to his twenty-second.

Sam Whiles joins for some chat about "Back To The Egg", but primarily one of the few interviews Paul did for "Back to the Egg".   James McCartney was not quite two years old, Wings was settling into the outfit that would become the final iteration, and Paul was toying around with tunes that would become "McCartney II".    Also found in this episode is news that is slightly out of date (will that matter in a year, month or even a week?)

Marv and I sit down with Kenyon Rosewall of the "Note by Note" podcast.     We each compile some of our "key" Beatles songs written during the Beatles "first act".      Before there was "Help!" or "Rain", there was "Do You Want to Know a Secret", "No Reply", and even a couple of Elvis-inspired three-chord raveups!

2022.     Sir Paul McCartney was recovering from the passing of Linda, preparing for a tour backing his "Driving Rain" album, and celebrating fifty years of Queen Elizabeth II.     The BBC gathered together a number of interesting and important figures (including Astrid Kirchherr, Jurgen Vollmer, Arthur Kelly and Kermit the Frog?)  in advance of his appearance at the Jubilee (and a little thing at Castle Leslie in Glaslough, Ireland).     Lonnie and I look back and discuss the documentary and how well it tells (at least some of) Paul's story.

The past is gone, but something might be found to take it's place.     However, sometimes, the past is only a few weeks ago.      Ethan Alexanian joins Martin and I to review "Beatles '64" - the good, the bad, and the questionable.      

The definition of a "hit record" in 2025 is fairly difficult to determine, but by the "old fashioned" metrics, Ringo certainly has one with his country album "Look Up."     Lonnie Pena and I go through the album, track-by-track and talk about the songs, guests, and the directions the career of Ringo Starr might head in.     We close the show discussing the (mostly positive) reviews, where even the most negative reviewers can only niggle on the songwriting of T-Bone (when they could have used ALL of THAT unknown NASHVILLE TALENT!), and how Ringo is quite possibly too genial to be successful!

Jon Stone is guided by Voices (or are voices guided by Jon Stone?)     Following on from Beatles '64, Marv and I wanted to talk actual memories of the year with the only co-host who had some.      Lots of Beatles chat, a bit of meandering (Dick Van Dyke, Julie Andrews, Sunday-Sunday-Sunday), and a tiny bit of off-period chat, but that's true to the documentary ;), and in this case, it does all manage to come around to almost-cohesive!

After a news segment (update on Julian, Richard Perry), Marv and I sit down for part two of our look back at some of the happenings in the Beatles world over the last twelve months.   A passel full of Documentaries, the 'Living in the Material World" box, Ringo tour pt. 2, and the latest chapter in the "Got Back" tour.     We also chat about Ringo's plans for 2025 (country album, Nashville shows and Spring/Summer tour), the Concert for Bangladesh and some of the other things we are looking forward to.

After a news segment (Julian, Joey Molland, Ringo and Paul!), Marv and I sit down for part one of our look back at some of the happenings in the Beatles world over the last twelve months.    New music in the form of an EP from Ringo, an anniversary release from Paul for "Band on the Run", a brand new mix for "One Hand Clapping" and more!

Marv and I are joined by Eoghan Lyng and Ken Michaels to discuss the "Living in the Material World" album with an emphasis on the 50th Anniversary remix as found on the "Super Deluxe Edition".     Ken rates the record at the very top, but in general the reviews over the years have been on the positive side, but perhaps less than ecstatic.     

Marv, Lonnie and I sit down with Director David Tedeschi to talk Beatles '64 - the documentary newly available on Disney+ presenting 17 minutes of new Maysles Brothers footage.      The Documentary also features greatly cleaned up footage, complete with new audio stems and remixes from the 1964 Ed Sullivan shows, the Washington Coliseum, and newly restored interviews from "The Beatles Anthology".    All this and chat covering Tedsechi's entire career that goes from "The Shield" to "Vinyl" to "No Direction Home" and plenty more!

Part Two of our discussion with Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair covering the McCartey Legacy, Volume 2.      All four of us (Lonnie, Jon, Ed and Marv) are still in on the conversation, as we pick up the McCartney story in New Orleans, visit John Lennon in the Dakota ("Live From New York, It's Saturday Night!") travel around the globe on a world tour, record on the high seas, record in a castle, complain about Pete Townshend (he wouldn't wear the suit), and end up in Japan...

Part One of our discussion with Allan Kozinn and Adrian Sinclair covering the McCartey Legacy, Volume 2.      All four of us (Lonnie, Jon, Ed and Marv) are in on the conversation, as we proceed from the McGear album to Paul's time in Nashville, with stops along the way at Rembrandt, Printer's Alley and that room Jimmy McCulloch hung out while he was working with Paul in Scotland.

Marv and I talk a bit about the new "Living in the Material World" box, mostly Disc Two - EXTRAS!    Alternate versions of the entire record, remixes of "Miss O'Dell", and a brand new recording of "Sunshine Life For Me (Sail Away Raymond)" featuring a George Harrison lead vocal, and guest appearances from Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, and Rick Danko from The Band, alongside Ringo Starr.

Marv and I sit down to discuss the 1994 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class.     Yoko Ono handed over a tape.     Paul McCartney inducted John Lennon as a solo artist (an honor since given to Paul, George and Ringo) while friends and familiars including Elton John, The Band, the Animals, the Grateful Dead and Bob Marley had their names added to the pantheon now housed in Cleveland.

Lonnie and I review "Midas Man".   We discuss the good (production and set design), the bad (dancing around the relationship the NEMS acts including the Beatles had with Brian's homosexuality), and the downright odd (the height difference between Jonah Lees' "smaller-than- John Lennon" and Jacob-Fortune Lloyd's "taller-than-Brian Epstein".

A "Gab Four" show!    Martin, Lonnie, Jon and I are together chatting on what Jon has named "The Murky Times".     The period between the end of the "Get Back" sessions and McCartney's "Self Interview" in the "McCartney" promotional package!

News, updates and discussion on the last few weeks.    Ringo Starr has a new country album.     A very nice stream (both video AND audio) of Paul McCartney in Buenos Aires.      Answers to some of our questions regarding John and Yoko on Mike Douglas, and a bit of "Lonnie's Scrapbook", mostly a couple of pieces from the seventies (and the Houston Post) covering John and Yoko's trip to Houston in 1971 (while dealing with custody and visitation rights over Kyoko Chan Cox), 1979, and how things were finally settled in the early nineties!

Marv, Lonnie and I finish our review of "Daytime Revolution" (and to a certain extent, more generally John and Yoko's week on Mike Douglas).    Following that, we are joined by Erik Nelson, the man behind "Daytime Revolution", who gives his own thoughts on the the week of shows (filmed over five weeks), the process of editing 7+ hours of television down to less than ninety minutes, locating and filming new interviews with the guests still with us, and choosing representative elements (bumpers, etc) to keep that "1972 television" feel.

Marv and Lonnie join me for our discussion of the first few days of the Lennons on the Mike Douglas show in 1972, particularly as the days are represented in the new documentary "Daytime Revolution."    John, Yoko, Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale and Mike Douglas?     How did millions of American housewives react to the counterculture entering their avocado-colored breakfast nooks?     The review concludes next week, which will also feature a discussion with director of the film Erik Nelson.

Lonnie joins as we review the theatrical presentation of "One Hand Clapping", combined with the first ever appearance of the full (?) "Backyard" film.      Paul, Linda, Denny, Geoff and Jimmy.     Also in the studio were two other musicians, an orchestra and a dog. One of the musicians was called Howie Casey and played a saxophone. The other was called Del Newman and he conducted the orchestra. The dog was called Poppy and didn't really do much at all. The studio at number 3 Abbey Road, London is where The Beatles recorded their first album Please Please Me in 1963 and the studio hasn't been painted since then. Geoff Emerick, the recording engineer, said it would ruin the acoustics.

Lonnie and I spend this week looking at the Ron Chapman film "Revival 69."      How much did we really know about the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival Festival?     This fil goes into the nitty gritty of September 13, 1969 - and exactly how John Lennon ended up in Canada premiering "Cold Turkey".      

Marv and I finish our look at the Seventies US number ones of John, Paul, George and Ringo.     Casey drops by, as do clips of John, Paul, Elton and Billy Preston.     Look for a bit of a Billy Revival as Jon Batiste portrays him in the forthcoming "SNL 1975" film.        With all these other films, the casting of Beatles incidentals is done for him!

While the four solo artists formerly known as the Beatles did not equal their illustrious previous decade, they did all show chart success in the Seventies.    Eleven total number ones.     This week we start our next multi-part series (hey, two counts as "multi") covering those chart toppers.    We partially go the Paul McCartney route ("we play the hits"), but also look back at how these songs were viewed in "real time".     Lots of news, and plenty of archival clips from Casey's coast to coast!

Marv and I are joined by Antony Rotunno (Glass Onion: On John Lennon), as we finish our look at the Mind Games Box Set with Disc Six - The Outtakes.     While we discuss the tracks, we also take a step back and consider Lennon the man.    The personal, political and psychological are all strongly represented in the lyrics found between the grooves.     

The return of friend of the show Darin Murphy (a man who portrayed John Lennon on Broadway, and played with Denny Laine, Todd Rundgren, Joey Molland, Micky Dolenz and more!) He pojoins us to discuss Disc Five of the Mind Games Box, the raw studio mixes.     Sean gives us plenty of material to consider, and we discuss how this album would influence artists as diverse as Meat Loaf, Tom Petty and possibly the Beats headphones!

Recorded Live in Chicago (with additional audio from Houston, Cleveland and more), this week we present "When They Was Fab" in front of a live audience.     Dr. Kenneth Womack ("Living the Beatles Legend", "Solid State", "John Lennon: 1980" and more) joins us as we look at the circumstances of 1960, 1961 and 1962 which would lead to a new drummer and a new era for everyone that is a fan of popular music!

Marv, Lonnie and I sit with Nashville HOF songwriter, author and man who worked with a Beatle about his lifelong love of the Fabs, touring (and writing!) with Carole King, his Brian Epstein-themed song on the new Billy J. Kramer record, collaborating (and recording) with Ringo and the forthcoming Ringo country album.     We also dig into his new novel ("Reunion"), which imagines a universe where John Lennon's fate changed, and all four were still present when Paul (at the urging of his daughters) decides to approach the others, as "the right four people" is one of the ways he might be able to overcome his heartache.

The "Mind Games" train rolls on.   Disc four, the evolution mixes.    Possibly the closest we will get to hearing the evolution of the "Mind Games" album.    Each track, from the earliest known demo through the various changes in the studio through to the near-complete version.    John, Yoko, Roy Cicala and all the musicians chime in at various times for a full look at just how the recording process worked for John Lennon in New York City in the early 1970's!

The Ultimate Box review continues!    This week we move on to the third disc - the elements mixes.     How many other (non-instrumental) albums have a disc not featuring lead vocals from the named artist?    This one does.      Marv and I talk about what we learned, and we extend the concept talking about Keltner, Gordon, Something Different, Sneaky Pete and the others that migrated from "Feeling the Space" over to "Mind Games".

Lonnie and I roll on with part two of our "Mind Games" SDE review.    This week, disc two - the Elemental mixes (not to be confused with the Elements mixes).     Lonnie also unveils his initial thoughts on the Mind Games (Ultimate Collection) Super Deluxe Box Set!    Roll the I-Ching and see if it advises you to drop the cash!

Lonnie Pena, Jon Stone and I sit down to discuss the first disc of the "Mind Games: Ultimate Collection" Deluxe Box set.           When asked about the release, Sean Lennon says: "People were having trouble adjusting to the 'new' John Lennon. So, I think Mind Games fell through the cracks for a number of reasons. The fact that the mixes were a bit thin didn't help either."     Does that apply to Jon, Lonnie (who picked up the disc at release) and me (who didn't get turned on to it until the early eighties and the half-price bin)?    Tune in and find out!

Marv and I talk the Birmingham, UK Soundcheck (2015, "Out There" tour).      Soundcheck is 40-60 minutes of Paul doing (mostly) songs not part of the main show.     This week we talk "Celebration", "Miss Ann",  "It's so Squeazy", "I'll Follow the Sun", and a bit about how the show has changed since Out There (two encores compressed to one!    No "Yesterday").    As they say in "Midnight Special" (another soundcheck favorite of Paul's) "If you ever go to Houston, you better act right!"    

The Last Houston storm resulted in Lonnie Pena uncovering his Seventies Beatles scrapbook.     Festival Seating in the Houston Summit!     Ringo, "I Dream of" Jeannie, Jim Backus and one of the hippest looking sexagenarians captured in a photograph.     Also, more "Got Back 2024" dates, preparations for the "Mind Games" box, and the wonder of AI "Get Back Sessions".