Episodes

  • 292: The Comedy of The Beatles with Jeff Martin

    292: The Comedy of The Beatles with Jeff Martin
    Oct 23 2024
    An essential component of The Beatles' appeal was their sense of humour, showcased not only in their two feature films (A Hard Day's Night, Help!) but also their TV appearances, interviews and even their music. TV comedy writer (Late Night with David Letterman, The Simpsons) Jeff Martin returns to the show to discuss how this facet of their talents was not only exceptionally developed, but also an element that set them apart from their peers, as well as key to their enduring legacy. For further reading, check out The Beatles and Humour: Mockers, Funny Paper and Other Play.
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    1 hr and 48 mins
  • 291: December 8, 1980 with David Whelan

    291: December 8, 1980 with David Whelan
    Oct 10 2024
    In the 44 years since John Lennon's death, the trauma of that night is still as raw, so much so that, for most people, the facts of what went down are far too painful still to examine closely. But when one does, as returning guest David Whelan has, they depict sometihng far more disturbing and sinister than the story we thought we knew. Whelan's research was presented in his book, Mind Games: The Assassination of John Lennon. Our earlier discussion this year (275) barely scratched the surface on what his research uncovered. Today's discussion goes deeper, and is in part a response to the recent show with Robert Rosen (Nowhere Man), 286. Check out David's YouTube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/@AssassinationOfLennon and his SubStack writings here: https://davidwhelan.substack.com/
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    1 hr and 54 mins
  • 290: "Hey Jude" Reconstructed

    290: "Hey Jude" Reconstructed
    Sep 24 2024
    In 2023, I hosted writer James Campion with Jeff Martin for a discussion of The Beatles' 1968 mega-hit and Apple Records debut. This time, we're drilling down deep for an analysis of the song's composition (as well as possible sources of inspiration) with the musicologists of RPM School: Walter Everett (author of volumes one and two of The Beatles As Musicians) plus working musicians and recording artists Jack Petruzzelli and Cameron Greider. This is where we get deep into the weeds with musical theory and a breakdown of the song's lyrical construction, as well as elements from other pieces of music that may have influenced the principal author, Paul McCartney. RPM's new semester (on Let It Be) begins soon - see their site for details: https://www.rpm-school.com/
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • 289: A Hard Day's Night At 60

    289: A Hard Day's Night At 60
    Sep 13 2024
    With The Beatles' film debut turning 60 this summer, the time was right for a deep dive into the cultural and cinematic significance of it all. Joining the conversation are two new guests: Sarah Pleydell and Moya Luckett. Both were born in the UK, one's a first-gen fan, and both are authors and academics with cred particularly suited to the topic. Rounding out the talk are our three fave 1st-gen fans, Sibbie O'Sullivan, Carol Tyler and Debbie Gendler, authors all.
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    1 hr and 34 mins
  • 288: Band On The Run (Hand Clapping) with Luca Perasi

    288: Band On The Run (Hand Clapping) with Luca Perasi
    Aug 31 2024
    My guest, Luca Perasi, first appeared on the show in 2023 (262). He is the McCartney historian based in Italy, whose previous works include Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas 1970 - 1989 as well as his newest, Paul McCartney and Wings Band On The Run: The Story of A Classic Album. You can check out all his works on his site here. In this conversation, we discuss the tumultuous creation of Paul's post-Beatles breakthrough album, as well as 1974's One Hand Clapping project, just released as an album in 2024 and soon to be in theatres.
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • 287: The Historian and Get Back with Erin Weber

    287: The Historian and Get Back with Erin Weber
    Aug 10 2024
    In the years since Peter Jackson's epic re-imagining of the January 1969 saga landed, SATb has examined it through a number of angles: from Brits - women - musicians - authors - and so forth. But this will be the first time I have actually had a conversation about it with a professional historian, your friend and mine, Erin Weber. This conversation analyzes the film through the prism of (secondary) source material, and brings into focus how the work should be viewed by fans of a more serious scholarly bent.
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    1 hr and 52 mins
  • 286: Nowhere Man '24 with Robert Rosen

    286: Nowhere Man '24 with Robert Rosen
    Aug 8 2024
    In this conversation, my returning guest (see episodes 189 - 245 - 266) discusses his recent visit to Spain, where a belated Beatlemania is in full swing. He also offers his insights on the recent May Pang documentary, The Lost Weekend: A Love Story, as well as his take on David Whelan's investigation into John Lennon's murder and the latter's preoccupation with "lucid dreaming." Check out Robert's writings at https://www.robertrosennyc.com/index.htm Highlights of his evening in Sevilla (with Mary Lyn Maiscott) can be found here: https://youtu.be/qiin_ZOt9gw?si=65MgdhrGvNOUqsmv
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • 285: Sixty Years Ago in America with Lee Abrams, Dennis Diken, and Elliot Easton

    285: Sixty Years Ago in America with Lee Abrams, Dennis Diken, and Elliot Easton
    Jul 21 2024
    As part of the ongoing campaign in 2024 to look back at 1964, we present another conversation with first-gen fans, this time focusing on the Capitol issues as well as US Top 40 radio. Returning guests Elliot Easton and Dennis Diken (The Cars and The Smithereens respectively) are joined by Lee Abrams, radio visionary and co-founder of Sirius XM. We discuss their fandom as it unfolded in real time, the impact and influence of radio, as well as their takes on the US releases (and the Beach Boys too). You can find Lee's writings here: https://www.leeabramsmediavisions.com/blog Something About The Beatles is an Evergreen podcast.
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    1 hr and 33 mins