Podcast

Returning as a SATB guest is Jeff Martin, whom you will remember from 122 – The Simpsons episode. In addition to his writing on that show as well as Late Night with David Letterman beginning in the 1980s, he is also a musician and therefore speaks the language of The Beatles specifically, as well as creativity generally. Our conversation centered on the Lennon-McCartney partnership and the way that their unique combination of talents and temperaments created something far bigger than the sum of its parts. More on Jeff’s career here. (The article he referenced – The Power of Two by Joshua Wolf Shenk – was published in The Atlantic in July 2014 and can be found here.)

Yes, he’s the guy who sang “Takin’ Care of Business” and “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,” but if that’s all you know about this accomplished artist, then you are missing out on a lot. Randy has penned #1 hit singles for two different recording acts; toured as an All Starr; hosted a popular radio show in his native Canada; published several books, and much, much more. Our conversation encompasses his new album, By George – By Bachman, but much more, including production tricks, Beatle secrets, touring with Ringo, Winnie the Pooh and a deeply personal discussion of spirituality and how George directly impacted his life. Check out Randy’s activities here: http://randybachman.com/ and his deconstruction of the “A Hard Day’s Night” opening chord here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwfH9oAiPH0

Now that there’s been an ending to the story, it seems like a good time to examine the intersection between artists who stood for love and peace and a career criminal/sociopath who will forever be tied to them, by virtue of the demented “gospel” ripped straight from their albums. It may be unfathomable from this distance that a group of young people could be persuaded by Charles Manson to commit unspeakable acts, but that’s exactly what happened in the summer of 1969, when seven innocents (and an unborn baby) were brutally slain, purportedly to ignite a race war. I’m joined for this discussion by a friend of the show, whom many of you are doubtless familiar with: journalist Ivor Davis, who penned his memoirs of touring with The Beatles across America during the 1960s. But did you know that he was at the center of covering the Tate-LaBianca case and even penned the first book on the crimes, Five To Die (1970)? It was his findings that provided a roadmap to the prosecution, later chronicled in Vincent Bugliosi’s best-seller, Helter Skelter (co-written by Curt Gentry).

Back in September, I first talked Beatles with this Renaissance man, in the context of The Beatles with The Simpsons. As you listeners will remember, Dave had a lot to say about the Beatles well beyond the parameters of that TV show. Well he’s back, and the subject we set out to discuss was the Beatles’ use of acoustic instruments – something Dave is well-versed in. But as conversations will, we went far afield from that, covering subjects ranging from sincerity to darkness versus happiness to re-arranging songs on the fly to what the Beatles were doing alongside their contemporaries. And as the momentum mounted, I realized that there were more things discussed than any one show could reasonably contain. So enjoy 129A; 129B coming up (so to speak)! “I Am The Walrus” acoustic excerpt by Laurence Juber: https://www.amazon.com/LJ-Plays-Beatles-Vol-2/dp/B003U8O2OY Revolver mash-up by Douglas Grant: https://beta.prx.org/stories/11512

In 1978 – the year he joined Elvis Costello in The Attractions – bassist Bruce Thomas was personally selected by Paul McCartney to participate in the Rockestra – an all-star ensemble assembled for a pair of Back To The Egg tracks. The collective gathered onstage a year later as part of Wings’ finale at the Kampuchea benefit. But Bruce Thomas is more than an inventive bass player: he’s a veteran musician (with roots in Britain’s 60s Blues Boom) as well as an acclaimed author of fiction and non-fiction both. His newest project – a collaboration with Spencer Brown – includes a Beatles cover. Check out Back To The Start here: https://spencerbrownbrucethomas.bandcamp.com/releases Check out Bruce’s works here: https://www.brucethomas.co.uk/

SATB began as a conversation between two Beatle friends who happened to be writers; this episode began as a conversation about being a Beatles fan in the 70s. But in both instances, some unexpected twists and turns along the way led to other destinations… I’d like you all to meet Andrew Vaughan – a good friend of mine, a music writer and hardcore Beatle fan. He’ll be helping out with the show, and in this episode, we try our best to stay on topic. Results may vary. Songs include recordings by The Damned, The Optimists and The Residents.

The unexpected loss of The Heartbreakers’ leader (and “Charlie T./Muddy Wilbury”) presents an opportunity to look back on the career of the accidental supergroup: the Traveling Wilburys, whose debut album issued almost thirty years ago represented an unimaginable musical collaboration among some of rocks’s giants. Presenting their back story is rock journalist Jeff Slate (http://jeffslatehq.com/index/), whose newly-published Roy Orbison: The Authorized  Biography traces the career of a singular artist who, truth be known, served as an unwitting catalyst in the group’s formation. His ties to The Beatles as an artist and a friend are likewise traced. Check out http://royorbison.com/ for more on the book. “Please Please Me” by “Roy Orbison” recorded by Jared Lekites: jaredlekites.bandcamp.comJared’s band, The Lunar Laugh: thelunarlaugh.bandcamp.com

  You may already know the author of Liddypool  and The Fab 104 for his meticulous research in already well-trod grounds. But with his latest work, David Bedford reveals new revelations – some of them shocking. In Finding The Fourth Beatle, David brings a fresh interpretation and critical new analysis to Beatles scholarship, going where the evidence leads him regarding the truth behind Pete Best’s parting ways with the group, as well as the process of recruitment that (eventually) led to Ringo. There is also new light shed on the 18 (!) Beatle drummers, the Decca audition, Brian’s unsigned managerial contract and those who might have been Beatles – but weren’t. David is also working on an accompanying documentary and a companion CD release. Find out more at  https://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/finding-the-fourth-beatle

In something of a departure from the usual, SATB presents a conversation with Arion Salazar, original bass player with Third Eye Blind (“Semi-Charmed Life” – “Losing A Whole Year” – “How’s It Going To Be” – “Never Let You Go”) and this year on tour with XEB. As you will hear, he is an accomplished recording artist whose life path was impacted virtually from birth by The Beatles (who, as it happened, had just split up while he was in utero). Arion offers up his insights as a fan and as a student of the Beatles on the group, on Paul (certainly as a bassist) as well as on Klaus Voormann.