Something About The Beatles

134: The Beatles in the Studio with Jerry Hammack (part 1)

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In which we (Ben Rowling and I) discuss the Beatles’ approach to their work in the studio – their creativity, work ethic and use of technology to push the boundaries of their art – with author/producer/engineer/musician Jerry Hammack.

Check out Jerry’s series – The Beatles Recording Reference Manuals – here.

April 21, 2018

133: Rutles I – A Conversation with Director Gary Weis

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In the first installment of what will, over time, serve as a commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the All You Need is Cash TV film, I spoke with director Gary Weis. In addition to his career as a documentary filmmaker, SNL short film creator and music video director, he recalls his work on The Rutles’ long-form “rockumentary,” as well as his interactions with George Harrison throughout his career.

[SNL sound clips owned by NBC and Broadway Video]

April 5, 2018

132: John and Paul – Truth and Beauty

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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.)

March 27, 2018

131: The Beatles and Randy Bachman, By George!

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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

March 9, 2018

130: The Beatles and Charles Manson

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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).

February 23, 2018

129B: “Acoustic Beatles” with Dave Mirkin 2 (This Time It’s Personal)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:34:49 — 217.0MB)

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Picking up where we left off, we discuss an array of topics and songs, mostly adhering to the “acoustic Beatles” theme. (For some reason, we seemed to gravitate to the White Album a lot…)

But there’s also much about the impact of success; the level of support the Beatles gave each other; George and the Traveling Wilburys; the US albums and the inherent comedy in and around their work.

Songs in no particular order include: “I Feel Fine” – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” – “Junk” – “Two of Us” – “Norwegian Wood” – “Blackbird.”

Dave Mirkin, who first guest appeared on SATB 122, needs no introduction.

January 15, 2018

129A: “Acoustic Beatles” with Dave Mirkin

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:12:58 — 167.0MB)

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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

January 12, 2018

128: The Beatles, Paul McCartney (and added Attraction)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:15:40 — 173.2MB)

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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/

December 20, 2017

126: 70s Beatle Fandom, etc…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:51:30 — 255.2MB)

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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.

November 24, 2017

125: Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and the Traveling Wilburys

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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

November 2, 2017

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