Continuing our look at the "Let It Be" box set. This week, a bit of recap on the history of the "Get Back" LP. Glyn Johns mixes, radio airplay, bootlegs and other artifacts from 1969. We then follow this up with a look at Disc 4. We ponder the mystery of the "Japanese mixes", and discuss how an unreleased, unmastered tape went on to become something nearly as well-known as Phil Spector's "overproduction".
Nov 01, 2021•58 min•Ep. 39
The "Giles Martin" Let It Be is finally here! This week Jon and I start our dive into the project with the remix of the main record (*waving fist at Phil Spector*) and the EP. More to come as we do our usual thorough job on the fun and excitement to be found within the bits of cardboard.
Oct 24, 2021•58 min•Ep. 38
A repost of our first visit with Martin Quibell from 2019. More ukuleles and banjoleles than you can shake a stick at! Remember, The ukulele is a type of lute class that is quickly becoming the primary choice of instrument for musicians everywhere.
Oct 24, 2021•42 min•Ep. 37
Kit O'Toole - the Queen of All Beatles Media (Talk More Talk), and Martin Quibell (Pods Like Us) join the show this week as we go deeper in-depth on the trailer to the forthcoming Peter Jackson's "The Beatles: Get Back" than some might have thought possible. Roll on November!
Oct 17, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 36
A peek behind the scenes of A Hard Day's Night. Richard Lester, Walter Shenson, Wilfrid Brambell, Alun Owen and many others came together at the behest of United Artists to shape a movie around the Beatles. Owen and George Martin would even be nominated for an Academy Award in their respective areas. A long way away from "Gutter Girls!"
Oct 11, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 35
Ringo released the "Change the World" EP on September 24. This week, we dive into the songs, songwriters, and how these pieces fall together into the whole that is expected to hear next year. We continue to "Rock Around the Clock" with a playlist of some of Ringo's pre-Beatlemania favorites that he has chosen to cover over the years.
Oct 04, 2021•57 min•Ep. 34
Part two of our look at the singles of records. Hits, misses and sounds that definitely fall in-between. Would you believe Apple released a single on 78? Even Allen Klein could not stop the multiple artists that Apple presented to the world during those years. Say hello to Chris Hodge, everybody!
Sep 27, 2021•58 min•Ep. 33
Week one of the "When They Was Fab" look at the singles on Apple Records. This week: Mary Hopkin, Jackie Lomax, Billy Preston, The Black Dyke Mills band and JOHNPAULGEORGE&RINGO - the foursome that started it all. We discuss Richard DiLello delivering copies of this box set to Buckingham Palace, and the unique writing style of Derek Taylor.
Sep 20, 2021•58 min•Ep. 32
The fifth (and final) week of our look at the fiftieth anniversary box set of "All Things Must Pass". Sessions and jams. Who is walking down lovers lane while "Those Wedding Bells" play? Why could 2021 possibly be called "The Year of Get Back"? All this and more on this edition of "When They Was Fab".
Sep 13, 2021•56 min•Ep. 31
Week four of our look at ATMP. This week, the day one demos. Also a bit about the official announcement of the "Let It Be" box set, the songs Apple made available to the public, and Charlie Watts. Hang on, only one more week before this (box set) too shall pass and we get some other topics before the year end rush of even more new product! Om Hare Om!
Sep 06, 2021•52 min•Ep. 30
We continue our graze through the "All Things Must Pass" box, and this time the wheel stops on LP2 and side 6 (aka "Apple Jam side 2"). We ponder the nature of life, the universe, "Jam Piece", fidelity (as used in both audio and marital terms) and the passing of one of the few remaining fifties rock legends.
Aug 30, 2021•59 min•Ep. 29
Week two of our look at "All Things Must Pass". This week, the first LP and side one of the "Apple Jams" box. George, Eric, Bobby Whitlock and Friends galore. What was George doing in 1970, and how did it end up as a three record set?
Aug 23, 2021•57 min•Ep. 28
On August 6, 2021 UMe and George Harrison presented the fiftieth anniversay remix of "All Things Must Pass" in multiple versions. This week, we look at disc four (better known as "Day 2" or "Beware of ABKCO") from the streaming, 5CD, 8LP and Uber editions of this set. Nearly an hour of George Harrison, occsionally a bass player and Phil Spector listening in the booth.
Aug 16, 2021•56 min•Ep. 26
Jon and I finish our review of the first series of McCartney 3 2 1. You know the routine. Paul, Rick Rubin, isolated tracks, stories both new and old - while we talk about their discussions, what they missed out on and where exactly the "Paperback Writer" bit from the trailer went!
Aug 09, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 25
Kit O'Toole tunes up for the B-side, as we present our review of episode 4 of McCartney 3 2 1
Aug 02, 2021•45 min•Ep. 24
Kit O'Toole guests this week as we look at the "Find My Way" video from Paul and Beck, and review pt.3 of "McCartney 3 2 1". Don't stop here though, as Kit also joined us for our review of pt.4, which can be found in the "B-side" of this show.
Aug 02, 2021•54 min•Ep. 23
Part two of Sam Whiles' "classic" visit to When They Was Fab. Further discussion of the Beatles in 1970, and how the lives of John, Paul, George and Ringo continued to intertwine through their early solo efforts.
Jul 30, 2021•44 min•Ep. 22
"These Things Bring You Together" and "The Notes That like each Other". This week we look at the first two episodes of Paul McCartney x Rick Rubin, also known as "McCartney 321". We go through the tracks and the stories. Is it possible top find new revelations, even among old stories from "The act we've known for all these years?"
Jul 26, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 21
"Classic" When They Was Fab. Sam Whiles joined us in 2020 to discuss the Beatles in 1970, and how the lives of John, Paul, George and Ringo continued to intertwine through their early solo efforts. Pt.2 will be posted shortly!
Jul 25, 2021•44 min•Ep. 20
The Monkees both were are were not "a weekly dose of A Hard Day's Night." This week, we look at the relationship between the two acts. How did Bob Rafelson come to the concept of "four zany musicians having wild adventures." What did the "Four Kings of EMI" think of their counterparts, and how often did their paths cross?
Jul 19, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 19
This week: The Beatles take drugs! No, nothing surprising about that revelation, so we spend the rest of the hour talking about how the substances changed their mindset (and subsequently songwriting, recording and production). We also examine the different ways substances altered Lennon, McCartney and Harrison - and how each spoke of their drug use without being overtly encouraging (usually).
Jul 12, 2021•58 min•Ep. 18
Have fun, cue this episode up and hit start 5 minutes to noon local time (7/7/21). Peace and Love everybody, and the happiest of Birthdays to Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sir Richard Starkey. Peace and Love everybody!
Jul 07, 2021•13 min•Ep. 17
Jon and I consider an alternate set of All Starrs. In the thirty plus years of the band, Ringo has only had one female member. Should Ringo choose to go a different route, what would it look like? Which musicians might fit well in the band - providing and performing "songs you know and love".
Jul 05, 2021•55 min•Ep. 16
Thorsten Knublauch's new book ("The Beatles Mach Schau in Hamburg") and a deep dive into Lord Reith's "Executive Version") of Live at the Star Club inspired this week's topic - a look at the Beatles trips to Hamburg, We trip through the highlights of 1960, 1961 and 1962 and each of the trips John Paul George (and variously Pete, Stu and Ringo) would make along with figures including Bruno Koschmider, Peter Eckhorn and Horst Fascher.
Jun 28, 2021•57 min•Ep. 15
Jon and I spend this week talking about Apple Corps Limited. Publishing, Records, Retail, Manufacturing, Schools, Electronics and maybe even an island off the coast of Greece. They even managed a Recording Studio at 3 Savile Row. Even though the results were questionably successful, many of pieces would be resurrected in the form of Dark Horse Records, Handmade Films, LIPA and even to a certain extent MPL.
Jun 21, 2021•55 min•Ep. 14
Jon and I move through the highlights of the remaining discs. Out-Takes, Elements and raw studio mixes for each. We talk through some of our favorite tracks, discuss the more (or less) significant items, and consider what we might have done different. We then close with thoughts on what's coming next - quite possibly Sometime in NYC, and a mention of Dhani and All Things Must Pass.
Jun 14, 2021•52 min•Ep. 13
The George Harrison Estate has announced the fiftieth anniversary edition of "All Things Must Pass", which includes the contents of the beloved "Beware of ABKCO" unofficial release. This classic episode from 2020 features Lonnie Pena and myself reviewing that very disc. Squint, and it might even sound like something from the future (if you ignore the McCartney III and Taylor Swift chat!)
Jun 13, 2021•47 min•Ep. 12
A classic WTWF that has always been among the favorites of Lonnie Pena and myself. Darin Murphy sat down behind a drum kit and demonstrated some of Ringo Starr's drum stylings and how Ringo's playing evolved through the years.
Jun 13, 2021•58 min•Ep. 11
Part two of our visit with friend of the show Darin Murphy covering the Demos and Evolution documentaries from the John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band Ultimate Collection. More of the three of us wandering around Beatles topics, while managing to talk about the business of demoing new songs for friends and family, and then turning those demos into the finished recordings we are all familiar with? How well is that process represented in this box?
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 10
The second part of Darin Murphy's first visit with WTWF from 2018. New episode coming on schedule!
Jun 05, 2021•38 min•Ep. 9