Ranking The Beatles

Latest Episodes:

#157 - For You Blue with Garry and Paul Abbott (hosts of Big Beatles Sort Out) Oct 26, 2021

Show notes

After George's infamous walk-out during the Get Back/Let It Be session, his return was one of several conditions. He insisted the band move from Twickenham to their own Apple Studio, the idea of the big live show/tv program had to go, and he pulled almost all of his songs from consideration. After spending the winter holidays in the US with Bob Dylan and the Band and other musician pals, he was keenly aware that his songwriting had reached the same level of John and Paul. Songs like "Hear Me Lord" and "All Things Must Pass" went back into George's back pocket, and he left the band with "For You Blue," a song that can best be described as...a happy blues song! It does, however, provide a great moment of real musical connection for the band, playing live with a laid-back vibe and fun feeling, while still striving for new sounds between putting John on lap steel and Paul's experimenting with piano sounds. And while it wouldn't end up being George's only tune on the album, it is the only one of his to feature all four Beatles, and one of the best moments of group camaraderie as musician in the Get Back/Let it Be project. I can't wait to see it in the Peter Jackson film.

Joining us to discuss this tune are brothers Paul and Garry Abbott, hosts of the Big Beatles Sort Out podcast, another fantastic podcast in which the hosts...rank the Beatles catalog. Ha. However, whereas ours is based on personal preference and guttural choice, theirs is based on mathematics and analytics, providing a totally different method to our collective madness. We all about what it's like inheriting the Beatles, parallel between Blur and the Beatles, Beatles music being a saving grace in a time of need, and whether or not all this ranking is an exercise in futility. Maybe it is or isn't, but it sure is fun. Be sure to listen to Big Beatles Sort Out anywhere you listen to podcasts, and follow along on Twitter at @big_sort as well! And check out Garry and Paul's musical and creative endeavors as well, as mentioned in the episode.

What do you think? Too high? Too low? Just right? Let us know in the comments on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rankingthebeatles, Instagram @rankingthebeatles, or Twitter @rankingbeatles! Be sure to check out RTB's new official website, www.rankingthebeatles.com! Enjoying the show, and wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

#158 - Only A Northern Song with Dr. Bob Hieronimus and Laura Cortner (authors, "It's All In The Mind: Inside The Beatles Yellow Submarine Vol 2") Oct 19, 2021

Show notes

*NOTE - Audio has been corrected! Apologies!* There's no shortage of songs in the Beatles' catalog in which the listener can project their own lives and stories into the lyrics. A song complaining about being on the short end of bad publishing deal may not be one of those songs, but that's just what "Only A Northern Song" is. George's first attempt at a track for Sgt. Pepper is a droney, somewhat monotone diatribe about the needlessness of writing lyrics with meaning, or singing a song in tune, because at the end of the day, it's a Beatles song and people are going to buy it and George is only going to get .8% of the royalties, even if he wrote the song. After being sent through a psychedelic-Summer-of-Love-acid-soaked-journey, it found a new life with the Yellow Submarine soundtrack where it gets suitably trippy treatment in the film. It's a track that, as a SONG, may not have too much to offer to or connect to, but as a record, there's lots to grab on to and something new to hear every time you listen. It may not be George's finest moment in the mid 60s, but it's not a dud by any stretch. Joining us this week are Dr. Bob Hieronimus and Laura Cortner, authors of the new book "It's All In The Mind: Inside The Beatles Yellow Submarine, Vol. 2." A studier of esoterica, Dr. Bob has been on a long journey of deciphering deeper meanings behind the film, and behind the band's works in general, and how they've impacted the world. He and Laura spent years interviewing and talking to creators of the film to get the most in-depth story of the creation of the film, and the meaning behind so much of it. We touch on all sorts of different subjects, from gaining higher consciousness, studying the deeper meaning on symbolism with Jimi Hendrix, behind-the-scenes stories from the creation of the film, and striking story about Ringo's kleptomania. Pick up a copy of their book at YELLOWSUBMARINEBOOK.COM, mention that you heard about it on Ranking The Beatles, and they'll send you some bonus Yellow Submarine goodies for free! What do you think? Too high? Too low? Just right? Let us know in the comments on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rankingthebeatles, Instagram @rankingthebeatles, or Twitter @rankingbeatles! Be sure to check out RTB's new official website, www.rankingthebeatles.com! Enjoying the show, and wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

#159 - Good Night with Jason Kruppa (author and host of "Producing the Beatles" podcast) Oct 12, 2021

Show notes

After an unintended, Hurricane-induced hiatus, we're back in action! And what better way to get the party started back up than by talking about..."Good Night"? The Ringo-sung, John-penned closer to the White Album has always been somewhat of a polarizing song in the Beatles' cannon. Some love it, some loathe it. Yet, like so many moments in the band's catalog, there's so much more at play here. Where else could a song this saccharine fit than after the audio soundtrack of a revolution? Who else but Ringo could sing something so sweet and soothing? But then again, isn't it rather twisted to end the journey of the White Album with a song like this? Is there maybe some darkness behind the Disney-esque sweetness at play? As always with the Beatles, there's many layers to this glass onion.

To dive in this week, we're joined by Jason Kruppa, host of the fantastic Producing The Beatles podcast, and co-author of "All Things Must Pass Away: Harrison, Clapton, and Other Assorted Love Songs," which he wrote with previous guest Ken Womack (see #162 - "Another Girl"). Jason, who also lives here in New Orleans, joined us in RTB headquarters (before we all evacuated for the hurricane) to discuss the ins and outs and secrets of "Good Night," the never-ending wellspring of All Things Must Pass, George's favorite incense, the world of bootlegs, and the on-going saga of Eric Clapton's self-inflicted career and legacy damage.

Be sure to check out Jason's podcast at https://www.producingthebeatles.com, on Twitter @ptbeatles, IG @producingthebeatles, and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ProducingTheBeatles, as he breaks down how these brilliant songs were recording from George Martin's production side of things. His book, All Things Must Pass Away can be found anywhere you get good books.

#160 - I'm Happy Just To Dance With You with Chloe & Daisy of All About The Girl podcast Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

The Beatles needed a song for George Harrison to sing in their first film, A Hard Day’s Night. After producing his first self-composed song on the band’s previous album, the still-emerging writer didn’t have one of his own yet to offer up, so John and Paul wrote the uptempo “I’m Happy Just To Dance With You.” A many-chorded, clanging rocker with an incredibly propulsive rhythm guitar part, the song presents an interesting side of the band that’s even less threatening to parents and teenage girls…they don’t even want to hold your hand…just dancing together is enough. It feels a bit lightweight, but it’s still a great encapsulation of that 1964 Beatlemania, and features fantastically in the movie. It’s also the last time George would rely on his bandmates for his songs.

This week, we’re joined by Daisy and Chloe, hosts of the podcast “All About The Girl.” Hailing from Northern England, their show is a fascinating look into the lives and stories of the women associated with the Beatles stories; wives, daughters, mothers, lovers, all who tend to often have their own lives and journeys overshadowed by the band. By further diving into their stories, we get a better understanding of where the Beatles came from, how they responded and changed over the years, and how these women help shape their legacy. Be sure to check out their show anywhere you listen to podcasts, follow along on Twitter @allabouthegirlpod and Instagram @allaboutthegirlpodcast!

What do you think? Too high? Too low? Just right? Let us know in the comments on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rankingthebeatles, Instagram @rankingthebeatles, or Twitter @rankingbeatles! Be sure to check out RTB's new official website, www.rankingthebeatles.com! Enjoying the show, and wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

#161 - I Don't Want To Spoil The Party with Dr. Christine Feldman-Barrett (author, scholar, historian, musician) Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

After 3 albums where he comes off as the alpha male/leader of the gang, John Lennon seems to be dealing with a crisis of confidence on the band’s fourth album, Beatles For Sale. For the first time, his self-penned songs seem to fully embrace his emotions in a way they hadn’t previously. The self-consciousness on display in “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party” shows a guy who, while we may have seen him as the life of the party, maybe has been hiding his own fears behind the loud, confident, cocky persona we’ve gotten to know so far. Maybe it’s Dylan’s influence, or maybe he’s just not adjusting to the fame, John’s allowing himself to be incredibly vulnerable on the songs on this record, and definitely on this song. A great Lennon vocal (and self-harmony) shines through a song that’s still memorable, despite having no chorus. George falls prey to the riff-between-each-line move that, while sometimes effective, here kind of takes away my focus from the lyric. But it’s still a super memorable, catchy song, and part of John’s transition from pop-writer-John to introspective-John.

Joining us this week is Dr. Christine Feldman-Barrett. A scholar, author, and Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science at Griffith University, Australia, her new book, “A Women’s History of the Beatles” is a brilliant look at the influence the band has had on women. From their earliest fans at the Cavern, girls who went headstrong into promoting the band, starting and running fan clubs, and became true friends of the band, to women who were inspired to start their own bands, or allow their love of the band to route their lives to England, to modern generations of fans who continue to reinvent the essence of fandom and keeping the band in the cultural zeitgeist. The book is available in hardback now, with paperback coming in the new year. Its a fantastic read, and sheds light on parts of the Beatles story that haven’t had the light shone on them they deserve. Be sure to follow Christine on Twitter @feldmanbarrett, and pick up her book!!

#162 - Another Girl with Ken Womack (author, podcast host, professor of English and Popular Culture) Aug 03, 2021

Show notes

It's easy to overlook a song like "Another Girl," as it sits on an album (Help!) with multiple major Beatles classics, and is featured in a film (also Help!)that's usually given the short straw when discussing the Fabs celluloid catalog. However, for something tossed off on a holiday, then captured basically in one take, it's a really fun, breezy pop rock tune. Musically (and visually in the film), it's essentially the blueprint for what The Monkees would come out with: an easy-bop-along pop tune with a catchy vocal and a fun beat. However, just below the surface a bit more sinister undertone of requiring love on Paul's terms, or he's going to go off to his next girl, because she's already here.

Joining us this week is author/podcast host/teacher and Beatle-knowledge wellspring Ken Womack. At the end of 2020, he released John Lennon 1980: The Last Days in the Life, a deep dive in the final year of Lennon's life and creative resurgence, and now in July 21, with co-author Jason Kruppa, we have All Things Must Pass Away: Harrison, Clapton, and Other Assorted Love Songs, which takes into the creations of George's solo debut, Clapton's Derek & The Dominos' Layla album, and the dynamics at play in their relationship. We chat about everything from falling in love with the story of the Beatles (as well as the music), seeing in real time how an artist's story and history unfolds when they live a long time, Ken's wonderful "Everything Fab Four" podcast, and Paul's BDE. You can check out Ken's books, blog, and so much more at https://kennethwomack.com.

#163 - Chains with Susan Cowsill (singer, songwriter; The Cowsills) Jul 27, 2021

Show notes

This 1963 album Please Please Me album track is a great example of the Beatles understanding the value in digging through record store racks for songs other bands weren't playing. "Chains," a Goffin/King song gave George Harrison a vocal spotlight on the Beatles' debut album, and a place for their impeccable three part harmonies to have a home. There's a great innocence to this track, as the band's love of R&B and girl groups shines through on this song. Maybe it's a lightweight track, but good grief it sure is catchy, and they sing the hell out of it.

We're honored to have rock and roll royalty join us this week on the podcast. At the age of 8, Susan Cowsill joined her brothers and mother in the family band The Cowsills, and hit the charts with classics like "The Rain, The Park, and Other Things," "Indian Lake," "Hair," and "Love American Style." The band would serve as the blueprint for The Partridge Family in the early 1970s, but have had an amazing career of their own. Susan has the unique perspective of being on the charts at the same time as the Beatles, and has some great stories to go along with it. In addition to a busy solo career with her own music and working on other's records, she's still touring with her brothers Bob and Paul, and they can be heard this summer on the Happy Together tour, which is one of the most fun shows you can catch if you love great 60s pop and rock. They've also got their own podcast, The Cowsills Podcast, and it's a great glimpse into the fun these siblings are still having after all these years. Susan's on the the BEST voices in rock and pop history, one of the nicest people in the game, and we're so happy to have her on our show!

What do you think? Too high? Too low? Just right? Let us know in the comments on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rankingthebeatles, Instagram @rankingthebeatles, or Twitter @rankingbeatles! Be sure to check out RTB's new official website, www.rankingthebeatles.com! Enjoying the show, and wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

#164 - Not A Second Time with Andrew Sandoval (producer, author, radio host, artist manager, songwriter) Jul 20, 2021

Show notes

This 1963 John song often gets overlooked these days as album filler. However, this With The Beatles track can be seen as one of the songs responsible for writers and critics viewing The Beatles as actual artists. In a 1963 article, critic William Mann called John and Paul the greatest British songwriters of the year, but also heaped praise upon the band's "lugubrious" music and "pandiatonic clusters, and "the Aeolian cadence of 'Not A Second Time.'" John viewed this as nonsense, but the result was the validation of them not just as pop stars of the moment, but as writers of real serious art. It brought to light the unusual quality of work the band was doing from the onset, and one could argue is indirectly responsible for not just this podcast, but all Beatles podcasts, books, documentaries, etc. And even though it's tacked on the end of the record, it's better than people give it credit for. It's part of a handful that mark the beginning of John's dominant period in the band, where his confidence is at an all time high, and his material is top notch, a period that would reach its apex on A Hard Day's Night.

Kicking off Season 3 with us is Andrew Sandoval. Andrew's the producer behind some of the most landmark reissues in recent history from artists like The Kinks, The Monkees, The Zombies, The Beach Boys, The Bee Gees, Elton John, Big Star, The Left Banke, Nilsson, The Turtles and more. As a concert producer/manager, he's been behind the brilliant late-career resurgence of The Monkees, handling all their tours since 2011, in addition to handling A&R duties and additional production on their 2015 comeback album Good Times. His upcoming book The Monkees: The Day-By-Day Story is the most in-depth and important dive into the one-of-a-kind, fascinating career and story of the Monkees, and is available for pre-order now at beatlandbooks.com. We discuss the relationship between the Beatles and the Monkees, creating reissue packages from a fan's perspective, John's not playing by the rules as a writer, and so much more. We could've picked his brain for many more hours, so hopefully, we can do this again.

You can catch Andrew this fall running the show with Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz on the Monkees' farewell tour, hitting US cities September through November. Trust us, you'll want to see this show.

#165 - Your Mother Should Know with Mike Viola (singer, songwriter, producer) Jun 15, 2021

Show notes

Happy 1 year birthday to us! Thanks to everyone who's joined us on this ride so far! We're releasing this episode 1 year + a day on from our first episode, and we couldn't be more chuffed to have made it this far. We're so glad you're all here with us!

Paul's made no bones about his admiration for the music of his parents' generation, the music hall numbers his family loved that must've filled the Macca home, either on record or when dad Jim played during family gatherings. He claimed to have written "When I'm 64" when he was 14, so it's safe to say he's always had a soft spot for this style of music, though John may have scoffed at it (though his brilliant guitar solo on "Honey Pie" shows that he knew EXACTLY what it needed, so he was better versed than he admits). During one of those Macca family gatherings in 1967, Paul came up with "Your Mother Should Know," a tribute to women before his generation, whom he thought, may be a bit hipper and wiser than the growing generation gap may think. The song serves as the big song & dance number which finishes the Magical Mystery Tour film, and much like the film itself, can be a divisive entry in the Beatles' catalog. As mentioned by our guest this week, to put out a song like this during the height of psychedelia & rock and roll, well, it's a pretty punk rock move on Paul's part.

We're joined this week by one of our favorite singers & songwriters, Mike Viola, who first entered the scene in the late 90s with his band Candy Butchers, and as the singer on the song "That Thing You Do!" from the Tom Hanks' directed film. In addition to writing songs for films such as "Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story," and "Get Him To The Greek," Mike is an in-demand songwriter and producer, having worked with artists such as Fall Out Boy, Panic At The Disco, Mandy Moore, Shania Twain, Dan Wilson & Semisonic, The Monkees, and more. We chat with Mike about what makes this song tick and why it's such a classic Paul song despite some of its quirks, creativity being born out of trauma, basing one's entire music career on Ram, meeting Paul (legit some of the best meeting-Paul stories ever), and his absolutely fantastic new album, 2020's Godmuffin, which we at RTB strongly suggest you pick up because it's wonderful. Follow Mike at https://www.mikeviola.com, on Instagram @themikeviola, and on Facebook.com/mikeviolamusic.

What do you think? Too high? Too low? Just right? Let us know what you think! Be sure to join in the conversation on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rankingthebeatles, on Instagram @rankingthebeatles, and on Twitter @rankingbeatles. Enjoying the show and want to show your support? Check out https://anchor.fm/rankingthebeatles/support!
Songs featured this week include:

Nice To Know You (Candy Butchers - Hang On Mike)
That Thing You Do! (The Wonders - That Thing You Do! Soundtrack)
USA Up All Night (Mike Viola - Godmuffin)
Creeper (Godmuffin)
Dear Boy (Mike Viola, Tim Christensen, Tracy Bonham w/ The Damn Crystals - Pure McCartney)
All You Can Eat (Godmuffin)
Drug Rug (Godmuffin)

#166 - Think For Yourself with Kyle Gass (Tenacious D, guitarist/actor) Jun 08, 2021

Show notes

After having his mind perm-blown by acid in the spring of 65, George's songwriting changed its' trajectory, both in quality (upwards) and in subject matter. Gone were the boy/girl-romance songs, and in came a more thoughtful, world-weary young man, the same almost dour man we met just 2 years earlier holding the pen for "Don't Bother Me." With Rubber Soul's "Think For Yourself," George seems to be delivering a memo of caution regarding the peril of being stuck in traditional ways of living and thinking. It's unclear who he's talking to though. Is it a romantic partner? A platonic relationship (bandmates?)? The British government? Himself? The track is delivered with an absolutely confounding and kind of unsettling chord progression that leaves the listener feeling unrooted. Is it a major key? A minor key? It doesn't seem to fit the rules of pop song craft. It's so far removed from the simple chords of early Beatle songs, let alone early George songs. And it's all propelled by a fuzzed-out lead bass track, possibly the first recorded fuzz bass ever.

Joining us this week is the one and only Kyle Gass, half of the greatest rock band in history of the world, Tenacious D. Along with his partner Jack Black, one could make the case that he and Kyle are the modern-day Lennon/McCartney of comedy rock. Their 20+ career has seen the release of 4 studio albums, a film, an HBO series, a multi part series on Youtube (2018's Post-Apocolypto), and Grammy. In his spare time in the last year, he's managed to post daily guitar videos on Instagram, start up the podcast "Did We Do It?" with fellow actor Kevin Weisman, and recorded new solo and Tenacious D music. He's got a new solo single, "Vaccinated," with a star-studded video, out now. You can stream the song, watch the video, and get the t-shirts at https://linktr.ee/kylegass. We chat with KG about all sorts of things, from podcast mic tips to hating social media, the Beatles as actors, the appeal of a creative duo vs a band, to getting the vip treatment at Abbey Road. He even drops a few Easter eggs for upcoming Tenacious D plans (we got the ok from their people to leave it in) that's sure to please old school D fans and Beatles fans alike. Be sure to follow Kyle on Instagram at @theactualkylegass.

So what do you think? Too high? Too low? Just right? Kyle things we're laughably crazy. Let us know what you think! Be sure to join in the conversation on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rankingthebeatles, on Instagram @rankingthebeatles, and on Twitter @rankingbeatles. Enjoying the show and want to show your support? Check out https://anchor.fm/rankingthebeatles/support!

Songs featured this week include:

Classico - Tenacious D
Tribute - Tenacious D
Time Warp - Tenacious D
Vaccinated - Kyle Gass

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