Ranking The Beatles

Latest Episodes:

#167 - I'm Looking Through You with Mark Bryan (Hootie & The Blowfish guitarist, songwriter) Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

It's our 50th Episode! Thanks to everyone who's been along for the ride so far. We're so glad you're here! On to this week! Paul McCartney sometimes is (unfairly) criticized for not bearing himself in his songs in the more upfront ways John often did. While he usually wraps his emotions in bigger stories and concepts, there have been times he's been extremely candid about his life in song. Late 65-66 saw him bearing his thoughts on the struggles of his relationship with Jane Asher in a handful of tracks, especially on Rubber Soul, which is where we find ourselves this week with the song "I'm Looking Through You." The band worked on this song in several arrangement styles over the sessions, before landing on a somewhat loose, fun, folksy track featuring an absurdly great Paul melody, scorching organ in the chorus and some interesting percussion from Ringo (and George on tambourine!). And while the track is undoubtedly great (aren't they all), I sometimes wonder if the Anthology version may have been a bit more interesting and thought out?

To get to the heart of this tune, we're joined by our old friend Mark Bryan, guitarist and songwriter of kajillion-times platinum selling band Hootie & The Blowfish. We chat about all manner of things, from Mark and the band's early songwriting and harmony influences, the Beatles material output speed versus the output in modern music, the unspoken language of the Beatles, and Paul's brilliance in writing songs that can be shaped to any style. Mark's new solo album, Midlife Priceless, is out know everywhere, and is a masterful rock and roll/pop album. Stream it everywhere, or buy a cd or record at https://www.markbryanmusic.com. Follow Mark on Facebook and Instagram @markbryanmusic.

Songs in this episode from Midlife Priceless include:
"Gotta Get Outta Town"
"Wanna Make You Feel Something"
"A Little More Rock and Roll"

Also featured:
"I'm Looking Through You" - Steve Earle

What do you think? Too high? To low? Just right? Be sure to follow along, leave your comments, and join in on the discussion on the rankings at Facebook (facebook.com/rankingthebeatles), on Twitter @rankingbeatles, and on Instagram @rankingthebeatles. Enjoying the show and want to show your support? Check out https://anchor.fm/rankingthebeatles/support!

#168 - Christmastime Is Here Again with guest Blotto Beatles May 25, 2021

Show notes

Though the Beatles recorded an annual holiday record for their fan club, it took them until 1967 to finally put an actual real Christmas song on one of them. The very last thing the Beatles recorded together in 1967, "Christmastime Is Here Again" is almost a mantra, a repetitive sing-a-long, filled with all the fun and personality you'd want from the Fab Four, capturing a festive holiday spirit while avoiding virtually any cliche or normal hint of traditional Christmas music. It's interesting that for a band who's every move was recorded and noted, virtually NO info exists about the origins of the song, the tracking of, the nuts and bolts, etc. Coming at the end of a WILD year especially, it boasts some of Ringo's nastiest groove drumming as well, it's also the last time the band would collaborate together on a fan club Christmas record. It's a staple in the RTB house every holiday season.

We're always glad to spend time with our podpals Blotto Beatles, and they're here this week to help us bring a bit of holiday cheer to you as it starts to turn to summer. Scotty C, Tommy, and Becker are ALSO ranking Beatles songs, albeit in a different method, and also while throwing back a ton of drinks. Their show is one of our favs. After a year of hardcore Beatle podcasting, what have we all learned? How do we feel about holiday music, and Beatle holiday music? How do we keep ourselves sane after so much Beatling??? Be sure to follow their show everywhere you listen to podcasts, all the info you need is on their website at BlottoBeatles.com.

#169 - From Me To You with David Pomerleau (bassist, Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes, The Walrus - A New Orleans Beatles Tribute) May 18, 2021

Show notes

The Beatles 3rd single, and their first bonafide #1 hit, is a sub-2 minute blast of all the early hallmarks of early Beatlemania: John & Paul singing together, a super catchy hook, and chord progressions more complex than just about any of their peers were pulling off. And of course, a mop-shaking "wooooo!" The band always viewed this song as a major leap in their songwriting ability and quality, and in learning how to add in complex changes and arrangements, an early and encouraging signal to them that they aren't bound by conventional means of thinking...about anything. Joining us this week is our old pal David Pomerleau, who you may have met on our 3rd episode. He's the bassist for mainstay New Orleans rock/funk band Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes, as well as Jonathan's bandmate in The Walrus - A New Orleans Beatles Tribute. After quarantine shut down their original bands, David and Jonathan found themselves picking up more Walrus work than ever, as socially distant porch concerts became the only outlet for live music in New Orleans. A band that played maybe 4 shows a year started playing at least 4 shows a month, for pretty much a whole year. So now, after a year diving deeper into Beatles music, we talk about what's changed in how they view and appreciate Beatles music, and what it's like playing in a (no-costumes) Beatles tribute band. We also discuss working with changing voices, finding new paths as songwriters and performers, pilot koala bears, and silly Beatles trivia. Follow David's musical projects Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes (facebook) and The Walrus (instagram @WalrusNOLA) for livestream performances and more! What do you think? Too high? To low? Just right? Be sure to follow along, leave your comments, and join in on the discussion on the rankings at Facebook (facebook.com/rankingthebeatles), on Twitter @rankingbeatles, and on Instagram @rankingthebeatles. Enjoying the show and want to show your support? Check out https://anchor.fm/rankingthebeatles/support!

#170 - The Fool On The Hill w/ Damon Johnson (singer/songwriter, guitarist, Damon Johnson & The Get Down, Alice Cooper, ex-Thin Lizzy/Black Star Riders, Brother Cane) May 11, 2021

Show notes

A quintessential Paul McCartney track, "The Fool On The Hill" lands in a dreamy haze on Magical Mystery Tour, the tale of someone who lives with their head in the cloud, not a care in the word, inspire of the worries of those who think they're....a fool. Is the song about the Maharishi? About John? Paul himself? Or maybe all of us? Paul's never quite owned up to the truth on it, but it doesn't detract from the fact that this is a beautiful song. But what DOES detract is the peculiar choice of a recorder, the loud, children's-anyone-can-learn-it-instrument, used for the solo section. Is that enough to take the listener out of the blissed out vibe the song creates?

Joining us to tackle this discussion is Damon Johnson, singer/songwriter and guitarist of Damon Johnson and the Get Ready, and formerly of Alice Cooper, Thin Lizzy (and offshoot band Black Star Riders), and Brother Cane. We chat about The Beatles playing a big part of a child's first memories, from the spinning of a Capitol label, to crib calls for "Mysterytour!!" We also touch on balancing an ear for melody and pop while holding down a gig in harder rock bands, and his excellent new album, "Battle Lessons," which is out now, how the pandemic shaped the record and possibly his next like, 10 records. Pickup his new album now at damonjohnson.com, and be sure to follow along on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/officialdamonjohnson), Instagram (@officialdamonjohnson) and Twitter (@damonjofficial)!

#171 - Cry Baby Cry with Paul Sanchez (singer, songwriter, ex-Cowboy Mouth) May 04, 2021

Show notes

Written at the end of 1967 and finding a home later the following year on the back end of the White Album, "Cry Baby Cry" serves as several different significant markers. It's John's last real psychedelic track, marking the end of his acid-haze word play and the start of writing as reporting on real life. It's the last track engineer Geoff Emerick works on with the band, quitting mid-session due to ongoing tensions. And it's also the start of what Jonathan refers to as "the creepiest 11 and a half minutes in the Beatles catalog." This dreamy, opium-den-sounding track is a fantastic tune, with great work all around from the band, especially Paul's brilliant bass work (Julia thinks the his part at the beginning sounds like a spaceship!). A great tune, with an ominous vibe that leads the listener down a dark path, with Paul's "Can You Take Me Back" segue guiding the listener into the darkness of whatever they're about to experience with "Revolution 9."

Returning to the show this week is singer/songwriter Paul Sanchez, one of the most prolific, award-winning, and beloved songwriters in New Orleans. After releasing 19 solo albums (including a recent vinyl reissue of his 1992 solo classic Jet Black and Jealous), we take the time to look back at the role the Beatles, as writers, have impacted his songwriting through the years. We touch base on all sorts of things, like the chemistry of bands vs brands (Paul was a guitarist and founding member the band Cowboy Mouth, and after leaving after 15 years, Jonathan joined the band as guitarist for the next 3 years, more details in the show), whether Nebraska is Bruce Springsteen's Plastic Ono Band, the immediacy and vulnerability of Lennon, and realizing that your songs are ALWAYS about you in some way. We also get a rendition of the first song Paul ever wrote! Paul also now is co-host of "Another Cup of Coffee," a Youtube-based podcast airing live Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9am CST! Tune in!

What do you think? Too high? To low? Just right? Be sure to follow along, leave your comments, and join in on the discussion on the rankings at Facebook (facebook.com/rankingthebeatles), on Twitter @rankingbeatles, and on Instagram @rankingthebeatles. Enjoying the show and want to show your support? Check out https://anchor.fm/rankingthebeatles/support!

#172 - You Won't See Me with Sean Nelson (singer/songwriter, writer, ex-Harvey Danger) Apr 27, 2021

Show notes

As one of several songs Paul wrote at the end of 1965 during a rough patch with Jane Asher, "You Won't See Me" provides a glimpse into the real-life on-goings of Paul McCartney, something listeners only ever get careful, glancing views of. With this piano-driven, Motown influenced track, buoyed by an incredibly strong vocal, the lads create something that sounds fresh even today. Recorded on the last day of Rubber Soul sessions, the song showcases a Paul who's hurt, a bit angry and salty, but also completely desperate to get his partner back. It's a fantastic track on a fantastic album, and the only drawback may be that it kind of reveals itself to you completely rather early on. But to paraphrase Macca, "it's the bloody Beatles' Rubber Soul, shut up, Jonathan."

Returning to the pod this week is singer, songwriter, writer, and fellow Beatles nerd Sean Nelson! In this episode, we touch on a LOT of topics...Paul planting his flag in the sand on this record, relationships between Beatles and their partners, and Paul's ability to show us exactly how much he wants us to see. We also talk Sean's brilliant Harry Nilsson covers album Nelson Sings Nilsson, drinking with Micky Dolenz of the Monkees, and how Sean's old band ended up providing the theme song to a beloved British television comedy.

Check out Nelson Sings Nilsson as well as Sean's other solo album Make Good Choices and Harvey Danger's 3 albums anywhere you get your music, then thank us later. Songs in this episode include

"Gotta Get Up" - Sean Nelson, Nelson Sings Nilsson
"Meetings With Remarkable Men (Show Me The Hero)" - Harvey Danger, King James Version
"Daddy's Song" - Sean Nelson, Nelson Sings Nilsson
"Don't Forget Me" - Sean Nelson, Nelson Sing Nilsson

#173 - Matchbox with guests Jak Locke & Angie Tusa Apr 20, 2021

Show notes

The affection The Beatles had for Carl Perkins' music is no secret. "Matchbox" was a longtime part of the band's early live show, first sung by John, then by Pete Best, then again by John. Starting in '63, Ringo took it over for a few BBC sessions, then in studio in June of '64, with Perkins himself hanging in the studio with them. Their cover is a swinging, sloppy, rollicking fun mess. Ringo fumbles lyrics and melodies all over the place, but, in Jonathan's opinion, it's a fun, fast tune showing a bit of that raw rocker vibe that Beatles were starting to take their first steps away from as they grew and experienced more and more. Is that enough to elevate the track to something Fab-worthy?

Julia doesn't really agree, and neither do this week's guests. Our pals Jak Locke and Angie Tusa return to the show. Since we last connected, Angie has started a blog called After The End, a deep chronological dive into the entire solo catalog of The Beatles. Jak's history with rockabilly in his band The Monochromes helps give us a good resource this track, and it's history, which goes well beyond Carl Perkins. We touch on all sorts of topics in this fun, in-person (yay!) episode. We also try out a new game, Bruce's Brain Busters! Be sure to follow Angie along on the blog an on Twitter, and check out all Jak's musical projects at jaklocke.com! What do you think? Too high? To low? Or just right, like Baby Bear's porridge? Be sure to follow along, leave your comments, and join in on the discussion on the rankings at Facebook (facebook.com/rankingthebeatles), on Twitter at @rankingbeatles, and on Instagram @rankingthebeatles. Enjoying the show and want to show your support? Check out https://anchor.fm/rankingthebeatles/support to drop a coin in the tip jar!

#174 - Misery with guest Joe Wisbey, host of The Beatles Books Podcast Apr 13, 2021

Show notes

The second track on the band's debut LP, "Misery" was actually the first time John and Paul wrote a song with the intent of shopping it to another artist, Helen Shapiro. When she passed on the song, it gained a spot on the Please Please Me album, being one of the only really "new" songs put to tape on the album, most everything else being songs that had long been in their live set. Compared to a lot of the rest of the album, the song sounds quite grown-up production-wise, even if the lyric is kind of teenage-woe-is-me. John and Paul's unison vocal breaks into a harmony on the refrain, and already their voices are the perfect compliment to each other. A beautiful, melancholy bridge, accentuated by producer George Martin's piano, helps make this a catchy tune, even if it's nothing world-changing. It actually went on to be the first Lennon/McCartney tune covered by another artist, as tour mate Kenny Lynch scored a minor hit with a super sappy version of it.

We're joined this week by fellow Beatle podcaster Joe Wisbey, who's amazing collection of books on the fabs turned into The Beatles Books Podcast, in which he interviews the authors of some of the countless books that have been written about the lads (Julia thought we had a lot of Beatle books in the house...we ain't got nothing on Joe). He also runs a daily instagram feed which spotlights a different Beatles book or magazine each day. In addition to diving deep in this tune, we chat about what Joe looks for in a good Beatles book, the deep corners of Ringo's 70s and 80s filmography, the US vs English perspective on the band, and Joe raises a great point...is this song maybe a bit more tongue-in-cheek than we realized? Listen to Joe's podcast anywhere good podcasts are found, and follow along on Instagram and Twitter.

What do you think? Too high? To low? Or just right, like Baby Bear's porridge? Be sure to follow along, leave your comments, and join in on the discussion on the rankings at Facebook (facebook.com/rankingthebeatles), on Twitter at @rankingbeatles, and on Instagram @rankingthebeatles. Enjoying the show and want to show your support? Check out https://anchor.fm/rankingthebeatles/support to drop a coin in the tip jar!

#175 - Birthday with guest Dave Depper (guitarist, Death Cab for Cutie) Apr 06, 2021

Show notes

Leave it to Paul and the lads to come up with a classic song from conception to mix in just under 12 hours. That's the story of "Birthday," the storming rocker that kicks off side 2 of The White Album. Inspired by the rock and roll of their youth, courtesy of the 1957 rock film "The Girl Can't Help It," the Beatles put together an absolute barn burner of a rock tune, and captured a track that shows just how great a rock and roll band they could still be, at a time when working individually was increasingly becoming the norm. A strange topic to sing such a shouter about, the song has more than stood the test of time, becoming a multi-generational standard, a constant feature of Paul's live show, as well as at....well...just about every birthday.

Joining us this week is Portland-based musician Dave Depper, who's worked and toured with musicians from all over the place, but found a home in indie rock titans Death Cab For Cutie (one of our fave bands). Since joining in 2017, he's been on their most recent full length, Thank You For Today, 2019's Blue EP, and most recently, The Georgia EP. This year, he completed and released Europa, a long-gestating instrumental album of guitar loops, improvised and recorded live while on tour. It's a fantastic, soothing, dreamy, melodic record. Also under his belt is his 2015 synth pop album Emotional Freedom Technique (also rad AF), and if you need to be further convinced, in 2011, he released The Ram Project, a complete note-for-note recreation of Macca's classic, Ram. It too, is rad. We chat about all manner of things, including, but not limited to committing to Covid hair lengths, joining an established band with a history and finding a new future, the Beatles being part of your DNA, and why Birthday may succeed where other rockers fail. We highly recommend doing yourselves a favor, and checking out all of Dave's work (you can get it all at www.davedepper.com), as well as that of his day job. You can thank us later.

Songs featured in this episode:
Dave Depper - Munich Six - Europa
Dave Depper - Manchester Two - Europa
Dave Depper - Too Many People - The Ram Project
Dave Depper - Anytime, Anywhere - Emotional Freedom Technique
Death Cab For Cutie - Waterfalls - The Georgia EP

#176 - Thank You Girl with The Sunset Four (the world's youngest Beatles tribute band) Mar 30, 2021

Show notes

Written in Feb 1963 just after their marathon recording session for the Please Please Me album, "Thank You Girl" started it’s life as the Beatles’ attempt at their next single, another early example of tunes John and Paul wrote together sitting eye-to-eye. By the time they hit studio to record it, it'd become the b-side of "From Me To You," but it found a home in their live set for a little while and on some BBC sessions. It's a track that finds the band continuing to learn who they are and what they can do, finding that "Beatles sound" but still giving nods to their heroes like Buddy Holly. This week, we're joined by the world's youngest Beatles tribute band, The Sunset Four. Hailing from Miami Beach, this foursome has been wowing Miami crowds of all ages for 3 years now, which is wild considering they started when they 9. As a lifelong musician, it's really interesting to hear what young up-and-coming musicians think about Beatles music in 2021....on one hand, it seems a million miles away from my time...and other the other it's maybe not that different. You can follow them on Instagram @thesunsetfour and on Facebook as well. What do you think? Too high? To low? Or just right, like Baby Bear's porridge? Be sure to follow along, leave your comments, and join in on the discussion on the rankings at Facebook (facebook.com/rankingthebeatles), on Twitter at @rankingbeatles, and on Instagram @rankingthebeatles. Enjoying the show and want to show your support? Check out https://anchor.fm/rankingthebeatles/support to drop a coin in the tip jar!

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