Ranking The Beatles

Latest Episodes:

#119 - I Call Your Name with guest Jude Kessler (author, "The John Lennon Series") Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

What was originally a song given away to fellow Liverpudlian singer Billy J. Kramer, "I Call Your Name" is claimed to be one of John's earliest song attempts, pre-dating the Beatles when he was first learning to play guitar. The song was spruced up with Paul for Kramer, but then reclaimed by the Beatles in early 1964 in consideration for songs for A Hard Day's Night. That plan fell by the wayside, but the track found its' home on the Long Tall Sally EP and The Beatles Second Album in the US, though managed to stay somewhat of an obscurity, as far as Beatles songs go at least. However, that doesn't prevent it from being an ripping, if not adventurous slice of music from the boys. For such an early song, it goes to some interesting places melodically, showing John possessed his knack for songwriting at an early age. It features some fantastic 12 string work George, though he's still getting comfortable with the instrument. It's a song about being absolutely devastated by loss, to a point of not even being able to cry, and if the timing is correct as John claims, it seems like it may be about something really, really hurtful from his past. It's all held together by a phenomenal vocal performance from John, hitting the peak his of his early phase vocals. Then of course, there's that rhythm change in the solo, an imaginative, experimental move the band had never tried, completely out of left field. It's a fantastic song and recording, as evidenced by the fact that it was covered contemporaneously by acts like The Mamas & The Papas and The Buckinghams, among others.

When we need to get deep on John, few are better to speak on it than Jude Kessler, author of the on-going 9 volume "The John Lennon Series." She's been researching Lennon's life since the 80s, and her books are becoming known to be the benchmark for deep diving on John and his history and what makes him tick. Plus we just like talking to her because she's incredibly nice! She's released 5 of the 9 volumes so far, and the audiobook for the 3rd volume, "She Loves You," is out now! Check it all out and get a copy at thejohnlennonseries.com! We chat with Jude about the Fest for Beatles Fans, John's family life, Beatle b-sides and so much more!

What do you think? Too high? Too low? Or just right? Let us know in the comments on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@rankingthebeatles, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@rankingbeatles! Be sure to visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠rankingthebeatles.com⁠⁠⁠⁠! Wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

#120 - All Together Now with guest Madeline Bocaro (author, "In Your Mind - The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono") Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

After almost a half a year of intense work on the Sgt. Pepper album, it's hardly surprising that, though there was plenty of work to be done for future endeavors, the Beatles were looking to blow off some steam and take things a little bit lighter. "All Together Now," a song that even by Paul's own admission is pretty slight in the grand scheme of things, certainly fits that bill. It eventually found its' home in the Yellow Submarine film and accompanying soundtrack. In the film, it's the finale, when we finally get a glimpse of the real life Fabs, looking different than their cartoon counterpoints, not quite Beatlemania, but not quite the longhair, bearded phase they'd be into after the film. It's a weird, inbetween phase, highlighted by John's brilliant mutton chops. But musically, it's just a blast of simple, pure joy...nothing more, nothing less. Driving acoustic guitars, hand claps, harmonicas, honking horns, and a call and response vocal of what's essentially nonsensical children's song lyrics are all the ingredients of what's basically musical ice cream...no real nutritional value, but boy is it delicious. This is a song that always puts a smile on my face and makes me move, regardless of the mood I'm in. The Beatles can be all things to all people, and one of the things I genuinely appreciate about them is the fun they can bring, and this is one of my favorite examples of that. I think I may be in the minority on here, but it's my list, so hate on, haters!! :)

Joining us this week is author Madeline Bocaro, author of "In Your Mind - The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono." Having been a fan of Yoko from before she was with John, Madeline's been working towards this book for years. She tracks Yoko's life and journey through her artwork and music, delivering a fantastic book that is best described (at least in our conversation) as hitting the imaginary nail on the imaginary head. You can get a copy at conceptualbooks.com or any of your usual bookstores, and follow her blog at https://madelinex.com/.

What do you think? Too high? Too low? Or just right? Let us know in the comments on ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@rankingthebeatles, or ⁠⁠⁠Twitter ⁠⁠⁠@rankingbeatles! Be sure to visit ⁠⁠⁠rankingthebeatles.com⁠⁠⁠! Wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

#121 I'll Follow The Sun with guest Julie Elody Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

In the fall of 1964 as the Beatles began working on what would become their 4th album, Beatles for Sale, it was only a couple of months after their 3rd album hit stores. They'd been constantly touring, making their first feature film, recording BBC sessions, essentially going non-stop. Time for songwriting was becoming precious and hard to find, so consequently, they started looking back at more of their favorite covers and originals that had been pushed to the back burner. One of those was Paul's "I'll Follow The Sun," a song with origins that traced all the way back to 1958. What was originally a bit of a jauntier song was transformed into an introspective, folksy ballad, given some lyrical tweaks and a fresh arrangement, and turned into a really beautiful moment on an album that often gets overlooked. It provides somewhat of a throughline for Paul's love of ballads and more tender material, a throughline that starts with their first album and continues all the way through to today. And for a song that he wrote when he was 16...it's pretty darn beautiful. If it loses any points, it's not its' own fault, its just part of such a storied song catalog of songs written by a more learned songwriter. But what a melody. Don't sleep on this one.

Joining us this week is New Orleans-based alt-pop musician and songwriter Julie Elody! After finding some initial success with her college band, she's now working solo, collaborating with producers and artists from around the world. She's recently released a couple of new singles, the gorgeous "Hate Myself," and most recently, "Get Fit," a banger about working out so that we can eat all the chips and good food we actually want to eat. We talk with Julie about how the Beatles impact her coming from a pop perspective, not growing up with a ton of Beatles, ungooglable band names, the damage of pep band arrangements of Beatles songs, and more! Check out her music at www.julieelody.com, and follow her on Instagram @julieelody. You can also catch Jonathan's recent appearance on her Tub Talk Tuesday here!

What do you think? Too high? Too low? Or just right? Let us know in the comments on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠@rankingthebeatles, or ⁠⁠Twitter ⁠⁠@rankingbeatles! Be sure to visit ⁠⁠rankingthebeatles.com⁠⁠! Wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

#122 - Please Mr. Postman with guests Blotto Beatles Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

The Beatles' love of r&b, Motown, and especially Smokey Robinson are no secret. They were such fans, their 2nd album, 1963's With The Beatles featured 3 motown covers, including "Please Mr. Postman," originally by the Marvellettes, and the first chart topping single for the Motown label. While it wasn't as big a hit in the UK, it was a hit with the Beatles, who added it to their set as early as December 1961. By the time they were working on their second album, they had turned it into a scorching, passionate tune, with one of John's finest early vocals, great backing vocals from Paul and George, and as always, rock solid support from Ringo. Their love of the material shines through, making for one of my favorite Beatles cover songs of the early era. It's just got...that thing.

We're excited to team up with our OG podpals for this episode! Those boys from Beantown are back, Becker, Tommy, Scotty C., and RB, the crew behind Blotto Beatles, the best ranking-while-drinking-Beatles podcast around! We love hanging and chatting with this crew, it's always a blast. We finally meet RB, the newest Blotto, and talk about his Beatle journey, Motown songs, Beatle covers good and bad, Blotto episode titles, and so much more! Be sure to listen to Blotto Beatles anywhere you get podcasts, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and at blottobeatles.com for all things Blotto (incl. great merch!)

What do you think? Too high? Too low? Or just right? Let us know in the comments on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram ⁠@rankingthebeatles, or ⁠Twitter ⁠@rankingbeatles! Be sure to visit ⁠rankingthebeatles.com⁠! Wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

#123 - She's Leaving Home with guest Olivia Nilsson (Harry Nilsson's daughter) Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

Lennon and McCartney were masters at finding inspiration all around them, not just from their own personal lives. On the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, John was inspired by a poster in his house and wrote "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite." Paul found inspiration in reading a news story about a young teenage runaway, and turned that into the harp and string-laden drama ballad "She's Leaving Home." Another of those great Macca Mind Movies where the story is so vivid you not only can see it in your mind's eye, but you sympathize with the characters in the song. It's a song that often gets overlooked, as it's surrounded by so many big hitters on the album, but it's an absolutely gorgeous tune.

Joining us this week is Olivia Nilsson, daughter of the late, great Harry Nilsson, who was so taken by "She's Leaving Home," he recorded his own version of it just days after the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. With a gorgeous horn arrangement and spotlighting Harry's brilliant vocal range, his version has always been one of our favorites in his catalog. Olivia runs the fantastic Nilsson social media accounts, where she shares stories of her dad, histories of songs, and behind the scenes tales all with a much more personal touch than one would normally find from an artist, especially a legacy artist. She's instrumental in the ongoing resurgence in the interest in Harry's music, and a fantastic guard of his legacy. We talk building her dad's legacy, his Forrest Gump-ian career, mutual inspiration between Harry and the Beatles, his cover of She's Leaving Home, and much more! Be sure to follow on Instagram at @officialnilsson, TikTok at @theofficialnilsson, or on Twitter at @officialnilsson to see what she's sharing!

What do you think? Too high? Too low? Or just right? Let us know in the comments on Facebook, Instagram @rankingthebeatles, or Twitter @rankingbeatles! Be sure to visit rankingthebeatles.com! Wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

#124 - I Wanna Be Your Man with guest Narada Wise (drummer, Sean Johnson & The Wild Lotus Band) Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

From the moment he joined the band, Ringo's popularity meant he'd have a song or two to sing each night. This was a practice for The Beatles even when Pete Best was in the band, but once things really took off, and Lennon and McCartney were becoming more solidified songwriters, they knew it'd be good to have an original for Ringo to sing. "I Wanna Be Your Man" was written while the band was working on their second album, and according to some tellings, was written on the spot for a young, upstart band called The Rolling Stones, who were looking for a song that might be a hit. Whether it was written specifically for the Stones or for Ringo, it turned into Ringo's vocal turn on the With The Beatles album, and also provided the Stones with their first chart hit. It's a simple but effective rocker, a glimpse to what the band might've sounded like bashing it out in the Cavern, and it stuck in the band's live set all the way through the end of their touring days in 1966. It swings, it's fun, it's got a really cool turn around, and Ringo really goes for it vocally, which isn't what he usually does.

Joining us this week is Narada Wise, an Ohio-based drummer who plays with New Orleans-based kirtan band Sean Johnson & The Wild Lotus Band. We talk about just what kirtan music is, how Ringo influences Narada's playing even in a genre that's very different from the Beatles, the brilliance of Ringo, rock & roll lazers, and much more! Follow Narada and the band at www.seanjohnsonandthewildlotusband.com, check out their music, and see when they're coming to your town!

#125 Fixing A Hole w/ guest Sonia Tetlow (singer, songwriter, musician) Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

Self-care isn't always something that gets prioritized when we're in our 20s. But the notion of taking the time to check in with yourself, to be mindful of the things going on around and inside of you seems to be something that Paul McCartney was tuned into in 1967. He credits this with the freedom to discover himself that he found through mind-expanding stimulants of the time, namely marijuana and LSD. "Fixing A Hole" is the result of this, a metaphorical look at taking personal stock and learning to look after one's self. It's an interesting tune that doesn't really sound like anything else on Sgt. Pepper, it's not overtly psychedelic, and personally, it's a bit of a sleeper for me. A sleeper in that I seem to forget about it but when it pops up I remember how lovely it is. There's some interesting questions about it too...did Mal Evans get a co-write on it? Did John really play bass? How did George get that rad guitar tone??

Joining us this week is the wonderful Sonia Tetlow, an Atlanta, GA-based singer/songwriter by way of New Orleans. She's got a fantastic new solo album out, "Better Days," which Jonathan played guitar on, and features previous RTB guests Andre Bohren and Paul Sanchez. We talk about what it takes to make a really great record, a mysterious Beatles song Sonia doesn't like, and much much more! Follow Sonia on Facebook, and you can stream "Better Days" anywhere you stream quality music, or download it or buy it on CD through her Bandcamp!

#126 - Mother Nature's Son with guest Susan Shumsky (author "The Inner Light: How India Influenced the Beatles") Dec 28, 2022

Show notes

Originally sketched out in a notebook of song ideas started in Rishikesh, Paul's "Mother Nature's Son" is part of a trifecta of White Album songs where he emerges as fully formed solo artist, the only Beatle on the track. It's a beautiful acoustic-based song about the solitude and peace one finds in nature. Featuring a nice bit of Nilsson-influenced brass, it provides fantastic imagery and scenery, another of those great Beatle mind movies. And to my ears, it's also a LOT more autobiographical than it gets credit for. Paul had been somewhat isolated from the other 3 Beatles for a few years, socially, living in the city area of London, while the other three relocated to the stockbroker belt. The others took to LSD long before he did. He left India before John and George. In a lot of ways, he kind of HAD to become a self-contained solo artist to get out all the creativity he had inside him because he didn't have his partners around him as much. Maybe this poor young country boy is more telling of a track than we realize? Regardless, it's certainly one of his more beautiful acoustic tracks that he can just churn out so easily. This one feels so effortless and delicate and unguarded, in a way a lot of these songs don't for him.

Joining us this week for our 90th episode, and our season finale, is Dr. Susan Shumsky. Her new book is called The Inner Light: How India Influenced the Beatles. It's a topic she knows a thing or two about, as she spent several decades under the mentorship of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and has spent years teaching thousands of people meditation. We chat with Dr. Susan about her own experiences with Maharishi, his thoughts on the White Album, Paul being more of an open book than we realize, and much much more! Grab a copy of her fantastic book (we read it on vacation shortly after taping, it's great) at your local bookstore or online at drsusan.org.

#127 - Not Guilty with guest Sam Whiles (host of "Paul or Nothing") Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

"We made a mistake," said John. "We thought there was more to him than there was, you know?" said Paul. After their stay in Rishikesh ended, the Beatles' overall disillusionment with the Maharishi lead to John and Paul publicly distancing themselves from the Eastern philosophy and path to enlightenment that George had lead them all to pursue. And while the unit a whole distanced themselves, marking the end of that phase for the group, George continued his practice and involvement for the rest of life. He felt the group viewed him at fault for they saw as public embarrassment, but in his mind, they were free to make any choices they wanted, and to follow any path they chose. It wasn't his fault. And thus was born "Not Guilty," a song recorded during the summer of '68 for the White Album.

The band spent more time on "Not Guilty" than any other song in their recorded catalog, and after all that work, it was left in the archives until the Anthology project in the 1990s. George re-recorded it in the late 70s for his self-titled solo album, albeit in a much mellower version. The Beatles version though seethes in a moody, angry way. George's fully self-referential lyrical style is on display, singing a song about something obviously very personal, maybe almost too much so though. It's a much darker, heavier song than The Beatles typically are known for, with some interesting instrumental and arrangement choices, leading them to spend over 100 takes trying to get the track right. But everyone comes to play here. John's harpsichord track moves things into a kind of demented carnival territory, with George adding a sublime, almost detached lead vocal, and a stabbing electric guitar part. Ringo gives a dynamic, grooving part, while Paul provides one of the coolest bass parts he ever laid down. Maybe John and Paul weren't comfortable with letting George be the one to air the dirty laundry at this point, but to me, leaving this song off the White Album was a rare mistake in their catalogue. It makes the album a bit more of a rocking album, and shows another side of the band musically.

We're always pleased to catch up with this week's guest, our old pal Sam Whiles. Sam hosts the brilliant podcast "Paul Or Nothing," the place to get all Paul, all the time. We chat about George's knack for pointing the finger at others, whether this should've been on the White album, George solo albums, and we talk a good bit of smack about other Beatle podcasts (all joking of course!). Check out Paul or Nothing anywhere you get your podcasts!

#128 - Baby You're A Rich Man with guest James C., host of The Oasis Podcast Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

They say there's no rest for the wicked, but throughout the 60s, there was often no rest for the Beatles. As soon as work was done on the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, they began working on more songs with an eye towards the recently-contracted-Yellow Submarine film. Inspired by an acid-fuled evening spent at the 14 Hour Technicolor Dream and his immersion into the hippy scene of '67, John began working on a song called "One of the Beautiful People." At some point, he paired with a song fragment Paul had, possibly inspired by their want for manager Brian Epstein to start enjoying himself and some of the money they'd all made, and "Baby, You're A Rich Man" was born. One of the coolest grooves the Beatles (especially Ringo) ever laid to tape, the tune bounces from detached, light-hearted falsetto to a boisterous, joyous chant of the chorus, all held together with a musical equivalent of a mosquito in flight, John's performance on the clavoiline (possibly played with an orange?), an instrument that was lying around Olympic Sound Studios, the studio the band was recording in on that evening. It's an absolute jam of a track, and incredibly fun, but the track maybe hiding that fact that the song itself is maybe lacking a bit in substance.

Joining us this week is our old pal James C., host of The Oasis Podcast. He recently undertook the ill-advised task of ranking the entire catalogue of Oasis, as well as the Gallagher bros post-Oasis work. We wanted to compare notes on how we each went about our rankings, and what we took from it. Of course, I'm always up to talk about Oasis, as they're one of my other favorite bands. We touch on all kinds of things like musical and emotional growth (or lack thereof), memories triggered by music, and the difference between American and British podcast guests. Check out his brilliant Oasis Podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts about Oasis!

Trigger Warning: in regards to a long-held rumor about a lyrical variation on this song supposedly sung by John about Brian Epstein, we do discuss the cultural differences between the F-word, and the word is mentioned in that conversation, but purely in a contextual sense. If you'd rather skip this discussion, it starts at an hour and 3 minutes in, and lasts for about 6 minutes, feel free to skip ahead, and know that in no way do we condone or support hate speech or language of that type.

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