Ranking The Beatles

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#139 - Eight Days A Week with guest Dr. Duncan Driver Sep 06, 2022

Show notes

The break's over friends! We've missed you all, but we're tanned, rested, and ready to rank! Well, actually we're still quite pasty (Jonathan especially), we're still always tired, but we're definitely ready to get back to the business of ranking!

To say the Beatles were working hard in 1964 is more than an understatement. Tours, bbc sessions, t.v. appearances, movies, recording sessions, sometimes multiple of these things in the same day...yeah, it was a lot. So in this situation, one would maybe be excused to not turn out their BEST work. Of course, even the Beatles' not-best-work is still classic, and that's what Eight Days A Week is. It's the first time the band ever took a song to the studio that was incomplete, such was the pace at which they needed to churn out material. It's got all the catchiness and melody of a classic Beatles tune, but it maybe KIIIIINDA feels a bit tossed off as well, in that "too big to fail" way. It's the intersection of the band's need to maintain chart dominance while also starting to experiment in studio and stretch their legs as artists. It's a great tune, for sure, but is it also an early sign to a new direction? A new direction apart?

Joining us this week is Dr. Duncan Driver, who, if you listen to other Beatle podcasts, you've no doubt heard (he's frequently featured on One Sweet Dream, among others) wax eloquently about the Fabs. We're delighted to finally have him on our show, and we touch on all kinds of points, everything from the pop song firsts, Beatles by numbers, Big Mac and Crossroads songs, and Duncan flips the script on our rapid fire questions! Be sure to follow Duncan on social media at https://twitter.com/drduncd, and catch him on episodes of One Sweet Dream!

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 official website, www.rankingthebeatles.com and our brand new webstore!! RANK YOUR OWN BEATLES with our new RTB poster! Pick up a tshirt, coffee cup, tote bag, and more! Enjoying the show, and wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

BONUS EPISODE! Paul's 80th Birthday - A Paul appreciation chat and song discussion with guest Sean Nelson Jun 18, 2022

Show notes

We've been on a break between seasons, but being Paul McCartney's 80th birthday, we felt we wanted to contribute our little part to the conversation and global love fest. When our friend and previous guest, musician Sean Nelson reached out and asked if we wanted to chat about our favorite Paul songs, it seemed the perfect way to do so. There's certainly no shortage of words being written to sing his praise, but to us, the best way to show our appreciation is with his music. What can be said that hasn't been said 1000 times already? Probably a lot really, there's so much to talk about with the Beatles, especially Paul, who continues creating and working into his's 8th decade.

So we each chose our top 5 Paul Beatle songs and top 5 post Beatle Paul songs. The songs aren't ranked the same way we normally do them. Jonathan's Beatle songs are more a "top 5 unappreciated" list, not reflective of what's in the official RTB ranking...can't let the secrets out!! And like everyone, our list probably has changed since we compiled them, but these are songs we love wanted to share of love of, along with our love of Paul. Happy birthday Paul, here's to another 80 years of sharing your gifts with all of us!
This is a free form, largely unedited conversation, recorded today, June 18th, 2022, Paul's birthday. We wanted to "Instant Karma" it and record and post same day, so please forgive any extra "um's" or dog noises in the background.
Check out Sean's most recent single, "Viral Love" on Apple Music or anywhere you stream good music. What are your favorite Paul songs? Drop us a line on Facebook at facebook.com/rankingthebeatles, Twitter at @rankingbeatles, or Instagram at @rankingthebeatles. And be sure to check out our website, www.rankingthebeatles.com, where you can also grab a tshirt or a Rank Your Own Beatles poster!!

#140 - Roll Over Beethoven with guest Tim Hatfield (author, "When We Find Ourselves in Times of Trouble") Apr 20, 2022

Show notes

“If you tried to give rock and roll a different name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry." - John Lennon

To say Chuck Berry was influential on the Beatles would be an understatement. They covered more of his songs during their career than any other artist, and "Roll Over Beethoven" was in their live set all the way back in 1957. So when recording their 2nd album, With The Beatles, in 1963, and having a bit more say on what songs they would record, it's not surprising they went with paying tribute to one of their heroes with a song that, by this time, was in their DNA. It's an exciting, if a bit controlled, rock & roll rave up, with George in the forefront, handling the classic intro riff with skill and finesse. He gives what might be his best and most energetic sounding vocal of the Beatles early output (he does tend to sometimes sound a bit non-plussed in his vocal delivery), and plays a great solo (even if he kind of muffs a note or two at the end). The band are cooking behind him, especially Ringo, who absolutely drives the track. Chuck's original served notice to the establishment that rock and roll was here to stay, and for a while that was true. Following the late 50's/early 60's more mellow, crooner boom though, when the Beatles brough rock and roll back to the forefront, their cover of "Roll Over Beethoven" serves much the same purpose....a statement piece informing the establishment that, again, rock and roll was here, youth culture was here, and the days of old were gone.

Joining us this week is author, PhD, lifelong Beatles fan (and retired professor) Tim Hatfield. What began during the pandemic as Tim's daily, Beatles-themed inspirational email chain to cheer up friends and family, is now a book, "When We Find Ourselves in Times of Trouble - The Beatles: All Their Songs with Encouraging Words for Challenging Times." It's a fantastic read, finding uplifting and inspirational ideas from all the songs in the band's catalog! We had a great time chatting with Tim, talking about the Beatles' influence on his teaching career and style, passing the torch of a Beatle-influenced world to students, learning his own tenacity in working on the book, faithful cover songs, and what produces an energy in a song that some people hear, while others (looking at you, Julia) may not. Pick up Tim's book on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Beatles-their-songs-encouraging-challenging-ebook/dp/B0974LRBYV. It's a beautiful read.

#141 - Any Time At All with producer/author Jerry Hammack ("The Beatles' Recording Reference Manuals") Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

It’s interesting to think that in 12 months the Beatles had gone from recording almost an entire album in one day, to showing up at EMI’s Abbey Road studio with songs half complete. But by the spring of 1964, needing to finish their 3rd album (which would accompany their first film), that’s just what they did with John’s “Any Time At All.” Coming up with an inventive instrumental bridge in the studio, and a cracking arrangement, the band, George Martin, and the EMI production staff turn in an inspired performance all around for what would be considered by any other band’s standard, a “filler song.” But as with so many Beatles tracks, there’s a lot hiding behind the surface. John’s vocal melody seems to be pulled more from the Paul school of melody writing, with a melody moving all over the place, as opposed to more single or double note melodies where the lyric is the focus, a trait John would lean on throughout his career. It’s a gorgeous line, buoyed by a great low-key verse vocal and a scorching, raspy chorus. A swinging Ringo groove (while on the verge of collapsing from tonsillitis the next day), a chiming George 12 string, and great support from Paul on bass and piano (as well as figuring out the instrumental bridge), and that classic 1964 Beatlemania production shimmer all add up to a filler track that probably would’ve been a hit for any other band. The icing on the cake is the rare example of a single snare hit that’s just as much a hook as the chorus itself. All in all, it’s a great song (aren’t they all), but by no means the best they’d come up with. But oh man, isn’t it exciting?

Our guest this week is Canadian-American recording artist, producer, recording and mix engineer Jerry Hammack, author of the brilliant "The Beatles Recording Reference Manuals." If you want to know how these songs were made, from demo to final take, Jerry’s books are the Bible for how they were done. He’s got great points of view as a producer and musician, and honestly, we could’ve talked to him all day. We talk about putting your all into filler tracks, a producer’s role of saying “yes,” the Beatles as a measuring stick in recording, putting in the work in the studio, and so much more! You can learn more about his work as a mix-engineer at www.jerryhammack.com, his music at www.throttlebodymc.com and more about The Beatles Recording Reference Manuals at www.beatlesrecordingreferencemanuals.com.

#142 - Magical Mystery Tour with Sean Gaillard (author "The Pepper Effect" and host of "Principal Liner Notes" podcast) Mar 29, 2022

Show notes

Riding a serious creative hot streak in 1967, Paul was inspired by the "mystery tour" trips of his younger years, a bus trip to an unknown destination, and developed an idea for a film version of that, starring the Beatles. Of course, being the psychedelic year of 1967, it'd be magical, a Magical Mystery Tour. In needing a theme song or fanfare for the project, not dissimilar to what the band needed for the Sgt. Pepper album a few months prior, the band put together a bombastic track, with rocking drums, blasting horns, and multiple tempo changes. It's great to hear the band ROCK in 1967, and the horns are just piercing and powerful. The sped up vocals add to the trippiness of the affair, and it has a wonderful fade off into the mysterious unknown. It's does a great job as a theme song for MMT, both the film, and album (or EP), but as far as "a song" it doesn't necessarily carry much weight. But as always, it's fun, it's catchy, and it's exciting...it's the Beatles, after all isn't it?

Joining us this week is Sean Gaillard, author of "The Pepper Effect: Tap into the Magic of Creativity, Collaboration, and Innovation"as a look at the intersection of the Beatles and education. Sean's also the host of "The Principal Liner Notes Podcast," and has contributed articles to PBS and Culture Sonar. AND he's a big Monkees fan, so you know we're gonna get along smashingly. We talk about exactly what IS "the Pepper effect," having confidence in your ability to explore and be creative, being willing to fail, Beatle rituals, and Julia's desire to never go on a trip without a destination. Be sure to follow Sean on Twitter and Instagram at @smgaillard, and subscribe to "The Principal Liner Notes" wherever you get podcasts.

We dedicate this episode to the memory of Taylor Hawkins, drummer of the Foo Fighters, who passed away Friday March 25th, the night before recording this episode. The music he created and the joy and love he helped share will live on, and he will be very, very missed.

#143 - Sexy Sadie with musician Elroy Finn (ELROY, Crowded House, Liam Finn, Wild Nothing) Mar 22, 2022

Show notes

It's no secret that John Lennon was often trying to fill the hole left his parents' absence. His need of a father figure had definite impacts on his relationships with men his senior and of perceived power, like Brian Epstein and George Martin. The same could be said about Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Once turned on to his teaching, John immediately dove into his teachings of transcendental meditation and was eager to study at his ashram. Stories (along with video and pictures) show John jockeying for proximity to the guru, most comically when he made his way into the lone passenger seat of the Maharishi's helicopter ride, later telling the others he hoped that he might "slip him the secret." So when it appeared that Maharishi may not be the more-than-mystical figure they'd thought him to be, John's wrath was quick and sharp. It was in the taxi ride out of Rishikesh that he began singing a VERY explicit melody to himself about Maharishi, George Harrison asking him not to be quite so brutal in his lyrics. In changing the subject from a man accused of sexual misconduct to "Sexy Sadie," an imaginary woman who made a fool of everyone, he may be doing a disservice to both the song and himself. That said, it's a fine song, however, to me, it feels uncomfortable in inself, never quite settling in. The recording was incredibly labored over, hours and hours of overdubs, arrangements and effects recorded and removed. In that light, it makes one wonder if that's maybe an attempt to distract from a story John maybe wasn't quite as upset about months later.

Joining us this week from the future (and the past) in his New Zealand home is musician Elroy Finn. While on a pandemic-induced break from touring in Crowded House (he's the youngest son of Neil Finn), he wrote, recorded, produced, and mixed his debut solo album, "ELROY." It's a vibey, mellow collection of synthy-psychedelic melody, and we highly recommend it! We chat with Elroy about different Beatles records soundtracking different parts of your life, growing up in a musical household, whether this is a replaceable song on the White Album, meeting Paul, and much more! Be sure to check out his record, follow him on Facebook at facebook.com/elroyelroyelroy and on Instagram @elroytf!

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 official website, www.rankingthebeatles.com and our brand new webstore!! RANK YOUR OWN BEATLES with our new RTB poster! Pick up a tshirt, coffee cup, tote bag, and more! Enjoying the show, and wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

#144 - Wild Honey Pie w/ Phoebe Lorde, host of Another Kind of Mind Mar 15, 2022

Show notes

OK WE'RE FINALLY HERE!! Let's get down to it. During the creation of the White Album as tensions built among the ranks of the Beatles, the members often found themselves working on their own tracks in different studios, sometimes bringing in other members as needed, or working by themselves. While John and Ringo tended to a mix session for Revolution 9, which Paul hadn't been a part of, Paul was in another studio overseeing overdubs on his own "Mother Nature's Son." Following work on that tune, and feeling a creative streak, Paul demoed a (still) unheard song, "Etcetera," and then began building a track based on a guitar riff he came up with in Rishikesh. Adding additional guitars, percussion, and wild vocal acrobatics, Paul and the staff of Abbey Road finish the evening by mixing this weird track, and using their hand against the tape machine to manipulate the speed of the song, giving it it's even weirder sonic warble. In about an hour "Wild Honey Pie" was born, a track that had no real precedent in 1968, as far as it it's experimental nature and sound. It's weird, disjointed, grooves, and works within itself in ways that don't always make sense in passing listens. In headphones, it reveals how dual guitars weave together to form this strange, almost atonal melody, while the man who, at the time, had arguably the greatest voice in popular music throws his voice around in ways others wish they could. It's Paul at his experimental best, giving you just enough to do be different and not overstay its' welcome, and it's the beginning of a through-line that appears throughout his career, whether in his early home solo works, the synthy-strangeness of McCartney II, his collabs with producer Youth as The Fireman, all the way up to his tape loops and sounds he created for his Rockdown album, McCartney III. As Julia puts it, "Wild Honey Pie" walked so "Temporary Secretary" could run. But fear not, listener, Julia's just as perplexed at this ranking as you might be.

Joining us this week to talk about this track is the fantastic Phoebe Lorde, one of the hosts of Another Kind of Mind, which, in our humble opinion, is one of the best Beatle-pods around. Challenging well-worn tropes and narratives about the band, and examining their history with more nuance and deeper, more candid discussion, AKOM is part of a rejuvenation of the discussion of the legacy of the Beatles, refreshing the story and opening it up to new light after all these years. We're big, big fans. With Phoebe along for the ride, we touch on all kinds of points, like trying to break through historical biases in the Beatles' story, finding the space to be creative, defining "experimentation," the weirdness of 1964 Beatles songs on an album called "Beatles 65," and much more! Be sure to listen and subscribe to Another Kind of Mind anywhere you get podcasts, and follow along on their socials on Twitter @akompodcast and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/anotherkindofmindpod.

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 official website, www.rankingthebeatles.com! Enjoying the show, and wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

#146 - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band & #145 - With A Little Help From My Friends with guest Sam Whiles (host of "Paul or Nothing" and "Macca In Your Attic" podcasts) Mar 08, 2022

Show notes

After enjoying the anonymity of traveling incognito during the Beatles 1966 post-touring break, Paul came up with the idea of creating alter ego for The Beatles as a band, allowing them the freedom to do whatever they wanted, without the weight of the Beatles name attached. Once the project began with that idea in mind, he (along with Beatles' tour manager and assistant Mal Evans) wrote what would essentially be the intro, fanfare, and title track of the album of same name for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ("the band"). It's a loose, heavy rocker, with really interesting harmonies, a fantastic Paul vocal, fantastic Paul guitar, and a killer drum sound from Ringo. With some help from George Martin, they really create a movie of the mind, starting with the murmur of the crowd, the tuning of instruments, laughter, applause. And it all segues into the spotlight for Ringo, "With A Little Help From My Friends." A song custom tailored to Ringo's strongest points as a vocalist, as well as his personality, this song really cements the persona of Ringo as everyone's lovable uncle. It's also probably more of a biographical song for the drummer, as he so often talks of his love of playing and being with others, he truly craves that camaraderie of friendship and community. It's his signature song, and for good reason, you can't not smile when listening to it.

Returning to the show this week to talk about these songs, as well as berate Jonathan for many-a-previous rankings, is our pal Sam Whiles of the "Paul or Nothing" and "Macca In Your Attic" podcasts! Sam chats with us about the dawn of Paul's creative dominance in the Beatles, Beatle podcast tshirts, whether the concept of Sgt. Pepper is genius or pretentious, and the idea of songs versus tracks. We also touch on emotional response versus energy response, presidential impressions, and the Kim Kardashian of the Beatles story! Be sure to check out "Paul or Nothing" and "Macca In Your Attic," and follow Sam on Twitter @McCartneyPod and Instagram @paul_mccartney_pod. He's one of the best!

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 official website, www.rankingthebeatles.com! Enjoying the show, and wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

#147 - I'm A Loser w/ musician & songwriter Hilarie Sidney Feb 23, 2022

Show notes

Even after conquering the world and experiencing the highest highs celebrity had maybe ever known, by summer 1964 John found himself at odds with the public persona he'd been living with. After a journalist told him he felt John was more revealing in his offbeat poetry and prose than in his music, and with a little help from their new friend Bob Dylan and the party supplies he turned them on to, John began looking inward more than he had previously on the band's 4th lp, Beatles for Sale. The album's 2nd track, "I'm A Loser," sees Lennon embracing his trademark wordplay and wit, alternating the idea of a loser as both someone who isn't cool and confident (at least not as he pretends to be) with someone who's lost something, or someone. It's an important song in John's songwriting journey, as the track has that trademark early Beatle excitement, with a first taste of introspection that he begins to master on albums like Help! and Rubber Soul. Another clue to the new direction.

Joining us this week is songwriter and musician Hilarie Sidney of The High Water Marks (and formerly of Apples In Stereo). We talk about being born into a Beatles family, life in Norway, hamburger snobs, and the similarities between the Beatles' Apple Corps. and Elephant 6 Recording Collective, which she helped found in the late 80s/early 90s, which gave rise to such indie bands as Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control, and her own Apples In Stereo among others. We also talk about her current band The High Water Marks, their new album Proclaimer of Things which came out Feb 4th, and is a fun blast of 60s influenced indie pop rock. This episode features samples of the tracks "Jenny" and "Proclaimer of Things." Pick up a copy of the album at their Bandcamp page https://thehighwatermarks.bandcamp.com, and be sure to follow along on Facebook!

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 official website, www.rankingthebeatles.com! Enjoying the show, and wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

#148 - Do You Want To Know A Secret? with Jim Berkendstadt Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

Written in Hamburg at the end of 1962, and inspired by a very early memory of his mother, "Do You Want To Know A Secret?" is a John tune given to George (or maybe a John & Paul tune written specifically for George, depending on who's telling the story) to sing on their debut album. It's genetic make up is a bit all over there place...a dash of Disney, a pinch of Spanish soap opera dramatics, a hint of a band called The Stereos, and just a kiss of the doo-wah-doos. It makes for a perfectly pleasant song, one that would released as an American single in 64 and go all the way to #2, while Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas would cover it and take to #1 in the UK. Despite that, by the summer of '63 the Beatles were well and done with the song, and maybe that's rightfully so. It doesn't seem to have any of the hallmarks of what made a great Beatles song, nor does it necessarily sound very different from any other number of pop groups of the day. But that said, it's charming and catchy and a pleasant way to spend 1:58.

Joining us this week to chat is "The Rock & Roll Detective," Jim Berkenstadt! Jim's the author of a number of books including Black Market Beatles, Classic Rock Albums: Nirvana - Nevermind, The Beatle Who Vanished, and his newest one, Mysteries In The Music: Case Closed. We discuss run-ins with rock legends, working with Apple Corps, George Harrison and his estate, the mystery and excitement of bootlegs, and so much more! Check out Jim's goings-on at rockandrolldetective.com, on Twitter @rockdetective, and on Facebook!

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 official website, www.rankingthebeatles.com! Enjoying the show, and wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee!

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