Something About the Beatles

Latest Episodes:

157: In the Studio; 1967 (The Ben and Jerry Show) Jan 24, 2019

Show notes

It’s the return of Jerry Hammack – creator of the Beatles Recording Reference Manual series. Volume 3, covering the end of 1966 (“Strawberry Fields Forever”) through the whole of Sgt. Pepper (plus Magical Mystery Tour) has just been published. Producer Ben Rowling and I discuss the high level of studio innovation that typified the post-touring era, and though we didn’t get to Magical Mystery Tour in this conversation (part two to come), we did discuss elements of their work habits through the White Album, Let It Be and Abbey Road. (Plus, Jerry tips his hand as to what’s next…)

Check out Jerry’s work here

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156: A Conversation with Vic Flick Jan 13, 2019

Show notes

In a slight departure from the SATB norm, I present an account of the career of a Beatles peer: session guitarist Vic Flick, whose work appeared in 1960s music charts alongside The Beatles. Every Fab fan will know his soundtrack work on their first two United Artist films, but in addition to this, he contributed to a McCartney solo project, worked with George Martin (and Beatle acolytes Peter and Gordon), as well as scores of other “British Invasion” acts.

And yes – it was he who played the iconic 007 James Bond theme guitar riff.

Check out his memoir, Guitarman, on Amazon or direct from Vic (http://vicflick.com/).

Special thanks to Bob Rush!

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155: 1968 with Candy Leonard Jan 04, 2019

Show notes

First off, listeners: kindly indulge the first 15 minutes, which represents an audio document of 1968 (January through end of August). It’s one thing to know what happened that year, but it’s quite another to hear the immediacy of actual sound, both news and music. 1968 was a convulsive stream of history and it is with that context in mind that we can come to a better understanding of the world The Beatles operated in.

Second: this conversation was an attempt to discuss how the Beatles and their audience interacted at a critical moment: between the triumph of Sgt. Pepper and the year of breakdown. Candy Leonard, author and sociologist, is ideally suited to illuminate this dynamic. Her book, Beatleness, explores “how The Beatles and their fans remade the world.” As always in such discussions, a certain amount of meandering occurs, and therefore a lot more than 1968 is fair game in this conversation.

Check out more of Candy’s writings here: http://beatleness.com/beatleness-blog/

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154: IT’S CHRIS ThoMAS TIME! Dec 25, 2018

Show notes

The long-awaited conversation with producer Chris Thomas, recorded at the White Album Symposium in Monmouth University. Audio deficiencies with the sound due to the electrical system; deficiencies in my voice due to an ill-timed tribute to George’s Dark Horse Tour.

Thanks to Ben Rowling Joe Rapolla, Dr. Kenneth Womack and everyone at Monmouth University.

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153: Lon Looks Back (And Forward) Dec 24, 2018

Show notes

In general, you can tell how well a conversation went by how long the show runs. At just past the two hour mark, you get an idea of how well things went with Lon Van Eaton, one-time Apple recording artist and protege of George Harrison. In addition to being one half of the Van Eaton brothers, who issued an album and single in the US in 1972, he did session work for Ringo beginning with the 1973 self-titled release (and performed live with him on TV), as well as other 1970s acts produced by Richard Perry.

He went on to good works with his charitable organization, Imagine A Better World, inspired by examples gleaned from The Beatles. While this may be the most spiritual discussion yet had on SATB, it is also perhaps one of the most lighthearted. One can easily see how Lon connected with George and Ringo particularly: being equal parts deep-thinker/philosopher and everyman comedian.

Lon witnessed life with the ex-Beatles (and acolytes like Klaus Voormann, Pete Ham and Harry Nilsson) up close. He has the stories and the insight – you don’t want to miss this one.

Lon’s new album is called Cupid. Find it at Imagineabetterworld.com

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152: Best of SATB 2018 Dec 08, 2018

Show notes

As a sonic landscape to accompany your holiday season demands: driving places – online shopping – gift-wrapping, and so forth, SATB presents an end-of-year look at the highlights of this years’ shows. We had some terrific guests this year, ranging from notables like Randy Bachman and the Mona Lisa Twins to SATB favorites like Erin Weber and Jeff Martin.

Tons of great discussions and explorations – more to come in the New Year.

Special thanks to: Ben Rowling – Vinnie Zummo – Jeff Martin – Erin Weber – Jack Petruzzelli – Ivor Davis – Axel Korinth – Jon Savage – Bill Wyman – Michael Salfino – Andy Martino – Candy Leonard – Ken Mansfield – Carol Tyler – Tom Murray – Jerry Hammack – Michael Hill – Bob Heironimus – Laura Cortner – Randy Bachman – Michaela Wagner – Anthony Robustelli – Kenneth Womack

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151: On The Roof with Ken Mansfield Nov 30, 2018

Show notes

In the 2nd of a quartet of shows recorded (in part) at the White Album Symposium at Monmouth University (as well as the 2nd in a trio of shows covering Apple in its 50th year), I speak with my friend, Ken Mansfield: former manager of US operations of Apple, as well as author of several books, including two published this year: a novel, Philco and a memoir, The Roof: The Beatles’ Final Concert.

Ken is a natural storyteller as well as a confidant of the Beatles, whose accomplishments include work with artists ranging from the Beach Boys to Waylon Jennings. We cover it all here.

NOTE: as pointed out in the show’s intro, field recordings are susceptible to issues beyond our control, in this case a fluctuation in the current every time the heat came on in the room we were in. That’s why you hear crackling/static noise throughout the first half hour. Like Live At Leeds, do not attempt to correct – Ben Rowling and I have already tried.

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150: Behind The Esher Demos Nov 22, 2018

Show notes

In the first of what will be a series of shows originating from the White Album symposium held at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey, I am presenting my opening remarks, followed by a brief Q&A. For those who couldn’t attend, it gives you a good flavor of how these events go down. Asked to present on the Kinfauns recordings, newly remastered and issued as part of the 50th anniversary White Album package, I opted to offer my take on what the recording of these songs meant to The Beatles, as a way of getting back to where they once belonged.

Special thanks to Ben Rowling for capturing this field recording and to Dr. Kenneth Womack for making the event possible.

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149: No Obvious Title – A Conversation with Vinnie Zummo Nov 05, 2018

Show notes

You may know his name from his years on tour and in the studio with Joe Jackson; possibly from his series of solo projects (Swinging Guitar Sounds of Young America Vol 1-3, plus The Coyote and two Christmas collections – find them here). But this multi-instrumentalist has been a lifelong Beatle fan, and as he says here, the group served as proxy tutors, as he learned ALL the instrumental parts of their records as they were released.

This show began as an examination of George’s evolution as a guitarist, as seen by a professional musician, but it became much more than that, with observations on band dynamics, Ringo’s drumming, John’s guitar, personal interactions (Vinnie’s sister worked at ABKCO) and much more!

Vinnie’s musical tributes to each Beatle can be found here:

John

Paul George

Ringo

Vinnie’s works on Spotify

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148: Nothing But Today – A Conversation with the Mona Lisa Twins Oct 25, 2018

Show notes

If all you know about this sister act out of Austria is an array of Beatles covers on Youtube, then you don’t know the Mona Lisa Twins. They are the present-day embodiment of the ripples of waves begun when the Beatles entered popular consciousness over half a century ago; a manifestation of what Geoff Baker called “a good way of looking at the world.”

Lots of great artists emerged from the sixties and afterward, inspired by a force that The Beatles embodied and then set into motion. This puts the Mona Lisa Twins in good company. Listen and discover.

Home site: https://monalisa-twins.com/

Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MonaLisaTwins

Thanks to Rick Wey and Trevor Beaumont

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