Yesterday and Today

Latest Episodes:

Beatles ’75 pt1 Jul 06, 2020

Show notes

It's 1975! A new year brings a new locale and recording project for Paul McCartney and Wings, who are headed down south to celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans! While this newest Wings line-up continues to solidify, the band drinks in the sights and sounds of the Louisiana atmosphere, capturing moments and melodies destined for the follow-up LP to Paul's December '73 masterpiece Band On The Run. But it's more than just Wings that McCartney is looking to see take flight. An open musical invitation to old pal John Lennon on behalf of Paul in New Orleans appears to validate the ever-swirling rumors of a Beatles reunion that have ebbed and flowed since the fab foursome split 5 years prior. Wounds are now healed, friendships rekindled, and the stage appears to be set for the studio reunion of Lennon and McCartney...but another voice from the past has called for John's attention. Estranged wife Yoko Ono has recaptured John's attention as well, and the spell of the ocean child would ultimately prove more powerful than that of the McCartneys in the big easy...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’74 pt13 Jun 22, 2020

Show notes

It's the end of 1974 - a year of productivity, transformation, music and the definitive ending for The Beatles partnership. After four long years of litigation, Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr (plus a parade of their respective attorneys) put pen to paper on the document that would once and for all conclude the greatest pop music enterprise the modern world had ever seen before or since. But this ending wouldn't be without the trademark drama and heartache that marred the former Beatles' lives since their split in 1970. On December 19th, 1974, George Harrison and his Dark Horse tour took the stage for the first of three engagements at New York City's famed Madison Square Garden - and John Lennon was scheduled to appear with George to perform as a special guest. With Paul in the audience, and George and John on the stage, the old friends planned to return together to an afterparty that would see the signing of the dissolution papers completed, and conclude the Beatles partnership on a happy note. This was not to be. For reasons known only to to the man himself, John Lennon hatched an excuse, bailed on the concert and refused to sign the papers. It wouldn't be for another 10 days, with some arm-twisting by McCartney, for John Lennon to finally sign the documents that would end the project he began so many years ago. A project that carried he and his friends from scruffy lower middle-class teddy boys to the most famous, most successful musicians on the planet - leaving a mark not only on history, but on the lives of the countless millions touched by their music. And with that, both 1974, and the Beatles, were finished.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’74 pt12 Jun 08, 2020

Show notes

In a year jam-packed with new music from each of the four ex-Beatles, the 3rd and final studio album from the former fabs in 1974 was the widely anticipated, tour-supported George Harrison LP Dark Horse. In the wake of the Beatles' split (a full 4+ years earlier) George found himself uniquely poised for success amongst his colleagues - with arguably the lowest expectations for solo project output, combined with the soaring heights of his first full-fledged solo studio effort All Thing Must Pass. There was a time in the early 70's when George Harrison could do no musical "wrong". But audiences were growing increasingly frustrated with the preachy nature of Harrison's music, and that (combined with his noticeably strained voice and combative songwriting fodder) lead to the mixed reaction Dark Horse wound up receiving in December of 1974. Gone were the wall-of-sound pop gems of All Things Must Pass and the sweeping cinematic landscapes of Living In the Material World - replaced instead by ballads and grooves doused in pain, substance abuse and an existential confusion that permeated the quiet Beatle's personal life at that time. To say Dark Horse is a "break-up record" would be like calling She Loves You a "toe-tapper", and after years of solo dominance over John and Paul, George was once again back on his heels in the minds of fans, critics and contemporaries alike. But speaking of John, George and Ringo - one crucial step remained in the dissolution of their once-inseparable partnership -- and before 1974 was over, the world would see that final step fulfilled...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’74 pt11 May 25, 2020

Show notes

It's November 1974 and George Harrison's Dark Horse Tour is rolling on through the heart of North America. While George's ragged voice continued its decline on these tour stops, the fun and energy of the musicianship on stage was evident to the thousands of excited fans packing concert venues to see the former Beatle perform some of his iconic hits for the first time in years (in some cases, ever). Classics such as In My Life and While My Guitar Gently Weeps may have been crowd-pleasers, but it was the brand-new soundcheck-written, boogie-woogie jams that truly exemplified the fun that George's band was having every and every night. But Harrison wasn't the only former Beatle taking the stage in November of '74, John Lennon had himself a bet to settle with pal and Whatever Gets You Through The Night collaborator Elton John. As Elton and his band reached New York City's famed Madison Square Garden on Thanksgiving night, fans in attendance bore witness to Lennon's triumphant return to concert performance (though no one could know at the time that it would be his last in such a context). It had been over two years since John was last seen at MSG, and he and Elton's band tore through an electric three-song set including Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, the aforementioned #1 hit single Whatever Gets You Through The Night and the McCartney-sung Beatles classic I Saw Her Standing There. One of those lucky fans in the audience that night? John's estranged wife Yoko Ono...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’74 pt10 May 11, 2020

Show notes

Over four years had passed since the official break-up of the Beatles, and by the tail end of 1974 the world of music was changing, evolving and finding new stars to light the way. But despite these shifts in faces and trends, the Beatles' legend remained surprisingly vital, with not only a slew of successful solo material from the former fabs, but also from tributes such as the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the Road off-broadway musical. Though it was panned by critics, this production tapped into a public yearning for a return of the band that changed everything - and while a formal reunion was never to be, Beatle music was alive and well in the cultural zeitgeist. But nostalgia wasn't the only currency of the day, November 1974 also brought with it Ringo Starr's new album Goodnight Vienna. To follow-up the monster success of 1973's Ringo album, Starr and producer Richard Perry brought in new guest stars and new hooky material in the hopes of repeating their own critical and commercial heights the year prior. John Lennon also returned to lend his friend a helping hand on the title track, as well as lead-off single Only You (an arrangement Lennon and Harry Nilsson had been work-shopping for the ill-fated Oldies But Moldies project). From the Elton John/Bernie Taupin-penned Snookeroo to the novelty No-No Song, Goodnight Vienna was indeed another successful endeavor - though ultimately fell far short of its predecessor. And as 1974 draws to a close, there's still another solo Beatles LP ready for release...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’74 pt9 Apr 27, 2020

Show notes

It's November 1974, and there's new music from all four former Beatles reaching fans around the world. First up, George Harrison's Dark Horse tour, premiering new music from his forthcoming LP release of the same name, barrels on through Oakland, Long Beach and Los Angeles California with some unfortunately mixed results. George was facing harsh critical backlash for the quality of his voice following a bout of laryngitis some weeks earlier, and these shaky vocals, combined with the Dark Horse's seemingly spiteful lyrical re-workings of some of the public's most beloved Beatles standards, cast a strange and ominous shadow on an otherwise joyous North American tour. Meanwhile, Paul and Wings were back in the studio cutting tracks for the much-anticipated follow-up to Band on the Run, while also rehearsing for a world tour tentatively scheduled to begin the following year. While Wings grappled with the forces of Venus and Mars in Abbey Road Studios, their new single Junior's Farm became yet another top 10 hit for the band and cemented once more McCartney's ever-growing stature as an artist outside his former enterprise. One more hit single from Apple Records rounds out the month, with John Lennon offering a helping hand to buddy Ringo Starr on the swooney-crooney track Only You. And believe it or not, there's a lot MORE activity in the world of the former Beatles to come in the closing weeks of this major powerhouse of a year...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’74 pt8 Apr 13, 2020

Show notes

With the release of John Lennon's new #1 Walls and Bridges LP, the fall of 1974 was shaping up to be yet another season of success for the former Beatles. Its corresponding lead-off single, Whatever Gets You Through The Night was comfortably positioned atop the US singles charts as well, giving Lennon the boost of commercial approval he had been chasing for some time as a solo artist. So inspired was John, that he returned to the studio once again in October to finish the "oldies but moldies" sessions begun during his notorious "Lost Weekend" in LA. Things were looking up for Dr. Winston O'Boogie. Big things were also brewing for George Harrison, who was putting the final touches on his third solo album, the as-yet-to-be-released Dark Horse LP. This new collection of songs would be George's first since his calamitous split with wife Pattie Boyd and subsequent spiral into substance abuse and, well, "simply shady" activity. If new music wasn't enough of a pick-me-up, Harrison also embarked on an ambitions tour of the United States alongside good friends Ravi Shankar and Billy Preston - the first of the former Beatles to formally hit the road in the US since 1966. While touring on primarily new material, George's musical quest would bring him to new highs and unexpected lows as the fall of 1974 continued on...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Lennon Radio Tour: pt3 Mar 30, 2020

Show notes

It's the finale of the John Lennon Radio Tour series! Over the past several episodes, we've heard some of John's favorite records, memories and new tracks from the freshly released Walls and Bridges album - all of which paint a surprisingly intimate portrait of where the former Beatle was in his life in these early weeks of fall, 1974. For this third and final installment, you'll hear Lennon relay music and memories from his early days, including some really cool stories about hanging with the Rolling Stones, the birth of "lick records" and whom from his fellow former fabs he felt closest to at that time. Plus, Wayne, James and Paul return to deliver their own final thoughts on the last 4 tracks of Walls and Bridges: Steel and Glass, Beef Jerky, Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out) and (James' favorite) Ya Ya. We hope you've enjoyed this deep dive into the last big Lennon project of original material for quite some time - though it's important to note that it won't be his last, and there will certainly be more music and moments to come on the Yesterday & Today podcast!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Lennon Radio Tour: pt2 Mar 16, 2020

Show notes

We're back with part two of the JOHN LENNON RADIO TOUR series! In the fall of 1974, John Lennon took to the airwaves to promote his new album Walls And Bridges in a radio DJ tour that spanned multiple stations, states and songs - all of which offered a unique insight into the former Beatle's state of mind. Station 93 KHJ was the next stop on the road, and coincided with the September 26th release of the new Lennon record. In addition to the commentary on his newest tracks, John offered up some choice oldies, contemporary songs, and (perhaps most interestingly) his favorite new tracks from Paul McCartney and George Harrison. We're bringing it all to you this episode, along with the continuation of our own commentary on the Walls And Bridges LP. Moderators Paul, James and Wayne discuss the next four tracks on the record: Bless You, Scared, #9 Dream and Surprise Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox). So take a walk down the street through the heat-whispered trees and make sure you bring it back here next episode for the finale of the RADIO TOUR series!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Lennon Radio Tour: pt1 Mar 02, 2020

Show notes

Listen to this podcast episode - it's the kick-off to the John Lennon Radio Tour! In this 3-part series we'll explore one of John's most unique and personal promotional initiatives for a new LP release, sparked by a wave of positivity and productivity during his separation from Yoko Ono. With the forthcoming release of Walls and Bridges, Lennon took to the airwaves in the fall of '74 to promote his latest album and share some unique insight into his musical taste and background. Whatever Gets You Through the Night, the lead-off single, was busy rocketing its way to the top of the charts, and EMI/Capitol felt that in lieu of concert appearances, a DJ-tour of major radio stations across the country could help push the single and its corresponding album to the #1 spot. Sadly, John Lennon would never embark on a proper concert tour in his solo years, but this station-by-station guest-DJ residency would offer just as many memorable moments and fascinating music as any audience performance could. Plus, join Wayne, Paul and James for a discussion of some of the tracks on Walls and Bridges, and why this album stands out as a highlight in John's career.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected