When They Was Fab: Electric Arguments About The Beatles

Live, from New York!    No, not those guys.    Not those other guys either.     It's Lonnie Pena and me, and we are not even "live on tape".    In this show, we travel back to a Saturday Night thirty Eight years ago, when we were invited to see Ringo being sold at a Sotheby's-alike, acting as the foil for Ed Grimley, and engage in "The Pajama Game" with Barbra in Fernando's Hideaway.

An hour with author Madeline Bocaro.    Her Book? "In Your Mind - The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono."      Madeline has unique insight into the life and art of Yoko Ono, and ultimately those are the things she delivers in her book, and gives us a taste of in this show!

John Lennon took a portable jukebox filled with some of his favorites on the road with him.     After Ringo left Tittenhurst, the KB Discomatic found its way to the world, and is detailed in a documentary and 2-CD set.    This week we look at their look at what could be described as "John Lennon's iPod."     80-songs, but nowhere near portable enough for your pocket!

Another bit of alternate (but not too alternate) history.     What if the Beatles 1966 tour of the US were delayed, either by circumstances or choice.     The Beatles sit down with Brian, determined not to repeat what just happened in the Philippines.     How do they accomplish this, and what songs would they choose for the resulting tour?     Tune in and hear our opinions!

As the Revolver box (followed by the holiday season) sit on the horizon, both Ringo and Julian have released new music.    Ringo fired up Rocabela west, and finished this cycle of 3 EPs (likely to be followed up by the collection as a "full release".     Julian, meanwhile has a shiny new one-record deal with BMG, dusted off some old songs, wrote some new ones and put "Jude" out into the world.    Tune in to hear what Jon and I think about this.    Is it a Revolver Amuse-Bouche, or good releases on their own?

Friend of the show Darin Murphy returns to chat with us about the "Number Nine Orchestra" (and Austin's annual Lennon Birthday show), touring with Todd Rundgren, Christopher Cross, Denny Laine, Joey Molland and others, and Revolver past, present and future!

This week we investigate the politics of John Lennon.      We all know about "All You Need Is Love", "Give Peace a Chance", and "Imagine" but what of "Power to the People" and "Angela"?      The ambiguity in "Revolution" (out ... in) would be reflected in his friends, associates and to a certain extent his actions in the late sixties and early seventies, until settling on his own path.

Jon and I are joined by Stephen Doster and Randy Miller, two of the figures behind the return of the annual "John Lennon Birthday Tribute" on October 9 at 3TEN ACL Live in Austin.     Their band, The #9 Orchestra is a group of accomplished musicians from Austin, Texas who ‘come together’ annually to pay tribute to the music of John Lennon and the Beatles. This year, 2022, will mark the 32th year they have celebrated this Austin tradition. They will perform their 32ND Annual John Lennon Birthday Tribute on October 9,th John’s birthday, at the 3TEN ACL Live theater in beautiful downtown Austin.

Following on from the crossover, Jon and I take a deep dive into the "Long and Winding Road" Documentary (or at least the version that has managed to walk out of Apple).      Very much the bones of Documentaries to come, ranging from "Compleat Beatles" to "Eight Days a Week", "Get Back" and its own offspring - "The Beatles Anthology".     Cross your eyes, and you'll drop into the Rutles-verse as well.

Jon (remotely) and I are joined by Queen of All Beatles Media Kit O'Toole, Ken Womack,  and an audience of tens at the Fest for Beatles fans to close out the podcast portion of the 2022 Chicago Fest.    Our topic:   Mal Evans in 1975.    Mal appeared at the 1975 Fest (second on the bill to Sid Bernstein), worked on (and more or less completed) the draft of his book,  produced Joey Molland's new band Natural Gas and appeared a couple of times on Cal State Northridge radio to start his promotional tour. (Recorded Sunday, August 14, 2:30 at the Fest for Beatles Fans, Chicago Illinois).  

Martin returns for speed round, part 2.     A lot of diversions, but in a good way!      More Broad Street Chat, Beatles Ballads and thoughts on the rise and fall of George Harrison's solo career.

Bonus episode!    Kit O'Toole (Queen of All Beatles Media), Andy Nicholes (2Legs) and I sit for a preview of our panels, podcasts and presentations at the 2022 Chicago "Fest for Beatles Fans".     Also, the news so we don't get too far behind when our regular programming continues!    

Namaste!    This week we take a dive into the film "The Beatles and India", based in part upon the book "Across the Universe" by Ajoy Bose.     There's more to it than sitars and the Maharishi!     

The Beatles had a big month in July of 1963 (and they had a lot of big months)!    Radio, recording and stage shows - usually multiple things on any single days.     We start in on the recently renewed "Pop Go the Beatles" (11 more shows), and the other radio performances from the month.    Rodney Burke too!

Freda Kelly and Ryan White crowdsourced a film telling the story of the Beatles fan club secretary and her decade-plus with Brian Epstein and the Beatles over a decade ago.    This week we review the film and consider its place in the canon and whether it continues to hold up.

Question: Did you think about asking George to be in the film? Paul: No. But because Ringo’s in it and I’m in it, it implies that maybe George ought to have been in it, too. The truth is, he’s not a ham. I don’t think he’s got any ambitions in front of the camera. He was the least keen to be acting in A Hard Day’s Night and Help. Before The Complete Beatles, we were going to put our own version together. The definitive story of the Beatles, and George was the least keen to even be involved. He’s more interested in being behind the camera. And he happened to be out of the country anyway.

I am joined this week by author and television writer/producer Bruce Ferber to discuss his new book, "I Buried Paul."    Ever wondered what the real life of "Tribute Beatles" is like?    Bruce describes a (fictional) McCartney-alike in his new novel.     We are also joined by his original inspiration, Joe Refano (Billy J. Kramer, The Monkees) who is sometimes John Lennon in his Beatles band "The Liverpool Shuffle".    

You know the drill!    If you are out to lunch, or just thinking about podcasts, fire this up at 11:56 AM local time, and we will all be part of Ringo's 82nd birthday "Peace and Love" celebration!

Speed round!   Julian Lennon's newly released material.     The ever present public reception of Paul McCartney through the years, and how it differed on either side of "the pond."     Can Paul be considered as prolific as Prince?      We close on Paul's recent headlining gig at Glastonbury.

The King Mixer joins the Queen of all Beatles media and Lonnie Pena himself as we discuss his podcast/audio drama "A Day in Their Life."     A brand new (yet also classic) way of sitting down and considering the history of the Fab Four.