When They Was Fab: Electric Arguments About the Beatles

2024.36 Mind Games Ultimate Box Review (Disc Six - The Outtakes)

Marv and I are joined by Antony Rotunno (Glass Onion: On John Lennon), as we finish our look at the Mind Games Box Set with Disc Six - The Outtakes.     While we discuss the tracks, we also take a step back and consider Lennon the man.    The personal, political and psychological are all strongly represented in the lyrics found between the grooves.     

2024.35 Mind Games Ultimate Box Review (Disc Five - Raw Studio Mixes)

The return of friend of the show Darin Murphy (a man who portrayed John Lennon on Broadway, and played with Denny Laine, Todd Rundgren, Joey Molland, Micky Dolenz and more!) He pojoins us to discuss Disc Five of the Mind Games Box, the raw studio mixes.     Sean gives us plenty of material to consider, and we discuss how this album would influence artists as diverse as Meat Loaf, Tom Petty and possibly the Beats headphones!

2024.34 Live From the Fest 2024! (Featuring Dr. Kenneth Womack!)

Recorded Live in Chicago (with additional audio from Houston, Cleveland and more), this week we present "When They Was Fab" in front of a live audience.     Dr. Kenneth Womack ("Living the Beatles Legend", "Solid State", "John Lennon: 1980" and more) joins us as we look at the circumstances of 1960, 1961 and 1962 which would lead to a new drummer and a new era for everyone that is a fan of popular music!

2024.33 Reunion a Rock 'n Roll Fairy Tale (Discussion with author Gary Burr)

Marv, Lonnie and I sit with Nashville HOF songwriter, author and man who worked with a Beatle about his lifelong love of the Fabs, touring (and writing!) with Carole King, his Brian Epstein-themed song on the new Billy J. Kramer record, collaborating (and recording) with Ringo and the forthcoming Ringo country album.     We also dig into his new novel ("Reunion"), which imagines a universe where John Lennon's fate changed, and all four were still present when Paul (at the urging of his daughters) decides to approach the others, as "the right four people" is one of the ways he might be able to overcome his heartache.

2024.32 Mind Games Ultimate Box Review (Disc Four - The Evolution Mixes)

The "Mind Games" train rolls on.   Disc four, the evolution mixes.    Possibly the closest we will get to hearing the evolution of the "Mind Games" album.    Each track, from the earliest known demo through the various changes in the studio through to the near-complete version.    John, Yoko, Roy Cicala and all the musicians chime in at various times for a full look at just how the recording process worked for John Lennon in New York City in the early 1970's!

2024.31 Mind Games Ultimate Box Review (Disc Three - The Elements Mixes)

The Ultimate Box review continues!    This week we move on to the third disc - the elements mixes.     How many other (non-instrumental) albums have a disc not featuring lead vocals from the named artist?    This one does.      Marv and I talk about what we learned, and we extend the concept talking about Keltner, Gordon, Something Different, Sneaky Pete and the others that migrated from "Feeling the Space" over to "Mind Games".

2024.30 Mind Games Ultimate Box Review (Disc Two - The Elemental Mixes)

Lonnie and I roll on with part two of our "Mind Games" SDE review.    This week, disc two - the Elemental mixes (not to be confused with the Elements mixes).     Lonnie also unveils his initial thoughts on the Mind Games (Ultimate Collection) Super Deluxe Box Set!    Roll the I-Ching and see if it advises you to drop the cash!

2024.29 Mind Games Ultimate Box Review (Disc One - The Ultimate Mixes)

Lonnie Pena, Jon Stone and I sit down to discuss the first disc of the "Mind Games: Ultimate Collection" Deluxe Box set.           When asked about the release, Sean Lennon says: "People were having trouble adjusting to the 'new' John Lennon. So, I think Mind Games fell through the cracks for a number of reasons. The fact that the mixes were a bit thin didn’t help either."     Does that apply to Jon, Lonnie (who picked up the disc at release) and me (who didn't get turned on to it until the early eighties and the half-price bin)?    Tune in and find out!

2024.28 Welcome to Soundcheck! (McCartney, Birmingham 2015 and more)

Marv and I talk the Birmingham, UK Soundcheck (2015, "Out There" tour).      Soundcheck is 40-60 minutes of Paul doing (mostly) songs not part of the main show.     This week we talk "Celebration", "Miss Ann",  "It's so Squeazy", "I'll Follow the Sun", and a bit about how the show has changed since Out There (two encores compressed to one!    No "Yesterday").    As they say in "Midnight Special" (another soundcheck favorite of Paul's) "If you ever go to Houston, you better act right!"

 

 

2024.27 The Lonnie Pena Scrapbook

The Last Houston storm resulted in Lonnie Pena uncovering his Seventies Beatles scrapbook.     Festival Seating in the Houston Summit!     Ringo, "I Dream of" Jeannie, Jim Backus and one of the hippest looking sexagenarians captured in a photograph.     Also, more "Got Back 2024" dates, preparations for the "Mind Games" box, and the wonder of AI "Get Back Sessions".