When They Was Fab: Electric Arguments About the Beatles

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.