The Journey Continues!!

1/28/2012

We have always said that Beatle fans ... and particularly the fans of our 'old' show ... are some of the coolest people in the world. And we were right.

Mitch, Rob and I have been having a blast putting together the upcoming episodes of 'Fab4Free4All'. We are eternally grateful for all of the kind, fun, encouraging, critical, and thoughtful e-mails and notes that we have received so far from many of you. We're going to keep the shows coming, and our collective goal is for the show, the site, the giveaways, the live appearances, etc. to continue to become even more creative and exciting as we go along.

Our little 'forum' will continue to be 'fab' ... and with Fab4Free4All we also promise to keep it on the cutting edge with the mixture of facts, opinions, surprises and laughs that we've always enjoyed sharing with fellow Beatle and music fans around the world.

Peace,

Tony Traguardo

110 Comments

Esmirelda

1/30/2012 12:01:41 am

The new web site looks nice. I'm looking forward to the premire episode. :)

Mitch

1/30/2012 05:47:31 am

Thanks so much Esmirelda. You've always been so loyal. It will look nicer as we really start to build it up.

Rich K.

1/30/2012 07:35:26 am

The site does look great. I like it better than the old one!!! Show was very good. Always enjoyed the show and not much has changed as you said it wouldn't Mitch! Keep up the good work guys!!!

Tony T.

2/8/2012 12:28:05 pm

Thanks for the kudos on the website everyone! Winifred Boyd did the photo shoot, selected the photos, and designed and created the site ... and we're all very happy with it. We're going to try our best to keep it an exciting place to visit often.

Blaine63

1/30/2012 12:02:44 pm

Good luck. I'll miss the fab fourum. I liked the four of you sharing equal time. There's a symmetry to the number four.

Still...looking forward to the new format!

Sean Courtney link

1/31/2012 04:11:30 am

This is a comment. You may leave a comment to a blog posting by filling in the requested information in the table called "Leave a Reply."

Jon

2/2/2012 12:01:51 pm

Hey guys, loved the first episode. The audio quality wasn't up to your usual standards though, was that just because it's the first ep? Thanks for all your hard work, the new show really isn't that different - which is a great thing in my books.

Mitch

2/2/2012 08:45:02 pm

Hi Jon (and everyone else),

We are totally aware of the sound issue we had with the first episode. It was the conversion of the audio file to mp3. It's a lot of technical mumbo jumbo (or should I say Bip Bop...lolol) that even I don't understand but we'll fix it for the next episode.

Thanks for all the GREAT comments and well wishes! Some great shows coming up. (So many Beatle puns that are not even intended) :)

Whitcomb

2/5/2012 02:03:00 am

Can you stand one more comment on "Anthology"?

The other day I listened online to the "lost" George Harrison guitar solo on "Here Comes the Sun." Rather, I listened to George Martin, Giles Martin and Dhani Harrison talk over it as they sat (presumably) in Abbey Road fiddling with the dials. This raised a number of questions in my mind.

It seems amazing that an alternate take like this did not surface on "Anthology" when you consider that "Here Comes the Sun" surely ranks as one of the top songs ever recorded by the group. It makes me wonder just how thoroughly Martin & Co. mined the Beatles' archived material when they were compiling the "Anthology" series. I would say they either weren't very thorough or they came in with a pre-determined idea of what they wanted to accomplish and didn't veer from it. As you well know, there's a slew of interesting alternate takes online and, as I have said before, it mystifies me why EMI/Apple seems to be sitting on its hands with this material.

However, another question comes to mind: Why were the three in the studio in 2012 in the first place? Let's hope they are culling the tapes for a future release, an "Anthology Redux," if you will, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles. I would be interested to hear what you guys think of all this.

DrRobert299

2/7/2012 09:28:52 am

I think this was filmed for the Material World show but was not included. It should have been, it's a great clip...

Rich K.

2/9/2012 09:53:05 am

Is there a link to this video? I'd love to see it. Thanks in advance!!!

DrRobert299

2/17/2012 09:07:17 pm

Here's the link....enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1RxdeqxF-U

DrRobert299

2/7/2012 09:36:27 am

Really enjoyed the rooftop show. Let's hope we see a legitimate release of Let It Be with extras soon.

How about a future episode on "The Lost Lennon Tapes" radio show-the new material we all heard for the first time, the bootlegs it spawned, Eliot Mintz's rather irritating commentary-make make a good topic.

Just a thought....

Rich K.

2/12/2012 09:33:38 am

Now that is a subject I never thought of....and YES, it would make a great show for you guys in the future!!!

Lynn McKenzie link

2/16/2012 09:55:56 pm

Hi guys, nice to talk to you again. I'm still getting used to the new show, but I'm enjoying it.

I have to disagree with you on KOTB. It's a very weak album. Paul sings out of his range, and his voice sounds weak because of it. On the few songs where he stays down, he sounds much better ("My Valentine", "Ac-Cent-Tu-Ate The Positive"). And I'm not a fan of the band. There's no energy in the playing or arrangements. It sounds as if they're all asleep. Give me Ella Fitzgerald or Frank Sinatra any time over this record.

Still, I'm sure we can agree to differ, right? Hope to see you three at the next Beatlefest!

Mitch

2/16/2012 11:49:29 pm

Hi Lynn,

Nice to hear from you!! Yes, we can agree to disagree! This CD is either a love it, or hate it CD. Hopefully his "rock" album this year (fingers crossed) will be a winner!

Yes, we will be at The Fest on Saturday!

Be well.

Mitch

Tony

2/17/2012 12:57:00 am

Hiya Lynn!

It's great to know you're back! Well, it sounds like we should have had YOU on the show to do my expected rant, LOL. Thanks for sticking with us, and I'm glad you'r enjoying the new show.

All the best ...
Tony

Lynn McKenzie link

2/17/2012 01:56:39 am

LOL! Yeah, you surprised me, Tony. Dealing in abstracts. No, seriously, I thought you'd come down on it. At least it's not terrible, unlike some songs of his I could mention (but won't).

Thanks for the shout-out!

rich

3/6/2012 11:06:41 am

I have to agree....very boring cd. His voice just can't hold the notes anymore. He actually sounds better belting out songs than when he tries to be pretty now a days....but he is getting up there! Sorry guys!

Whitcomb

2/26/2012 02:17:00 pm

Re the Capitol Albums,

My Volume 3 would be "Yesterday...and Today," "Revolver," "Live at the Hollywood Bowl" and "A Hard Day's Night," with possibly these bonus discs: "The Beatles Story," "Hey Jude" and "Rarities."

So, up to seven CDs in total.

To those who blanch at the idea of re-issuing the American version of "Revolver," I say this: It remains a unique record -- the one that millions upon millions of Beatles fans in the United States understood as definitive at least until 1987. Of course, I'm biased as a first-generation fan in the U.S.

One other point about the Capitol collection: Until 2009, the Capitol box sets were the only newly remastered Beatles recordings out there. They were superior to the 1987 British CDs. In some cases, I still prefer the Capitol stereo mixes to the stereo remasters of 2009. (I think the 2009 mono set is the ultimate Beatles collection, at least for us old AM radio fans, but we could argue that one all day.)

I have no illusions that there will actually be a Volume 3, but I do hold out hope that, perhaps as part of a 50th anniversary celebration of the group, Apple/EMI/Capitol will at least see fit to reissue "Yesterday...and Today" and "Live at the Hollywood Bowl." These are historic records that ought to be considered part of the Beatles' canon.

Don Monson

2/29/2012 02:13:17 pm

Just picked up KOTB yesterday after listening to your show.
(Of course I was getting it anyway, but...)
I don't recall anyone mentioning that Paul btw produced Inch Worm way back in '68 for Mary Hopkin's first Apple album.
Now I'm going back to listen to the show again after listening to the new CD

Lynn McKenzie link

3/1/2012 04:09:37 am

Nice show on '71, guys. But in case you took it up in the last 5 minutes (and maybe you did, I haven't finished listening yet), you completely missed WILD LIFE! That was an amazing album. Notice I didn't say "great". It's amazing how really awful it was.

Anyway, would've liked to have heard a few comments on that since I think you like it better than I do. (KOTB is better than WILD LIFE. I'll grant you that freely.)

Re Capitol Vol. 3: I'd like YESTERDAY & TODAY, REVOLVER even if it's no different--surely it's a little different in the mixes?--MMT (for the extra-beat "I Am The Walrus" mix) and HOLLYWOOD BOWL. While I loved RARITIES, I now have most of the missing songs from it. We need a RARITIES album from EMI, badly.

Keep up the good work!

Rich

3/6/2012 11:14:13 am

Lynn....gotta say I love your take on things. Though I like WIld Life better than you do. It's nice to hear some thoughts from someone not looking through the Red Rose Macca glasses. Too many times people just love his stuff because it's him. I try and look at it as if it wasn't him would I bother listening to it. Latley I haven't found much I've loved....but I have liked some songs.

Mitch

3/6/2012 08:32:44 pm

Rich,

I completely agree with you. Too many people have what I call, "Beatle Bias" where they feel they HAVE to like EVERYTHING that gets put out by any Beatle or if Apple puts something out. I think you can tell that Fab 4 Free 4 All are very honest in their opinions on releases as we were in Fab Fourum. We are not on anyone's payroll so we can be as honest as we feel like being. Now, there ARE going to be some times when we actually like a release that everyone dislikes and that is not because we were paid to say it. You can take it from me, that we are as honest as can be. (Didn't mean to rhyme there...lolol). And also don't forget that the guys have put out some wonderful stuff in the past 50 years so there are going to be several weeks in a row where we LOVE things simply because it is warranted.

Lynn McKenzie link

3/9/2012 12:55:25 am

Thanks for the compliment, Rich! I've never been a Macca syncophant (or one for any Beatle). Paul has a lot of talent, but he's produced some rotten stuff. I enjoy listening to WILD LIFE for its camp value, though. :-) Whereas LONDON TOWN is just painful. Hey, guys, how about a show on that album? But do PRESS TO PLAY first. That record is phenomenal.

Rich

3/7/2012 04:46:26 am

Hey Mitch,
I totally understand. I had jjust gotten off the phone with a Beatle fans friend of mine who is one of those guys who loves everything(save Driving Rain/Thriving Pain/Driving Pain, etc, etc.) Just very fustrating talking with someone like that. Doesn't mean I'm right about the cd...just that "hey it's Paul...he is the greatest, he deserves my support"...lol He has enough of my money over the years already, I told my buddy...I'm just waiting for something more rocking but my hopes aren't high anymore. Maybe for a song or two but that it I'd think. I thought Tony would trash this cd, but alas he let me down...:-) So that goes to show you guys are honest! keep up the great shows!

Mitch

3/7/2012 04:55:23 am

Thanks Rich,

NOW, when we get to Driving Rain, then you'll see REAL honesty. I have always disliked that CD tremendously! It's grown on me (a very little) but I can't wait for an episode on THAT one!

rich

3/7/2012 12:47:31 pm

That might be one episode I might have to skip...lol I like Ken a lot but I wonder if he could have defended that one.

Mitch

3/7/2012 08:42:24 pm

Ken happens to be very passionate about the Beatles catalog and the solo catalog. When he says "I give it a 10" all the time, he really means it so I admire him for that! That being said, we definitely did not always agree on the ratings of some of the music. I can't speak for Ken but I think Driving Rain was a source of agida for him because I always would kid him saying that I used to "drive" over that CD in the "rain" and he would always roll his eyes. I WAS kidding of course but I'm sure he would easily find a way to defend Driving Rain, as would many other Beatle fans! Just because I don't like something doesn't mean it's not good ;)

Lynn McKenzie link

3/9/2012 12:52:10 am

Ah, now THAT should be interesting! I like DRIVING RAIN, although I don't think it's one of his greatest albums. I'd give it an 8 out of 10 overall. Some really good individual tracks, and some filler. No real stinkers (IMHO).

Mitch

3/9/2012 02:13:17 am

Ohhhhhh Lynn,

I think we are gonna have some fun in the near future! I am NOT a fan of Driving Rain but I AM a HUGE fan of Press To Play so watch for a show on that soon. And as for Wild Life, well, I never used to like it at all but I have grown to appreciate it for what it is. I Am Your Singer, Dear Friend, Tomorrow, and Some People Never Know are really nice! I know there is crap too but it has grown on me.

Rich

3/9/2012 07:26:50 am

Big fan of Press to PLay also....Move over Busker rocks!

rich k.

3/10/2012 11:40:24 am

I have to say the show is still fun, but I do miss Ken! Hopefully I get a chance to see him at the Fest, as well as you guys!

Mitch

3/10/2012 12:25:23 pm

Hi Rich,

We will be there Saturday doing a topic discussion. I don't know for sure, so don't quote me, but I had heard that Ken was going on Sunday.

Thanks,

Mitch

Whitcomb

3/18/2012 02:38:00 pm

Picking up on this thread that a lot of Paul's solo material is forgettable, I recall the critic who wrote that if Paul McCartney had released only half of the albums that he has post-Beatles -- Wings included -- he'd have a much stronger repertoire. I don't think there's any question that's true. It's hard to fathom, when you think about it, that the same guy who did albums as good as "Band on the Run'' and "Flowers in the Dirt" and "Chaos and Creation" also put out "Driving Rain" and "London Town" and so on.

But to be fair, ALL of the ex-Beatles had peaks and valleys as solo artists. John Lennon put out an uneven collection of albums, a number of which don't hold up all these years later. If John had released only "Mind Games," that would have been fine with me.

Mitch

3/19/2012 03:25:04 am

Whitcomb - agreed BUT if you asked every Paul fan what his best and fave solo album is, you would get MANY different answers (the same with the others) so I think it is necessary to have them ALL out and let people buy and hear what they want, and not buy what they don't want. BTW - I always LOVED London Town...lolol

Rich K

3/19/2012 10:53:05 am

Fan of London Town myself. One that gets great reviews and I don't EVER listen to is Tug Of War....go figure.

Lynn McKenzie link

3/22/2012 10:13:32 pm

Enjoyed the bootleg show! You guys had it good. I discovered boots in the era when they cost twice as much as normal albums, so I didn't buy many. I think my first was the Christmas album on TMOQ, with green vinyl. Paid $12 for it (in 1981), full of clicks and pops and a bare-bones cover, but I loved it. Also got THE DECCA TAPES (missed the Deccagone singles) and the BBC single-album boot on Circuit Records. Those had beautiful covers. The only way I knew they were boots was the cost and the material. I loved the liner notes on THE DECCA TAPES. Classic alt-history.

I also picked up THE BLACK ALBUM, which I think was my last vinyl buy. My only CD purchase was the Russian Album, which cost me $40 (in 1990). I always hated bootleggers for what they charged. Nowadays all that stuff's on YouTube!

See you Saturday!

Michael L.

3/23/2012 12:04:56 am

Mitch/Tony/Rob...since you're all Long Islanders, as I am, I know the following will have a ring a familiarity:

For a time in the late '70 into the '80s, when I was in my early double-digit years and too young to go to the particular stores that sold boots (or to even know what/where these stores were...the coconut telephone lines hadn't been installed on my street yet), my best bet for finding Beat-leg LPs were certain vendors at the old Roosevelt Raceway Flea Market (a moment's silence, please). That was where I had all my "What the heck is this?" moments, already knowing what the "real" albums were but seeing these unfamiliar covers, with songs I didn't recognize.... "'Watching Rainbows?' What's that? And look at this funny looking one that has the same photo as inside the 'Let It Be' album, but has more in it. What's on these albums?" ...

It wasn't until a few years later I could afford to buy any, but my point is, I will forever associate those still-somewhat-early days of bootlegs with many enjoyable Sunday mornings at the Roosevelt Raceway Flea Market.

viper

3/29/2012 02:35:07 pm

Love the podcasts! Thanks for the WALLS ABD BRIDGES episode, its my favorite album and its what started me on my Lennon and Beatles life-long obsession.

You guys mentioned "What You Got" and that it should have been a single. It was, its the B-Side to "#9 Dream". Keep up the great work!

Lynn McKenzie link

4/6/2012 10:57:28 pm

PRESS TO PLAY!! Loved it! For once, we're all on the same page. Just kidding! I liked "Press" more than you, although I prefer the mix without the heavy breathing, and like "Move Over Busker" a little less. Totally in agreement with Tony on "However Absurd". All in all, though, a marvelous record. Wish Paul liked it better!

Happy Easter to you, and Mitch, happy Pesach!

Ian

4/17/2012 06:02:29 am

Let me jump in on Driving Rain. It's far from my favorite McCartney album, and it's way too long, but there are some real gems, and I think it's an album that really benefits from hearing individual tracks out of the context of the album. Your Way is a fantastic and yet simple song that could have easily blended in with his early '70s output. Heather, despite the name, is a wonderful track with probably the most lengthy instrumental introduction to a track he's ever done. Tiny Bubble is fun, Riding Into Jaipur is unlike anything else he's done, and even Rinse The Raindrops can be enjoyable on its own. Yes, many of the other tracks, including the ones he chose to perform live, are boring and/or unmemorable, but this album benefits from being born at the beginning of the post-CD era (something I'm actually very happy to say is not true of Chaos And Creation, Memory Almost Full and Electric Arguments, or KOTB, for that matter).

viper

4/28/2012 08:07:54 am

I like the original version of "Wing" over the remake, although the 2012 version is very good. I don't think RINGO THE IV is as bad as its portrayed to be. In fact, I found listening to this edition of your podcast more painful than you portray this album to be. Your whinings and complaints about the album became tiresome and for the first time, I turned off your show midway through.

Mitch

4/28/2012 10:55:50 am

Viper - I'm sorry that you didn't particularly enjoy this show. Not all of them are going to be good, just like the Beatles solo efforts. So, we didn't like this album. Big deal. We are just 3 critics out of millions of Beatles fans. I'm glad you like Ringo the 4th better than us! The REAL reason we do review and analysis shows is to bring a particular album to light that some may not be fond of or have not heard before. It could be a solo "masterpiece" or a stinker. You are totally entitled to your opinion as are we. And you have every right to turn us off if you feel the need to Heck, I sometimes turn us off after a while so you're not alone! LOLOL. Thanks for listening.

viper

4/29/2012 01:32:28 am

Mitch, Thanks for the response. I do enjoy listening to your podcasts. Its okay not to like RINGO THE 4TH, like you said everyone is entitled to their opinions. I liked it more than you all did, no big deal. I just felt tearing apart an album, piece by piece for the entire duration of the show was too much to bear and a waste of energy. I did play the CD later and afterwards thought there were other albums by J,P,G and also R that I liked less. Oh, well. Keep up the great work on future shows!

Mitch

4/29/2012 11:16:41 am

Totally understood. But please also understand that if we spend an hour or more on a project we DO enjoy, then we really have to give a project we DON'T like as much, equal time. We don't mean to rip into something for that long but we want listeners to understand WHY we feel the way we do. Thanks again for listening.

Whitcomb

5/4/2012 01:59:47 am

Good show on the "Hollywood Bowl" shows.

Do you guys have any theories on why the album is treated like a bastard stepchild by Apple/EMI/Capitol? It should have been part of the 2009 remastered catalog. Why do the Beatles powers-that-be seem to hate this record?

Mitch

5/9/2012 06:03:03 am

Don't really know. Maybe they are planning a special deluxe release for this particular album......Oh, hold on, I can't stop laughing!!!!!! I forgot who we are talking about. I guess this is coming out along with the Shea Concert, the cartoons, and Let It Be! Oh, my side hurts now!!! But seriously, I don't think this album is even on their radar for some silly reason.

viper

5/14/2012 03:04:35 am

I really enjoyed listening to the "Strange Fruit Pt. 1" show. However, the show has strayed off the topic too much. It was more about whats going on at Apple than whats on the DVD itself. I know its hard the to separate the two as the DVD is about Apple, but I hope in Pt. 2, the talk is more about the actual contents of the DVD. Thanks guys! Keep up the great work!

Mitch

5/14/2012 03:54:20 am

Hi Viper. Thanks. We DID say at the top of the show that we would reference the DVD a lot. This show was not a strict review of the DVD but the DVD WAS a good starting point for us to delve into the interesting world of Apple.

Goldilocks

5/29/2012 08:14:05 pm

Just picking up on some earlier posts about a possible "Capitol Vol.3" combination. I would say "Yesterday and Today", "Revolver", "Hey Jude" and "Rarities". These are the only four remaining Capitol albums released first (or only ever) in the US which have not previously appeared on CD. No problem with "Revolver" as excluding this would be inconsistent with keeping "The Early Beatles" on Vol. 2 (all its tracks are on PPM). MMT already on CD. "A Hard Day's Night" only a Capitol afterthought. "Hollywood Bowl" released outside the US as well - same for the other compilations. "Greatest Hits" technically, I guess, but I would exclude it on the basis that it contained no new material.

Lynn McKenzie link

6/4/2012 07:32:38 am

Excellent RAM show, guys! Just want to inform you that THRILLINGTON is available at Paul's website separately, as a digital download, for $8.99. That, along with the vinyl mono RAM, completely eliminates any need to buy the box set. Which is good, since it's overpriced.

(Also--THRILLINGTON is horrible. I've heard it once. Never again.)

I also suspect that, as with MCCARTNEY and MCCARTNEY II, the mono mix will become available on Paul's website and possibly iTunes. If not, there's always YouTube.

Finally--it really bothers me that Paul won't own up to his role in taking his feud with John and the others onto vinyl FIRST. RAM started all this baiting in their music. Not "How Do You Sleep?", "Back Off Boogaloo" or "Sue Me Sue You Blues". Paul was kvetching at the others, and John gave him what he deserved. And we, the listeners, had to suffer with it now and ever since.

Lynn McKenzie link

6/14/2012 10:52:03 pm

Hello again! Nice show on George's ET, Vol. I. I completely agree; it's great, but it's way too short. Let's hope Volume 2 comes along soon!

BTW, for an interesting comparison, play George's demo of "My Sweet Lord" back-to-back with the Lennon Anthology's version of "God". Same backing musicians on both, and similar instrumentation--but completely different world-views.

As an aside with some shameless self-promotion, I wanted to let you know that my fictional short story, "Double Fantasy", about what happened to the copy of the album that John signed for his killer, has been anthologized by Rainstorm Press and is now available for your Kindles or Kindle apps! Here's a link to the book, NO REST FOR THE WICKED: http://preview.tinyurl.com/6p9bru2

(Note: I get paid nothing if you buy it, so don't feel guilty if you don't. But let me know if you do and you like the story!)

Rob

6/26/2012 05:44:19 am

So glad to hear your enthusiasm about the Beatles 2nd Album. The unique stereo mixes on this totally do it for me over the Martin-sanctioned mixes. So much more power, especially on Money, Postman, Devil In Your Heart, and Thank You Girl.

Unlike you guys, She's a Woman is the tune where I most prefer the UK version.

Brian

6/26/2012 07:37:23 am

Hey, guys. Love the show. I particularly enjoyed the one on the 2nd Album. It's always been a favorite of mine too. You covered everything there was to cover about it... except one thing - the Capitol Compact 33 Discs of it. (I've been hunting for one for years now, with no luck so far.) Heck, maybe the Compact 33's would make a good show topic! Thanks. -Brian

Chris

7/25/2012 02:20:38 am

hey Guys- Love your show. Why don't you do an episode on "Beatles Myths"? We've all heard of the popular ones, PID, Dylan hotel room visit, et al. Why don't you set us straight? thanks.

viper link

7/26/2012 02:02:53 pm

I enjoyed your show on this summer's All Starr Tour. Greg Rolie was the star of this tour! I wished he did Journey classics like "Feelig That Way" or "Anytime" which were his most commercial songs in that band.

I'd like to propose Nick Lowe for a future All Starr tour!

I

Marvin

8/17/2012 08:12:59 am

Just finished listening to the Magical Mystery Tour Movie Episode. Great review. You covered every scene in the movie except for "The Fool On The Hill" scene.

Jeremy

8/19/2012 11:22:16 am

I've downloaded almost every podcast of all the shows (including FAB FOURUM) and this is the type of discussion show I love. Me and a few friends have had similar Beatle discussions and it never gets boring. I've even revisited albums I hadn't played in years, like "McCartney II" and even "Ringo the 4th". I've even started paying attention to more of Ringo's solo career after "Stop and Smell...". The analysis and review shows are my favorites!

Lynn McKenzie link

8/26/2012 04:27:45 am

Wow, what timing with the MMT show! Guess you'll have to do at least a Lightning Round about the new BluRay/DVD when it's released in October. Sounds like a good release, although I wish Apple had included the original mono soundtrack along with the new stereo--after all, the mixes are significantly different!

I've been on vacation, so I'll catch up with the new Harrison live podcast soon. Keep 'em coming!

Lynn McKenzie link

9/9/2012 11:34:17 pm

Dropping in again to let you know that I saw LIVE KISSES Friday night, and that performance was a lot BETTER than the KOTB album. I actually enjoyed the songs! They had a lot more energy live than in the studio, and his voice didn't sound nearly as weak. Wish he'd release that on CD. Maybe I'll pick up the DVD. Highly recommended.

Blaine

9/19/2012 04:19:35 pm

Nice show. Three comments:

1-You guys don't need to apologize for some bad (by normal Beatles standards) parts on songs. Several times some statements were qualified in such a way that you wanted to make sure people (I'm assuming listeners) didn't get the wrong idea and think you didn't like everything ever recorded by the Beatles. It's fine if you don't. If they are regular listeners then they (we; me) know that you guys are all "dyed in the wool" fans. Not everything they ever recorded (or performed) was the result of inspired genius. They were a remarkable band (we all share the opinion that they were the best ever!) so it's okay the look at the warts...complain about them...laugh about them...then move on.

2-The guitar solo in Nowhere man was not a 12 string guitar (and not really a solo) but rather a duet performed between George and John on identical Fender Stratocasters (George's is the one he painted in psychedelic colors and played in the "I am the walrus" scene in the Magical Mystery Tour movie).

3-My lists (and in the spirit of full disclosure I think almost all of George's solos were perfect for what his role was: augmenting John's and Paul's songwriting. He wasn't and isn't the most flashy or amazing lead guitarist in rock history by a long shot...but he was absolutely perfect for the Beatles) are more about what I feel are notable and uniquely good or uniquely lazy solos. I tried to keep my lists short:

Good: Fixing a Hole (my personal favorite. There’s nothing conventional about this solo. It’s unique, brilliant and the syncopation adds a beautiful and lazy texture); Hey Bulldog (blistering and in your face...perfect!); Nowhere Man (even though it's technically not a solo it contained elements that were, at the time, ground-breaking. In your face treble, the closing harmonic and the fact that it started "high" in the register and ended in a “low” register...just plain "weird" at the time...but brilliant!); Something (need I say more); The End (George wasn't a great improviser in my opinion, but when he had to put up or shut up he simply ripped of some amazing solos...as they all did...I love that!).

Bad: What goes on (this song inspires two contradicting thoughts about the guitar playing: On the one hand it sounds "scatter-shot, jolting, lazy and haphazard but on the other hand it sounds, in a weird way, goofy, ultra-relaxed and fun. If you listen closely you can tell that Paul and Ringo are tight and controlled. The vocals are clean and strong...but the guitars sound like an after-thought. Almost like "Okay, boys, you have one take to do a Rockabilly-esque song. I don't care if you've never practiced it...how hard could it be? One...two...three...four..." It literally sounds like they were learning the song on the fly and the tape was running and they simply said "Well, it's only a Ringo song." It's way below the Beatles standard...and George's...as far as I'm concerned), Let it Be (the single…simply weak, dreary and sad); All you need is love (I honestly think that solo is a stage fright moment); I'll follow the sun (I think that it's okay as a start but a few modest embellishments could have gone a long way. You guys discussed this and while I don't think that a "Till there was you" solo would have been appropriate I also don't think copying the melody line does the job either).

Again…another nice show.

viper link

9/20/2012 05:58:10 am

I loved George's solo on the "Let It Be" single almost as much as the album version. I don't think it was weak and dreary at all.

Lynn McKenzie link

9/21/2012 02:09:30 am

Excellent show, with a lot of food for thought. I'm glad you all mentioned LET IT BE, because that, to me, is an example of George's best work (the album solo) vs. some of his worst (the single). You can see why he rerecorded it! Another example from those sessions is the solo on "One After 909". The 1963 take is...uninspired, let's say; but the 1969 solo is awesome.

Some of George's other shining moments, for me:

--"Not Guilty". His overdubbed double-guitar solo sizzles.

--"I Feel Fine". One of the most complex pieces he ever performed, and a marvelous duet with John. Or did George overdub it? I note that in concert, John didn't play the riff along with him, but chords.

--"I'm A Loser" and "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party". Perfect rockabilly, both of them, and (partly) as a result, two of my favorite Beatle songs.

--The ABBEY ROAD medley, especially "Bathroom Window". He was on fire!

James

9/22/2012 08:24:58 am

The Night Before was a Paul solo, no?

Love the show though, chaps.

Chris

9/28/2012 12:08:18 am

Great shows guys. I actually like Ringo's "If you've got doubles".

Show tip for listeners- When the fab 3 review a release you are not fully familiar with; look it up on itunes and hit "preview album". That way when the guys refer to the songs you have your own reference point. Keep up the good work. Keep up the good work.

viper link

9/29/2012 02:19:01 pm

I enjoyed the Anthology 2 Pt. 1 show!

"A Day In The Life," "The Ballad of John and Yoko" and "Yer Blues" are some other song titles that do not appear in the song's lyrics.

Viper link

10/20/2012 12:09:32 pm

Enjoyed the Singles that Never Were show! A few things "Helter Skelter" was the B Side of "Got To Get You Into My Life" 45 not "Ob-La-Di, Ob-LaDa's". The B-Side for that was "Julia."

"All Together Now"/"Hey Bulldog" was actual 45 single. It was released in Spain and a few other markets.

Beatle Jim

11/22/2012 09:56:52 pm

Dear gang, it's pronounced Eeeeesher!

Keep up the good work!

Mitch

11/23/2012 12:25:53 am

Soreeeeeeeee about that! LOLOL.

Whitcomb

11/26/2012 01:31:07 pm

What a tribute!

It was last night (Nov. 25) that the Rolling Stones kicked off their 50th anniversary tour in London. They opened by covering the Beatles' "I Wanna Be Your Man," which was the Stones' first single to do anything on the British pop charts, back in 1963. Apparently last night was the first time the Stones had done the song live since 1964.

For the uninitiated, Lennon-McCartney gave that tune to the Stones out of admiration for the group's sound. The Beatles recorded it too, with Ringo singing lead. It's on "Meet the Beatles" for you American fans.

The Stones stayed remarkably close to the original. It was great to hear Ronnie Wood pay homage to George Harrison with a smoking lead guitar. Even Charlie Watts, at one point, seemed to do a Ringo-like fill.

Just great.

now here man

1/22/2013 12:53:24 am

Loved the tug of war show. It's not often you guys give an ample supply of deserved criticism of Sir Paul. It was nice to hear the different voice again.

viper link

2/8/2013 10:04:30 am

Enjoyed the MIND GAMES show! Never thought of listening to the entire album on headphones before the show! I've only done that with the title track from one of the Hits albums. The 2002 Remaster on headphones is amazing! What a blast!

I've always held this album in very high regard (since the age of 10 in 1973!). Its playful, witty and introspective all at once. MIND GAMES is the most underrated Lennon album!

Rolling Stone review of it was shite! What were they on?

Lynn McKenzie link

2/15/2013 03:43:09 am

Nice MIND GAMES show, although didn't you guys do that before, with your old show? (Shh!) Anyway, some good analysis. I have to say, though, that I never bought the 2002 remix because they cut off the end of "Meat City". I held out for the 2010 remaster where they included it at long last!

Is there anywhere on YouTube or something where you can hear the remixed versions?

Overall, I'd give it a 7 out of 10. A lot of the songs are one-line riffs (the title track, "Tight A$", "Bring On The Lucie"), and the rest seem like pale versions of IMAGINE. "Meat City" really rocks, though.

I really think John would've benefited from a different band (musicians who were not quite as set in their studio ways), or an outside producer, to pare it down. A STRIPPED version of this record would be awesome!

BTW, when are you guys going to get going on Twitter? I'll say again, if you don't want to tweet yourselves, I'd be happy to do it for you. I'm on every day. :-)

lawrence strauss link

3/3/2013 07:15:00 am

Re: Penny Lane show. Wouldn't have come to this w/out you guys, but if the nurse is Mary, is the fireman Jim? (Learned about this occupation of Paul's dad in your Maysles show.) Thanks for the good comapny!

Mitch

3/4/2013 10:36:29 am

Hi Lawrence, what a GREAT observation. I think you may be on to something.

Whitcomb

3/11/2013 02:05:42 am

Just wondering, but was the Strawberry Fields show supposed to end that way? It sounded like a lot of off-air stuff that got on by -- mistake?

You guys touched on this, but here's what should have been the lineup in Sgt. Pepper:

Side 1

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
With a Little Help From My Friends
Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
Getting Better
Fixing a Hole
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite

Side 2

Strawberry Fields Forever
Penny Lane
Lovely Rita
Good Morning Good Morning
Sgt. Pepper (reprise)
A Day in the Life

This lineup comes pretty close to establishing the album as the psychedelic record of all time. It also strengthens its autobiographical theme by a lot.

It would have required a re-shuffling of Magical Mystery Tour:

Side 1

Magical Mystery Tour
The Fool on the Hill
Flying
Blue Jay Way
She's Leaving Home

Side 2

I Am the Walrus
When I'm 64
Within You Without You
Baby You're a Rich Man
All You Need Is Love

I think that's a stronger album. "Your Mother Should Know" in this arrangement is consigned to the vaults for discovery decades later for Anthology.

And "Hello Goodbye" ? That becomes a single only, with perhaps "It's All Too Much" as the B side.

Jerry

3/15/2013 09:27:13 am

Enjoyed the Strawberry Fields show. Another cool version not mentioned can be found on one of the A/B Road discs. Just Paul on the piano singing it by himself. Also Paul does a lounge style version (very briefly) at the end of the Kenny Everitt interview

lawrence strauss link

3/27/2013 03:21:39 am

Ebullient gratitude for the Hartman interview (letting him enjoy the retelling of his fun, inspiring stories [his mother!]), the editing (w the song snippets), and your hundred-and-something episode companionship!

Mitch

3/27/2013 03:44:35 am

Thanks Lawrence. It was OUR pleasure because, as fans, we also enjoyed his stories very much. Glad you had as much fun as we did. And thanks for listening and taking the time to write.

lawrence strauss link

3/31/2013 02:32:32 pm

Loved those previews, fellers! And also seriously ... worst McC's vox: "Like Dreamers Do" (Anth I), shows early tendency (also Decca "Sure to Fall") to overdo it; grating to me. "Yesterday" sounds only almost sincere (even first out-of-the-gate Matt Monro tried to make sense of the lyrics); "Get Back" seems to me unappealingly sung too high; "Oh Darling" also seems awkwardly high, and contrary to your opinions, campy ("when you told me ooh" "die-ie-ied" "whoah believe me darling"); Last, I agree w too saccharine-for-me "PS I Love You". On the other hand the guy's work is so good: the camp works fantastically as Danny Zobel in "You Know My Name"; I believe him in "Hey Jude"; I'm won over by his sunniness in "Good Day Sunshine"; he relays the story with just the right pitch and phrasing so that "She's Leaving Home" is felt (comes across more powerfully in the slower mono); and last McCartney inhabits the questionable lyrics of "She's a Woman" with a variety of attack, so that it comes across committed and sexual -- reminds me of Elvis w/out sounding anything like E. Thanks for reading!

Jerry

5/15/2013 12:30:46 pm

I can't tell you how much I enjoy your show as it makes my 40 minute commute go by so much easier. Any chance you can give a preview of upcoming topics so if listeners have any questions they can be answered in the show?

Mitch

5/15/2013 12:45:37 pm

Hi Jerry,

That is so nice of you to say and we really appreciate you listening. That's a great idea but believe it or not, we discuss topics far in advance but never know what topics we are recording about until a few days prior to recording. Maybe once we definitely know what we are recording, we could put it out but it might get too close to get questions. Maybe we can tell everyone what potential topics we are thinking about and can get questions then! Thanks again! Have a GREAT night.

now here man

5/15/2013 11:34:55 pm

Enjoyed the Wings over America part one show. That was an early album for me as well, and I loved the packaging. I'm sure you will cover the packaging for the reissue, look forward to that. I can see now why he was apprehensive to visit the older beatles material. Get your wig on straight.

David

6/8/2013 05:19:05 am

Thanks for the "Hey Jude" show. Definitely a lost album and deserving of a place on a future "Capitol Albums Vol. 3". It's claim to full canonical status actually goes pretty close (in term of release date and worldwide sales at least), but not quite as far as the US MMT (which did make it when the CDs were standardised).

A couple of comments on the mixes. The two AHDN tracks were stereo for the first time in US (as well as first Capitol LP release). Paperback Writer has a unique reveresed stereo mix. The LP was the only source for a stereo "Rain" for a long time as well.

David

6/8/2013 05:19:28 am

Whitcomb

6/17/2013 04:00:10 pm

Good show on the "Hey Jude" album.

Here's an anecdote from 1970 to show you the staying power of the Beatles. I remember walking with a couple of pals to my local record store in Omaha, about 10 or 12 blocks from my house, on the day that the "Hey Jude" album was due to arrive. I was 14.

By this point, the rumors were widespread that the Beatles were splitting up. Maybe because of those rumors, there was a line that stretched as far as the eye could see, waiting for the store to open. We wanted yet another Beatles fix. Plus, the idea of "Hey Jude" on an album was cool.

That record flew out of the store in Omaha that day.

I think it's a great compilation, one that would be fun to hear again if ever reissued. (My copy disappeared about three months after I bought it.)

At the risk of beating a dead horse, it continues to mystify me why certain Beatles albums have been drummed out of the catalog like bastard stepchildren -- not only "Hey Jude," but "Hollywood Bowl" and "Rarities" and even "Live at the BBC," which to my mind ranks in the top five Beatles albums of all time.

Whitcomb

6/28/2013 02:48:49 pm

Another fine show with the "Ringo" analysis and review.

Thank you, Mitch, for pointing out that "Photograph" is one of the great songs of the '70s, period. That single was magical to hear on the radio in those days.

Jerry

8/3/2013 11:48:47 am

Great show(s) on 1974. I just wish you let Lewisohn talk more. Every time he tried to make a point (Part 1 regarding George's tour) each of you kept stepping on him. It took him three tries before he was able to offer an opinion

Slokes

8/27/2013 03:26:18 pm

Love your shows, the factual understanding, opinionated interplay and humor are a great mix. I thought the Lewisohn show especially nice for the way you worked him in so well. Let's face it, this is a big get for you guys, and you could have made it into an author schmoozefest about his big Beatles books past and upcoming. Instead, he became one of the guys, adding his British perspective and knowledge of the Fabs yet letting you guys take the reins. He seemed to enjoy not carrying the load. Clearly he must be a F4F4A fan, because he was into the joking around and even talked about your Extra Texture show.

Hope you get him back after Vol. 1 comes out. It was nice work by all of you getting him and then making his presence really work without disrupting the regular flow.

Mitchell Axelrod

8/27/2013 09:34:24 pm

Hi Slokes,

I am SO happy that I read your comment first thing today because it has put me in a great mood. You actually GOT what Mark L and we were aiming for with his shows. He has told us how much he enjoys our show and he did NOT want to talk about his books or new book because it is coming out late October and talking about it in JUNE would do no good for anyone. We don't even HAVE it yet so what would we really talk about?!?!?! He told us that he wanted to be one of the guys and we gave him a bunch of topics to pick ad we went with 1974. He likes the "year" shows.

A lot of our listeners went the other way and scolded us for talking over the "famous Mark Lewisohn." Mark is such a nice, humble man and doesn't come off cocky at ALL! Did we talk over him, YES! But he wanted to be one of the guys and hey, we talk over EVERYONE, includes ourselves! LOLOL. His perspective on that year brought more to the show than most people know and he was totally at ease and so were we!

Thanks again for taking the time to write and we appreciate EVERYBODY that does so because that means they are listening. Without all of our listening, F4F4A is nothing but us talking to ourselves, which we do daily anyway!

Have a great day.

Slokes

9/7/2013 09:30:16 am

Thanks for that, Mitch. Yes, you really get a sense of how immersed in Beatles lore Mark Lewissohn is from the way he was able to dip into the Fabs in 1974 with ease, lighting gently here and there and providing one scintillating, rather cagey monologue on George's state of mind, but overall letting you guys run the show. I got the distinct feeling after years of writing and reaching, he doesn't mind riding shotgun to some other knowledgeable Beatles fans.

Keep up the great work, please! And how about a show on the lesser-known acts the various Beatles lent their talent and time to post-breakup, e. g. Splinter, Mike McGear, and Badfinger? Did their work demonstrate (and benefit from) a distinct Beatles influence or not?

Slokes

9/7/2013 09:34:09 am

Sorry about the duplicate posts, but I kept getting an error message. Please delete them if you can. I wasn't trying to be Magic Post #100, I swear!

Slokes

9/7/2013 09:30:30 am

Slokes

9/7/2013 09:30:38 am

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lawrence strauss

10/17/2013 01:10:47 am

Relistened to your "StrawberryFF" episode, and it struck me about its gentle (Mitch said "Across the U"-like) beginnings. And I remembered George Martin and JL meeting in LA (I believe) and JL reportedly told an astonished GM how "most of all" he'd like to redo "SFF". "Mark I/Tomorrow Never Knows' never had an attempt at the sounds of thousands of Tibetan monks chanting. "I am the Wal." was the B-side. Dissatisfaction w effort on Across the U. "What's the New" was never released. "Rev RM Take 20" was chopped in half. You'd think a person would reach a point in which his ideas are executed. I guess that point is beyond being a young pharaoh.

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lawrence strauss link

12/6/2013 08:51:31 pm

About Rollings Stones episode. I think Satanic Majesties has a lot to recommend it and am curious about the reasons for its dismissal. A Pepper copy? Maybe the costumed band cover and the idea of a comprehensive album, but how does it sound like Pepper? Lennon's sole sonic accusation from '67 is "We Love You" copying "All You Need Is Love", when the former (recorded w J&P) was months earlier.

The RS's concept of the musicians refining songs in the studio, and Jagger adding lyrics (and maybe finding his sung melodies at the same time) afterwards, sounds like a reasonable concept. And they had interesting players with musical ideas and Jagger was a good lyricist - with a pretty strongly realized theme of a dreamed, dystopian future (quite different than Pepper's reinterpretation of the Victorian past).

I feel a similar attraction to it as I do to Twilight Zone, and treasure half the tracks: "2000 Light Years", "2000 Man", "She's a Rainbow", "Citadel" and "In Another Land". The rest appropriately, dreamily meander creating sonic space, and help the album experience (except "On With the Show" [I don't like it]).

After this, didn't the RS get saddled with (committed to) a dark, heavy, blues-style? To me, Majesties sounds appealingly playful.

Chris

1/17/2014 06:09:12 am

Hey Fab fans. I usually wouldn't dare promote another show,(so please forgive me,) but popular favorite "Stuck in the 80s" and their latest episode focuses on JPM in the 80s. Like the free for all, the hosts are fun and easy to listen to, and it's nice to compare their comments on you know who's music including tug of war, broadstreet, and more.

lawrence strauss link

1/24/2014 09:15:11 am

RE:BBC On Air. Maybe "meh" was just the right endorsement to set up my expectations, because I love it! The first thing that struck me was the bass -- I thought people were dismissing K Howlett's comments about the BBC not having to worry about needles jumping from grooves (thus more bass at BBC than EMI), and I think KH is right. Also I'm not a huge boots collector, so the last time I heard some of these was when I dug out my cassettes of the Memorial Day Beatles at the Beeb show in the '80s. And I still recite most of the speeches like I heard them yesterday, if that's a point of interest. The "old numbers" are mostly killer versions (you don't think this rocks? boy, you must be listening to some real cool way-out sounds): Lucille, Long Tall Sally, Kansas City, Memphis, Money, Talkin' 'Bout You (esp. the instr. break!). I wish there was more chronology in the sequencing to readily understand what's got overdubbing, and to follow their interests (Ask Me Why -- so invested; Please Please Me -- less so), but as a sampler Vol. 2, I can't imagine a better sequence. I also like the electric And I Love Her, Anna, Chains, and the accomplished performance of Till There Was You. Last, I've listened repeatedly to the profiles -- maybe because I'm still digging for the scarabeoid talisman.

Jerry

2/1/2014 09:02:11 am

Enjoyed the Eric Clapton podcast. Always good to come away with enjoying something more than you expected going in. I really enjoyed the Puff N Stuff / Lidsville outakes at the end of the show (no love for Sigmund & the Sea Monsters?). Sid & Marty Kroft were on a whole other plane than the other Saturday morning cartoon fare. For the record the name of the flute was Freddie, and the boy was Jimmy.

Mitch

2/1/2014 09:06:47 am

Thanks Jerry. We love Johnny Whitaker!!! We have a lot of fun when the tape is rolling but before the show! It's a nice tension release. Thanks for the kind words.

Chris

5/7/2014 01:17:41 am

Like Jerry, I really enjoyed the Puff N Stuff bits. You all should do a Sid and Marty Kroft episode sometime- heck, even a podcast based on silly seventies TV memories. Remember when Casey Kasem played both Robin and Shaggy in the same scene? zoinks. ps I just visited the lidsville wiki page. Thanks again.

Ellen R.

6/5/2014 03:32:54 pm

Hey fabs. Great show. Quick question.

So who then, was John's Monkee?

Jerry

6/30/2015 03:23:30 am

Any chance you can get Fred Goodman on to talk about his new bio of Allen Klein? It is a tremendous book

Mark Pierce

8/25/2015 01:08:38 am

Just wanted to put this out there. John commented in one of his many, many interviews that Mick Jagger stole Scared and turned it into Miss You. I guess I can hear it. I wouldn't call it direct theft. BUT - if you take Miss You and Scared and do a mash up of it moving Scared up to the same Tempo (Niles Rogers Disco beat) as Miss You and then drop Miss You out of the mix I think John had a hit he - as usual - never realized. I love Scared - it's one of my favorites from John and certainly that album. I wish EJ had stuck around more to make John pick up the beat on more of that album. The guy wanted number ones but loved to write and sing dirges. What was that all about.

Chris

4/10/2017 07:38:18 am

No topics … and no opinions … are off limits.

Except the elephant in the room, Paul is dead. Or, Paul was replaced.
Why not shut up all the PID-idiots once and for all, then?

Or, you can re-review an insignificant solo album for the third time. After all, no topic is off limits for the third time.

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