When They Was Fab: Electric Arguments About The Beatles

On August 6, 2021 UMe and George Harrison presented the fiftieth anniversay remix of "All Things Must Pass" in multiple versions.     This week, we look at disc four (better known as "Day 2" or "Beware of ABKCO") from the streaming, 5CD, 8LP and Uber editions of this set.      Nearly an hour of George Harrison, occsionally a bass player and Phil Spector listening in the booth.

Jon and I finish our review of the first series of McCartney 3 2 1.    You know the routine.    Paul, Rick Rubin, isolated tracks, stories both new and old - while we talk about their discussions, what they missed out on and where exactly the "Paperback Writer" bit from the trailer went!

Kit O'Toole tunes up for the B-side, as we present our review of episode 4 of McCartney 3 2 1

Kit O'Toole guests this week as we look at the "Find My Way" video from Paul and Beck, and review pt.3 of "McCartney 3 2 1".     Don't stop here though, as Kit also joined us for our review of pt.4, which can be found in the "B-side" of this show.

Part two of Sam Whiles' "classic" visit to When They Was Fab.    Further discussion of the Beatles in 1970, and how the lives of John, Paul, George and Ringo continued to intertwine through their early solo efforts.  

"These Things Bring You Together" and "The Notes That like each Other".    This week we look at the first two episodes of Paul McCartney x Rick Rubin, also known as "McCartney 321".     We go through the tracks and the stories.    Is it possible top find new revelations, even among old stories from "The act we've known for all these years?" 

"Classic" When They Was Fab.    Sam Whiles joined us in 2020 to discuss the Beatles in 1970, and how the lives of John, Paul, George and Ringo continued to intertwine through their early solo efforts.   Pt.2 will be posted shortly!

The Monkees both were are were not "a weekly dose of A Hard Day's Night."     This week, we look at the relationship between the two acts.     How did Bob Rafelson come to the concept of "four zany musicians having wild adventures."        What did the "Four Kings of EMI" think of their counterparts, and how often did their paths cross?

This week: The Beatles take drugs!     No, nothing surprising about that revelation, so we spend the rest of the hour talking about how the substances changed their mindset (and subsequently songwriting, recording and production).    We also examine the different ways substances altered Lennon, McCartney and Harrison - and how each spoke of their drug use without being overtly encouraging (usually).

Have fun, cue this episode up and hit start 5 minutes to noon local time (7/7/21).    Peace and Love everybody, and the happiest of Birthdays to Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sir Richard Starkey.   Peace and Love everybody!

Jon and I consider an alternate set of All Starrs.   In the thirty plus years of the band, Ringo has only had one female member.     Should Ringo choose to go a different route, what would it look like?    Which musicians might fit well in the band - providing and performing "songs you know and love".

Thorsten Knublauch's new book ("The Beatles Mach Schau in Hamburg") and a deep dive into Lord Reith's "Executive Version") of Live at the Star Club inspired this week's topic - a look at the Beatles trips to Hamburg, We trip through the highlights of 1960, 1961 and 1962 and each of the trips John Paul George (and variously Pete, Stu and Ringo) would make along with figures including Bruno Koschmider, Peter Eckhorn and Horst Fascher.

Jon and I spend this week talking about Apple Corps Limited.     Publishing, Records, Retail, Manufacturing, Schools, Electronics and maybe even an island off the coast of Greece.    They even managed a Recording Studio at 3 Savile Row.      Even though the results were questionably successful, many of pieces would be resurrected in the form of Dark Horse Records, Handmade Films, LIPA and even to a certain extent MPL.

Jon and I move through the highlights of the remaining discs.     Out-Takes, Elements and raw studio mixes for each.    We talk through some of our favorite tracks, discuss the more (or less) significant items, and consider what we might have done different.      We then close with thoughts on what's coming next - quite possibly Sometime in NYC, and a mention of Dhani and All Things Must Pass.

The George Harrison Estate has announced the fiftieth anniversary edition of "All Things Must Pass", which includes the contents of the beloved "Beware of ABKCO" unofficial release.    This classic episode from 2020 features Lonnie Pena and myself reviewing that very disc.    Squint, and it might even sound like something from the future (if you ignore the McCartney III and Taylor Swift chat!)  

A classic WTWF that has always been among the favorites of Lonnie Pena and myself.     Darin Murphy sat down behind a drum kit and demonstrated some of Ringo Starr's drum stylings and how Ringo's playing evolved through the years.

Part two of our visit with friend of the show Darin Murphy covering the Demos and Evolution documentaries from the John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band Ultimate Collection.    More of the three of us wandering around Beatles topics, while managing to talk about the business of demoing new songs for friends and family, and then turning those demos into the finished recordings we are all familiar with?    How well is that process represented in this box?   

The second part of Darin Murphy's first visit with WTWF from 2018.       New episode coming on schedule!

Darin Murphy returns for this week and next.    This week we catch up, wander through the discs and start considering the set from the perspective of a singer, songwriter and performer.        What surprised us in the demos, and do we think the evolution documentaries are a true representation of John, Yoko and friends in the studio working toward the finished singles (and "Mother")

WTWF classic.     The first appearance of friend of the show Darin Murphy (2005's Lennon: The Musical, Cotton Mather, Trish and Darin).     Originally released 2018.