The Beatles Stuffology Podcast

It's a reflective time on Stuffology (well, as reflective as we ever get at any rate) as it's time to deal with drama of She's Leaving Home. Is the song really a kitchen-sink drama? How does the change of producer affect things? And does the song manage to land its melancholy tone? Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgement...

Despite the announcement at the end of last episode (er, sorry about that - JG), it is, in fact, time for us to be Fixing a Hole. Was JG's missing of the track indicative of its overall quality? How does it thematically connect to the rest of the album? And is it really about drugs or just faffing about at home?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Instagram: beatl...

As we would also hope for the podcast, things are, this week, Getting Better. Does the song manage to improve upon its predecessor? Is it just (just!) an album track? And how much of one episode can be spent on cover versions?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews … Andrew’s Blog: Stuffology Stuffology Bi...

The podcast has survived the trials and tribulations of With a Little Help... so it's time to move on to some acid-imagery with Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (or is it just a child's painting that inspired it? Take a guess). Is the song really as significant as some will tell you? Does the lyric actually stand up to any kind of analysis? And is it an easy song to cover? Rankings: Track-by-track Ra...

Well, it's time for the episode that we have been trailing for literally years at this point - the potentially podcast-ending, friendship-ruining, reality-splitting With A Little Help From My Friends. Who really carries the best version of the song? Beyond "other people doing it", is there that much to analyse about the track itself? And how much of the actual song is the actual song anyway? Plus...

While this podcast might feel that it's been running for considerably longer than twenty years, we can assure you it's been substantially less as we move on to a new album and song, both in the shape of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Does the song function as an effective prelude to the album? How many kids TV references can be shoehorned into one episode? And just how long can it take to g...

As we flip the single from Strawberry Fields to Penny Lane, there is much to consider. Is this as good as, or potentially even better than, Strawberry Fields? Does it manage the same deftness? And is the video any good? Alternative Penny Lane video   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews … Andrew’s Blog: St...

Songs don't come much bigger or more important than Strawberry Fields Forever so it's time to tackle one of the all-timers this episode. Does the song really deserve its reputation as a psychedelic classic for the ages? Do the lyrics manage to convey what Lennon's actually aiming for? And do the rest of the band's contributions help or hinder the song's reputation? And perhaps most importantly of...

It's time to sum up another album and take a look at Revolver as whole, rather than a series of parts. Does the album deserve the oft-sited "best of all time" monicker? How does it compare to the likes of Pet Sounds? And is it even faintly representative of what was going on in the charts at the time? (Apologies for the quality of Andrew's audio - thanks to technical issues, he's a lot less clear...

Time to round off Revolver with the mighty Tomorrow Never Knows, as JG and Andrew take a dive into psychedelia. Or do they? Does the song deserve its towering reputation and Capital-I Importance? Do we think Lennon really understood what it was he was writing about? And just how critical is George Martin this time out?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Instagram...

Revolver is nearly done but before we get to the totemic final track, there's Got To Get You Into My Life to tackle. Does the song work as a Motown/Stax homage? Does it matter that it's actually about drugs? And how are the guitars sounding at this point in the album?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews...

It's time for George's third go-around on Revolver as I Want To Tell You takes its spot in the limelight. Can George justify an unprecedented three songs on an album? Does the song succeed in capturing the uncapturable flow of ideas he wanted to express? And just what could put Andrew off JG? (You know, apart from everything)   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com In...

Time to visit a medical practitioner for this episode as JG and Andrew pay a visit to Doctor Robert. Is it really about some alleged New York doctor? Is the NHS a worthy recipient of a Lennon lyric? And can the Beat Bugs really be the best cover version of this song?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews...

This podcast is definitely for someone but also, in a very real sense, For No One. Does the song's air of detached melancholy work? How good is that solo? And can any of the cover versions manage to capture the austere distance of the original?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews … Andrew’s Blog: Stuffo...

Time for something tuneful this episode as JG and Andrew tackle And Your Bird Can Sing. Does the song maintain the quality of the album? How much fun can be contained in one song? And are there any interesting cover versions?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews … Andrew’s Blog: Stuffology   Produced By:...

It's time to let a little light into our lives this time out as Good Day Sunshine emerges from behind the clouds to kick off Side 2. How does the song work as an opener for the second side? Are there any outstanding moments? And why (oh why, oh why) does Robbie Williams's godawful "Angels" get a mention? Plus, "excitingly", how long can two old men ramble on for before getting to the sodding point...

Surrealism, pretentious, or something else is the question posed as Revolver's first side bows out with She Said, She Said. Does the song round the first side off in a satisfactory way? Does it suffer from (probably) not having McCartney on it? And what has Peggy Suicide got to do with any of this? Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG'...

It's time for a brightly-lit stroll down happiness lane as Yellow Submarine joyfully bobs into sight. Why is the song compared to A Day In The Life? Is it "just" a children's song or is there really a deeper meaning? And how many films can be inspired by Beatles song titles?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgementally...

Time for some balladeering on Stuffology this episode as Here, There, And Everywhere wafts into view. Is McCartney right when he describes this as his best song? Was Lennon? And does the song work as a capital-S Standard?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews … Andrew’s Blog: Stuffology   Produced By: JG...

Time for some full-on Indian music for the first time in the Beatles career as George gives us the curiously-named Love You To. Does the song work as an expression of Indian music? How sincere do we think it actually is? And does the lyric manage to match the music? Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews … A...

It's time for a little nap this episode as I'm Only Sleeping drifts soporifically into sight. Does the song work as in invocation of dreams? Is there a broader metaphysical interpretation that can stand? And what do we mean when we talk about psychedelia as a term in music?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com The flaming remains of Twitter: @beatles_ology Instagra...

We move to the second song on Revolver this episode with the straightforward classic that is Eleanor Rigby. Does the song deserve its status as one of the pinnacles of the Beatles' career? How does the song stand up to reinterpretation? And how does all that mythologising work?    Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology Instagram: beatlesstuffolo...

And so 1965 is left behind and we move into the bold new world of 1966 with the mighty Revolver and its opening track, Taxman. Is it a perfect album opener? How do the lyrics stand up today and do they still (or indeed did they ever) work? And just how good is everyone on this? Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology Instagram: beatlesstuffology...

It's B-side territory once again on Stuffology as JG and Andrew tackle deal with a little Rain (though shelter under a little Anthology chat first). Is it really as good as its reputation? Are the backwards vocals and guitar lines effectively pushing musical frontiers or cheesy and difficult to take seriously? And who wins the coveted "Best Cover Version of This Song?" award?   Rankings: Track-by-...

We have something of a disagreement on Stuffology this time round as one of our beloved hosts (it says here) considerably prefers this song compared to the other - but which one? It's time to tackle Paperback Writer. Is the song really the hinge around which the Beatles career pivots? Does it stand up to any kind of meaningless analogy. And - tangentially relevant - what ARE the best cover version...