I’ve Got a Beatles Podcast!

In this episode, we discuss the flurry of recent releases from Paul McCartney (bonus tracks on The Boys of Dungeon Lane), Dhani Harrison (Dragonflies), Sean Lennon (two different ones), Julian Lennon, and James McCartney. We also get into a substantive discussion about how the Beatle sons have done in the music business and how to interpret their music. Hope you enjoy the discussion! -Feel free to...

In this episode, Dave and Chris break down the new Rubber Soul release: Giles Martin’s stereo remix, the mono cut, the U.S. album, and the Super Deluxe outtakes featuring demos, instrumentals and alternate takes.  We highlight standout tracks, discuss sound and mixing choices, vinyl/CD configurations, fan reactions, and related Beatles and solo releases amid the set’s pros and cons. Should you lis...

In this episode, Dave and Chris go back into the lab to examine the Beatles’ early B‑side “Ask Me Why,” exploring its unusual and sophisticated (for the time) chord progression, three‑part vocals, lyrics, and recording history from the Pete Best era to Please Please Me. As usual, Chris digs deep to find interesting cover versions (linked below)! We also catch you up on a couple of new items includ...

Dave and Chris return from summer hiatus to rank the 14 John Lennon–related tracks from The Beatles’ White Album, including the outtake “What’s the New Mary Jane.” We discuss John's fantastic vocal performances, production choices, alternate mixes, and the songs’ contexts including “Happiness Is a Warm Gun,” “Dear Prudence,” and “I’m So Tired." And of course, we debate one of the most controversia...

The new Rubber Soul sets are coming on October 2! In this episode, we dive into the new reissues: Giles Martin’s stereo mixes, previously unreleased session takes, mono and U.S. albums, and exclusive vinyl and Blu-ray options. We also give you all the pricing details, bonus items, fan complaints, and whether the vault material still justifies the box set approach. We engage in some speculation (!)...

In this episode, Dave and Chris take a two-for-one deep dive into George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun” and its lesser-known companion (or sequel?) “Here Comes the Moon.” We explore the songs’ origins, lyrics, inspiration, unique musical elements (Moog synthesizer!), Ringo’s problems playing the meter changes, and a surprise uncredited co-writer for "Here Comes the Moon." As usual, we mention not...

In this episode, we've collected listener feedback on Paul McCartney's The Boys of Dungeon Lane, summarizing four core themes: the album as a slow burner that rewards repeat listens, praise as a surprising triumph for his age, debates about vocal tone and production, and a perceived lack of McCartney-style whimsy.  We also highlight listener comments on standout tracks (e.g., "Life Can Be Hard"),...

In this episode, we take our usual detailed, track-by-track look at Paul McCartney’s latest album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane — discussing its Englishness, production, lyrics, vocal performance, standout tracks, and of course, the many release variants (you can buy some below!) We also talk about the album’s dense arrangements and memorable moments, critiques about certain lyrics, vocal choices, and...

In this episode, Dave and Chris review Ringo Starr’s new album Long Long Road, produced by T‑Bone Burnett. We discuss the album’s short runtime, country/Americana slant, and notable guests (Molly Tuttle, Billy Strings, St. Vincent, Sheryl Crow), and consider whether this feels like a sequel to his last year's Look Up. As usual with most Ringo albums, his drumming is great and his voice is good, bu...

In this episode, Dave and Chris explore the many ways the Beatles end their songs — from dramatic codas and long fade-outs to chaotic jams, unexpected chord shifts, and of course, studio histrionics. The Beatles have many "cool ends" to go along with their "hot starts!" We cover some of the famous endings in tracks like "A Day in the Life," "Hey Jude," "Strawberry Fields Forever," "I Am the Walrus...

In this "emergency" episode/Song under The Microscope we examine Paul McCartney’s new single "Days We Left Behind" and discuss his forthcoming album The Boys of Dungeon Lane (out May 29). We break down the recording, falsetto vocals, lyrical references to John and Liverpool, and the song’s nostalgic tone, as well as ruminate on what it means at this stage of Paul's career. We also cover album deta...

In this episode, Dave and Chris review Morgan Neville’s Man on the Run, the new documentary about Paul McCartney’s first post‑Beatles years. We summarize the film’s release, Neville’s approach to telling Paul’s journey in the 1970s, and discuss the narrative, archival footage, photography, and contributions from all Wings members. Is it worth seeing? As always, we also read listener feedback and c...

In this episode we trace the life of "Act Naturally": written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison, turned into a hit by Buck Owens, and later covered by the Beatles with Ringo Starr on vocals. First, we explore the original version, followed by discussion about why the song suited Ringo during the Help! session and what made their version stand out. We also look at notable cover versions (includin...

In this episode, we discuss what makes rock music "psychedelic" and debate the Beatles songs that best capture the era’s "trippy" sounds. We rank our top psychedelic Beatles tracks (including "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Tomorrow Never Knows," "I am the Walrus," "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," and many more), examine instrumentation and studio effects and of course the lyrics. We then cover news...

Happy 2026! In this new occasional series "Famous Covers," we'll explore some of the most successful Beatles and solo artist covers from a wide range of musicians. The first entry features a 1975 double-sided single by Elton John, covering two John Lennon-penned songs - "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" and "One Day At A Time." Elton stays largely faithful to the original recordings, but puts his ow...

Our annual holiday tradition is providing a year-end review episode covering the big Beatles and solo releases of 2025: the Anthology 4 launch and remasters, streaming-only content and marketing missteps, major John Lennon and Paul McCartney archival sets, George’s quiet reissues, Ringo’s strong country album and vinyl runs, the Sam Mendes film buzz, notable books and merch, plus non-Beatles reiss...

We're back to discuss all things Anthology! We do a review of Anthology 4, as well as the Disney+ Anthology series in detail, and even have a strong disagreement about the new remixes of the "Threetles" songs! ("Free As A Bird" and "Real Love"). What do you think? Are you into all the Anthology hype? Here's the fan site mentioned in the episode -- this person catalogued all the differences between...

With all the Wings-related merchandise coming out in the past week -- a book, an audio collection, and an upcoming film -- we thought we'd join the fun and give you two ranked lists: 1) Best/Worst Wings Album Covers 2) Best/Worst Wings Albums  We had a lot of fun revisiting the Wings catalog and hope you will too! Buy your new Wings items here! Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run - Audible Audio...

We are back after a hiatus to discuss the new release of the "One to One" concert from 1972 featuring John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Elephant's Memory. This concert appears in a beautifully remixed version that substantially improves over the 1986 John Lennon: Live in New York City release. But how does the concert hold up all these years later, and what about the set list, performances, and political...

We take a break from all the news to look at an album that sometimes gets overlooked in the Beatles canon: 1965's Help! It's not just a movie, but a great listening experience as an album (the UK version, in particular). We talk about the album, all the songs, its lyrical themes, its place in the Beatles' output, and what it foreshadows for future albums. Enjoy! Purchase links: Help! LP https://am...

For the second time this month, we're back with a bonus episode tackling another hot-button Beatles release. This time, it's the Beatles Anthology—a sprawling project spanning film, book, and audio. And just like last time, fans are divided. We break down each format, share our personal takes, and talk about what’s next. If you'd like to get a copy of anything, preorder links are included below. A...

Dave and Chris go back into the lab to discuss a quirky, satirical song about the copyright lawsuit leveled against George Harrison in 1976 called "This Song." As always, we discuss the musical arrangement, the lyrics, the musical allusions, and the witty lyrics. And make sure you watch the accompanying video to see some "guest stars" you might recognize!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0i9rjTxh...

We're back from our summer breaks with a bonus news episode discussing the upcoming John Lennon release, Power To The People. This new collection, covering John's 1972 political period in live and studio performances, has been discussed recently and intensely by various podcasters and video creators, and we wanted to share our perspective. We'll go through the different configurations available, c...

At the suggestion of a listener, we rank Paul McCartney’s officially released live albums—that is, no video-only releases, bootlegs, or unofficial recordings. We explore the pros and cons of live albums in general, how Paul assembles them, the bands he’s played with, and the song choices for each release. We also share some ideas for future re-releases we’d love to see. As always, we wrap up with...

We continue our occasional series looking at the Beatles American albums with a discussion of 1964's Something New. We talk about the track listing, the sound, the packaging/cover, and its place in the Beatles American story. What do you think of the album, and which one should we examine next?  We also talk about a few recent news items including the rerelease of the mono albums set, Harrison rei...