BC the Beatles

Sixty years ago today, June 15, 1966, Yesterday and Today was scheduled to arrive in record stores across America. Instead, Capitol Records was already deep into what would become one of the most famous album recalls in music history. The Beatles' controversial "butcher cover" had triggered a backlash unlike anything the label had anticipated. By the time the official release date arrived, thousan...

This episode is Part Four of our 12-part series, Beneath the Surface: The Beatles in 1966, a year-long, month-by-month look at the band’s most transformational year. In April 1966, the Beatles return from a three-month break and step into the studio with a completely new mindset. What begins with a visit to London’s Indica Gallery and John Lennon’s discovery of The Psychedelic Experience quickly e...

In this episode, we’re joined by Tom Wright to discuss his new play Please Please Me, which brings the story of Brian Epstein to the stage at London’s Kiln Theatre. The play explores Epstein’s life beyond his role as the Beatles’ manager, focusing on the tension between his public success and private reality. In 1960s Britain, homosexuality was illegal—a fact that shaped nearly every aspect of Eps...

This episode is Part Three of our 12-part series, Beneath the Surface: The Beatles in 1966, a year-long, month-by-month look at the band’s most transformational year. March 1966 marks the moment the Beatles begin to emerge from their early-year hibernation — and as they do, the divide between who they were and who they were becoming has never been more visible. On the surface, Beatlemania appears...

Today we’re bringing you part two of our interview with Andrew Cook, author of the new book Capitol Gains: Exposing the Conflict between the Beatles and the Record Label that Made Them. In part one, we dug into the many myths surrounding the Beatles signing to Capitol Records, and Andrew walked us through the new information he uncovered about how that historic deal actually came together. We also...

Today we’re joined by Andrew Cook, author of the new book Capitol Gains: Exposing the Conflict Between The Beatles and the Record Label That Made Them — part one of a two-part conversation. If you think you already know the story of how The Beatles conquered America, this book might surprise you. Capitol Gains takes a deep dive into the complicated, occasionally combative, and hugely consequential...

This episode is Part Two of our 12-part series, Beneath the Surface: The Beatles in 1966, a year-long, month-by-month look at the band’s most transformational year. February 1966 continues the strange calm at the start of the year. There are no riots. No screaming headlines. No dramatic breakups or public meltdowns. Instead, the changes are quieter — but no less significant. George Harrison and Pa...

This episode is Part One of our 12-part series, Beneath the Surface: The Beatles in 1966, a year-long, month-by-month look at the band’s most transformational year. In January 1966, everything about the Beatles still looked exactly the way it was supposed to. They were dominating the charts, talking about new albums, new tours, and even a third movie. Beatlemania wasn’t just alive — it was still t...

It's been a minute, and we're back with a new season! This year, we're focusing the transformational year of 1966 — tracking the Beatles' lives, month-by-month.  In this preview episode, we catch up on our time away, including Allison's trip to Egypt and Erika's announcement about her upcoming Butcher Cover book! We then set the context for our look into 1966 by seeing where the Beatles are in Dec...

Another crazy month for us Beatles fans! This episode, we’re going through the Beatles’ new vinyl releases, including the brand-new Mono box set and its breakouts. (Which you can win in our special holiday giveaway!) We also review the new Disney+ doc, Beatles ’64 , premiering Nov. 29. We’re giving you our thoughts on this remastered, remixed look into the Beatles’ US debut in February 1964 - be s...

We’re back from our summer break and are so excited to welcome author Madeline Bocaro. Madeline is a music journalist with a lifelong admiration for Yoko Ono. Her new book, In Your Mind - The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono , tells the story of her amazing life, struggles, art, activism, films and music in astounding detail. The book dives deep into Yoko’s life before, during, and after her relation...

We’re still on our summer break, so we’re bringing you a preview of our recent appearance on one of our favorite podcasts, Ranking the Beatles. This episode keeps the Let it Be vibes going and discusses "One after 909," ranked #85 on Ranking the Beatles' list. Listen to the full episode and subscribe to Ranking the Beatles here. About Ranking the Beatles: Musician and self-described Beatles fanati...

The month of August has historically been full of significant changes for the Beatles. In August 1962, Pete Best was fired, and Ringo joined the band, completing the lineup and creating the chemistry that propelled them to worldwide stardom. August 1966 brought the backlash against John’s “more popular than Jesus” comments and marked the end of their touring career. And the death of Brian Epstein,...

It's part two of our Mind Games extravaganza, and we're going track-by-track on the new Mind Games Ultimate mix. Listen along with us as we dive into each song on this fabulous new release.  And don't forget, enter our giveaway to win your own copy of Mind Games! --------------------- Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , and Twitter/X for photos, videos, and more from this episode & pa...

We're going deep with a two-parter celebrating the new release of John Lennon's solo album, Mind Games . In part one, we discuss the original album, the musicians who made up the "Plastic U.F.Ono Band," and the expansive offerings in this new set. And Erika tells Allison about the Mind Games Dolby Atmos listening event in New York City this month, which included a 50-year reunion of the entire Pla...

The trailer for 'Midas Man' — the new film about Beatles' manager Brian Epstein — dropped this week, and we couldn't be more excited! Scheduled for release on August 29, 'Midas Man' follows Brian's career from 1963 through his death in 1967. It delves deep into Brian's family life, the Liverpool music scene, and his struggles as a closeted gay man in a world where homosexuality was still considere...

We celebrate Ringo's birthday by diving into the solo album that was almost a Beatles reunion: 1973's Ringo. With contributions from John, George, and Paul, Ringo gave fans hope that, although their breakup was acrimonious, the four Beatles might find a way back together. For Ringo, the album, his third, was a triumph after a shaky start to his solo career and produced some of his most beloved tra...

On July 3, 1966, the Beatles landed in Manila, The Philippines, for the final stop on the first leg of their world tour. But two days later, after a misunderstanding with the country's first family, the band and their entourage narrowly escaped with their lives.  The third part of our touring years series dives into this harrowing moment — an event that would kick off a summer of strife, and reinf...

This week, we’re re-releasing a double header of episodes (two-in-one!) that digs into pivotal moments from the Beatles' touring career. The first part is about their very first tour backing Johnny Gentle in 1960. Part two discusses the band’s Winter 1963 tour, opening for UK singing sensation Helen Shapiro — a tour that intersected directly with the rapid rise of British Beatlemania.  These two e...

Today is Juneteenth, a day that has held significance for the Black community for many years and one that, for the past four, has become a national holiday in the United States. It’s a day for education, listening, learning, and increasing awareness of the Black experience. Though we are two white women who are still doing a lot of learning and listening ourselves, we wanted to celebrate Juneteent...

Paul McCartney and Wings’ One Hand Clapping is one of the most bootlegged albums in rock history. Fifty years later, the album is being officially released for the first time, with a fabulous new mix by Steve Orchard (and Giles Martin collaborating on the Atmos version). We’re joined by Sam Whiles, host of the Paul or Nothing podcast and the Macca in your Attic YouTube series. Join us as we nerd o...

Our guest today is the wonderful May Pang, who we’re so excited to welcome onto BC the Beatles! May began her career in the music industry at ABKCO and Apple Records before transitioning into being John and Yoko’s personal assistant. Three years later, Yoko came to her with a strange request: to be John’s lover and companion during a period of their separation. This became his “Lost Weekend” in 19...

This month, two behemoths of British culture crashed into one another, when the new season of Doctor Who featured a much-anticipated Beatles episode called “The Devil’s Chord.” Both fandoms have been hoping for this crossover episode for years, and we finally got it, complete with an incredible new villain played by Jinkx Monsoon. Erika is joined by James Ryan and Ed Chen, who both have one foot s...

Our very, very special guest today is the great Kevin Harrington, who most Beatles fans will recognize as the “redhead on the roof” in the Let It Be and Get Back films. At the time, Kevin was only 18 years old(!) but had been working for the Beatles, in some capacity, for years, first as an errand boy at NEMS and then as an assistant to Brian Epstein. He worked alongside Mal Evans as the Beatles’...

This week, Erika participated in a roundtable discussion of the newly-released Let it Be film with some of our favorite Beatles podcasters. Enjoy this supersized episode about all things Let it Be. And if you like what you hear, please head on over to our the other participants’ podcasts: Blotto Beatles , hosted by Becker, RB, Scotty C., and Tommy Ranking the Beatles , hosted by Jonathan and Julia...