The Beatles Stuffology Podcast

It's Ringo's chance to take centre stage on Rubber Soul as What Goes On dolefully shuffles into view. Is this song as doleful as all the other doleful songs Ringo has sung? Is it worthy of inclusion in a list of doleful Ringo songs at all? And is there any other world to describe this song as other than doleful? Doleful. Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter:...

It's time for a little Gallic flair in podcastland as "Michelle" sashay's into view. How unusual is the song in the Beatles back catalogue? Do cover versions add anything at all? And how did our beloved podcast hosts (it says here) come to the song in the first place? Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog:...

It's time for Andrew and JG to discuss The Word this episode, but what is The Word anyway? Does this song work as a precursor to All You Need Is Love? How convincing does the whole thing sound? As is this where the mythologisation of Lennon as "the love one" really begins? Plus there's a discussion around JG's overall rankings of literally every single Beatles song (with the relevant playlist now...

Time for George's first entry into Rubber Soul as JG and Andrew tackle Think For Yourself. Is the song as bitter as it sometimes appears? How does the political angle work? And who's the impost important player on the track? Plus we dive into the postbag for a little correspondence. (Also, apologies for JG's slightly odd sound - thanks to some technical constrains, the sound quality isn't it's usu...

It's time for a minor-league Lennon "classic" this week as we stray into Nowhere, Man (cough). Does the song deserve its high reputation? Is it fair to call it entry-level Beatles? And does it have the weight that's often attributed to it?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews … An...

We turn to relationships and their success or lack thereof as Paul gives us "You Won't See Me" this week. How does the song stand up to the other Jane Asher songs? How must it feel to have your relationship very publically catalogued in this way? And is the song a little under-rated?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology Instagram: beatlesstu...

Time for a bit of Scandi fun this episode as we indulge in a bit of Norwegian Wood (missus). Does the song represent a genuinely new direction for The Beatles? Does it actually manage to qualify as poetry? And are there any cover versions that do it justice? Plus we dip into the mailbox for a bit of commentary.   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles...

It's time for a fresh new album with a fresh new sound this episode, as JG and Andrew kick off their Rubber Soul discussions with Drive My Car. Does the song prove to be a worthy album opener? Are there any interesting cover versions? Does this truly herald a new period in the band's history? And, perhaps most importantly, why did nobody check out the Beat Bugs episode with this title? Rankings: T...

We flip the single this episode to cover the other A side of the first doube-A, Day Tripper. Do Andrew and JG manage to settle which is the best of the two songs? Does Day Tripper stand up to We Can Work It Out's high bar? And how many cover versions do you need to listen to in order to find a decent one? Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology I...

It's time for not only a double-A single but in some ways the double-A single. In this case, Andrew and JG are tackling We Can Work It Out first (despite some faffing about). Is it the better of the two songs on the single? Will they both agree on which song is superior? And does the song work on its own terms?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles...

It's something of a minisode this week, as JG and Andrew plug a(nother) gap by covering I'm Down vastly out of sequence (but hey, at least they remembered!). Does the song work as a straightforward rocker? Is there a cover version that might surpass the original? And do minisodes work (answers to the mailbag please!)? Plus... well, plus nothing actually - it is a minisode!   Rankings: Track-by-tra...

We draw our various discussions around Help! to a conclusion as JG and Andrew finally get to tackle the entirety of the actual album itself. Does the album cohere as a single unit despite being half-soundtrack, half-other-stuff? Is it effective as an overall piece of product? And does it really signify a change of eras? Plus we jump into our inbox once again for a little listener correspondence. R...

We return to movie-land this week as Help! hoves unconvincingly into view. Is the movie a worthy successor to A Hard Day's Night? Is the depiction of race as bad as everyone thinks it is? And, perhaps most importantly, is it actually entertaining in any way?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgeme...

With the unquestionable professionalism that everyone has come to expect from this podcast, unfortunately Dizzy Miss Lizzy got posted instead of Yesterday. Entirely JG's fault and he holds his hands up and admits it. Which is nice. So, um, here's Yesterday! Is one of the best-known songs of all time really worthy of that reputation? Is it possible to discuss the song without lapsing into conversat...

We wrap up the Help! album this week with the closer, the classic (in some, none, or more sense of the word) Dizzy Miss Lizzy. Does the song provide a worthy album closer? As the last "proper" rock'n'roll cover version, does it earn its place alongside the likes of "Boys" and "Twist and Shout"? And will tracks like this be missed going forwards? Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuff...

Time for a bit of folk this episode as JG and Andrew face up to I've Just Seen A Face. How does the old folk angle work? Would this song have worked in the movie, had it been written in time? And do Simon and Garfunkel comparisons work? Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews … Andrew’...

Tell me what you hear this week, other than two people struggling to find mind to say about Help!'s latest efforts to keep us listening, Tell Me What You See. How Monkeesian is the song? Did John or Paul have much to say about it? And how much of a salvage job can a funky electric piano achieve?    Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology Instagra...

Things take a turn for the meh this week as George - somehow - manages to get a second song released. Does You Like Me Too Much deserve it's mediocre reputation? Does it have any redeeming features at all? And, in fact, is there much to say about it that isn't just shameless vamping until a run-time is hit?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_olo...

It's Only Love this week, and that is why we are talking about it! Does the song deserve a less-than-glittering reputation? Why is there is a disagreement over Bryan Ferry? And how does the song affect the shape of the album?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews … Andrew’s Blog: S...

It's Ringo's turn to mount the microphone like a bucking bronco (now there's an image for you) with the, let's say, country classic Act Naturally. Is it, in fact, a country classic? Is it a song in need of reappraisal? And how does it compare with the non-Ringo songs on the album?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology Instagram: beatlesstuffo...

We turn to the (mean-spirited?) You're Going To Lose That Girl this week as JG and Andrew contemplate another one of Lennon's less-than-progressive lyrics. Is the song as sour as the lyrics look on paper? Why is this such a giggly episode? What do the Tindersticks have to do with anything? And how long can a diversion go on for before returning to the actual topic at hand? (Answer: quite long!)  ...

It's time for something a little jaunty this week as Another Girl hoves into view. Does the song help pick up the album's pace? Do the lyrics stand up to scrutiny? And can enthusiasm be mustered?  Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology Instagram: beatlesstuffology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews … Andrew’s Blog: Stuffology   Produced By: JG McQ...

It's George's second go-around on the songwriting carousel this week as - still live and in the same room! - JG and Andrew tackle I Need You. Is the song a step up from Don't Bother Me? Does the volume pedal (or waaaa-waaa WWAAAA WAAAAA bit if you prefer) work? And how often can the same points be made in a desperate attempt to pad out the running time? (Also, apologies for JG sounding a bit dista...

It's time for a new innovation on Stuffology this episode as Andrew and JG are... unplugged? Live? Something like that. Anyway, rather than the usual two-tin-cans-and-a-bit-of-string approach to recording over the internet, this time they're both in the same actual room! How exciting? And the episode they're discussing? Slightly ironically, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away. Does the song stand up...

It's time for the second song on Help! as JG and Andrew find out what happened The Night Before. Why does the episode start with Andrew apologosing (you know, apart from the obvious reasons....)? Does the song really... er, inspire a future band? Can it hold it's head up next to the title track?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter/X/Depths of Hell: @beatle...