The Beatles Stuffology Podcast

This week it's the chirpy When I Get Home that falls under the Stuffology spotlight. How much time do we think was spent on the lyrics for this particular song? How much chance is there that there will be an agreement over the song's modest merits? And does this work out to be the shortest episode of Stuffology yet?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @be...

We take a more thoughtful and melancholy turn this week as Andrew and JG tackle Things We Said Today.   Does the song deserve its great reputation? What is the difference between a horizontal and vertical melody? And what's Barbara Dickson got to do with anything?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews … Andrew...

I'll Cry Instrad - not an entirely unfair reaction to this week's track, as it turns out! How does the country influence work out this time? How many Billy Bragg references can be squeezed into one podcast? And just how long will it take to get around to talking about the song this episode is ostensibly meant to be about?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitte...

It's time for Any Time At All to take the spotlight as this grower-not-a-shower gets the Stuffology treatment. How does it compare to the previous episode's mighty Can't Buy Me Love? Is there much there there? And what's up with Second-Half Syndrome?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews … Andrew’s Blog: Stuff...

It's another one of the classics this episode, as JG and Andrew tackle the might, era-defining Can't Buy Me Love. What's going on with iterative processes? How long does it take for Pink Floyd to take a kicking? And is it possible to make a Shea Stadium reference without immediately deferring to the Rutles?    Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ol...

It's time to Tell Me Why on Stuffology as JG and Andrew tackle a rather forgotten song. Does it manage to hold its place on the album? How much Star Wars talk can get squeezed into a Beatles podcast (quite a bit actually!)? Plus, if you've ever wanted to know more about the film It's Trad, Dad! - and who wouldn't? - Andrew has a real treat in store for you!   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail...

It's time to move into ballad territory this episode as JG and Andrew cover And I Love Her.   Does the song manage to land its tone of wannabe-sophistication? Of the many cover versions, which is the worst? How does George's contribution stand up?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews … Andrew’s Blog: Stuffolo...

It's a quick dash around the ballroom this episode, as George informs us he's happy just to dance with you, despite very much not sounding like it. How does the song hang together? Does it belie its throwaway status? How many unrelated 80's references can be crammed in?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews …...

If I Fell falls under the, let's say, analytical spotlight this episode as JG and Andrew continue their way through A Hard Day's Night. Does the song continue the run of quality on the album? How often can JG use the word "charming" in one episode? And on this occasion, who did it better - The Beatles or the Rutles?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @be...

It's time for the second song on A Hard Day's Night to fall under the spotlight as JG and Andrew turn their attention to "I Should Have Known Better". How does it fare next to the totemic title track? Why is there a discussion of McCartney's Tug Of War (not for the first time)? And why do the Beach Boys come up? Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_...

It's time to move on to some new territory this week as JG and Andrew break the seal on the A Hard Day's Night album with the song... A Hard Days Night! Join us for an unfeasibly large amount of Goon-related chat and general chart musings. Does the song make a good opener for the album? How long can two people talk about a song that doesn't clear three minutes? And why are Madness brought up so ea...

We flip the single this week and cover the B-side, the largely-forgotten (or is it?) "This Boy". Why does Tom Jones get brought up so much? Just how well remembered or otherwise is this song? And is it a lost classic or one that deserves its place rather more towards the obscure end of the Beatles' catalogue?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_o...

It's one of the biggest songs of all time on this week's episode as JG and Andrew get stuck into I Want To Hold Your Hand. Does the song deserve it's place as one of the most significant tracks in the Beatles' back catalogue? Is the whole more than the sum of its parts? And does it deserve to be the vanguard of the British Invasion in America? Plus there's more Doctor Who and Star Trek references...

We step aside from tracks for this episode to instead talk about the album With The Beatles in its entirety. How enthusiastic can one set of liner notes be? How does the album stack up as a coherent piece of art? What else was it up against in the charts? And, most importantly (well, "importantly") of all, what score does it get?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.co...

With The Beatles draws to a close with the mighty "Money (That's What I Want)", a good excuse to see what John Lennon can do on vocals. Does the Beatles version still stand up to scrutiny when compared with the original? How do other cover versions fare? And why do the Decca tapes get brought up?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology JG's Blo...

The end is in sight! But before we get there, we have this - "Not A Second Time". Can Lennon find a tune to sing here? Is it a suitable second-last song as far as the album goes? And are the cover versions better than the original?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews...   Produced by: JG McQuarrie

Another episode, another cover version! This time it's Devil In Her Heart, as side 2 continues to wend its merry way. How does the song stand up? Can Harrison do anything convincing on vocals? Just how low a score can it get? These and other questions await their answers!   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology JG's Blog: Judgementally Reviews....

Ringo's "I Wanna Be Your Man" is in the spotlight this episode, and after numerous technical issues JG and Andrew have finally managed to actually capture what they think of the song (no mean feat, this time out). How does the song work for Ringo's voice? How do things go with the inevitable Rolling Stones comparison? And was the song worth all the hassle of getting the blasted episode recorded in...

It's time for a Smokey Robinson cover on this episode of Stuffology with "You Really Got A Hold On Me". Can Lennon's vocals match the original (and will Andrew concede whether they're any good or not)? Where, and why, do UB40 fit into things? And how does the whole "cultural appropriation" thing work?    Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology JG...

We start Side 2 of With The Beatles with one of the most well-known songs of all-time, Roll Over Beethoven. Can the Beatles do the Chuck Berry classic justice? Why are there sidesteps into Superman movies? And what does a completely forgotten sitcom have to do with anything?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology JG's Writing: Judgementally Re...

We continue with another cover version for this episode with the Beatles' take on the classic "Please Mr Postman". Does it live up the original? Where does Elvis Costello fit into things? And why are the scores unusual this time round? Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology JG's Writing: Judgementally Reviews...

Till There Was You is up for discussion this week, as JG and Andrew delve into another one of the cover versions on With The Beatles. Is the track as chintzy as its reputation? Do the band make a good fist of a complicated number? Plus we return to one of the podcast's favourite subjects - The Rutles and Neil Innes - and excitement ahoy! We delve into the postbag for the first time to cover a list...

This episode, JG and Andrew turn their attention to "Little Child", which turns out to be a Lennon/McCartney Original and not a cover version at all! What difference does knowing how something was recorded make to appreciating a song? Should this have been a Ringo song, as was originally intended? And what on Earth is "brumbeat"?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.co...

We turn to George's first Beatles song on an album this episode as JG and Andrew cover "Don't Bother Me".  How does George's first attempt at songwriting stack up against Lennon and McCartney? Is his solo output worth bothering (ho ho) with? And how contentious will the final score be?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology JG's Writing: Judge...

It's something of a classic that's getting covered this episode as "All My Loving" falls under the spotlight. Does it deserve to be such a popular live number? Why is JG pulled up for speaking French? And how on-topic will things stay before the inevitable score?   Rankings: Track-by-track Ranking eMail: beatlesstuffology@gmail.com Twitter: @beatles_ology JG's Writing: Judgementally Reviews...