UnBeatled

The Beatles had been signed for a cash grab film deal. It was filmed and ready to be released as Beatlemania continued to rise but they still didn't have the title and the producers wanted one FAST. Overnight John Lennon wrote 'A Hard Day's Night' in a few hours and that was it. It would go on to become one of their most loved hits and the title of one of the best music films of all time. Hosted o...

In 1967, John Lennon and his childhood friend, Pete Shotton, were diving into and reading a bag of fan mail that was lying around John's house. John pulled out a letter from a pupil at his former high school in Liverpool which said that teachers were now giving lessons on the content of his lyrics. Laughing at the absurdity of this, John went about writing a song that was utter nonsense exclaiming...

Welcome to episode 24 of UnBeatled, a channel where we take a deep dive into every single song The Beatles ever recorded. In our discussion we unpick the music, the lyrics, the cultural context at the time, and the impact the song had on the band's success in the UK and the world. In 1966, The Beatles were stars at the forefront of music and culture, rubbing shoulders with other bright sparks from...

John Lennon's son, Julian, brought home a painting he had done at school that day and showed it to his dad. To say John was impressed is an understatement. He was immediately taken by the psychedelic painting of Julian's classmate flying in the sky surrounded by diamonds. To a drug addled John Lennon this was the inspiration he'd been waiting for. They completed the song in 24 hours with Paul McCa...

Paul McCartney leaped out of bed one morning with a tune in his head. He sat down at the piano and found the chords, drumming the melody into his memory with a canny rhyme. He couldn't believe he'd written it. After figuring out it was his doing, The Beatles' producer, George Martin, posed the question... should this be the first Paul McCartney solo record? It would have been a financially prudent...

This episode is sponsored by EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. In IMAX Feb 20 / In cinemas everywhere Feb 27 https://www.epicmovie.co.uk Welcome to episode 21 of UnBeatled, a channel where we take a deep dive into every single song The Beatles ever recorded. In our discussion we unpick the music, the lyrics, the cultural context at the time, and the impact the song had on the band's success in the U...

This episode is sponsored by EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. In IMAX Feb 20 / In cinemas everywhere Feb 27 https://www.epicmovie.co.uk Welcome to episode 20 of UnBeatled, a channel where we take a deep dive into every single song The Beatles ever recorded. In our discussion we unpick the music, the lyrics, the cultural context at the time, and the impact the song had on the band's success in the U...

Welcome to episode 19 of UnBeatled, a channel where we take a deep dive into every single song The Beatles ever recorded. In our discussion we unpick the music, the lyrics, the cultural context at the time, and the impact the song had on the band's success in the UK and the world. John Lennon, while feeling depressed and suffering from a bad case of writer's block, was sat up late into the night t...

Welcome to episode 18 of UnBeatled, a channel where we take a deep dive into every single song The Beatles ever recorded. In our discussion we unpick the music, the lyrics, the cultural context at the time, and the impact the song had on the band's success in the UK and the world. This episode we take a look at their 1963 song, All My Loving. Written while in a flurry of tours and growing success,...

Welcome to episode 17 of UnBeatled, a channel where we take a deep dive into every single song The Beatles ever recorded. In our discussion we unpick the music, the lyrics, the cultural context at the time, and the impact the song had on the band's success in the UK and the world. This week we take a look at Golden Slumbers and Carry That Weight, the emotional climax of Abbey Road's medley. Writte...

Welcome to episode 16 of UnBeatled, a channel where we take a deep dive into every single song The Beatles ever recorded. In our discussion we unpick the music, the lyrics, the cultural context at the time, and the impact the song had on the band's success in the UK and the world. This week David Bennett takes us through his favourite song of all time - the psychedelic masterpiece Strawberry Field...

This episode discusses And I Love Her, a song that was written for Paul McCartney's first true love - Jane Asher. Tune in to hear about the band's use of musical concepts such as key changes and the Picardy Third. Also, UnBeatled will discuss how living with Jane Asher opened Paul's eyes to arts and culture at the outset of swinging London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...

This episode delves into John's haunted nursery rhyme - Cry Baby Cry. The song was initially inspired by a TV advertisement before being finished while studying transcendental meditation in India. Tune in to hear discussion about John Lennon's childhood and the tensions while recording this track. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode discusses She's Leaving Home - a song that was inspired by a newspaper article about a runaway teenager. Tune in to hear about Mike Leander's arrangement and how it made Brian Wilson scrap an upcoming Beach Boys project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UnBeatled breaks down the 1970 rocker 'I've Got A Feeling'. This song blended two unfinished tracks - one from McCartney and one from Lennon. This was the last time they collaborated in such a way. Tune in to hear about Billy Preston's keyboard contributions and discussion on why McCartney has chosen to continue including it in his current live setlists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

UnBeatled takes a look at Michelle from Rubber Soul. It began life as a song Paul used to play at parties while singing in a French accent. Tune in to hear about Nina Simon's influence on the track and how they sought the help of their friend's wife to finish the lyrics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UnBeatled inspects Dear Prudence from The Beatles' self-titled album. It's a beautiful song written by John that utilises a guitar finger picking style that John learned from Donovan while studying transcendental meditation in India. Tune in to learn about Paul McCartney playing the flugelhorn and why Ringo did not play drums on this track. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...

UnBeatled delves deep into She Said She Said - a song that was written after a memorable experience with the actor Peter Fonda. Tune in to hear how the song was written in the Mixolydian mode and changes time signature. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode looks at Eight Days A Week - a song that was just an album track in the UK but went on to be a big hit in America. It's an optimistic, feel-good track that's driven by jangly acoustic guitar and a classic McCartney walking bassline. Despite this, the band didn't highly regard the song and thought it was merely writing for the 'meat market'.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...

UnBeatled breaks down Penny Lane - the song that Paul McCartney wrote as his response to Strawberry Fields Forever. Tune in to hear about the perfect piccolo trumpet solo and why this song encapsulated the confidence of the time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UnBeatled examines Yellow Submarine - a song that was written as a children's rhyme. Listen in to stories about how Donovan helped with the lyrics and John tried to record his vocals underwater. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UnBeatled inspects the song that catapaulted The Beatles to heights never seen before in the UK. Learn how such an iconic song was written on twin hotel beds and recorded merely a few days later. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UnBeatled delves into the McCartney penned, blues inspired rocker - Lady Madonna. Tune in to hear how famous saxophonist, Ronnie Scott, played on the record and how Paul took inspiration for the lyrics from a picture in National Geographic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode UnBeatled unpicks one of John Lennon's first autobiographical songs - Help! Listen in to hear how The Beatles got the most out of 4-track recording equipment and how the film of the same name influenced The Monkees. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UnBeatled delves deep into one of The Beatles' most enduring and popular hits - Here Comes The Sun. Tune in to learn about Ringo's quirky drumming technique on the track and why John Lennon was absent from the recording. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.