Untitled Beatles Podcast

Black Music and The Beatles

Hey it's Juneteenth! In honor of the holiday, let's take a minute to reflect on the Black artists who inspired, wrote, or originally recorded SO MUCH of the Beatles' music we know and love. T.J and Tony pick some of their favorite songs that the Beatles covered, including some of the lesser-known originals.
 
There's a ton of great music throughout the show. We loved getting to dig into some groundbreaking R&B artists we already knew a little bit about—and some we're just getting to know for the first time—and we hope you do too.
 
"I was given back my body in the 1950s by Black music. I appreciate it, and I’ll never stop acknowledging it – Black music is my life." John Lennon, JET Magazine, October 1972
 
EPISODE LINKS:
If you haven't been checking out our Pandora playlists, this week's is one you're definitely going to want to tune into.
Who are some of your favorite Black artists covered by the Beatles? What'd we leave out? Share your favorites on our Facebook page.
As always, if you like the show, it helps A TON if you can leave a rating and review on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen.
 

Deep Dish: RAM (1971) 50th Anniversary Part 1

1970-71 was a prolific period for Beatles solo releases, and so last month we were blessed with yet another 50th anniversary edition of an iconic album: Paul and Linda McCartney's RAM. Tony and T.J. use the occasion to deep dish their favorite solo Paul work. And while they're at it:
T.J. and Tony reminisce about their old radio days and the technological marvel of audio cartridges
Tony does his best Magic Alex impression, explaining the technological marvel of half-speed mastering.
And the guys debate whether "Too Many People" can knock off "Motor of Love" and "Ou Est Le Soleil" for the top spot on the all-time greatest solo Paul charts
As usual, there's a lot of great music to talk about, so this one's going to be a two-parter. And also as usual, there might be a little bit of salty language. Though T.J. insists he's just saying "piece of cake."
 
EPISODE LINKS:
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Where does RAM land on your list of top solo Beatles records? Let the debates begin over on our Facebook page!

Deep Dish: Plastic Ono Band Ultimate Collection Part 2

SO. MUCH. LENNON. It took us a couple episodes to tear through this groundbreaking collection of remixes, outtakes, and demos,.Tony and T.J. share their favorite tracks and moments from the Plastic Ono Band 51st Itanniversary Ultimate Collection discs 3 through 6—and there are many among the 4 1/2 hours and 75 tracks on the 4 discs. Along the way:
T.J. checks off the holy Untitled Beatles Podcast trinity with classic sitcom references, classic musical references, and classic Pete Best shade.
Tony drops a couple dimes in the old non-Beatles jukebox, conjuring Kris Kross, Abba, Franki Valli and the Four Seasons, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, the Dave Clark Five, and maybe a couple other faves.
And things generally get every bit as goofy and giggly as John doing his Elvis impression.
It's a lot. But it's all right. We think we're gonna make it.
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Want to spend more time with the tunes we talk about? Dig into our Pandora Playlist.
Did you make it through all six discs? Did you find a way to play the blu-rays? Any highlights we missed? Come hang out with us on Facebook.
If you have a free minute, you could be a Klaus Voorman-level hero for the show. Leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

Deep Dish: Plastic Ono Band Ultimate Collection Part 1

This week, the guys finally get to dig into the COVID-delayed 51st anniversary edition of what is arguably the greatest post-Beatles Fab Four solo album: John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band (1970).
The Ultimate Collection contains far more than can be covered in a single podcast, so in Part 1, T.J. and Tony tackle the first two discs of the sprawling boxed set, including the Ultimate Mix collection of the original album tracks, as well as the Ultimate Mix outtakes.
The long-awaited compilation may be exhaustive, but does it include any of the long rumoured (and some might say fictional) rarities like:
An alternate take of Remember with Paul on bass
The lost O’Jays contribution to Fiddler on the Roof
Or the Jeff Lynne + Threetles “My Mummy’s Dead”
Tune in to find out!
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Check out Pandora for the Plastic Ono Band Ultimate Collection OR for our playlist of music from this week’s episode.
What’s missing from this sprawling collection? Shout at us on our Facebook page.
Like what you hear? Have a minute to do us a HUGE favor? Help other Fab Fans find us — rate and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

Deep Dish: U.S. Rubber Soul (1965) Part 2

The British Rubber Soul is for the birds! OK, that might be a little aggressive. The album's a masterpiece, but T.J. and Tony make a pretty compelling argument that nobody really misses "What Goes On," and that Dave Dexter's U.S. version for Capitol Records is just a superior collection.
It's so fine.
It's sunshine.
It's PART TWO of our U.S. Rubber Soul deep dish. And along the way, we ponder:
Where does journalist Maureen Cleave fit into the lineup: Is she the fifth Beatle... or THE THIRD?
And where does Ed McMahon land? (Spoiler: the ninth Beatle.)
Which iconic songs would the guys etch into their solo Eagles Mt. Rushmores?
"Run For Your Life" may not age well, but we like to think our dumb Peter Cetera jokes will. YOU BE THE JUDGE.
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Check out our Pandora playlist!
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Help spread the worrrrrrrrrrrrrd about our show: rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen!

Deep Dish: U.S. Rubber Soul (1965) Part 1

Hey hey! It's our birthday, and we're gonna have a good time. And amazingly, T.J. managed to do an entire year's worth of podcasts before finally cutting loose on his all-time favorite version of his all-time favorite album: the Capitol Records U.S. edition of Rubber Soul. Dave Dexter helps the Fab Four find their inner folksters, and, not to spoil the podcast or anything: TONY AND T.J. ENTHUSIASTICALLY APPROVE.
In Part 1 of their deep dish, the guys remember how they first discovered Rubber Soul, compare and contrast the U.S. and British releases, and dig into the first few tracks. But there's so much good stuff to talk about, we'll have to finish out the album in Part 2 next week.
As always, we got a little distracted along the way, making sure to cover crucial tangents like:
What are our least favorite words for "excrement"?
Which Buffalo reigns supreme: Buffalo Springfield, Buffalo Stance, or Dabney Coleman's early 80s sitcom Buffalo Bill?
Where does Norwegian Wood sit among the all-time great pyromaniac songs?
Really, we can't believe we've been at this for a whole year (or that we still haven't come up with a title for the podcast). We couldn't do it without this wonderful community of Fab Four fanatics. Thanks for coming along on this long and meandering road, and here's to another trip around the sun!
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Go listen to all the great music we cover! Check out this week's Pandora playlist.
What do you want to hear in Year 2 of the Untitled Beatles Podcast? Shout at us on Facebook.
Help other Beatlegeeks find the fun: rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

Live in Melbourne (1964)

This week T.J. and Tony follow the Fab Four "under the equator" (as they say) for their ripping June 1964 concert in Melbourne, Australia. It's the rare show that captures the Beatles in peak performance shape, and in high quality audio and video. The guys go through track-by-track, and also find time to cover:
Their favorite early 2000s post-grunge band
Their least favorite 80s NBC TV theme
The breakfast menu at the Taco Bell in Plymouth, Wisconsin
and more!
So pack your bags; we're headed for Australia! Insert Men At Work joke here.EPISODE LINKS:
Find Fab footage of the Melbourne show on YouTube
Dig into this week's Pandora playlist.
We're warning you with peace and love: No more fan mail, and no more things to be signed. Find us on Facebook.
Like the show? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

Magical Mystery Tour (1967) Part 2

Dust off your mellotrons! It's the long-awaited, thrilling conclusion of last week's deep dish into MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR. Picking up where they left off—on Side 2 of the Capitol US LP—Tony and T.J. tease apart some of the Fab Four's most iconic songs, including...
Strawberry Fields
Baby You're a Rich Man (the Fat Boys version)
All You Need is Love (the Beat Bugs version)
Shirley's Wild Accordion
...and so much more! So pack your bags, buckle up, and let us take you down through some of the grooviest tunes in the Beatles canon.
EPISODE LINKS
Dive deeper into the tunes from this week's episode in our Pandora playlist.
Was Roy Orbison's death a hit job? Drop your hot conspiracy tips on our Facebook page.
HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

Magical Mystery Tour (1967) Part 1

ROLL UP! T.J. and Tony have been waiting over 50 episodes to take you away on a journey into the psychedelic 1967 Beatles classic "Magical Mystery Tour." The album, not the movie. Well, the U.K. EP and side 2 of the U.S. LP. Because that's how we roll up.
Along the way, you just might learn:
Which does Tony love more: the bass harmonica, or Queen Latifah?
Which does T.J. love more: Blue Jay Way or the 1993 World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays?
Did the Eggman actually go on to front the 2020 Best New Artist Grammy-winning Black Pumas?
What the hell is a crabalocker fishwife?
So much fun, we couldn't cover it all in one episode. It's gonna be a two-parter, so stay tuned for even more magic and more mystery next week.
 
EPISODE LINKS:
So much great music to love - check out the Pandora playlist!
Please don't throw jelly beans. You'll put an eye out. If you want to get our attention, you can just find us on Facebook.
Like the show? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

Give My Regards to Broad Street (Film Review)

At long last, T.J. and Tony review Sir Paul's magnum opus: Give My Regards to Broad Street. Starring and written by Paul McCartney, the 1984 movie was panned by critics and audiences alike, but brought us some of Paul's best music of the decade ("No More Lonely Nights"), and some of his worst remakes of his best music from decades past (lookin' at you, "Long and Winding Road").
This long and rambling podcast leads to all the usual goofs and giggles, and—as far as we're able to ascertain—what we believe to be the first reference to the theme music from NBC's "The Days & Nights of Molly Dodd" in podcasting history. And what movie review is complete without also covering the Commodore 64 video game adaptation?
Movie viewing recommended (you might be able to find it on YouTube), but certainly not required. Good times guaranteed either way, or your money back.
 
EPISODE LINKS
Enjoy this week's Pandora playlist
How many Fabs do you give Broad Street? Holler at us on Facebook.
While you're in the reviewing mood, we'd love to know what you think. Drop us a review on Apple or wherever you listen!