Episodes
-
#181 – The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill (with filmmaker Paul Saltzman)
In early 1968, the Beatles journeyed to Rishikesh to seek the fulfillment they realized they weren't finding in fame, drugs, money, and success. While the results of the trip on the group are debatable...
-
#182 – Rocky Raccoon with Celeste Faia (PhD candidate in Microbiology and Immunology)
Even though the Fabs had shown some affinity for country, it's on the White Album where they dive headfirst. Paul's turn at spinning a country story comes via "Rocky Raccoon," one of the numerous songs written by the band in India...
-
#183 – Drive My Car with Sean Nelson (ex-Harvey Danger, singer/songwriter, journalist, writer)
As the opening track on Rubber Soul, "Drive My Car" represents the line in the sand in which The Beatles shake off their beat-group roots, and firmly enter a smokey, hazy world, influenced by the world they've conquered and toured, and made in their image...
-
#184 – Wait with Micah McKee (singer/songwriter, host of American 100 podcast)
To finish the break-neck recording sessions for Rubber Soul, the band dug back into the archives for the song "Wait," originally recorded and shelved during...
-
#185 – The Night Before with singer/songwriter Ben Labat
This week's song is an "all-Paul" track (writing-wise, at least John says it is) that found a home on the Help! film and soundtrack. On celluloid, the boys craft "The Night Before" in a field...
Reviews
Ranking the songs of the Beatles? What could possibly go wrong? But somehow this podcast gets it just right thanks to the wit and charm of the co-hosts and their guests. The listener quickly discovers the rankings are used not to incite heated arguments but rather as a starting point to spark a positive deep dive into every Beatle song. Put simply, Ranking The Beatles is a welcome addition to the Beatle podcast universe.
Required listening if you like The Beatles at all. Great guests every week and Jonathan and Julia are fun and genuinely funny (even the tired Mike Love jokes). I listen every Tuesday morning as soon as I wake up. One week around Christmas they took the week off so I just slept the whole week until there was a new episode. It was worth the wait.
Nice to see a truly excellent new Beatles podcast. This one is hosted by a very appealing young couple, who along with their well selected guests, have a winning combination of professional musical knowledge and the enthusiasm of fans. It’s an interesting format that by definition promises to only get better as it goes along. If they can make the “Only a Northern Song” episode good then they’re unstoppable