#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, there’s no denying it provided them with tremendous inspiration for songs. One fellow student, and his mother, provided the inspiration for this Saturday morning cartoon adventure, “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill.” The song joins “Rocky Raccoon” and “Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da” in the category of story songs on The White Album that, while they may not be the most meaningful, impressive things the Fabs ever wrote, they sure are fun. This track also marks, literally the introduction of Yoko Ono into the audio version of the Beatles catalog, as her one line in here is the first and only time a lead vocal was ever sung by someone other than a Beatle.

Joining us this week is Paul Saltzman, whose journey of self-discovery and heartbreak led him from civil rights worker in Mississippi to the Maharishi’s ashram, and eventually, into the orbit of the Beatles. The photos he took of the band while at Rishikesh are some of the most beloved, catching the band creating, jamming, in thought, relaxed. He’s also a long time producer and director, having produced Sundance favorites such as “Prom Night In Mississippi” and “The Last White Night,” while still maintaining a foot in the world of activism with this non-profit organization Moving Beyond Prejudice, which garnered him an audience with, and recognition from President Obama. His most recent documentary is “Meeting The Beatles In India,” and it’s available for streaming at https://thebeatlesinindia.com. There is a moment of some poor connection around minute 16 we’ve done our best to correct. We think it’s sounds OK, and appreciate your understanding.

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