#101 – Every Little Thing with Joe Adragna, singer, songwriter (The Junior League, The Minus 5)
While the exact time and place of this song seems to have been lost to the fog of 80+ years of memories, Paul does remember that he wrote this song with the thought it might end up as the Beatles next single in 1964. It seemed to lack that certain Beatle magic singles required, but it found a home on the back half of Beatles For Sale, albeit a home that maybe doesn’t do it the justice it deserves. It’s sneaky in a few different ways. It’s got melodies and hooks for days, from the verse melody to the soaring chorus, to that chorus’ emphatic tympani hits. And that’s before we even get to John’s 12 string electric guitar part, which comes across as a totally different take on the 12 string electric from what George would have played. Speaking of John, he turns in a fantastic vocal, and it’s one of the rare times in the catalogue a song is sung by a Beatle who wasn’t also the composer of the song.
Joining us this week is Joe Adragna, the brains behind power-pop force The Junior League. He’s been putting out critically acclaimed music under this moniker since the early aughts, as well as playing in a variety of other groups. We chat with Joe about DIY recording and Jonathan’s lazy musical output, power pop blueprints, childhood Beatles obsessions, and the Beatles’ impact on kids today. Be sure to check out Joe’s music at The Junior League’s bandcamp page, or wherever you buy or stream music! And give em a follow on Facebook!
What do you think about “Every Little Thing” at #101? Too high? Too low? Or just right? Let us know in the comments on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Be sure to check out www.rankingthebeatles.com and grab a Rank Your Own Beatles poster, a shirt, a jumper, whatever you like! And if you’re digging what we do, don’t forget to Buy Us A Coffee!