Episodes
Ep. 102a | Deep Dish: Beatles ‘65 (1964) Part 1
Most rock historians agree that The Beatles were ahead of their time, as evidenced by their impressive entrance at the Royal Command Performance via jetpack. In fact, the lads from Liverpool were so ahead of their time, they released an album in 1964 called Beatles ’65 (!!!). And boy did it age them, judging from their sullen publicity photos, maturing songwriting, and Wurther’s Original hard candies thrown at them on stage. As the Rutles would later say, "Ouch!"
This week T.J. and Tony deep dish another curious LP in their long forgotten American discography - Beatles ’65 - an album that has nothing to do whatsoever with The Beatles in 1965. It causes one to ponder:
📱Is it possible John Lennon owned the world’s first mobile cellular telephone?
🎡Could T.J. get carnival work guessing when Beatles LPs were pressed?
👃🏻If Ringo Starr was a scratch ’n’ sniff sticker, what would he smell like? #BeatleSniffer
So don something black, have a good cry for yourself, and let the phone ring endlessly, because the Untitled Beatles Podcast is just beginning to talk about The Beatles in ’65.*
*’64 (But by the time we finish talking about this album it will be 1965)
EPISODE LINKS
Ep. 101a | Deep Dish: The Music of 1982 Part 1
This week T.J. and Tony are rising up and back on the streets, basking in the glory that is The Year MCMLXXXII (or for laypeople, 1982). The gruesome nineteen-eighty-twosome reach out and grab their favorite moments from The Beatles Reel Music, Paul’s Tug of War, and Elton John’s tribute to John Lennon. Plus enough 80s tangents to give your silver spoons Pac-Man Fever.
As always, they ask the tough fab questions, such as:
🤖 Who said “Toti mundo nati” better?
Paul, Mork, or Mr. Roboto?
🕺🏻 Would “Ballroom Dancing” have been a stronger B-side for the Grease 2 non-hit “Back To School Again”?
𐄍 Does Tony hear Stevie Nicks’ signature rocker as “Edge of Seven”?
Plus an Untitled Beatles Podcast Exclusive: Producer Casey’s 40th Anniversary Remix of “The Beatles Movie Medley”.
It’s jammin' on the 2…1982 that is…
EPISODE LINKS:
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Ep. 99c | Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), Part 3
It was 80 years ago today that Sir Paul McCartney was born! In honor of this awesome moment in Fab Four history, the Untitled Beatles Podcast is proud to present part three of our look at his most important record: the “Hope For The Future” EP. (#Thrash)
WAIT! HOLD UP, YO! STOP THE PRESSES, NEWSIES! We’re actually discussing Side 2 of the iconic, legendary “Pepper”, as the cool kids call it. And whether you prefer your transition from “Good Morning, Good Morning” to the “Sgt. Pepper” reprise in mono or stereo, we hope you will enjoy our final installment of this “Pepper” deep dish, which also dares to ask:
✏️ When not microwaving pencils, did young Tony used to raw-dawg Doritos sandwiches?
⚾️ Was “Within You Without You” George’s tribute to Kenny Lofton, given how much he loved Cleveland Indian music?
📼 When it comes to Macca-inspired blank audio cassettes (emoji not available), are you team “Maxell's Silver Hammer” or “Mother Nature’s Sony”?
So wake up, fall out of (your Pepper’s water)bed, and before you drag a comb across Judge Dredd, join Tony and T.J. for one final look at an album that quite literally changed the trajectory of popular culture in ways unseen until Asia’s self-titled debut in ’82. (“A Day In The Life” is fine, but have you heard “Heat Of The Moment”, son?)
EPISODE LINKS
Ep. 99b | Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), Part 2
Even the most casual Beatles fan has seen and touched the world’s most beloved album cover: “Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins”, which, controversially finished seventh in Dongz Monthly’s “Best Album Cover, With A Dong” 2020 poll. (#1, naturally, was Ted Nugent’s “Cat Scratch Fever”.)
But there’s another famous Beatles album cover we just learned about on #AskJeeves that has some mind-blowing music beneath the 1987 cassette’s thick j-card: “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band!” In Part 2 of our deep dish on the most famous album EVER, we delve into Side 1, which is a real Dick Hyman-esque banger. Luckily for the masses, The Gab 2 also finds time to address:
📸 Was surrealist, EMI balcony photog Angus McBean his generation’s Calista Flockhart?
🎺 NFL Trivia: Was the halftime show of Super Bowl VI (pronounced “Vee-Eye”) “With The Beatles, With Horns!”?
🌭 (read in angry Chicago accent) How come Tony & T.J. don’t know the name of the engineer for “Fixing A Hole”, but Producer Casey does? Ya Jagbags!
It was 55 years ago today…plus about 10 days or so depending when you’re listening. So come celebrate “Pepper” with us!
Ep. 99a | Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), Part 1
Every Beatles album is critically acclaimed, especially “Tomorrow Never Knows”(#FileUnderRAWK). But arguably, none is more important than “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”, especially the Dave Dexter version, which replaces “She’s Leaving Home” with “Little Child”, obviously bettering the album.
This week, Tony and T.J., with a little help from their friend, producer Casey, begin a three part Journey/Frumious Bandersnatch deep dish into this sadly, little-discussed record on its 55th anniversary. Along the way, they find their inner groove on the following topics:
🎹 Is Leonard Bernstein’s plucky piano cover of “She Said She Said” the definitive version?
🏖 Was there ever a time as magical as 1987’s Summer of Mike Love?
🏀 Is John Stockhausen the greatest avant point garde of all time?
As Capitol EMI might say, “It Was 55 Years Ago Today. Now re-buy this record.” Or just tuck yourself inside #FontLoversCorner and listen to the Gab Two geek out over this all-time Fab masterpiece!
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Ep. 10.3 | Mono/Stereo Nerdout! (Deluxe Reissue Part 2)
Adjust your balance knobs: It’s Part 2 of the Limited Edition Colored Vinyl Numbered Gnome-Filled reissue of our 10th episode, Mono/Stereo Nerdout! This episode is so duophonic, you only hear the right channel in your left channel. #SemiDimensionalStereo
Today, we continue the gab geek out over Fab stereo and mono nuances, and also consider:
🍦 If stereo “Revolution” were a piece of ice cream, what flavour would it be?
🙀 Is Tony more of a Mr. Mistoffelees or a Rum Tum Tugger?
🤕 What’s up with so much loud harmonica in The Jon Spencer Blues Traveler?
It’s a magical, momentous, multinary matter-of-course conclusion, in one-channel stereo and, for a limited time, mono in your mind.
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Ep. 98 | "The White Album” as a Single LP
Tony’s favourite Beatles record is their beloved double album, “The Beatles Story”. Jokes! It’s the legendary, self-titled 2LP set better known as “The White Album”. T.J. loves it slightly less. Sir George Martin? He said on several occasions that he’d have preferred a more focused single album. Horses for courses, as they say. #MeatFreeMonday
Inspired by the official UBP Fifth Beatle’s controversial opinion (and a great suggestion from listener Mr. Sticker) Tony & T.J. each create their own 1LP “White Album”, changing the track listing, making odd edits, and utilizing the wealth of material surrounding this landmark record’s sessions. Plus, they each pick a 45 featuring an A & B side culled from their cut lists. Do your favorite songs stay? Do any classics get a #HeGone? Summertime Tony and Dr. T.J. Fever discuss this and more, like:
🛳 Which is a better Patti LuPone performance: the 1987 “Anything Goes” revival, or her cover of “Revolution 9”?
🚚 Was Ringo behind the wheel for the Baltimore Colts’ dead-of-night, winter escape to Indianapolis? Irsay it ain’t so!
🐓 Did Tony and his friend Dan get their glasses for WFLD Metromedia 32’s 3D airing of “Hondo” at 7-11 or White Hen Pantry?
Whether you’re #TeamJewel, #TeamDominicks, or #TeamGooGooDolls - all beloved Chicago-area grocery stores - come on down to 8-Track Avalanche and pick up this episode - or download it wherever podcasts and Jackson Browne 78tracks are sold.
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Ep. 97 | The Beatles “At The Hollywood Bowl” (1977)
Fact: Since 2016, there’s no such thing as an authorized “live Beatles record” without Opie’s involvement.
Sure, “At The Hollywood Bowl” was originally released lo-fi style in 1977, back when Richie Cunningham was chillin’ with Potzie, Mrs. C, and the increasingly insane Chachi. But it wasn’t until Apple slapped Ron Howard’s name on a brand new cover (yuck) that this long-deleted title finally appeared on CD in dramatically improved sound, as a slightly forced tie-in with the “Eight Days A Week” film. So yeah, it was ol’ Winthrop (#TheMusicMan #GaryIndiana) who made a Splash with this Gung Ho re-release that’s Far and Away the only official live Beatles record.
In this episode, Tony and T.J. dive into Giles Martin’s stunning remix, on the 45th anniversary of George Martin’s original presentation of the legendary ’64 and ’65 Hollywood Bowl shows. Along the way, these Beautiful Minds Backdraft themselves into other pertinent topics, like:
☎️ Did the Nerk Twins inspire the Jerk Twins, later known as the Jerky Twins, and ultimately known as G.O.A.T. comedy act The Jerky Boys?
🕺 Are 8-track tapes the best way to (part 1) listen to your favorite music (concl.)?
😙 Does anyone know the omnipresent, looped, two-note whistler on The Ventures’ live album? And can they sue for royalties?
Replete with bonus tracks and new, incongruously stupid artwork, this reissue is not to be missed; and neither is this episode, which will ensure Sunday, Monday, Happy Days, Tuesday, Wednesday, Happy Days, Thursday, Friday, Happy Days, The Weekend comes, and kinda rips off a-ha’s “Take On Me” with his hit “Blinding Lights”.
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"And now, here they are, the Untitled Beatles Podcast!" - Dick Biondi, probably
Ep. 94 | A Hard Day’s Night - The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (U.S., 1964)
🎸 BOINNNNNNG
Arguably the most recognizable chord in the history of rock and roll, the opening G7add9sus4 lets you know INSTANTLY that it’s been a hard day’s night, and George Martin’s been working like a dog.
This week, T.J. and Tony dish deep on the United Artists LP of the Original Motion Picture Sound Track to The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night.” Our dynamic duo gets duophonic, breaking things down track-by-track, including all the classic George Martin instrumentals.
Between tracks, we make time for the important stuff, like:
🐈 A preview of the first known copy of the long-rumored Asia / Alf collab
🍗 Which was more commercially viable: Kenny Rogers’s records for United Artists, or his roasted chicken?
🕵🏻♂️ T.J.’s audition for Beatle Forensics, his spinoff podcast inspecting every version of I’ll Cry Instead ever recorded
🏴☠️ And Tony’s audition for Is Joe English Dead, his spinoff podcast about dubious Google results and internet polls
This one’s not streamable, kids, so you’ll have to hit the record store crates for your copy, or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
T.J. Shanoff
Somewhere in Chicago.
And by Chicago, he probably means Deerfield.
EPISODE LINKS:
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Ep. 84 | The Beatles “Rarities” (1978 or 1980)
If your ideal “Penny Lane” ends with a trumpet riff, if you prefer “I Am The Walrus” with extra beats, if you struggle to enjoy “And I Love Her” without the longer outro: a) seek help, friend, and b) "Rarities" was a big part of your 80's Beatles experience!
Tony & T.J. deep dish on Capitol’s long-forgotten 1980 offering and the wholly different '78 U.K. version, and along the way, consider:
📻 Is “The Boombox In The Backseat Of Tony’s Car" the standout track on "Ram"?
🌈 Is mono “Don’t Pass Me By” a better song on the Capitol rainbow label?
🖖 Is Stuart Sutcliffe best remembered for his spoken contribution to the stereo “Helter Skelter”?
One audio note: this episode was sourced from an original Ron Furmanek 45. You can tell because Producer Casey's not on tambourine.
Read Nicholas Schaffner’s real-time Rarities thoughts here.
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EPISODE LINKS
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