Episodes
Ep. 41 | The Decca Auditions (1962)
This week, Tony and TJ hop in their time machine to revisit some of the earliest proto-Beatles (pre-Ringo!) recordings: The Decca Auditions. Never officially released—you can find them all on YouTube, or if you're lucky, a Japanese import CD—these tapes capture the band at their most raw. Things to look forward to:
The guys get... a little punchy
The Fab Three get a little nervous for the big audition
Poor Pete Best gets the Charlie Brown treatment (why's everybody always pickin' on him?)
Tony gets a lesson in British proper noun pronunciation
And TJ (spoiler alert?) finds a way to tie it all back to musical theater and 80s sitcoms.
We'd like to say "thank you" on behalf of the show and ourselves, and we hope we passed the audition.
LINKS
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BONUS Ep. 36 | Phil Spector Dead at 81
As a bonus podcast, we have an excerpt from Twitch & Shout on the Chicago4Real Twitch Channel, in which TJ and Tony acknowledge the passing of legendary murderer and record producer Phil Spector. They discuss his connection to the Fab Four and the complications of assessing the artistic work of a convicted killer.
Plus an excerpt from I Dream of Jeannie!
This was originally broadcast on January 18, 2021.
Ep. 31 | Favourite Musical Moments & Quirks, 1966-70
Picking up where they left off, the Tangential Two cherry pick their favorite moments and quirks from Revolver to Let It Be, and including Past Masters. Spoiler: Tony likes it when Beatles scream and lions supposedly roar.
Along the way they reveal "Beatle insiders" shorthand, explore deep Brady Bunch, and connect the “ying” and yang of cruise ship spas and rodeo rap-rock.
Plus more fun needle drops and Beatle drips. This podcast originally came with a 24-page full color picture book, but is now covered up by an ugly purple bar.
Ep. 30 | Favorite Musical Moments & Quirks, 1962-65
From squeaky bass drum pedals to orgasmic yeahs, TJ and Tony divulge their favorite moments and quirks from the Beatles recorded catalog, covering Please, Please Me to Rubber Soul.
Along the way, TJ tells us what life was like when Benson was on television while Tony ponders what we may hear on future Beatle reissues.
Hopefully this episode will secure the Untitled Beatles Podcast a slot on MeTV Radio...or at least make their bone phones ring.
Ep. 24 | Fab Political Songs
It's election month in the US and the Untitled Beatles Podcast is cautiously optimistic.
After paying lip service to the recently released John Lennon Gimme Some Truth Ultimate Mixes, TJ and Tony delve into the political songs of The Beatles and their solo work, with the occasional zoom glitch and personal political view expressed. Q-flakes beware!
Plus, TJ opens up about his Marshall Crenshaw support circle, and at long last one of the UBP off-topic tangents spawns an important social justice movement. Lookin' at you, U2...
Ep. 22 | Favourite Beatles Singles
The 45 rpm single is a many-splendored thing. A souped-up hot rod, a calming salve, a flop on the plug-side, a bullet on the flip. Of the 22 singles in the official Beatles canon, TJ and Tony each pick their three favorite, with a few honorable mentions and curiosities addressed.
Also, Tony teases a new musical, TJ tests the waters of Kennedy jokes in the 21st century, and there are enough Gen X references to power a small city.*
*built on rock n roll
Plus all your favorite schtickbits (comedy fishsticks)...repeated!
Ep. 19 | Rutlemania!
TJ and Tony praise the comedic and musical genius of The Rutles, with about a trailer’s worth of spoilers. This episode is chockful of chuckles (and chug-a-lugs) honoring Eric Idle and Neil Innes’ pre-fab spamsterpiece.
Along the way, they talk Chainsaw & Dave, autographed long boxes, and the merits of Grease 2. Plus, TJ pinpoints the moment Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band “jumped the sharrk.”
And it’s the debut of TJ & Tony’s Fife & Jam Band, The Fools on Hill.
Occasional glitches brought to you by Zoom (free account).
Ep. 17 | Love LP and All Together Now DVD
In this episode of Pizza Talk, TJ and Tony get acrobatically off-topic trying to discuss The Beatles collaboration with Cirque de Soleil. It contains 101 local Chicago references.
We think this episode will sell a lot of tickets for the Vegas show.
Ep. 16 | Star Club Tapes
Pills, Punk, and Knuckle-Dusters!
This week TJ and Tony zip, zap and zop through the long out-of-print collection of lo-fi recordings of the Fab Four in Hamburg.
Also, TJ tries out both his sexy voice and his creepy voice (it’s two different voices) while Tony dogs on Ferris Bueller. And they accidentally do a Harold...we think.
Get out your Grundig reel-to-reel tape recorder and bootleg this episode. It could be worth something someday!
Ep. 15 | Beatle Bottoms
Clickbait: Are TJ and Tony in a Beatles cult? The answer may dumbfound you!!
In this Labor Day Spectacular (not that spectacular really) TJ and Tony comb the floor of the Sea of Holes in search of the least fab Beatles songs. Listen for adjectives like "treacly" and "loathsome"(!).
Also included are hot takes on R.E.M. vs Bare Naked Ladies, and a very brief tribute to short form improv.
Meanwhile, TJ discloses one of his "Beatle nightmares" while Tony wears out his “Beatle bag.”
Fact cheque: "It’s All Too Much" was recorded at De Lane Lea Studios and "Baby, You’re A Rich Man" at Olympic Sound Studios.
Neither TJ nor Tony can remember what a clavioline is.
Listen to the Beatle Bottoms playlist here.