Something About the Beatles

Evergreen Podcasts

Hosted by award-winning author Robert Rodriguez, Something About The Beatles is an intelligent but entertaining examination of The Beatles' music and career. Smart, funny and surprising - just like the Fab Four.

Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

233 episodes
Updated Monday

Episodes233

Newest first

May 10, 2023 · 1 hr 47 min
260: Tastemaker Tony King
Tony King was general manager of Apple US in the early 70s, but thereafter worked directly with John and Ringo, promoting their work from 1973 through 1975. Beyond that, he was a true British rock Zelig figure, partying with The Beatles the night...
May 2, 2023 · 1 hr 19 min
259: Sgt. Pepper Olympiad
The series with professor/lecturer Gary Wenstrup continues as we rate tracks on each Beatles album in Olympic style: Gold - Silver - Bronze. This episode introduces a modification, adding in for consideration the singles that bookended the 1967...
Apr 8, 2023 · 1 hr 8 min
258: May the First - The Lost Weekend with May Pang
"The Lost Weekend" was the handle John implemented (picked up by subsequent narrators) to describe the period of his separation from Yoko, during which time a romantic relationship began with his 22 year-old personal assistant, May Pang. Once the...
Mar 21, 2023 · 1 hr 28 min
257: Questions From Listeners
I asked for your questions last summer and you responded, so here you go! Aided by Gary Wenstrup (SATB regular of Olympiad series fame), we tackle the following subjects: The "aaahs" on "A Day in the Life" The end of touring Beatles '76 Live...
Mar 5, 2023 · 1 hr 14 min
256: The Making of Ringo (and Goodnight Vienna) with Bill Schnee
Fifty years on, Ringo's third solo album (or first, as he counted it in 1977) remains a stunning achievement, not just for the near-Beatles reunion but also on its own musical merits. With Richard Perry in the producer's chair, an array of talent was...
Feb 19, 2023 · 1 hr 55 min
255: Peter Jackson's Get Back with Doug Sulpy and Dan Rivkin
No one on the planet knows more about the contents of The Beatles' Nagra reels than Beatle scholars Doug Sulpy (Drugs, Divorce and A Slipping Image) and Dan Rivkin (They May Be Parted blog). We convened to review the Get Back film and discuss how well...
Jan 28, 2023 · 1 hr 37 min
254: McCartney, Harrison - It's Complicated
Returning guest Glenn Greenberg (; ; ) is back for another discussion, this one examining the complex relations between George and Paul - the longest running friendship in the band. This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Go to...
Jan 18, 2023 · 1 hr 8 min
253: Something About The Yardbirds & Jeff Beck with Jim McCarty
This show was taped a month ago, in conversation with Yardbirds/Renaissance/Illusion founding member Jim McCarty, in an effort to widen the lens exploring the world of 60s British rock that The Beatles operated in. Sadly we find ourselves now...
Jan 10, 2023 · 1 hr 15 min
252: The Inner Light
Author Susan Shumsky first appeared on SATB in , upon the publication of her memoir, The Maharishi and Me, which detailed her twenty years living at his ashram (including six years working directly for his organization). We discussed her...
Dec 25, 2022 · 1 hr 19 min
251 Revolver: Art and Music
Musicologist Walter Everett joins professional musicians Cameron Greider and Jack Petruzzelli in a return visit to discuss the latest Beatles reissue set. Revolver is analyzed through the prism of its poetry as well as its musical maturity...
Dec 14, 2022 · 1 hr 54 min
250: Something About The Beatles' Christmas Messages
Between 1963 and 1969, The Beatles issued ephemeral holiday greetings to members of their fan club on flexidiscs. These were collected onto an LP in 1970, but for the most part, escaped a proper issue for the masses (excepting the 2017 limited edition...
Dec 4, 2022 · 1 hr 15 min
249: Ray Connolly's Lennon
Returning SATB guest favorite Ray Connolly (journalist, Beatles insider, screenwriter) penned what remains the finest Lennon bio in print, Being John Lennon: A Restless Life. On this, his 82nd birthday, we celebrate John's life and Ray's as well...
Nov 24, 2022 · 1 hr 43 min
248: Hey Jude Deconstructed with James Campion and Jeff Martin
An entire book dedicated to a single song may strike some as bewildering, but not if the song in question is both The Beatles' longest single (in length) as well as one of their most successful (quadruple platinum): 1968's "Hey Jude." Deceptively...
Nov 16, 2022 · 1 hr 49 min
247: Critiquing The Critics II - This Time It's Personal with Bill Wyman
In which the worlds of three returning guests collide to discuss 1) is there (or should there be) a common starting point for all critiques of art and 2) the world of rock criticism generally - what's the purpose and where does it go wrong? Dr....
Oct 28, 2022 · 1 hr 19 min
246: The Rooftop Reunion
Are you Get Back-ed out yet? No? Good, because there are still plenty of avenues to explore within the scope of January 1969. Featured today is something from the vaults: the conversation reuniting three witnesses to the events on Savile Row on 30...
Oct 8, 2022 · 1 hr 13 min
245: Catch and Kill - Controlling The Narrative with Robert Rosen
Returning guest Robert Rosen (Nowhere Man) penned an essay last year discussing a phenomenon called "catch-and-kill," wherein the powerful who wish to keep unflattering stories from reaching the public exert pressure and influence to keep media...
Sep 25, 2022 · 52 min
244: Double Fantasy Revisited part two
Luther Russell and I roll into the next hour of discussion and analysis of the intent behind Double Fantasy; about Yoko's standing in the rock world, and how The Beatles might better have dealt with her entry into their world. The album is ripe...
Sep 19, 2022 · 1 hr 9 min
243: Double Fantasy Revisited part one
Given the unique circumstance of Double Fantasy - John Lennon's first work in five years and his slaying within a few short weeks of its release - it is hard to assess the final work issued during his lifetime; a joint effort with his wife, Yoko Ono....
Sep 9, 2022 · 1 hr
242: Beatles Olympiad '66 part two
In which Gary Wenstrup and I continue the discussion of Revolver, followed by a thorough analysis of the group's OTHER 1966 UK release, A Collection of Beatles Oldies (But Goldies!). This podcast is sponsored by Betterhelp. Go to for...
Aug 26, 2022 · 1 hr 1 min
241: Beatles Olympiad '66 part one
Taking a detour from some of the heavier SATB topics of late for end-of-summer light entertainment, Gary Wenstrup and I return to the series of gold, silver and bronze rankings of Beatle cuts through their catalog. We're at the halfway point...

Something About the Beatles

260: Tastemaker Tony King

259: Sgt. Pepper Olympiad

258: May the First - The Lost Weekend with May Pang

257: Questions From Listeners

256: The Making of Ringo (and Goodnight Vienna) with Bill Schnee

255: Peter Jackson's Get Back with Doug Sulpy and Dan Rivkin

254: McCartney, Harrison - It's Complicated

253: Something About The Yardbirds & Jeff Beck with Jim McCarty

252: The Inner Light

251 Revolver: Art and Music

250: Something About The Beatles' Christmas Messages

249: Ray Connolly's Lennon

248: Hey Jude Deconstructed with James Campion and Jeff Martin

247: Critiquing The Critics II - This Time It's Personal with Bill Wyman

246: The Rooftop Reunion

245: Catch and Kill - Controlling The Narrative with Robert Rosen

244: Double Fantasy Revisited part two

243: Double Fantasy Revisited part one

242: Beatles Olympiad '66 part two

241: Beatles Olympiad '66 part one