MusicMusic CommentaryMusic History

The Beatles: Note By Note

Note By Note Series

A Beatles podcast that goes song-by-song through every Beatles release in chronological order. We focus on the music itself, breaking down what you’re hearing and why it works.

Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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27 episodes
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Avg 1 hr 6 min
English

Episodes 27

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S2 · E100
Friday · 1 hr 14 min
I've Just Seen A Face - Episode 100 with Ian Leslie
Have you ever realized that another person will change your life forever? Author Ian Leslie joins us to talk about I’ve Just Seen a Face and his book, John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs. Together, we use Paul’s breathless love song to explore chance, recognition, conflict and the mixture happiness and sadness that can exist in a single moment. Could this song tell us something about Paul in 1965 or maybe about what he saw in John Lennon years earlier? We cover: -Ian Leslie’s John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs -This song's origins -John and Paul’s creative and emotional relationship -Love at first sight, fate, and chance -The acoustic arrangement and rapid-fire vocal phrasing -Take 3 from Anthology 4 -The opening of Rubber Soul -A legendary recording session, Paul's Event Horizon Check out Ian Leslie: https://www.ian-leslie.com/ Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E99
September 11 · 42 min
Tell Me What You See - Lecture Series 99 (bonus)
In this Beatles lecture series, we analyze Tell Me What You See. We look at the way the lyrics gradually reveal that this promise is actually an attempt of persuasion. Musically, we explore Paul’s melodic contours, the song’s recurring question-and-answer phrases, and how its simple harmony takes on a more modal character. We also compare blues-inflected and warmer pop sounds, and how the unusual instrumental middle section develops the song’s Latin-influenced character. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E99
September 4 · 1 hr 29 min
Tell Me What You See - Episode 99 with Caro Kelley
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, musician, singer, songwriter and obsessive album listener Caro Kelley joins us for Tell Me What You See. Caro has spent a lot of time not just listening to music, but rating and ranking it and she brings that perspective to a song that Paul McCartney himself dismissed as not particularly memorable. Would you call this a filler track? For our storytime, we have a remarkable firsthand account of the Beatles actually working out the song in the studio with George Martin. Melody Maker journalist Ray Coleman was there as they rehearsed, argued over what was wrong, experimented with percussion, added the electric piano and tried to find a sound they admitted they couldn’t yet define. Tell Me What You See opens up bigger questions about singing, intimacy, imagination and why a song can become more interesting the closer you get to it. What we cover: - Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s conflicting memories of who wrote “Tell Me What You See” - John and Paul’s unusually loose rhythmic phrasing - Ringo Starr’s drum break - Paul McCartney’s Hohner Pianet C - A British post-war religious motto - A possible connection to Elvis Presley’s “Trying to Get to You” - Ray Coleman’s February 1965 Melody Maker article - George Martin’s orchestral version of “Tell Me What You See” Follow Caro Kelley: https://www.instagram.com/caro_kelley Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E98
August 28 · 42 min
You Like Me Too Much - Lecture Series 98 (bonus)
In this Beatles lecture series, we look at the music and lyrics of George Harrison’s You Like Me Too Much. The uneasy relationship at the center of the song seems caught in a cycle: one person threatens to leave, but neither quite manages to end things. Musically, George builds that uneasy feeling into the song. The harmony repeatedly avoids landing on a firm resolution. We explore how these techniques make the verse unusually effective, and how George was already developing some distinctive songwriting instincts. But not every part works equally well. The middle eight introduces a collection of melodic, harmonic, and lyrical ideas that struggle to develop the song’s central premise. Finally, we look at the barrelhouse piano intro, instrumental break, and outro, and how George Martin’s arrangement helps frame the song and give its wandering structure a sense of unity. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E98
August 21 · 1 hr 34 min
You Like Me Too Much - Episode 98 with Anne (Beatles Research Society)
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, Peter and Kenyon look at George Harrison’s You Like Me Too Much, an overlooked Help! track that turns out to have more going for it than its reputation suggests. It is an entry point into the bigger story of how the Beatles worked. How arrangements took shape in the studio, how imperfect performances still made it onto finished records, and what happened when someone other than John or Paul started finding their own songwriter voice. We talk to Anne (BeatlesResearchSociety) to sort through the song’s unusual piano parts and surviving session notes. In the end, we find out what's going on with this song and why it's important in the Beatles catalog. What we cover: - The writing and recording of “You Like Me Too Much” - George Martin’s session notes and the disputed piano parts - The song’s unusual piano-and-guitar solo - George Harrison’s development as a songwriter - The different UK and US releases of Help! Follow Beatles Research Society: https://www.instagram.com/beatlesresearchsociety Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E97
August 14 · 34 min
It's Only Love - Lecture Series 97 (bonus)
In this Beatles lecture series, we dive into the music and lyrics of It's Only Love. Lennon begins with a unique rhyming scheme, but somehow manages to build a story within this constraint. Musically, John develops a number of melodic and rhythmic ideas that he reuses throughout the song in different ways. What can seem like a slight Beatles song turns out to be an interesting example of how a songwriter can create unity from a few simple ideas. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E97
August 7 · 1 hr 22 min
It's Only Love - Episode 97 with Elli Rader
John Lennon called It's Only Love a lousy song with abysmal lyrics. But is he right? Peter and Kenyon are joined by their long-time friend Elli to take a closer look at this late addition to Help! and figure out what works, what doesn’t, and whether Lennon judged it too harshly. The conversation turns toward how artists make their work and how old, cringy experiments can become embarrassing with time. Kenyon, Peter, and Elli each bring in an old poem and read it aloud in a beautiful shaming ritual that will now live on the internet forever. Along the way, they consider whether failed work is simply part of the creative process, how artists develop higher standards, and whether John Lennon was too hard on his music. What we cover: - The writing and recording of “It’s Only Love” - The unusual intro guitar effect - Hoshika Rumiko’s visit to the Beatles’ recording session - The song’s release history - George Martin’s orchestral version "That's A Nice Hat" Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E96
July 24 · 1 hr 11 min
Act Naturally - Episode 96
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, Kenyon, Peter, et al hold 3 important corporate meetings to determine once and for all which song will serve as Ringo's contribution to the Help! album. We have a pre-production meeting, a production meeting and a post mortem to decide what and how Ringo can contribute for this project. They are joined by a few guests that add their input that may or may not help the boys arrive at a conclusion. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E95
July 17 · 38 min
You're Going To Lose That Girl - Lecture Series 95 (bonus)
In this Beatles lecture series, we dive into the music and lyrics of You're Going To Lose That Girl. On first impression, the lyrics seem conniving, but there may be alternative readings. Musically, this is a quintessential Lennon composition and we find all the fingerprints hidden inside the song. At the same time, John moves into new territories and gives us an exciting key change for the middle 8. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E95
July 10 · 1 hr 22 min
You're Going To Lose That Girl - Episode 95 with Cameron (NationSquid)
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, you are going to lose assumptions you had about this Help! era song. Joined by Cameron from NationSquid and FeedYourHead, we dig deep and try to uncover the essence of this song. As usually, we talk about the songwriting, the recording process and how it was released. But we also dive into adjacent topics such as American cinema and the tech world. Do yourself a favor and check it out. Check out Cameron: https://www.youtube.com/nationsquid https://www.youtube.com/@FeedYourSquid Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E94
July 3 · 37 min
Another Girl - Lecture Series 94 (bonus)
In this Beatles lecture series, Kenyon analyzes the lyrics and music for Paul McCartney's Another Girl. Underneath a fun blues jam, a sinister story starts to emerge. And while the song may seem like another one of Paul's work songs for the movie, Paul experiments with the melody's phrasing and the song's form. The middle 8 is one of the most fascinating of the early Beatles middle 8s, and we break down exactly what is happening and why it works. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E94
June 26 · 59 min
Another Girl - Episode 94
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, we cover another song, Another Girl. For the first time in a while, it's just Kenyon and Peter alone together, so things get loose pretty quickly. We come into the episode talking about a minor Paul song, but by the end, we talk about the major pivot point that this song represents. It's insightful and it's a little chaotic. What we cover: -Unconventional songwriting spaces -Sequencing of the first side of Help! -The iconic guitar line -Paul crossing the bar line with his lyrics -Paul's Tunisian vacation Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E93
June 19 · 28 min
I Need You - Lecture Series 93 (bonus)
In this Beatles lecture series, Kenyon begins by focusing on the word "need." We follow the story from George's devotion to his heartbreak and devastation. From there, the music takes over and the volume-pedal guitar motif takes center stage. The music and lyrics are working together and tell us more of the story than the song seems to say at first. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E93
June 12 · 1 hr 8 min
I Need You - Episode 93 with Harry and Sophie (The Inner Light Podcast)
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, "small" George Harrison song becomes bigger once everyone brings their own meaning to it. This episode, we are joined by the hosts of The Inner Light Podcast, Sophie and Harry. Since this is only our second Harrison track, we got to dig deeper into George’s distinct voice, and why he fits so perfectly into the space John and Paul leave open as songwriters and personalities. We cover: -George's growing voice as a Beatles songwriter -The volume-pedal guitar sound -Strange instrumentation in the backing track -The song's afterlife at the Concert for George Check out Sophie and Harry's socials: https://linktr.ee/innerlightpodcast https://beacons.ai/sophspace https://www.instagram.com/harryfitz Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E92
June 5 · 38 min
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away - Lecture Series 92
In this Beatles lecture series, Kenyon looks at John Lennon's beautiful ballad, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away. We take a look at the lyrics and how John avoids locking into one specific meaning without really feeling vague. On the music side, we talk about the compound meter, how the harmony is a product of the guitar voices, and how the melody tells us what kind of lyric this is. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E92
May 29 · 1 hr 38 min
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away - Episode 92 with Andrew Shakespeare
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, we are joined by guest Andrew Shakespeare to discuss one of the most intimate John Lennon songs so far. From there, we attempt to break down how it was written, how it was recorded, and what it could mean to us. Our track by track trip through Help! continues to give us surprises. We cover: -The Dylan comparisons -Pete Shotton's visit to the studio -Johnnie Scott's flute overdubs and the mystery of the tenor flute -The Silkie's cover, produced by The Beatles themselves -A broken glass Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E91
May 22 · 40 min
The Night Before - Lecture Series 91 (bonus)
In this Beatles lecture series, Kenyon breaks down the lyrics and music of The Night Before. The song feels immediate, but the lyrics keep shifting under your feet. We look at the craft of Paul’s phrasing, showing how short, telegram-like lines stretch and change once the music takes over. Musically, the episode follows the song through blues color, a warped doo-wop progression, flat-seven chords, chromatic movement, and a middle eight that reframes the entire emotional point of the song. Along the way, we see the connections to Yesterday, I’m Down, and Paul’s broader songwriting habits, showing how one compact Help track can hold far more musical and emotional tension than its reputation suggests. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E91
May 15 · 1 hr 38 min
The Night Before - Episode 91 with Rob Collier (Beatles Bass Lines)
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, we really put this song up to the test. Growing up, Peter felt that this might be one of the greatest Beatles songs, but does he still feel that way today? Together, with our guest Rob Collier (Beatles Bass Lines), we dive deep into the song and see what is going on beneath the surface. By the end, we settle the score and decide where this song lands in the pecking order of Beatles songs. We cover: -The music theory of the song -Similarities to Yesterday -A deep dive on the Pianet C and related instruments -A storytime on how Northern Songs, the Beatles music publishing company, went public on the London Stock Exchange Check out Rob https://www.patreon.com/cw/BeatlesBassLines https://linktr.ee/beatlesbasslines Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E90
May 1 · 3 hr 50 min
Help! Film - Episode 90 with Stephen Ptacek
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, we are joined by our special guest and film correspondant, Stephen Ptacek along with another super-special surprise guest. The episode is long and loose but the conversation is engaging about one the weirdest, most interesting and complicated Beatles projects. We take on the film’s bigger questions, move through it scene by scene, dig into behind-the-scenes material, listen to radio promos and interview clips, and even get into a restored cut scene. At the end, we give Help! the only thing it was missing: a rating. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 · E89
April 24 · 24 min
I'm Down - Lecture Series 89 (bonus)
In this Beatles Lecture Series, Kenyon shows how I’m Down is doing several jobs at once: answering the emotional weight of the A-side, giving Paul a sharper and more frustrated voice, and building the whole song out of contradictions, call-and-response, and release. It makes you hear it not as throwaway chaos, but as a carefully placed Beatles move that is funny, tense, and explosive for very specific reasons. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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