When They Was Fab: Electric Arguments About The Beatles

Episode 1 of Toppermost of the Poppermost!      "Love Me Do", Elvis, Buddy, Chris Montez and more.   Please like, subscribe, review and give both WTWF and Toppermost five-start ratings on Apple podcasts or your provider of choice.      Only two more episodes will be included on the "When They Was Fab" feed.   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toppermost-of-the-poppermost/id1656605625

Thanksgiving 2022 brought "The Beatles Get Back" to the world.     Not just the monumental three-part documentary from Peter Jackson, but also the book, the SuperDeluxeEdition CD set, the streaming rooftop concert and eventually the unenhanced DVD/Blu-Ray set.    This week and next we look all of these, the different ways things play between each unique set of media, and compare the book transcription to the Nagras we have had for "All These Years."

A look into the world of the singles from McCartney, Wings and more along with some thoughts on Ed Rudy, Ken Mansfield and Ringo's latest.      In a most un-Thanksgiving mode, we may be a little down on the Liverpool Lads (not the real ones), feet (comma, Ringo's), Freedom (the song), a Wonderful Christmastime (Jon only), and "Peace and Love" (as an overused sentiment in Ringo's lyrics).

A new project from Ed Chen, Kit O'Toole and Martin Quibell.     We all know the Beatles dominated the charts in both the UK and US through the sixties, but what of the others.    John Lennon described the Beatles as "being in the crow's nest".     This new show will look at those that influenced them, the bands they knew, toured and work with and how those songs sat alongside the Beatles own progress.     Subscribe soon, but all 2022 episodes will appear in our collective feeds.

We'd like to be ... under the sea ... in a Yellow Submarine, with you.      Week four of our look at the Revolver Super Deluxe Editions.    This week, sessions disc two.       Picking up from Disc One last week, we discuss even more "And Your Bird Can Sing" through to "She Said, She Said", and wonder how song choices were made by Giles, The Beatles and UMe.

Continuing our deep dive into the Revolver Super Deluxe Edition, this week we go into the first Sessions disc.    Lots of "Love You To" and "Got to Get You Into My Life", but also both sides of the single ("Rain" at the original speed!), "Doctor Robert" and "And Your Bird Can Sing."      While we always want more, this is a nice selection of new, interesting and important material.

Part two of our look at the Revolver SDE.    Kit O'Toole and Lonnie Pena return for our dive into the album proper (both the new remix and the mono).    

The first part of the WTWF view of Revolver.      This week: The book, the cover, assorted memories of the era and the EP.      Coming soon - part 2 - the album proper.

Live, from New York!    No, not those guys.    Not those other guys either.     It's Lonnie Pena and me, and we are not even "live on tape".    In this show, we travel back to a Saturday Night thirty Eight years ago, when we were invited to see Ringo being sold at a Sotheby's-alike, acting as the foil for Ed Grimley, and engage in "The Pajama Game" with Barbra in Fernando's Hideaway.

An hour with author Madeline Bocaro.    Her Book? "In Your Mind - The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono."      Madeline has unique insight into the life and art of Yoko Ono, and ultimately those are the things she delivers in her book, and gives us a taste of in this show!

John Lennon took a portable jukebox filled with some of his favorites on the road with him.     After Ringo left Tittenhurst, the KB Discomatic found its way to the world, and is detailed in a documentary and 2-CD set.    This week we look at their look at what could be described as "John Lennon's iPod."     80-songs, but nowhere near portable enough for your pocket!

Another bit of alternate (but not too alternate) history.     What if the Beatles 1966 tour of the US were delayed, either by circumstances or choice.     The Beatles sit down with Brian, determined not to repeat what just happened in the Philippines.     How do they accomplish this, and what songs would they choose for the resulting tour?     Tune in and hear our opinions!

As the Revolver box (followed by the holiday season) sit on the horizon, both Ringo and Julian have released new music.    Ringo fired up Rocabela west, and finished this cycle of 3 EPs (likely to be followed up by the collection as a "full release".     Julian, meanwhile has a shiny new one-record deal with BMG, dusted off some old songs, wrote some new ones and put "Jude" out into the world.    Tune in to hear what Jon and I think about this.    Is it a Revolver Amuse-Bouche, or good releases on their own?

Friend of the show Darin Murphy returns to chat with us about the "Number Nine Orchestra" (and Austin's annual Lennon Birthday show), touring with Todd Rundgren, Christopher Cross, Denny Laine, Joey Molland and others, and Revolver past, present and future!

This week we investigate the politics of John Lennon.      We all know about "All You Need Is Love", "Give Peace a Chance", and "Imagine" but what of "Power to the People" and "Angela"?      The ambiguity in "Revolution" (out ... in) would be reflected in his friends, associates and to a certain extent his actions in the late sixties and early seventies, until settling on his own path.

Jon and I are joined by Stephen Doster and Randy Miller, two of the figures behind the return of the annual "John Lennon Birthday Tribute" on October 9 at 3TEN ACL Live in Austin.     Their band, The #9 Orchestra is a group of accomplished musicians from Austin, Texas who ‘come together’ annually to pay tribute to the music of John Lennon and the Beatles. This year, 2022, will mark the 32th year they have celebrated this Austin tradition. They will perform their 32ND Annual John Lennon Birthday Tribute on October 9,th John’s birthday, at the 3TEN ACL Live theater in beautiful downtown Austin.

Following on from the crossover, Jon and I take a deep dive into the "Long and Winding Road" Documentary (or at least the version that has managed to walk out of Apple).      Very much the bones of Documentaries to come, ranging from "Compleat Beatles" to "Eight Days a Week", "Get Back" and its own offspring - "The Beatles Anthology".     Cross your eyes, and you'll drop into the Rutles-verse as well.

Jon (remotely) and I are joined by Queen of All Beatles Media Kit O'Toole, Ken Womack,  and an audience of tens at the Fest for Beatles fans to close out the podcast portion of the 2022 Chicago Fest.    Our topic:   Mal Evans in 1975.    Mal appeared at the 1975 Fest (second on the bill to Sid Bernstein), worked on (and more or less completed) the draft of his book,  produced Joey Molland's new band Natural Gas and appeared a couple of times on Cal State Northridge radio to start his promotional tour. (Recorded Sunday, August 14, 2:30 at the Fest for Beatles Fans, Chicago Illinois).  

Martin returns for speed round, part 2.     A lot of diversions, but in a good way!      More Broad Street Chat, Beatles Ballads and thoughts on the rise and fall of George Harrison's solo career.

Bonus episode!    Kit O'Toole (Queen of All Beatles Media), Andy Nicholes (2Legs) and I sit for a preview of our panels, podcasts and presentations at the 2022 Chicago "Fest for Beatles Fans".     Also, the news so we don't get too far behind when our regular programming continues!