Episodes
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!
-----
EPISODE NOTES:
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.
-----
EPISODE LINKS:
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.
EPISODE LINKS:
If you dig the show, help spread the word by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.
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”.
Subscribe here, come hang with us on Discord/Facebook/Twitter/Instagram, and heeeeeeyyyyyyyyyy if you like us, spread the word by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.
"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:
- Should next year’s Fifth Beatle Bracket include Dave Brubeck? YOU DECIDE. Come yell at us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or NOW ON DISCORD!
- Help us climb the charts! Please be sure to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen!
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.
-----
EPISODE LINKS
Is British "Rarities" superior to the U.S. Capitol release? OK REDCOAT: save the hot takes for Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram
We like to think our show is more album track than rarity... help make sure gems like this episode see the light of day! Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Ep. 79 | Something New (1964)
Sure, "A Day In The Life" is ok, and "Tomorrow Never Knows" is fine, but only one Beatles album closes with maybe their greatest song, "Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand".
It was certainly Something New for Capitol to close their third Beatles album in German, not to mention generously including 5 songs fans in ’64 had already purchased a few weeks beforehand. (#NowOnCapitol!) And yet, because it’s The Freaking Beatles, it’s such a fun and uniquely Capitol album.
Tony and T.J. fawn over this million-seller and along the way ask the hard questions they don’t address in Liverpool, like:
🐸 Is the Muppet Show’s "Mahna Mahna" best heard in stereo or "Mahnaphonic"?
🍨 Why did Paul ask a witness to #coldstone murder to drum on Press To Play’s "Angry"?
🥪 Any of y’all ever spread Heinz Helmer on a sammich?
Leave us a review or Facebook comment!
And check is out on Twitch.tv/Chicago4Real most Tuesdays at 6p CT for "Twitch & Shout"!
Ep. 78 | Let It Be (1970) 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition Part 3
Move over thrice!!! As part three of our Let It Be 50th Anniversary gabfest, T.J. and Tony inspect the Glyn Johns mixes of 1969's Get Back LP, along with the 12" 4-song EP. Then they crack open the new Get Back book, providing Cliff Notes (and Norm Notes) for its 200 pages, give or take a two. Along the way:
📻 Tony reveals the identity of the villain who calls in all those pesky Beatles covers to 93 XRT
🎸 T.J. offers Garageband tutorials on editing out the new pre-song chatter to "Don't Let Me Down"
🚀 We can all agree that everything sounds better when it is "Super High Mastered"
All that and an order of cheese sauce! The sounds of laughter are inciting and inviting you ho-ho hee-hee ha-ha...
Do you like the Untitled Beatles Podcast? Well then picture the fingers pressing Subscribe wherever you enjoy podcasts. Then leave us a review - you can make it longer if you like the style, you can change it round cuz we want you to be an Untitled Beatles Podcast Subscriber.
Ep. 77 | Let It Be (1970) 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition Part 2
Move over twice! It's Part 2 of the runaway train that is The Untitled Beatles Podcast as it careens around the Let It Be 50th anniversary box set. This week T.J. and Tony wax ecstatic about Side Two's 2021 mixes then trade favorite studio outtakes. Also, they grumble about what was curiously left off, though they don't know why they're moaning.
Along the way they ask:
📦 Who packaged it better: Universal Music Group or Dr. Ebbetts?
👄 How many ways can two people pronounce the word “warble”?
🎭 What is the name of Paul McCartney’s improv workshoppe and do current students get a discount?
Plus a "controversial" word has T.J. stumbling into blooper hell. You'd hate to miss this train, oh yeah!
Timpani drumroll courtesy of David Skidmore and Vic Firth Percussion.
Does this podcast attract you like a pomegranate? Subscribe to us here! And, perhaps leave us a review - even if it's just to see what your name looks like on the internet.