Ranking The Beatles - #85 - One After 909 with BC The Beatles

#85 - One After 909 with BC The Beatles

Explicit content warning

07/25/24 • 77 min

Ranking The Beatles

As a songwriter, I could never imagine at this point in my life, putting out song a wrote at 16 or 17. I don't ever want anyone to hear that. But then again, I'm not the Beatles, who were able to resurrect one of the earliest songs in their repertoire, from well before they were even The Beatles. Though the song was in their early setlists for a long time, it never found a home on a Beatles record, even after taking a shot at recording it in 1963. But when nostalgia reared it's head during the Let It Be sessions, this song came back to the fore, and with Billy Preston in tow, it found a new life a scorching little rock song that fit the bill for the Get Back project perfectly. It's the most rocking moment of the whole month, and in their performance on the rooftop that day, for a couple of minutes, you see these world-weary men return back to the young, hopeful, driven boys they were when they first started. Even if the song has no real meaning, it's a fantastic moment with real electricity to it.

Joining us this week are Allison and Erika from BC The Beatles, one of our favorite Beatles podcasts. We chat about their own Beatles journeys, the Beatles' invention of meta-nostalgia, Paul's sock game, Cruisin' Classics, and much more! If you're not listening to BC The Beatles, I dunno what you're waiting for, get on it! Listen here, or anywhere you get podcasts, and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Previous Episode

#86 - Baby's In Black with Andy Nicholes (co-host 2Legs Podcast)

Though the Lennon & McCartney songwriting team found it harder and harder to truly write songs together from scratch as they got busier and busier, with "Baby's In Black," they were able to get "nose-to-nose" and write something truly different from what was expected at the time. A 3/4 time waltz with a melancholy lyric (possibly inspired by Astrid Kirchherr's mourning for Stu Sutcliffe), the first song they recorded for the Beatles For Sale album was a far cry from the uptempo Beatlemania rave ups of A Hard Day's Night or the Cavern-era screamers on their first two LPs. The song shows tremendous growth and bravery for daring to do the unexpected, and gives a brilliant example of John and Paul's best Everly Brothers-esque harmonies. It's a song they were very proud of, as evidenced by the fact that that once it was out, it stayed in their live show until the end of their touring days. Even in the jaded-slugging-it-out-un-enthusiastically shows of 1966, John and Paul seem to genuinely delight in being so close on one mic and singing in harmony for the entire song. It's a real gem that likely doesn't get it's due since it's a waltz in the 3rd song slot on what some consider their "worst" album.

This week, we close the circle on the RTB X 2Legs meet up by welcoming Andy Nicholes to the show! After having his co-host Tom Hunyady on the last episode, it only seemed appropriate to have Andy on as well. We love 2 Legs, and Andy was great on the panels we saw him on at the Fest for Beatles Fans, so we're big fans. He joins us to talk about bootlegs, solo fandom, growing up as fans in the 90s, and so much more! Be sure to check out 2Legs anywhere you get podcasts and follow them on Facebook!

For you Julia stans, she's not with us this week unfortunately. She'll be back we promise. To make it up to you, be sure to listen through to the end of the episode for a little bonus treat.

Next Episode

#84 - Old Brown Shoe with guest Sean Nelson

Upon rejoining the band following his departure in the Get Back sessions, George pulled his more serious material, most of which would end up on All Things Must Pass. Along with his blusey and lightweight "For You Blue," he also brought in a stomping little piano song he wrote during the sessions, "Old Brown Shoe." It wouldn't find a home for a few months until the band needed a b-side to "The Ballad of John & Yoko," and even then, it remains one of the more obscure songs in the Beatles catalogue. But that said, I've always loved it. George sings like he's really having fun with it, and whoever the hell is playing whatever on this song (it's all very murky and mysterious) is really killing it. But what's he singing about? George's shoe game was pretty solid after all. Maybe it's about stepping out with a new love? Maybe it's about leaving someone...or someone(s)?

It's always a pleasure to welcome our old pal Sean Nelson back to RTB! Sean is best known as the singer of the band Harvey Danger, who's song "Flagpole Sitta" is one of the 90s defining songs, and the tip of the iceburg of a ton of great music in their catalogue that you'd do yourselves a favor to dig into (along with is own solo work). He's also now the host of his own podcast, The Wonder of It All, a deep dive in to the pros and cons of success. He's a great conversationalist so it only makes sense his podcast would be fantastic. Be sure to subscribe to it and tune in!