EP035 - Roll Over Beethoven

03/22/25 • 68 min

What happens when the Beatles take a Chuck Berry anthem and make it their own? In this episode, Peter and Kenyon dive into “Roll Over Beethoven,” a song they’d been playing since their earliest club days. Originally sung by John, the band handed vocal duties to George Harrison—an inspired choice that gave the track a youthful punch and raw authenticity. The hosts explore George’s biting vocal, slashing guitar tone, and how the Beatles’ version, recorded in just five takes, adds a muscular polish to Berry’s blueprint. They discuss the track’s place in the album With the Beatles and how George Martin halted Capitol Records from releasing it as a 1964 single. From live performance innovations to misheard lyrics and the infamous jelly bean attacks, this episode unpacks how “Roll Over Beethoven” became an early showcase of the Beatles’ roots, energy, and sheer charisma.

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

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

Previous Episode

EP034 - Please Mister Postman

What happens when the Beatles take a Motown classic and make it their own? Please Mr. Postman was already a #1 hit for the Marvelettes, but John Lennon’s urgent, near-desperate vocal delivery transforms it into something raw and electrifying. In this episode, Peter and Kenyon explore how the Beatles' version differs from the original, from its tighter rhythm section to its heightened emotional intensity. The hosts discuss why this was the final girl-group cover the Beatles ever recorded and how their choice to include it reflected their deep admiration for American R&B. They also examine the recording session, highlighting the Beatles' decision to rework their live arrangement mid-session to better match the Marvelettes’ dynamic intro. Was this just a well-executed cover or something more? Join Peter and Kenyon as they break down Please Mister Postman and uncover why the Beatles’ version remains a fan favorite.

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

Next Episode

LS036 - Hold Me Tight - Lecture Series (bonus)

In this lecture, Kenyon unpacks Paul McCartney’s “Hold Me Tight,” a deceptively simple track from With the Beatles that reveals deeper structural and harmonic complexity on close inspection. Though the song was often dismissed by its creators, Kenyon explores how its repeated ostinato patterns, major-minor tension, and chromatic middle eight create an unsettled, almost adolescent emotional landscape. The lecture analyzes the use of anti-phrasing, call-and-response, and tonal ambiguity—particularly the unexpected shift to A-flat major in the middle eight, a jarring move that foreshadows later Beatles experimentation. Kenyon also questions the song’s rhythmic phrasing, noting its disorienting seven-bar structure and off-kilter cadences, which mirror the lyrical uncertainty and emotional immaturity at the song’s core. Far from being a throwaway, “Hold Me Tight” serves as a window into the Beatles’ transitional period, where conventional love-song tropes meet increasingly adventurous musical instincts.

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