Another Kind of Mind: A Different Kind of Beatles Podcast

Pizza and Fairytales: Ep 1 More Than Yesterday

Our first episode follows John and Paul’s reconciliation in 1972-1973, John & Yoko’s decision to separate, John’s move to Los Angeles with May Pang and John’s steps toward self-acceptance.

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TW: violence

SOURCES

Interview w/ Barbara Graustark for Newsweek (1980)
This Is Not Here Press Conference, Everson Museum in Syracuse, NY (October 8, 1971)
Gary Von Syock, LiveforLiveMusic.com  (2015)
Lennon: the Man, the Myth, the Music TIM RILEY (2011)
You Never Give Me Your Money, PETER DOGGETT (2009)
Elliot Mintz Interview w/ John and Yoko (1973)
John Lennon on Weekend World  (April 8, 1973)
Paul McCartney to Nicky Horne (1973)
JOHN LENNON THE LIFE, Philip Norman (2008)
Daily Beast, YOKO ONO (Oct 13, 2015)
John Lennon, interview w/ Lisa Robinson for Hit Parader (December, 1975) 
The Gay Liberation Book (1972)
Loving John, MAY PANG (1983)
John Lennon on Women’s Hour (May 28, 1971)
John Lennon Interview w/ Sandra Shevey (1972)
John Lennon Interview for PLAYBOY (1980)
Paul McCartney Interview, Telegraph UK (Aug 25, 2009)

PLAYLIST

I Know, I Know JOHN LENNON
Silly Love Songs WINGS
New York City JOHN & YOKO
Get On the Right Thing PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS
Mamunia Paul McCartney & WINGS
I Know I Know (demo) JOHN LENNON
No Words PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS
Mind Games JOHN LENNON
I Can’t Stand the Rain ANN PEEBLES
When the Night (Newcastle 73) WINGS
Move on Fast YOKO ONO

Context vs. Excuses: Addressing difficult topics in Beatledom

In this episode, we discuss John and Brian’s trip to Barcelona and the violent incident at Paul's 21st Birthday.  We use this as a springboard for broader topics, including how John tends to be unfairly singled out as the only Beatle with a problematic history, the failure to look critically at Brian Epstein's behavior as it pertains to the band, how homophobia curtails discussion of the fallout from the Barcelona trip, and the absence of McCartney’s perspective in the reporting of this incident.

Phoebe and Thalia explore these issues, followed by a panel discussion with newest AKOM host, Iris.

TW: domestic abuse, substance abuse, sexual assault, homophobia, and violence

SOURCES
"Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney" Howard Sounes (2010)
“John Paul George Ringo and Me” Tony Barrow (2006)
"Meet the Beatles with Barry Miles" for Please Kill Me (2021)  https://pleasekillme.com/beatles-barry-miles/
"John Lennon: the Life" Philip Norman (2008)
"Paul McCartney: The Life" Philip Norman (2016)
"John Lennon: In My Life" Pete Shotton (1983)
Steve Gaines, post to FB group: "Beatles in Print Together and Solo" (2020)
“Loving John” May Pang (1983)
"Meet the Beatles: a Cultural History of the Band that Shook Youth, Gender and the World" Steven D. Stark (2005)
"Love Me Do! The Beatles' Progress" Michael Braun (1964)
"Behind that Locked Door" Graeme Thomson (2013)
"The Search for John Lennon" Lesley Ann Jones (2020)

PLAYLIST:
Three Cool Cats THE BEATLES
Please Please Me THE BEATLES
Keep Your Hands Off My Baby THE BEATLES
Bad to Me THE BEATLES
Baby it’s You THE BEATLES
I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry Over You THE BEATLES
Hello Little Girl THE FOURMOST
Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby THE BEATLES
All My Loving THE BEATLES
Too Much Monkey Business  THE BEATLES
Soldier of Love THE BEATLES

Thru the AKOM Lens: Magical Mystery Tour

Join Phoebe and Kristen as they discuss the influences, cinematic context and lasting cultural impact of Magical Mystery Tour!

CONTENTS

1. Influences and Context 2:23
2. Critical Reception. Does MMT warrant re-evaluation? 18:50
3. Stanley Kubrick - echoes of MMT 44:30
4. Weekend - a slice of 1967 art cinema 1:09:21
5. Discussion of Magical Mystery Tour 1:25:26

TW: brief mention of a (fictional) sexual assault on a minor in the Kubrick section

Sources

Rob Ager’s analysis of the Bear in The Shining: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW2GrG7Zk0U

Juli Kearn’s analysis of A Clockwork Orange: http://idyllopuspress.com/idyllopus/film/co_three.htm#magical

FILMOGRAPHY (movies referenced in the podcast)

1. Magical Mystery Tour (1967) The Beatles
2. Strawberry Fields Forever (1967) Peter Goldmann
3. The Seventh Seal (1957) Ingmar Bergman
4. One Plus One (1969) Jean-Luc Godard
5. The Trial (1960) Orson Welles
6. 8 ½ (1060) Federico Fellini
7. Scorpio Rising (1960) Kenneth Anger
8. Empire (1966) Andy Warhol
9. Running, Jumping Standing Still (1959) Dick Lester
10. Weekend (1967) Jean-Luc Godard
11. Daisies (1966) Věra Chytilová.
12. The Shining (1980) Stanley Kubrick
13. A Clockwork Orange (1971) Stanley Kubrick
14. 2001 (1969) Stanley Kubrick
15. Barry Lyndon (1975) Stanley Kubrick
16. Dr. Strangelove (1964) Stanley Kubrick
17. The Astronomer's Dream (1898) Georges Méliès
18. Breathless (1960) Jean-Luc Godard
19. Tom Jones (1963) Tony Richardson
20. The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover (1989) Peter Greenaway
21. A Taste of Honey (1961) Tony Richardson

An AKOM Toast to RAM at 50: #RAMiversary Episode!

Paul and Linda McCartney’s RAM, now often referred to by many as the “first indie pop album” had its 50th birthday on May 17, 2021!  To commemorate this important milestone anniversary, join Thalia as she gives “An AKOM Toast!” to RAM at 50!  Happy #RAMiversary! 

Playlist: 

Part 1: RAM by Paul and Linda McCartney

1. Too Many People
2. 3 Legs
3. Ram On
4. Dear Boy
5. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey
6. Smile Away
7. Heart Of The Country
8. Monkberry Moon Delight
9. Eat At Home
10. Long Haired Lady
11. Ram On
12. The Back Seat Of My Car

 

Part 2: "Indie Pop Medley"

1. “Prairie Fire the Wanders About” by Sufjan Stevens 
2. "Home Again" by Michael Kiwanuka
3. “Will Do” by TV on the Radio 
4. “Where Gravity is Dead,” by Laura Veirs 
5. “The Infanta” by the Decemberists 
6. “Soul Meets Body by Death Cab for Cutie” 
7. "Eugene" by Arlo Parks
8. “Suddenly Everything Has Changed” by the Flaming Lips
9. "Stella Brown" by Jelani Aryeh
10. “The Breeze” by Dr. Dog 
11. “Golden Days” by Whitney 
12. "Sunrise" by Kenny Elrod
13. ”Let’s Get Lost” by Elliot Smith 
14. "Pass the Hours" by MorMor
15. "Lord Only Knows" by Beck

Part 3: Covers of RAM by various artists

1. “Dear Boy” cover by Death Cab for Cutie
2. "Too Many People" cover by Dave Depper
3.  "The Back Seat of My Car" cover by the Damn Crystals
4. “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” cover by Novelty Island
5. "Ram On" cover by Found Wandering
6. "Zpívám si jen tak" (Heart of the Country) cover by Martha & Tena
7. “Ram On" instrumental cover by They Might Be Giants
8. “Monkberry Moon Delight” cover by Robbers on High Street
9. "Ram On" cover by R. Stevie Moore

Links for RAM covers (not found on Spotify): 

1. “Dear Boy” cover by Death Cab for Cutie: https://youtu.be/kP3z785ebdY 
2. “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” cover by Novelty Island: https://youtu.be/mtG9j1T3KcI and https://noveltyisland.bandcamp.com/track/uncle-albert-admiral-halsey-paul-linda-mccartney-cover 
3. “Ram On" instrumental cover by They Might Be Giants https://youtu.be/ouk7p_ambx8 

4. "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" cover by Holly Henderson: https://youtu.be/9fKg5m5j7M4

5. "Monkberry Moon Delight" cover by Club Helmbreker https://youtu.be/0m7ydfWqzgk

Spotify Playlist: 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5zX162a3FLBpmEtcIhp6sA?si=d80ac33fd1484698 

Instrumental covers:

Ryohei Kanayama on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5nrctquJucCKcYLrfB4euxU4RMjeGuu8 

Marcel Lichter on YouTube: https://youtu.be/L3vQrh1Xbeg

joehlers on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mmccz9WzHZk 

Recommendations and mentions:

1. Understanding McCartney Documentary Series by Breathless345 on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kjjqUCvHNIs 
2. Why Paul McCartney’s RAM is the first Indie Pop Album by Elliot Roberts on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CRZHvvYsc5w
3. Interview with RAM & Wings drummer Denny Seiwell celebrating Ram On! by Elliot Roberts: https://youtu.be/nx4Lgf-nmKA 
4. Paul McCartney - Ram (full album) REACTION by Welp Here We Are On YouTube: https://youtu.be/7XU_VpeIUl8
5. 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything by Apple TV+: https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/1971-the-year-that-music-changed-everything/ 

Other Sources:

1.  Sticky Fingers: The Life and Times of Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone Magazine by Joe Hagan, pg 169, and "Book Review: Sticky Fingers" by Dr. Erin Torkelson Weber,  www.beatlebioreview.wordpress.com  
2. Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie: May 7, 2020 quarantine livestream: https://youtu.be/hfLEvRY1kcA
3. Dave Depper of Death Cab for Cutie, The Ram Project: https://www.davedepper.com/the-ram-projec
4. The Damn Crystals on their Pure McCartney project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6Gk4KUn-vs
5. “The Eternal Sunshine of Harry Styles.” Rolling Stone Magazine.  Rob Sheffield.  August 26, 2019. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/harry-styles-cover-interview-album-871568/
6. “My Favorite Album: Fred Armisen on Paul and Linda McCartney’s ‘RAM.’”  Under the Radar Magazine. Joshua M. Miller. Jun 22, 2020.  http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/my_favorite_album_fred_armisen_on_paul_and_linda_mccartneys_ram
7. “Another Day: Paul McCartney’s Once-Maligned, Now-Adored ‘Ram’ at 50.”  The Ringer.  Ben Lindbergh.  May 14, 2021. https://www.theringer.com/music/2021/5/14/22435675/paul-mccartney-ram-50th-anniversary-legacy
8. The All McCartney Podcast.  Interview with Eirik Wangberg. http://www.allmccartneypodcast.com/episodes/2017/5/25/episode-14-pauls-norwegian-connections-fredrik-skavlan-and-eirik-the-norwegian  
9. Paul McCartney quotes on working with Linda McCartney as a vocalist. RAM Deluxe reissue liner notes.  Released May 2012. https://www.paulmccartney.com/news-blogs/news/paul-and-linda-mccartneys-legendary-album-ram-set-for-deluxe-reissue 

Female Protagonists in McCartney Songs

What can we learn about Paul McCartney from the female protagonists in his songbook? Phoebe and Thalia discuss several McCartney compositions featuring prominent female characters and identify their central themes.

Sources:
“Many Years From Now” by Barry Miles (1997)
Interview w/ Allison Anders, Bomb Magazine (1997)
Paul McCartney interview w/ Jonathan Wingate Record Collector (2008)
“Chaos and Creation at Abbey Road” (2006)
"Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou (1978)
“The Oprah Winfrey Show” (1984)
Interview w/ Paul McCartney for Billboard Magazine (2001)
Paul McCartney Interview w/ Susan Goldberg for National Geographic (2017)

PLAYLIST:
She’s Leaving Home (1967)
Jet (1973)
Blackbird (1968)
Jenny Wren (2005)
Working Women at the Top (1991)
It’s Not On (1982)
Temporary Secretary (1980)
Another Day (1971)
Penny Lane (1967)
Eleanor Rigby (1966)
Eleanor’s Dream (1984)
Treat Her Gently/Lonely Old People (1975)
English Tea (2005)
Let it Be (1970)
Imprisonment, Ocean’s Kingdom (2011)
Daytime Nighttime Suffering (1979)
Mama’s Little Girl (1973)
The World You’re Coming Into (1991)
Lady Madonna (1968)
For No One (1966)

Extended Spotify Playlist: Click Here

Jealous Guy: Lennon-McCartney and Competitive Admiration

Was Jealous Guy written for Paul McCartney? Listen to our essay and decide for yourself.

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SOURCES:
John Lennon Interview w/ David Sheff for Playboy. (September, 1980) 
Interview with John Lennon & Yoko Ono, (May 28th, 1971)
“The Beatles” by Hunter Davies (1968)
“The Beatles and the Historians” Erin Torkelson (2016)
Neil McCormick for Telegraph UK (1998)
“John, Paul, George, Ringo & Me: The Real Beatles Story” by Tony Barrow (2005)
The Best of the Beatles Book (ed. Johnny Dean). (2005)
JL Interview w/ Peter McCabe and Robert Schonfeld at St. Regis Hotel (September, 1971)
“What’s It All About” Cilla Black (2003)
“Q: Paul McCartney: An Innocent Man?” By Chris Salewicz (October, 1986)
Robert Rosen interview w/ Maria Spain (2010)
Lunchtime dialogue, Twickenham Film Studios, London (January 13th, 1969)
Paul McCartney, interview w/ Ray Connolly, Evening Standard: Paul on 'why the Beatles broke up' (April 21st, 1970)
“Meet Paul Saltzman, the Canadian who hung out with The Beatles at the Rishikesh Ashram” Nikhila Natarajan for FirstPost (December 14, 2015)
Paul McCartney, interview w/ Diane de Dubovay for Playgirl (February, 1985)
“Later with Bob Costas” (1991)
Derek Taylor, interview w/ Peter Doggett for Record Collector. (August, 1988)
“With the Beatles: A Stunning Insight by The Man who was with the Band Every Step of the Way” Alistair Taylor (2011)

PLAYLIST:
Jealous Guy by John Lennon (1971)
Cayenne by the Beatles (1960)
Besame Mucho by the Beatles (1962)
It’s For You Cilla Black (1965)
Let it Be by the Beatles (1969)
All Together Now by the Beatles (1967)
Child of Nature (Esher Demo) by the Beatles (1968)
Say Say Say by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson (1983)
Jealous Guy by YouTube user pablohoneymp3 (2016)

Thru the AKOM Lens: Going Underground: Paul McCartney, The Beatles, and the UK Counter-Culture

In this episode of our series Thru the AKOM Lens, Phoebe and Thalia discuss and unpack the documentary Going Underground: Paul McCartney, The Beatles, and the UK Counter-Culture. This fascinating and thought-provoking film covers an extremely important yet often uncelebrated period of not only McCartney and the Beatles, but also pop culture history!  

When you're done listening, be sure to listen to the Spotify playlist we've curated as a companion to this episode: Check It Out Here

Thru the AKOM Lens: Lester and Maysles

In this episode of our new series examining the Beatles on film, Phoebe and Kristen discuss fantasy, reality and the creation of the Beatles myth with two landmark films from the start of Beatlemania: A Hard Day’s Night and The Beatles First US Visit

Looking for the Breakup Series?

Hello dear listeners!  If you are looking for the Breakup Series, it has moved to our sister podcast, One Sweet Dream!  

Now you have double the amazing Beatles podcasts to subscribe to - Another Kind of Mind, and One Sweet Dream. 

Be sure to subscribe to One Sweet Dream on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! 

An AKOM Interview with Miss O'Dell

In this episode, Diana and Thalia have a conversation with Chris O’Dell, the author of the book Miss O’Dell: My Hard Days And Long Nights With The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton And The Women They Loved. Chris O'Dell has led an extraordinary life as a close friend of the Beatles, Pattie Boyd and Maureen Starkey.  

She was an early Apple employee, worked for Peter Asher and was among the world’s first female tour managers.  She worked on many legendary tours, including the iconic 70's tours of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, The Rolling Stones, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.  She was the subject of George Harrison’s song "Miss O’Dell" as well as Leon Russell’s songs "Pisces Apple Lady" and "Hummingbird." 

We dig into hot topics like Apple in the early days, the day John quit the Beatles, the Maureen/Ringo/George triangle; Paul in 1968, Paul and Linda as a couple. John Lennon during the "lost weekend," the day Paul quit the Beatles and George's reaction. the Beatles vs. the Stones, and much more.