When They Was Fab: Electric Arguments About the Beatles

The third (and final, for now) episode with radio personality Ed Mayberry.     Unfortunately, time and tide wait for no disc jockey, podcast or even rock star.    However, thankfully, fans and listeners have managed to recover some of the "Mayberry archives", and we present the Beatles-centered clips that are available.     Family friends, and figures from the Quarrymen-era to the present day can be heard in this show.

Part two of the WTWF visit with forty-plus year radio veteran Ed Mayberry.     This week, we start in on the instances where his professional career intersected with Beatles and Beatle people.      Among the highlights are Ringo and the All-Starrs at AquaFest in Austin 1992, Julian Lennon performing "Saltwater" acoustically in the studio, a vegetarian lunch with Paul and Linda McCartney, and hanging with Pete Best.     The series concludes next week with even more Beatle people interviews!

You may have heard the stories about the early "freeform" days of FM radio, but what was it like to be on the air, playing the songs and entertaining your municipality without a corporate office telling you what to play and when.    This week we go back to the days of "Posters, Incense and Strobe Candles" when it wasn't unusual to hear James Taylor followed by Willie Nelson, the Plastic Ono Band and the Beatles.    Our guest (week one of three) is radio veteran Ed Mayberry, who we are fortunate to get in just as he announced his retirement after 46+ years in the business.    

Part two of the WTWF interview with author and television producer Bryce Zabel.     This week we take a deeper dive into "Once There was a Way: What if the Beatles Stayed Together -- Breakpoint Book 2", but remain careful to keep spoilers to a minimum.      Could George Harrison have possibly brought Steve Jobs into the Beatles Apple in the early seventies, and turned him into a "Real Magic Alex?"       What would classic solo songs such as "Imagine", "My Sweet Lord", "Band on the Run" and "Photograph" be like had the Beatles still been around to record them?     Might there possibly be a life for this alternate history beyond the page?     Tune in and find one man's answers to those questions and many more...     More details on Bryce and the book at http://whatifbeatles.com

We start 2018 with a trip through alternative history.   Anyone who has loved the music of the Beatles may have pondered ways to keep the band together, but few have done anything about it.  We speak with one of them. Part One of our visit with Author Bryce Zabel (who, despite his best efforts is not known as Booth Hill).   He joins the show this week and next to discuss his new novel "Once There Was a Way: What if the Beatles Stayed Together?"     More details on Bryce and the book at http://whatifbeatles.com

The WTWF guys close out the year of 2017 with a look back at 2017, and just a tiny bit of self-reflection.        How is the podcast doing?    Which shows and guests made a splash for us, and more importantly - you, our listeners!   What were some of the Beatles highlights from the previous year?   Which figures in the Beatles realm did we lose last year?     What are we looking forward to in 2018?    All this, and (thankfully, no WWII) our usual mix of tunes and relevant quotes.      See you in 2018!

Christmastime is here again, and the WTWF guys wish you an amazing holiday season!     The show talks a bit about the new vinyl releases from the Fabs, and asks the musical question - "Do we really need a 2017 vinyl picture disc version of the remixed Pepper that closely resembles the 1978 version?"     Beyone that, we look back at releases from earlier in the year that you might want to consider as gifts for the fan on your list!

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have both finished their fall runs through the United States.     Paul moved on to Mexico, and is currently thrilling crowds in Austalia and New Zealand.    Meanwhile, Ringo finished a residency in Las Vegas, and moved across Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia and ended in New York/New Jersey.       This show was recorded before Ringo announced his 2018 tour including Colin Hay and Graham Gouldman.

This week WTWF looks at the times in their solo careers when solo Beatles dug into the catalog of their former band.      In the early and mid 1970's, it was more a matter of completing material and releasing it to the general public.      As the years passed, and the spectre of the band receeded a bit, it was no longer blasphemy for Ringo or Paul to consider attempting songs actually released by the Fabs.      Some of these were charity or holiday discs, but the soundtrack to "Give My Regards to Broad Street" (produced by George Martin) is almost half an album loaded with eighties-vintage McCartney covering the Beatles.

When handled properly, covers of Beatles album cuts frequently climbed the charts in the US or UK.     This started with Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas version of "Do You Want to Know a Secret", based on John Lennon's demo, climbed the British charts alongside the Beatles single "From Me To You."      Del Shannon's cover of "FMTY" then became the first time a Lennon-McCartney song would hit the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, months before the Beatles own version became a hit record.     Such covers have continued to this day when a musical television phenomena such as Glee can "move units" on the download charts.

Part two of the WTWF look at the relationship between George Harrison and Eric Clapton after 1970.         Throughout the years, the pair frequently appeared on each other's records.     Beyond that, they could be found together on television and in the movies.    The highest profile appearance for the pair was the 12-date tour of Japan in 1991, which later appeared on disc (minus Eric's mid-show 4-song turn up front.)

George Harrison and Eric Clapton first became friendly during the Beatlemania era.      The Yardbirds were on the bill of the 1964 Beatles Christmas show.    By 1967, the two became close friends, and Eric was invited to the exalted position of guesting  on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."     They shared many things over the next few years including homes, guitars and an extraordinary woman.     Join us next week as we take their story through the solo years!

Part two of our visit with Jerry Hammack, author of "The Beatles Recording Reference Manual: Volume 1: My Bonnie Through Beatles for Sale (1961-1964)"    This week, we talk about the Tony Sheridan Sessions, Beatles recording outside of London, John Lennon's amps, the possibility of digital versions of Jerry's books and what are his current planned release dates.

Author, Recording Engineer and Canada resident Jerry Hammack joins us this week to discuss his most recent book, "The Beatles Recording Reference Manual: Volume 1: My Bonnie Through Beatles For Sale."      Beyond the opening chord, what is the *other* secret of the song "A Hard Day's Night?"       The answer is just the start of the fun!

October 23.    New Show!     This week, we continue the story of Jim Maclaine with a review of "Stardust", Ray Connolly's sequel to "That'll Be the Day".         Even though Ringo Starr chose not to return for the second film, Beatles references continue to abound.     See if you can spot the stand-ins for Neil Aspinall, Allan Klein, Mal Evans and other Beatle people, places and things.        The soundtrack includes may songs familiar to Beatle people, including a cover of "Some Other Guy", a hit for Jim and the Stray Cats in the film's alternate universe.