Yesterday and Today

It's the finale of the John Lennon Radio Tour series! Over the past several episodes, we've heard some of John's favorite records, memories and new tracks from the freshly released Walls and Bridges album - all of which paint a surprisingly intimate portrait of where the former Beatle was in his life in these early weeks of fall, 1974. For this third and final installment, you'll hear Lennon relay music and memories from his early days, including some really cool stories about hanging with the Rolling Stones, the birth of "lick records" and whom from his fellow former fabs he felt closest to at that time. Plus, Wayne, James and Paul return to deliver their own final thoughts on the last 4 tracks of Walls and Bridges: Steel and Glass, Beef Jerky, Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out) and (James' favorite) Ya Ya. We hope you've enjoyed this deep dive into the last big Lennon project of original material for quite some time - though it's important to note that it won't be his last, and there will certainly be more music and moments to come on the Yesterday & Today podcast! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're back with part two of the JOHN LENNON RADIO TOUR series! In the fall of 1974, John Lennon took to the airwaves to promote his new album Walls And Bridges in a radio DJ tour that spanned multiple stations, states and songs - all of which offered a unique insight into the former Beatle's state of mind. Station 93 KHJ was the next stop on the road, and coincided with the September 26th release of the new Lennon record. In addition to the commentary on his newest tracks, John offered up some choice oldies, contemporary songs, and (perhaps most interestingly) his favorite new tracks from Paul McCartney and George Harrison. We're bringing it all to you this episode, along with the continuation of our own commentary on the Walls And Bridges LP. Moderators Paul, James and Wayne discuss the next four tracks on the record: Bless You, Scared, #9 Dream and Surprise Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox). So take a walk down the street through the heat-whispered trees and make sure you bring it back here next episode for the finale of the RADIO TOUR series!   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Listen to this podcast episode - it's the kick-off to the John Lennon Radio Tour! In this 3-part series we'll explore one of John's most unique and personal promotional initiatives for a new LP release, sparked by a wave of positivity and productivity during his separation from Yoko Ono. With the forthcoming release of Walls and Bridges, Lennon took to the airwaves in the fall of '74 to promote his latest album and share some unique insight into his musical taste and background. Whatever Gets You Through the Night, the lead-off single, was busy rocketing its way to the top of the charts, and EMI/Capitol felt that in lieu of concert appearances, a DJ-tour of major radio stations across the country could help push the single and its corresponding album to the #1 spot. Sadly, John Lennon would never embark on a proper concert tour in his solo years, but this station-by-station guest-DJ residency would offer just as many memorable moments and fascinating music as any audience performance could. Plus, join Wayne, Paul and James for a discussion of some of the tracks on Walls and Bridges, and why this album stands out as a highlight in John's career. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

While 1974 was a prolific year for each of the former Beatles and their individual projects, it was also a prolific year for former Beatle contributions toward other artists' material. Perhaps it was a case of right-place right-time for these records, or perhaps they were an itch that the loss of Apple Records left for each of the former fabs to scratch - either way, the early fall of '74 brought us three major LP releases with big pushes from Beatle-backers. The first of these releases is what many considered after-the-fact to be a lost WINGS album, brother Michael "McGear" McCartney's eponymous debut solo LP. Helped along by "our kid" (McGear's term for Paul), Linda McCartney, Denny Laine, Jimmy McCulloch and more, the McGear album is a power-pop gem of a record, featuring many co-writes between the McCartney brothers - the biggest of which would be the hit single Leave It. As Paul helped propel his brother back into the charts, George Harrison's new Dark Horse label saw its first two releases: friend Ravi Shankar's Shankar Family & Friends LP, and The Place I Love LP by protege group Splinter. Splinter's Dark Horse debut spawned an international hit lead-off single with the catchy Costafine Town, and it seemed George Harrison was back in action after the tumultuous year of drugs, drink and personal turmoil he had just endured. But the biggest hit of early fall was yet to come -- a little song called Whatever Gets You Through The Night was at last unleashed upon the public, an energetic precursor to a new John Lennon masterpiece... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s the end of summer in 1974 and big things are happening for John Lennon. After three long years of separation, John and his son Julian were at last reunited for a visit that would prove formative for their relationship moving forward. Though tensions remained with ex-wife Cynthia, the absence of Yoko Ono in John’s life allowed for some ice to be thawed between the former married couple, at least long enough for John to better get to know his son. As family ties grew, new professional relationships, such as that of Lennon’s friendship with Elton John, blossomed into fruitful collaborative projects. To repay buddy Elton for contributing to his new LP, John appeared singing harmony and providing instrumentation for two tracks slated for Elton’s new Caribou album. And Elton wasn’t the only pal to be paid a visit - Ringo Starr‘s new album, Goodnight Vienna, was given its name after former bandmate John’s title track contribution to the sessions. With Paul in the studio rehearsing his new Wings lineup, and George touting the new Dark Horse Records act called Splinter, it seemed that the Beatles were just as productive and vital as ever - even four years after the band’s split. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the summer of '74 winds to a close, work on John Lennon's new album is in the final stages of completion. One last magic touch would make its way to this new record in the form of Lennon's friend Elton John, who lent his talents to several tracks including the song Elton felt was destined to be a hit: the boogie-woogie pop gem Whatever Gets You Through The Night. So convinced was Elton, that the pianist superstar bet John the song would be a #1 record, and if it achieved that milestone, the former Beatle must join Elton and the band on stage to perform it. The unconvinced Lennon took the bet, and turned his attention to another collaborative project: the release of the long-awaited Pussycats album by pal Harry Nilsson, which John produced during the pair's notorious "lost weekend". Such a burst of musical productivity wasn't limited to John -- Paul McCartney and his band Wings were back from their extended stay in Nashville and shooting a new documentary called One Hand Clapping. The film (and planned "live" studio album of the same name) were meant to chronicle the new Wings lineup as the group tightened-up for what would assuredly be a new long stint of touring. Sadly, both the film and the planned album would be shelved as the band entered yet another transformative phase... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's a time of challenges and changes for the four former Beatles in the summer of 1974, with some lives on the rise, some on the mend, and some hitting rock bottom. With his new label Dark Horse Records, George Harrison sought to turn the creative page in a positive direction from the ashes of the Beatles' split, but what should have been a happy time for the launch of this new endeavor soon turned to bitter sadness. After many months of substance abuse and unabashed infidelity, George's marriage to Pattie Boyd was in ruins, and Pattie sought refuge with the man who had fallen in love with her in that time: George's good friend Eric Clapton. Wasting no time, George continued headlong into his latest album project, though the same sorrows and substance abuses that had haunted Harrison throughout the decline of his marriage would remain intact and begin to take a physical toll on the former Beatle. John Lennon, meanwhile, was busy finding a new creative voice outside of his own crumbling marriage to Yoko Ono - only without the excesses that had plagued his life earlier in the year. No, John was in a good place - enjoying his new relationship with girlfriend May Pang and knee-deep in the development of a joyous, spirited follow-up to 1973's Mind Games LP. Paul McCartney and his newly #1 band Wings were hard at work on sessions of their own, wrapping up their summer-long stay in Tennessee with an eye toward their next destination... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's June of 1974 and Paul McCartney's Band on the Run is back at the #1 spot yet again - rocketed to the top of the Billboard Top 200 in America with each new single. While Paul credits much of the album's success to the instincts of Capitol executive Al Coury, it seemed Al's advice was equally valuable to another former Beatle at this time. Coury's next big win? Finally securing the missing tapes from John Lennon's Oldies But Moldies record from Phil Spector - recorded during John's so-called "lost weekend" in Los Angeles. With the Oldies tapes in hand and a renewed creative zeal, Lennon decided to return to the studio to write and record a collection of all-new material as his next big album project. Capitol's input was working out well for Lennon and McCartney, but George Harrison's disagreements with CEO Bhaskar Menon in recent years would finally drive the ex-Beatle to form his very own label: Dark Horse Records. Dark Horse, distributed by A&M, was George's chance to flex creative muscle with distance from the now-embattled Allen Klein and the increasingly defunct Apple Records. The former Beatles were on a hot streak of hits, and making big creative moves with an eye toward the end of their EMI commitments in the months to come... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With Allen Klein out of the picture and John Lennon living a bachelor lifestyle independent from Yoko Ono for the first time in nearly five years, it seemed the circumstances were at last right for the musical reunion many thought to be impossible: Lennon and McCartney together again in the studio. These loose, drug and drink-fueled jam sessions from March of 1974 (affectionately dubbed "a toot and a snore in '74" by fans, years later) were hardly a masterwork of new material...still, John and Paul were making music together and thereby keeping the hope of a Beatles reformation alive. Lennon's crew of so-called "Hollywood Vampires" present at the Santa Monica beach home for this momentous occasion included Keith Moon, Stevie Wonder, Ringo Starr and the affable Harry Nilsson who, due to the excesses in his personal life, found himself suffering from debilitating throat problems. In fact, the Lennon-produced sessions for Harry's upcoming Pussy Cats album were nearly derailed by his ailments - and John found himself in the position to take charge of his rowdy comrades much like he had done for the Beatles themselves over a decade prior. But while John was straightening out, his fellow former bandmates George and Ringo spiraled further into times that could only be referred to as "simply shady"... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's 1974 and the coming year would once again bring new music from all four former Beatles -- along with a mix of drama and triumph in the personal lives of John, Paul, George and Ringo. The new year saw Paul McCartney riding high with his hit album Band on the Run and corresponding single Helen Wheels. This strong collection of tracks from Paul, Linda and Denny would peak and the #1 spot, before dropping from that position and rising once again to #1 through the efforts of Capitol Records executive Al Coury. Al's recommendations to Paul included rereleasing Band on the Run with Helen Wheels included on the album, as well as encouraging the release of Jet as a single in the early weeks of '74. Al's efforts paid off, and McCartney's Wings were set on their course to the top of the pop world in the months and years to come. While Macca found himself at the top, former partner John Lennon found himself in the gutter, literally, with a series of mishaps in LA alongside fellow "hollywood vampires" Harry Nilsson, Alice Cooper, Keith Moon, Ringo Starr and Micky Dolenz (to name but a few of these wild and craaazy guys). One particularly disastrous night from John's famed "lost weekend" saw him and pal Harry ejected from the Smothers Brothers reunion concert at the Troubadour - leading Lennon to rethink his hard-partying ways. In fact, Lennon was rethinking a lot of things, including a new musical collaboration with none other than Paul McCartney... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With Paul McCartney's new LP Band on the Run, the former Beatle with so much to prove at last redefined his talents for not only skeptical Beatle fans, but a whole new generation of listeners ready for the Wings sound. While many hailed the masterpiece as a concept album, McCartney & co were themselves unaware of any concept hidden in the record, though Wings by definition were in fact a Band on the Run in the years prior to the album and therefore could inhabit the role of those eponymous "rabbits on the run". From the Denny Laine-penned No Words, to the Ginger Baker-backed Mamunia, to the the downright danceable Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five, this Wings album would become arguably the biggest of McCartney's entire career beginning in the Christmas season of 1973 and continuing on into 1974 to become a cultural phenomenon. While Paul was riding high, John Lennon continued his drug and drink fueled "lost weekend" in Los Angeles - separated from Yoko and acting out in unruly, and sometimes violent ways. Beyond his own personal struggles, producer Phil Spector seemingly skipped town with Lennon's "Oldies But Moldies" tapes, holding the recordings hostage for no ransom beyond his own personal madness. 1973 was one of the most prolific periods in the lives of the former Beatles, and it would not go out without a BANG (literally)... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the waning weeks of 1973, several major turning points in the lives of each of the former Beatles would mark both new beginnings and tragic endings for different people and places in the saga of the fab four. John Lennon, separated from his wife Yoko and in the throws of a depression not seen since his Hamburg days, took to drink, drugs and rock'n'roll for comfort and solace in Los Angeles. George Harrison, whose marriage was long rumored to be in dire straits, at last discovered his wife Pattie's affair with rocker Ronnie Wood. Ringo Starr, still riding high on the success of his eponymous solo album Ringo, was again running up the charts with the irresistible single You're Sixteen backed with Devil Woman. And lastly Paul McCartney, the solo Beatle with so much to prove, at last releases his surprise masterpiece LP: Band On The Run. Just in time for the holiday buying season, this collection of catchy yet purposeful rock and roll home runs took the world by storm, driving the seemingly defunct band Wings to the top of the charts. What lead to this album catching fire? Could McCartney continue the streak? Only time can tell as we move to the grand finale of 1973... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome back to the story so far! We've covered a lot so far in the Beatle year 1973, and with the grand finale ahead of us Wayne, Paul and James take a moment to talk a little bit about the monumental events that lead us to now. This year has been yet another transformative one for each former Beatle, with successes for each and set-backs abound. Paul McCartney began the year at last on a roll with his new band Wings, hit singles, a hit album and a new record all building Macca's momentum...and then his band imploded. Can Paul pick up the pieces? John Lennon has been bombarded from all sides - his immigration battle, harsh reviews of his creative output...but it's his split from Yoko Ono that dealt the most devastating blow. Will a lost weekend in LA be enough to rejuvenate John's spirit? Ringo and George both knock it out of the park with respective #1 albums...but can they maintain that level of success? We discuss it all this episode, plus a special interview with Ryan Brady (Take It Away Podcast) and Paul Kaminski (The Third Men Podcast) about an exciting new project called NOW HEAR THIS! This brand new weekly album review podcast is hosted by Ryan and Paul and in each episode the duo reviews a new album special to one of them and new to the other. Lots of fun to be had on this new show and we give you the full scoop here on THE STORY SO FAR... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's November of 1973 and, for the first time since he was a teenager, John Lennon was a bachelor. In the wake of the John/Yoko split, an alcohol-fueled Lennon set out to drown his sorrows in drink, drugs and favorite songs from his past. Enlisting the help of longtime collaborator Phil Spector, the so-called "Oldies But Moldies" sessions began in Los Angeles which found John howling his rock and roll roots with mixed and inebriated results. As Lennon stumbled through the studios and clubs of southern California, Ringo Starr enjoyed his time in the spotlight with the release of the hugely successful Ringo album. This star-studded LP of catchy rock and roll took the world by storm, and transformed Starr from former fab to full-fledged solo artist. With the mammoth lead-off single Photograph and a host of catchy pop song craft, pals George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Harry Nilsson, Marc Bolan, Billy Preston, producer Richard Perry and others helped Ringo create one of the biggest albums of the decade. With only a few weeks in the year left to go, the four former Beatles had managed to release four hit LPs of solo material which lit up charts around the world - and, impossible though it may be to believe, the biggest ex-Beatle LP was still yet to come...  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The fall of 1973 was a busy time for all four former Beatles, with three new albums in development and a flurry of other activities from September through November. With his new band in shambles and his back to the wall, McCartney took his latest batch of songs and his most trusted musical confidants to Lagos, Nigeria during monsoon season to craft what would become his quintessential post-Bealtes masterpiece. But the adverse conditions were not limited to interpersonal conflicts - many in Lagos accused the troupe of attempting to appropriate their music during the recording sessions. Paul & Linda were even mugged on their way back to their residence, which is seen by some as a direct result of their less-than-warm reception by the Nigerian people. Ringo Starr, meanwhile, was poised for the release of his very own solo LP masterpiece, the forerunner of which took the form of the instantly-lovable smash hit single Photograph (a co-write with George Harrison, also in the studio recording new music at this time). Amidst all this, John Lennon faced perhaps biggest life-changing moment of his post-Beatles life: Yoko Ono threw him out. Now a bachelor, John found himself alongside family aide May Pang in Los Angeles for the release of his new LP, Mind Games. This collection of scattershot melody and hooky pop was well received, though Lennon himself stood trembling on the precipice of chaos... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.