AKOM’s new series A Mistake in Many Ways covers the Trial Separation period, from Sept 69-April 70. Our first episode of AMIMW provides brief but necessary background for the Divorce Meeting itself and establishes our thesis, then continues throughout September. As you’ll see when you listen, this series is a deep dive into what goes on between John and Paul in the 6-month period leading up to the McCartney announcement.
We don’t consider John’s “I Want a Divorce” statement to be the endof the band; in this series it is actually the beginning of a subsequent yet entirely different stage of negotiations between John & Paul.
Phoebe and Thalia talk with Rolling Stone contributing editor and writer Rob Sheffield about “In My Life.” Topics include: the backstory, inspiration and notable elements of the song; band dynamics of the mid-60s Beatles; Paul McCartney’s influence and impact on In My Life; George Harrison’s 1974 concert tour; John Lennon’s social media presence.
PLAYLIST: In My Life BEATLES (1965) My Girl Has Gone SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES (1965) Girl THE BEATLES (1965) HELP! (1965) And Your Bird Can Sing THE BEATLES (1966) In My Life (live) GEORGE HARRISON Long Beach, CA (Nov 10, 1974)
SOURCES: Dreaming the Beatles, Rob Sheffield 2017 ‘McCartney 3, 2, 1’: The Beatle, the Producer and Oh, That Magic Feeling by Rob Sheffield July 13, 2021 24 Reasons We’ll Keep Watching the Beatles’ ‘Get Back’ Forever by Rob Sheffield Nov 29, 2021 Morning Joe, MSNBC Nov 30, 2021 Lennon Remembers, by Jann Wenner for Rolling Stone (1970) Paul McCartney in His Own Words (1976) by Paul Gambaccini John Lennon to Playboy Magazine, (1980) reprinted in All We Are Saying by David Sheff, 2000 The Beatles Afterword (1985) by Hunter Davies (originally published 1968) “AI used to solve disputed songwriting credits of Beatles hits” by Alex Matthews-King INDEPENDENT July 6, 2019 George Harrison: Lumbering in the Material World by Ben Fong-Torres Dec 19, 1974 John Lennon Instagram, June 18 2022
Live on Location in Seattle at Paul McCartney’s Got Back tour:
Phoebe and Daphne share their joyous experience at this May 2022 show and have a lively discussion about the performance by Paul, Rusty, Brian, Wix and Abe.
Dr. Allison Bumsted joins Phoebe and Daphne to discuss how rock journalism in the 1970s re-shaped Paul McCartney’s critical reputation for the next three decades (and beyond).
Also discussed in this episode: authenticity, gatekeeping, rock aesthetics and rhetoric, hyper-masculinity and the inherent inclusivity of pop.
SOURCES
Paul McCartney interviewed on Radio Luxembourg May 12, 1973 Something About the Beatles, “Critiquing the Critics” Episodes 176a and 176b A Women’s History of the Beatles, Christine Feldman-Barrett (2021) The Beatles and the Historians, Erin Torkelson-Weber (2016) Truant Boy: Art, Authenticity and Paul McCartney, Martin Shough (2017) Faking It: The Quest for Authenticity in Popular Music, Yuval Taylor and Hugh Barker (2007) “Main Lines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste: A Lester Bangs Reader,” Lester Bangs (2003) “Physical Graffiti” review by Jim Miller, Rolling Stone (March 27, 1975) John Landau reviews RAM, (July 8, 1971) Wildlife review by John Mendelssohn, Rolling Stone (Jan 20, 1972) Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, written by Allen Evans, NME (May 20, 1967) “The Jefferson Airplane and the San Francisco Sound,” Ralph J Gleason (1969) “Just Two Superstars from Middle Rock,” NY Times (Aug 3, 1975) “Imagine” review by Ben Gerson (Oct 28, 1971) “The Former Beatle Gets Personal” Paul Gambincini, Rolling Stone (Jan 31, 1974) “Records: Paul McCartney and Wings” Band on the Run review by Dave Downing, Let it Rock (1974) Band on the Run review, Jon Landau (1974) “Paul and Linda McCartney: Bionic couple serves it your way” Lester Bangs, Creem: 34–39 and 72–73 (1976) “Yesterday, Today and Paul” Rolling Stone, Ben Fong-Torres (June 17 1976) “Paul McCartney & Wings” Rolling Stone page 14; Paul Gambaccini (June 21 1973) Life Magazine (November 7, 1969) “Man of the Year” Rolling Stone, Jann Wenner (February 7, 1970) “Sound effects: Youth, Leisure, and the Politics of Rock ‘n’ Roll” Simon Frith. New York: Pantheon Books (197.) “Rod Stewart’s Holiday Turkey: Blondes Have More Fun Review” Rolling Stone, Janet Maslin (Feb 8, 1979) “Every Picture Tells a Story” Review Rolling Stone, John Mendelsohn (July 8, 1971)
OTHER WRITERS MENTIONED Pete Wiley, Robert Christgau, Matt Brennan, Holly Tessler, Leonard Feather, Leroy Jones, Barbara Gardner, Nat Hentoff, Simon Frith, Jim DeRogatis
PLAYLIST The Mess (live at the Hague) WINGS Band on the Run PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS Wildlife WINGS Too Many People PAUL & LINDA MCCARTNEY I Am Your Singer WINGS Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey PAUL & LINDA MCCARTNEY Mama’s Little Girl PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS Let Me Roll it PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS Rockshow WINGS
The third and final episode in our Get Back analysis is dedicated to Band Dynamics- the working and personal relationships within the Beatles and how all those conflicts, bonds and loyalties interact.
We also take a look at the Get Back deadlines; Were they as crazy as we think?
Join Phoebe, Daphne, Iris and Thalia for this lively, thoughtful and engrossing panel.
SOURCES
The Banality of Genius: Notes on Peter Jackson’s Get Back, Ian Leslie (Jan 26 2022) Get Back, dir. Peter Jackson (2021) John Lennon Interview w/ DJ John Small (October 22nd, 1969) Beatles Anthology, dir. Geoff Wonfor; Bob Smeaton (1995) Peace and Love, Broken Record podcast w/ Rick Rubin (Sep 21, 2021) Ringo Interview from: Understanding McCartney/Ep 5, dir breathless345 (2020) Ringo Starr Interview w/ Howard Stern (2000) Felix Dennis quote from: You Never Give Me Your Money: The Battle for the Soul of the Beatles, Peter Doggett (2009) Playboy interview w/ Allen Klein (1971) Solid State, The Story of Abbey Road and the End of the Beatles, Ken Womack (2019) Maureen Starkey interview (published 1998) Tune In, Mark Lewisohn (2013) Beatles on the Roof, Tony Barrel (2017) With a Little Help from My Friends, the Making of Sergeant Pepper, George Martin (1994) Maximum Volume: The Life of Beatles Producer George Martin (The Early Years, 1926-1966) Ken Womack (2018) Philip Norman (?) Playback: An Illustrated Memoir, George Martin (2002) Let it Be, dir Michael Lindsay-Hogg (1970) George Harrison, Guitar World: When We Was Fab. (1992) THE LYRICS, Paul McCartney and Paul Muldoon (2021) Many Years From Now, Barry Miles (1997) Peter Jackson on Stephen Colbert (Nov 25, 2021)
*ADDENDUM- We erroneously state that the Beatles’ contract in September 1969 requires seven Beatles/Solo albums per year until 1976. The Beatles were in fact only required to produce TWO albums per year until 1976. Apologies for this errror.
Episode 2 is all about George, Paul and George & Paul; we take a look into their dynamic as bandmates, friends and surrogate brothers. We also examine George as a Producer for insight into the creative conflicts between Paul and George.
Other topics include: The Beatles’ Rooftop Performance, Eric Clapton and Scenes that Surprised Us.
SOURCES/REFERENCES
Get Back, dir. Peter Jackson (2021) “Why the Beatles Broke Up” by Mikael Gilmore for Rolling Stone (2000) “Paul McCartney: the Musical Genius with Staying Power” The Times UK, Caitlin Moran (Dec 25, 2021) George Harrison, NME: This Song. (December 11th, 1976) “The Banality of Genius: Notes on Peter Jackson’s Get Back” Ian Leslie (Jan 26 2022) George Harrison, Guitar World: When We Was Fab. (1992) Paul McCartney on Egypt Station, NME interview w/ Dan Stubbs (2018) “Beatlesongs,” William J Dowlding (1989) “Get Back Halftime Report” on Hey Dullblog Geoff Emerick interview w/ Alan Light for Blender.com (2009) George Martin interviewed by Richard Buskin (March 3,1987) “Behind the Locked Door,” Graeme Thomson (2013) Michael Lindsay Hogg, Interview for Radio New Zealand (Dec 4, 2021) Paul McCartney interview with Parkinson (1997)
Part 1 in a 3-part conversation about Peter Jackson’s documentary epic, GET BACK.
Join Phoebe and Daphne for a discussion of Peter Jackson’s most controversial edits, Yoko’s celluloid makeover, the state of John & Paul’s relationship and the invisible interloper, heroin.
SOURCES Get Back, dir. Peter Jackson (2021) Michael Lindsay Hogg, Interview for Radio New Zealand (Dec 4, 2021) Understanding Lennon/McCartney vol 2, dir. breathless345 (2022)
Bonus Episode 3: Marriage Mythology
Happy Holidays! We’ve got THREE bonus episodes for you today!!! Sam Whiles of Paul or Nothing and Phoebe Lorde discuss two Made-for-TV films about the McCartneys and Lennons. Perfect listening for a post-Christmas haze!
In Bonus Episode 3, join Phoebe and Sam Whiles, host of Paul or Nothing podcast, as they discuss the cinematic portrayals of the McCartney and Lennon marriages. What mythology do they create for themselves? What does the public (fans, authors and outside media) project onto them? How have their images changed over time?
Movies discussed in this episode: The Linda McCartney Story (2000) and John and Yoko: a Love Story (1985).
Happy Holidays! We’ve got THREE bonus episodes for you today!!! Sam Whiles of Paul or Nothing and Phoebe Lorde discuss two Made-for-TV films about the McCartneys and Lennons. Perfect listening for a post-Christmas haze!
In Bonus Episode 2, Join Phoebe and Sam Whiles, host of Paul or Nothing podcast, as they discuss the TV movie John and Yoko: A Love Story (1985).
ANOTHER KIND OF MIND 