Yesterday and Today

Beatles ’77 pt2

"I've already given it up, I haven't decided where to run, though" said a smiling John Lennon surrounded by family and enjoying a day out at the circus in March of 1977. Lennon was jovial, though his words were perhaps a bit cryptic...begging the question: had John Lennon actually retired from music completely? With nearly a full two years since his last album release, fans wondering what the next musical move from John Lennon would be would need to wonder a little longer...though answers for McCartney's next move would be much easier to find. Following the smash success of his Wings Over the World tour, Paul and the band were quick to return to the studio to record a follow-up to 1976's similarly successful Wings At The Speed of Sound LP. But dismal, wintertime London was not exactly the perfect atmosphere for a joyous Macca victory lap. The band did attempt to decorate EMI studios to set a better mood, but (like for many a winner Wings recording past) a sojourn to an inspiring location was in order. Onward it was to the US Virgin Islands, where three boats were moored and waiting for Paul, Linda, Denny, Jimmy and Joe to set sail for their next album... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’77 pt1

It's 1977, and the new year bodes well for all four former Beatles. George Harrison's Thirty Three & 1/3 LP promotional tour is in full swing, and a more melodic, upbeat George proves to be a critical and commercial improvement for Harrison's career in some big ways. While discussing the record, the notion of a world tour is brought up and seemingly giving some serious consideration, albeit with the wisdom of the lessons learned from his arduous 1974 Dark Horse tour - which ran the ex-Beatle ragged and gave the sharpened knives of the rock press somewhere to jab. George's improved fortunes were certainly a welcome omen to begin the year, but it was a joyous ending, that followed shortly after, which would truly be cause for celebration. In January of 1977, the long-awaited settlement of the contentious and exhausting legal battle between Allen Klein's ABKO and Apple Corps was at last reached, marking three years of proceedings and millions of dollars exchanged. This out-of-court agreement was another hopeful step toward the possibility of a Beatles reunion, with Allen Klein now fully out of the picture and John, Paul, George and Ringo all on good terms with one another. But if a Beatles reunion were coming, it would have to wait - because in February, Wings return to the studio to begin recording the follow-up to 1976's mega-hit Wings At The Speed of Sound LP. Would Paul and the band be satisfied with recording in the silver rain of wintery London? Wings contemplate flying south as 1977 rolls on... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

McCartney: Anatomy of A Trilogy feat. Luther Russell

The Yesterday & Today podcast is excited to welcome special guest Luther Russell to the show this week to analyze, review and ruminate on a trilogy of albums 50 years in the making! It's an episode we had to title McCartney: Anatomy of A Trilogy. In 1970 the world became aware of the breakup of the Beatles when Macca's first solo album, McCartney, hit shelves accompanied by a widely publicized and (arguably) misconstrued press release - one that seemed to indicate the demise of the fab four. Whatever the intentions of said press release, the very high profile of this interview and its corresponding homespun collection of tunes would spark the beginning of Paul's solo career and set into motion a series of one-man-show efforts on behalf of McCartney in the decades to come. In 1980 McCartney II was released, a sequel that proved to be a similar demarcation of the winding down of Paul's band Wings, and yet another exercise in isolated musical experimentation. 40 years later, in the thick of a global pandemic, McCartney III emerged to complete the trilogy and once more found McCartney's introspective craftsmanship at a peak. In this episode we'll examine all three releases and explore the possible connective tissue between each installment. Luther is on hand to lend his expert opinion as a singer, songwriter and musical craftsman of his own wide acclaim - and we'd like to thank Mr. Russell for the wonderful conversation! But that's not all - we also want to hear from YOU! Which of these three albums are your favorite? Do each live up to the name? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’76 pt10

As the year 1976 draws to a close, so too closes the chapter on one of the biggest, most productive years in post-Beatles history. Wings soared with the kinds of commercial successes and audience excitement not seen since the heyday of the Beatles touring years - and John Lennon, whose immigration struggles had left him shackled to the continental United States for the better part of 5 years, found his freedom in the form of a green card and (perhaps more importantly) long-sought vindication. Ringo's Rotogravure foretold a downturn in the career of the once-most-successful former Beatle - and George Harrison was having himself a bit of a comeback in the form of a successful new single (This Song) from his brand new LP: Thirty Three & 1/3. This fifth proper studio album from Harrison was a marked departure from the pain of Dark Horse and the uncertainty of Extra Texture - yielding a collection of bouncy, genuine and tuneful tracks that saw a happier Harrison settling into his own grooves with a confidence not seen in years. From the irresistibly catchy Crackerbox Palace, to funky stomps like It's What You Value and Woman Don't You Cry For Me - Thirty Three & 1/3 was a tour de force and most certainly a return to form. To promote the release, George became the first former fab to grace the stage of NBC's Saturday Night, performing several numbers alongside Paul Simon and even demanding Beatles reunion money from the show's creator, Lorne Michaels. As if Thirty Three & 1/3 wasn't enough Beatle content to satisfy fans, on December 10th Capitol EMI released Wings Over America, a titanic collection of live recordings from Paul's ultra-successful North American tour. 1977 is just around the corner, let the '76 hangover begin... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’76 pt9

Hot off the heels of his Rotogravure album release, Ringo Starr was knee-deep in a promotional blitz across Europe and Asia in the fall of 1976. Of course Ringo still made time during this flurry of interviews to send buddy John Lennon a gift for the former Beatle's 36th birthday - a gift in the form of a private erotic poetry reading by New York City porn & punk personality Cherry Vanilla. In the following weeks, another gift to Lennon - a functional green card - facilitated a solo trip to Hong Kong (John's first solitary travel experience since his pre-fame days). With John on walkabout in Asia, Paul McCartney and Wings found themselves back in the UK for the finale of their year+ long WINGS OVER THE WORLD tour - playing sold-out shows in Wembley in front of cheering crowds and glowing critics. As Paul's tour wound to a close, George Harrison's promotional tour for his forthcoming album release was just ramping up - beginning with the release of a new single: This Song. This bouncy rocker poked fun at Harrison's ongoing copyright troubles over the song My Sweet Lord, and seethes with resentment under the veneer of humor (reminiscent of "Harri-songs" past such as Piggies and Not Guilty). With stops in Boston and then New York City for a pre-taped appearance on NBC's Saturday Night, George was out to give his upcoming Thirty Three & 1/3 LP a full-court press, for a return to the successes from earlier in his solo career, and a real run at the charts... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’76 pt8

As summer turned to fall in September of 1976, three of the four former Beatles found themselves in challenging situations. Ringo Starr's new LP Rotogravure was bursting with pride and ambition from its principle artist, but a lukewarm reception by critics and the public illuminated the first cracks in Starr's successful three-year hit-making streak. Never one to give up, Ringo doubled down on the album's promotion - filming several music videos for the record's singles as well as embarking on a radio interview tour wherein the former fab talked recording, writing, and his recent engagement to fiancé Nancy Andrews. George Harrison's troubles were monetary, having lost the monumental copyright court case over his hit 1970 single My Sweet Lord and its similarities to the 1963 Chiffons hit He's So Fine. As George awaited the judge's punitive damages order, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and baby Sean were in Massachusetts visiting with macrobiotic diet guru Michio Kushi. While the meeting went well, the Lennons were subject to increasing attention from fans and local press, eventually driving them home from their retreat. Paul McCartney's fortunes weren't quite so tumultuous - as the Wings Over the World tour entered its final leg in a stint of shows across Europe to the same roaring crowds and rave reviews that had greeted the band in North America. Stops in Austria, Italy, Germany and even Yugoslavia (becoming the first Beatle to perform from behind the "iron curtain") marked the continued success and validation of Wings, a welcome and well-earned feat for the McCartneys. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’76 pt7

It's the summer of 1976 and Wings are finishing their victory lap over North America with a lavish party attended by the rich & famous of Los Angeles. With two monster singles: Silly Love Songs and Let Em In, catapulting to the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic (well, the #2 spot in the UK), Paul McCartney and his rock n roll quintet were riding high, and enjoying the fruits of their labors. Back in New York, another victory was at hand for John Lennon, who after nearly half a decade of struggle at last obtained the coveted green card that would signify the end to his immigration troubles. By September, another verdict (this time less than ideal) would be handed down in the case of George Harrison and his My Sweet Lord copyright infringement case. A New York City judge found George guilty of plagiarism, responsible for monetary restitution to the copyright holders of the song "He's So Fine", despite Harrison's recognizably sincere denial of having pinched their melody for his 1970 smash single. This landmark decision cost George quite a sum, as well as setting an important precedent for composers and song publishers for decades to come. While George and John respectively celebrated victory and mourned defeat in the New York City courts, Ringo Starr released a new LP on September 17th 1976: Rotogravure. A follow-up to his successful 1974 album Goodnight Vienna, this new collection of songs featured contributions from all four former Beatles, as well as a new producer: the acclaimed Arif Mardin. Despite the musical pedigree of the album's contributors, and Ringo's own enthusiasm, this record's underperformance would signify yet another dramatic sea change in the career trajectory of one of the most successful graduates of the fab four.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’76 pt6

As the Wings Over The Word tour continued its relentless path of success across North America in the summer of 1976, Paul McCartney’s triumphant return to pop culture relevancy remainder bogged down by the specter of Beatle past. Bill Sergeant’s multi-million dollar reunion offer added constant fuel to the rumor mill of an on-stage moment featuring John, Paul, George and Ringo – as well as a scrambling Capitol Records rush-release of Got to Get You Into My Life (which promptly rocketed up the charts). Despite such speculations, Beatle reunions (of sorts) were actually in the air in these early summer months of 1976, as John Lennon found himself once again back in the studio with Ringo Starr cutting a track for Ringo’s forthcoming Rotogravure album. Ringo and producer Arif Martin were smitten to have Lennon on board, but John felt differently about the session – calling it a case of “bad vibes” and feeling taken advantage of by his friend. Whatever the case, nearly 7 years after the dissolution of the world’s biggest band, The Beatles maintained their place as a mainstay of popular culture and their relevance stood poised to outlast the time they spent together… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ring O’Records with Doug Bogie

The Yesterday & Today Podcast is proud to present an all-new extended interview with Ring O'Records recording artist and former Queen bassist Doug Bogie! In the holiday season of 1975 Doug became one of the select few musicians spotlighted by Ringo Starr's newly formed label, and Doug shares with us some of the incredible stories of his close encounters of the Beatle-y kind in this week's episode! But Doug's impressive resume doesn't end with Ringo Starr - over the last 50 years Doug has been either a musician or studio wizard for rock'n'roll royalty including the Moody Blues, Wings, Mungo Jerry and many more - punctuated by his brief stint as the third bassist for then-unknown rock band Queen. Doug's own music continued on with his band R.A.F. whose two excellent albums from the early 80's stand as a testament to power pop amongst the otherwise insurmountable punk scene in Britain at the time. Ever wonder what it's like to be let into the Imagine room at Tittenhurst Park? Or what kind of tea Linda McCartney prefers? Or what Harry Nilsson was doing as defacto-receptionist in the office above a car dealership in London? Wonder no more dear listener - and lend an ear to this very special episode of Yesterday & Today! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’76 pt5

It's May of 1976 and the Wings Over the World tour continues its unstoppable sojourn across North America - this time landing in New York City. Even as McCartney continued to define himself as a solo hitmaker and unique pop culture phenomenon outside of his past with the Beatles, fans and critics alike (and perhaps Paul himself) couldn't help but wonder if a trip to the big apple would result in an on-stage reunion between Lennon & McCartney. After John's no-show at the Wings concert in Toronto - where George and Ringo both attended - big questions remained about the legitimate possibility of John and Paul sharing a stage with each other again. While at one time the reunion seemed a complete impossibility, the reemergence of the duo's friendship by the mid-70's cast a ray of hope that such a miracle could actually take place. Regardless, Paul and the band would enchant New Yorkers for two nights in one of the most triumphant stops of Paul's high-flying world tour... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.