Yesterday and Today

Beatles ’74 pt10

Over four years had passed since the official break-up of the Beatles, and by the tail end of 1974 the world of music was changing, evolving and finding new stars to light the way. But despite these shifts in faces and trends, the Beatles' legend remained surprisingly vital, with not only a slew of successful solo material from the former fabs, but also from tributes such as the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the Road off-broadway musical. Though it was panned by critics, this production tapped into a public yearning for a return of the band that changed everything - and while a formal reunion was never to be, Beatle music was alive and well in the cultural zeitgeist. But nostalgia wasn't the only currency of the day, November 1974 also brought with it Ringo Starr's new album Goodnight Vienna. To follow-up the monster success of 1973's Ringo album, Starr and producer Richard Perry brought in new guest stars and new hooky material in the hopes of repeating their own critical and commercial heights the year prior. John Lennon also returned to lend his friend a helping hand on the title track, as well as lead-off single Only You (an arrangement Lennon and Harry Nilsson had been work-shopping for the ill-fated Oldies But Moldies project). From the Elton John/Bernie Taupin-penned Snookeroo to the novelty No-No Song, Goodnight Vienna was indeed another successful endeavor - though ultimately fell far short of its predecessor. And as 1974 draws to a close, there's still another solo Beatles LP ready for release... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’74 pt9

It's November 1974, and there's new music from all four former Beatles reaching fans around the world. First up, George Harrison's Dark Horse tour, premiering new music from his forthcoming LP release of the same name, barrels on through Oakland, Long Beach and Los Angeles California with some unfortunately mixed results. George was facing harsh critical backlash for the quality of his voice following a bout of laryngitis some weeks earlier, and these shaky vocals, combined with the Dark Horse's seemingly spiteful lyrical re-workings of some of the public's most beloved Beatles standards, cast a strange and ominous shadow on an otherwise joyous North American tour. Meanwhile, Paul and Wings were back in the studio cutting tracks for the much-anticipated follow-up to Band on the Run, while also rehearsing for a world tour tentatively scheduled to begin the following year. While Wings grappled with the forces of Venus and Mars in Abbey Road Studios, their new single Junior's Farm became yet another top 10 hit for the band and cemented once more McCartney's ever-growing stature as an artist outside his former enterprise. One more hit single from Apple Records rounds out the month, with John Lennon offering a helping hand to buddy Ringo Starr on the swooney-crooney track Only You. And believe it or not, there's a lot MORE activity in the world of the former Beatles to come in the closing weeks of this major powerhouse of a year... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’74 pt8

With the release of John Lennon's new #1 Walls and Bridges LP, the fall of 1974 was shaping up to be yet another season of success for the former Beatles. Its corresponding lead-off single, Whatever Gets You Through The Night was comfortably positioned atop the US singles charts as well, giving Lennon the boost of commercial approval he had been chasing for some time as a solo artist. So inspired was John, that he returned to the studio once again in October to finish the "oldies but moldies" sessions begun during his notorious "Lost Weekend" in LA. Things were looking up for Dr. Winston O'Boogie. Big things were also brewing for George Harrison, who was putting the final touches on his third solo album, the as-yet-to-be-released Dark Horse LP. This new collection of songs would be George's first since his calamitous split with wife Pattie Boyd and subsequent spiral into substance abuse and, well, "simply shady" activity. If new music wasn't enough of a pick-me-up, Harrison also embarked on an ambitions tour of the United States alongside good friends Ravi Shankar and Billy Preston - the first of the former Beatles to formally hit the road in the US since 1966. While touring on primarily new material, George's musical quest would bring him to new highs and unexpected lows as the fall of 1974 continued on... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Lennon Radio Tour: pt3

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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Lennon Radio Tour: pt2

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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Lennon Radio Tour: pt1

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’74 pt7

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... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’74 pt6

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’74 pt5

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... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beatles ’74 pt4

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... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.