I recently spoke to author Joe Hagan about his book 'Sticky Fingers, The Life and Times of Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone Magazine' - but couldn't let him go without mentioning his article for Vanity Fair magazine about the forthcoming 'Get Back' 3 part movie. Joe shares with us what he's seen of the film, and what we can expect from this incredibly exciting project.

Joe's article can be found at https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/06/the-beatles-get-back-exclusive-deep-dive-peter-jacksons-movie

My guest for this episode is musician turned author Daniel Rachel who joins me to discuss his book 'Like Some Forgotten Dream - What if The Beatles Hadn't Split Up?'

Daniel examines The Beatles untimely demise - and from the ashes compiles a track list for an imagined final album, pulling together unfinished demos, forgotten B-sides, hit solo songs, and arguing that together they form the basis of a lost Beatles masterpiece.

This is a exuberant and fun read - and I had a great time debating with Daniel what songs should and shouldn't be included.

My guest today is Bob Smeaton who joins me to discuss his autobiography 'From Benwell Boy to 46th Beatle'.

After a successful career in local bands in his native Newcastle through the 80s, Bob found himself involved in The Beatles Anthology film. Bob interviewed Paul, George and Ringo at length at various exotic locations. He shares his observations and memories of the project - and what it was like to be told off by Neil Aspinall!

For this bonus mini episode I'm joined by renowned photographer Brian Hamill to discuss his book 'Dream Lovers - John & Yoko in NYC'.

Brian had 2 photo sessions with John, an afternoon stroll around New York with Yoko in 1972, and then a session just with John at the Dakota in 1975. He also attended the Madison Square Garden show earlier in 1972.

Brian shares his observations and memories of John and Yoko (plus an encounter with George!) with us and tells us the stories behind some of his wonderful pictures.

I'm incredibly lucky to be joined for this episode by dramatist and academic Dan Rebellato to discuss one of the most infamous of all Beatles books - 1981's 'Shout' by Philip Norman.

Dan and I look at the initial success and impact that this massive selling book had on both The Beatles and Paul McCartney's reputation - what drove it's success, and where it sits today amongst an ever growing Beatle library.

I'm joined by one of the very best Beatle authors, Ken Womack, and one of the very best Beatle podcasters, Jason Krupa, to discuss their brilliant new book 'All Things Must Pass Away - Harrison, Clapton and Other Assorted Love Songs'.

Ken and Jason paint a fascinating and enlightening picture of George Harrison and Eric Clapton in 1970, such a key year for both of them. George - dealing with the passing of his band, his relationship and his mother produces one of the great Beatle solo albums and Eric, bruised from the breakup of yet another band makes the tortured 'Layla'. Ken and Jason tell us how these albums came together, what happened next, and how this enduring friendship coped in the most trying of circumstances.

I'm joined for this episode by award winning journalist and author Paul Howard to discuss his brilliant biography of Tara Browne, a member of the Irish aristocracy and Guinness heir, who went on to epitomize Swinging London and feature, in tragic circumstances, in the first verse of 'A Day In The Life', one of The Beatles' greatest songs.

More information about the book can be found at  https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/paul-howard/i-read-the-news-today-oh-boy/9781509800049

I'm joined for this episode by Christine Feldman Barrett to discuss her landmark book, 'A Women's History of The Beatles'.

Hers is the first book to offer a detailed presentation of the band's social and cultural impact as understood through the experiences and lives of women. Drawing on a mix of interviews, archival research, textual analysis, and autoethnography, this scholarly work depicts how the Beatles have profoundly shaped and enriched the lives of women, while also reexamining key, influential female figures within the group's history.

More information about this book can be found at https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/a-womens-history-of-the-beatles-9781501348051/

My guest today is Stefan Granados - he joins me to discuss 'Those Were The Days 2.0', the fully updated version of his definitive chronicle of The Beatles' Apple organisation. 

Stefan dispels the myth that Apple was the great Beatle folly - it not only was home to hugely successful artists like James Taylor, Badfinger and Mary Hopkin, but it carefully cultivated The Beatles image, and is now a multi million dollar empire. 

This fantastic book is published by Cherry Red, and can be purchased at https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/those-were-the-days-2-0-the-beatles-apple-book/

I'm joined by publisher, writer and co host of the 'Backlisted' podcast John Mitchinson to discuss his involvement in that most all encompassing of Beatles books, 'The Beatles Anthology'.

John shares with us his experiences of working with Neil Aspinell, his views on the strengths and weaknesses of the book, and his fascinating opinions on other great and not so great Beatle Books of recent times.