Fixing A Hole - The Beatles podcast you didn't know you needed

Having spent a month watching and listening to the newly remastered Beatles Anthology. In this week episode, Paul and Mark review the newly give their thoughts on how this this audio visual feast of Beatlemannia holds up 30 years after its debut.

Mark had never watched the TV series, but he does own the accompanying albums. While as you would expect, Paul watched the series on TV, purchased the VHS collection and has been watching the DVD's for over 20 years.

Our findings might surprise you! 

Welcome to episode 37 of Fixing A Hole. The Beatles podcast you didn’t know you needed.

If you’re a fan of the podcast, or you like to be a guest on an episode, we’d love to hear from you.
 
Visit our new patreon channel at patreon.com/fixingahole its currently free to join with new and exclusive material being added from January 2026..
 

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Hello, Fixing A Hole listener.

Yes, we're back following our extended Christmas break.

Just a short episode to wish you a happy 2026 and give you an update on the new improved format of the podcast.

Regular episodes drop from the Friday the 9th January 2026.

Many thanks for your support during 2025.

Best wishes Paul & Mark

If you watch the Beatles Let It Be film, you could be forgiven for thinking that by January 1969, The Beatles were finished. The writing was on the wall and they couldn't wait to go their separate ways.

However, as always the truth is very different. 1969 is one of the most productive years in the bands history. Yes they work on solo projects, but they also collaborate on recordings for Apple artists and record another masterpiece in 'Abbey Road'.

In this weeks episode, Paul and Mark discuss how productive John, Paul, George and Ringo were during that final 12 months of the 1960's.

Welcome to episode 35 of Fixing A Hole. The Beatles podcast you didn’t know you needed.

If you’re a fan of the podcast, or you like to be a guest on an episode, we’d love to hear from you.
 
Visit our new patreon channel at patreon.com/fixingahole its currently free to join with new and exclusive material being added from January 2026..
 

Please get in touch via:

Facebook: Fixing A Hole https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562724166069

Email: [email protected]

Starting with the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Apple have gifted us deluxe boxed sets of the White Album, Abbey Road, Let It Be and most recently Revolver. Therefore it was assumed as 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of both Help! and Rubber Soul. That this year Beatles fan would gift one or both of these titles the super deluxe treatment.

But this was not to be. Instead Apple decided to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Anthology. A worthy release, but not the deep dive into the vault we fans were expecting.

In this weeks episode we take a deep dive into both Help1 and Rubber Soul and ask the question, is Rubber Soul The Beatles first masterpiece?.

Welcome to episode 34 of Fixing A Hole. The Beatles podcast you didn’t know you needed.

 If you’re a fan of the podcast, or you like to be a guest on an episode, we’d love to hear from you.
 
Visit our new patreon channel at patreon.com/fixingahole its currently free to join with new and exclusive material being added from 1 September.
 

Please get in touch via:

Facebook: Fixing A Hole https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562724166069

Email: [email protected]

For George, it must have been a double edged sword being a member of the worlds biggest band, with two of the greatest song writers. On the one hand George the budding songwriter was finding it difficult to get his compositions included on a Beatles record. But on the other hand he had two great mentors to learn from.

By 1969 he had matured into a great composer. While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Here cones The Sun are classics, while Something is the equal of the best of John and Paul.

By January 1969 George had built of a large reserve of unreleased material, that he can be seen in Peter Jackson's Get Back documentary talking to John about recording a solo album. Fast forward 12 months and George gifted us All Things Must Pass. A triple album box set.

In this weeks episode we take a deep dive into Georges solo masterpiece.

Welcome to episode 33 of Fixing A Hole. The Beatles podcast you didn’t know you needed.

 If you’re a fan of the podcast, or you like to be a guest on an episode, we’d love to hear from you.
 
Visit our new patreon channel at patreon.com/fixingahole its currently free to join with new and exclusive material being added from 1 September.
 

Please get in touch via:

Facebook: Fixing A Hole https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562724166069

Email: [email protected]

In last week’s episode we took a deep dive into 1962. The final year of John, Paul, George and Ringo’s musical apprenticeship.

This week we look at the first year of the second phase of their career, 1963. In particular, we delve into their live appearances. As this was the year when they moved out of the clubs and halls and entered the world of the package tour circuit. It was also a transition period with regard their fame. As they were no longer the property of a small group of Merseyside teenagers, but now Beatlemania was a nationwide phenomenon.

 Welcome to episode 32 of Fixing A Hole. The Beatles podcast you didn’t know you needed.

 If you’re a fan of the podcast, or you like to be a guest on an episode, we’d love to hear from you.
 
Visit our new patreon channel at patreon.com/fixingahole its currently free to join with new and exclusive material being added from 1 September.
 

Please get in touch via:

Facebook: Fixing A Hole https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562724166069

Email: [email protected]

By December 1962 John, Paul, George and Ringo had completed their apprenticeship. All the hard work they had put in slogging around the night spots of Liverpool and Hamburg had started to pay off. 

The year had begun with an audition for Decca and a single released in the UK from Polydor. National radio for the BBC soon followed. While by the end of the year they had a regional TV broadcast under their belt. Plus. Love Me Do, their first official UK single release reached number 17 in the charts.

In this weeks episode we take a deep dive into 1962. We look at what The Beatles did that year and why it marks the end of the first phase of their career. We also look at what still exists among collectors.

Welcome to episode 31 of Fixing A Hole. The Beatles podcast you didn’t know you needed.

If you’re a fan of the podcast, or you like to be a guest on an episode, we’d love to hear from you.
 
Visit our new patreon channel at patreon.com/fixingahole its currently free to join with new and exclusive material being added from 1 September.
 

Please get in touch via:

Facebook: Fixing A Hole https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562724166069

Email: [email protected]

In 1966 plans were hatched to commission an animated feature based on The Beatles song, Yellow Submarine.

However, with a production team which included the maker of 200 'Popeye' cartoon shorts. John, Paul, George and Ringo wanted nothing to do with it. In fact, The Beatles voices were recreated by a by an ensemble of British character actors and comedians!

However, by the time the production was complete and the group watched this psychedelic jukebox of a film, they were 100% behind it.

In this week’s episode we tell the story of this one of a kind animated film. Who was behind it, the music, the voice over artists, its premiere and the merchandise. In fact, the complete story. So settle down with a coffee (or tea) and listen to

Welcome to episode 30 of Fixing A Hole. The Beatles podcast you didn’t know you needed.

If you’re a fan of the podcast, or you like to be a guest on an episode, we’d love to hear from you.
 
 Visit our new patreon channel at patreon.com/fixingahole its currently free to join with new and exclusive material being added from 1 September.
 

Please get in touch via:

Facebook: Fixing A Hole https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562724166069

Email: [email protected]

When did The Beatles creativity peak?

For me the answer is 1967.

Why 1967?

That’s what Mark and I discuss in this week episode. We look at John, Paul, George and Ringo output in this pivotal year. A year of not just new music, Penny Lane, Sgt. Pepper’s, Hello Goodbye. But also, film making an equally creative statement, Magical Mystery tour, Our World and of course the Strawberry Fields Forever promotional film.

Do you agree?

Listen to this weeks episode to hear Pauls’ argument for 1967 being peak Beatles! 

Welcome to episode 29 of Fixing A Hole. The Beatles podcast you didn’t know you needed.

If you’re a fan of the podcast, or you like to be a guest on an episode, we’d love to hear from you.
 
 Visit our new patreon channel at patreon.com/fixingahole its currently free to join with new and exclusive material being added from 1 September.
 

Please get in touch via:

Facebook: Fixing A Hole https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562724166069

Email: [email protected]

In April 1966 The Beatles released their 12th UK single 'Paperback Writer'. A Paul composition which tells the story of a budding author who wants to get his book published.

In 1968, journalist and author Hunter Davies published the first authorised biography of John, Paul, George and Ringo. 

Since then the floodgates have opened and their have been an avalanche of Beatles books about many different aspects of the bands career. Books about the record releases, television and radio broadcasts, their live concerts and much more.

In this weeks episode Paul takes a deep dive into his Beatles library and selects 10 volumes which Beatles fans should own.

Welcome to episode 28 of Fixing A Hole. The Beatles podcast you didn’t know you needed.

If you’re a fan of the podcast, or you like to be a guest on an episode, we’d love to hear from you.
 
 Visit our new patreon channel at patreon.com/fixingahole its currently free to join with new and exclusive material being added from 1 September.
 

Please get in touch via:

Facebook: Fixing A Hole https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562724166069

Email: [email protected]