Get Back to the Beatles

Cha-Chi and David Gallant welcome Beatles author/historian Terry Crain to discuss his book "The Beatles Novelty Songs, 1964 to ’66," documenting over 500 novelty songs and presented in an alphabetized, comic-book-inspired design. Crain explains his research process, starting with the Library of Congress digital copyright archives, which revealed about 300 copyrighted songs, while many others were never copyrighted due to the short, profit-driven rush to market during Beatlemania. They explore themes such as backlash and humor, why novelty output waned after 1966 as the Beatles stopped touring, and spotlight songs including “The Beatles Got to Go” by Byron Lee & The Dragonaires (with a Dr. No connection), New Zealand’s “My Beetle Boy” label-sticker mishap, and “I Wanna Be a Beatle,” plus the multiple 1964 recordings titled “I Want a Beatle for Christmas.”

Get Terry’s Book! https://a.co/d/0gR4iNHo

Topics

00:17 Podcast Welcome and Hosts

01:14 Meet Author Terry Crain

02:27 Why 500 Novelty Songs

05:25 Library of Congress Hunt

07:32 Off Grid Research Gaps

10:22 How Clever Are They

10:40 Play Beatles Got to Go

11:52 Bond Connection Backstory

16:29 Book Design Comic Style

18:20 Themes Fear and Satire

20:11 Why It Fades After 66

22:36 Later Novelty John Too Far

23:55 Rainbow Becomes Sissy Spacek

25:58 My Beetle Boy Mixup

29:18 Did Novelty Songs Chart

30:40 Bonnie Jo Mason Was Cher

32:17 I Wanna Be a Beatle

37:19 Where To Buy The Book

38:27 Five Christmas Songs Same Title

42:27 COVID Boost And Banter

44:23 Final Thanks And Signoff

Cha-Chi and David welcome actor and musician Greg Evigan to discuss his extensive TV and film work, including a standout Columbo villain role in “Bird in the Hand,” plus early career highlights like a 1976 Coca-Cola commercial and work connected to Norman Lear, Don Kirshner, Neil Bogart, and Casablanca Records. He traces his musical roots from piano lessons and New Jersey bands to high school musicals and touring with Jesus Christ Superstar, where he understudied Jesus. Evigan recalls seeing The Beatles on Ed Sullivan and acting in Ringo Starr’s TV special, and describes recording his original album with London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Studio One at Abbey Road under intense session time constraints. They also revisit his theme songs for BJ and the Bear and My Two Dads, Battle of the Network Stars memories, and direct listeners to Evigan.com for music purchases and autographed vinyl.

Topics

01:09 Meet Greg Evigan

02:03 Columbo Villain Stories

03:52 Coke Commercial Breakthrough

05:11 Kirshner Lear Bogart Connection

06:21 Musical Roots and Piano

07:31 High School Bands and Theater

08:37 Jesus Christ Superstar Break

09:54 Abbey Road Album Setup

11:13 Beatlemania and Ringo Gig

12:56 Recording at Abbey Road

16:18 Ringo Special Clip

17:31 Theme Songs BJ and Bear

19:31 Sitcom Theme Memories

19:45 Co Stars and Butkus

20:37 Kids and Animals Rule

21:33 Family and London Sessions

22:39 Kids Careers Spotlight

23:46 Early Bands and Keys

25:06 Parents Records and Nerves

26:18 School Musicals and Mentors

27:15 Arts Education Matters

30:20 Network Stars Throwback

33:58 Where to Buy the Album

35:22 Final Thanks and Sign Off

Cha-Chi and David interview Tony Kishman, a longtime Paul McCartney tribute performer currently touring his “Live and Let Die” show, which comes to the Regent Theatre in Arlington, Massachusetts on Saturday, October 3. Kishman recounts joining Beatlemania in 1978 despite being right-handed, learning Beatles music without internet resources, and performing under intense scrutiny in London amid Beatles-related legal action. He shares meeting George Martin, who praised the show and later declined to record Kishman’s original music because he sounded too much like McCartney, and tells how he missed an opportunity to meet Paul after leaving a Wembley concert early. Kishman discusses setlist choices, including “Uncle Albert” and “The Long and Winding Road,” his diet, Hofner’s financial troubles, playing Liverpool Beatleweek, and auditioning into Wishbone Ash.

See Tony live in Live and Let Die: The Music of Paul McCartney: https://www.liveandletdieshow.com/

Topics

01:17 Meet Tony Kishman

03:01 Beatlemania Boston Memories

05:11 Learning to Be Paul

06:59 Audition Origin Story

11:21 London Scrutiny and Lawsuit

13:25 George Martin Backstage

19:36 Almost Meeting Paul

24:14 Hofner Bankruptcy Talk

26:53 Live and Let Die Setlist

31:58 Setlist Deep Cuts

32:52 Tour Rider Food

34:40 Liverpool Beatle Week

38:20 Wishbone Ash Break

44:06 Regent Show Plug

45:22 Band on the Run Talk

49:11 Deep Track Stumpers

51:40 Song Requests Homework

53:16 Tour Dates Links

54:03 Wrap Up Credits

Cha-Chi and David welcome Beatles author and Fab Four Free For All podcaster Mitch Axelrod to discuss the Paul McCartney documentary Man on the Run (Amazon Prime). They praise its candid tone, unseen footage, humor, and the decision to keep talking heads off camera, while noting omissions, grainy upscaling, and differing expectations about how much Wings or Beatles content it should include. They highlight contributions from McCartney’s family, Sean Lennon’s contextual comments, and the film’s attention to Linda McCartney, while debating McCartney’s “truths,” legacy curation, and Beatle breakup narratives, including Allen Klein. The conversation shifts to Ringo Starr’s newly announced country/Americana album Long Road, the single “It’s Been Too Long,” track details including a re-recorded “Choose Love,” and hopes for more “swing.” They also touch on the Man on the Run soundtrack’s unique tracks like a rough mix of “Arrow Through Me,” live “Live and Let Die,” and the full “Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance.”

Topics

01:23 Guest Mitch Axelrod

02:06 Man On The Run Screenings

04:21 First Reactions

05:17 Wings Expectations

07:08 Multiple Truths

11:24 Family Voices

13:39 Sean And The Drag

18:28 Linda In Focus

21:46 Linda Live Critiques

24:41 Rewatching And Details

25:58 Humor And Japan Bust

27:10 Where To End It

28:12 Where the Doc Ends

29:30 Dreaming Up a Solo Series

31:22 Beatles Breakup Revisited

34:51 Could They Have Returned

36:32 Ringo’s New Album Talk

38:58 Setlist and Swing Debate

41:21 Man on the Run Soundtrack

43:32 Collectors and Vinyl Value

48:58 Wrap Up and Thanks

Cha-Chi and David welcome legendary guitarist Steve Kimock back to the podcast to discuss his touring show “All You Need Is George,” a celebration of George Harrison coming March 11 to the Chevalier Theatre in Medford, Massachusetts. Kimock reflects on how Harrison’s musicianship and spirituality—especially the impact of All Things Must Pass, including its raw tracks—shaped him, and Gallant notes many students end up “George devotees” by semester’s end. Kimock explains how the band selects mostly familiar material spanning Harrison’s Beatles work, solo era, and Traveling Wilburys, while still leaving room for improvisational segues and fresh takes. 

Get tickets: https://kimock.com/

Topics

00:18 Welcome and Introductions

00:48 Meet Steve Kimock

02:57 Why George Matters

03:56 George and the Students

07:16 Steve Beatles Origin Story

08:35 Building the Setlist

09:57 Playing George Live

11:57 Band Lineup and Tour

14:59 Openers Closers and Flow

16:57 Bangladesh and Concert Films

18:31 Traveling Wilburys Talk

20:21 Show Details and Giveaway

21:02 Spiritual Songs and Joy

22:34 Improvisation and Surprises

Cha-Chi and David welcome author Dean Thompson, who worked at John and Yoko’s Joko Films in 1972. Thompson discusses his novel Imagine Murder: A John Lennon Mystery (Tucker Press), created as historical fiction after declining to write a memoir. Legally blind, he dictated the book to friend Tom Moon with help from wife Victoria Hallerman. He recalls NYC’s turmoil, ongoing death threats, Lennon’s refusal of bodyguards, “end of the world” prank calls, and a real DNC/Watergate-related trip later used in the plot.

Get the book: https://a.co/d/036R5cO8

Topics

00:42 What’s Coming Up: Beatle Events + Introducing Author Dean Thompson

02:48 Imagine Murder: How the Lennon Mystery Novel Was Born

05:42 Inside Joko Films & 1970s New York: Setting the Scene

07:01 A Line to Cross? Writing Fiction Around a Real-Life Tragedy

07:46 The Dream That Haunted Him—and Why He Wrote the Book Anyway

10:10 Death Threats, No Bodyguards: John & Yoko Walking the Streets

12:06 One-to-One, Watergate, and Fighting Nixon: The Real History Behind the Plot

17:31 Beatles Fan to Lennon Insider: Dean’s First Reaction to the Job

18:00 From Yellow Submarine to Joko: the moment he ‘called it’

19:16 Working for John Lennon: fear, fame, and nothing else compares

19:55 Cultural heroes & Cincinnati roots: John Lennon vs. Johnny Bench

21:16 Yoko Ono at Joko: the quiet intimidation and ‘fired every six weeks’

22:52 Reassessing Yoko (and John stays John): writing the book changes perspective

24:40 Dan Richter the ‘ape’ & the wonderfully weird cast of characters

26:12 The ‘End of the World’ calendar: nonstop calls and apocalyptic requests

27:31 Beatles breakup era: meeting Ringo & George, never meeting Paul

28:33 Lost archives, Box of Smile, and rebuilding 1972 from memory

30:59 Wrapping up: Beatles professor talk, where to buy the book, and final thanks

Cha-Chi and David discuss highlights from 2025, including the release of 'Anthology 4' and key casting decisions for the upcoming Sam Mendes Beatles project. The episode covers various Beatles-related topics from festive recordings to unreleased outtakes. Notable mentions include the Circle and Billy J. Kramer concert, the film 'Midas Man' about Brian Epstein, and Paul McCartney's role in 'Spinal Tap 2'. The hosts reflect on memorable Beatles moments, student interactions, and upcoming Beatles events for 2026.

Topics

00:48 Year-End Wrap-Up and Special Guests

01:15 Anthology 4 Discussion

02:26 Beatles in the Wild and Casting News

05:32 Deep Dive into Beatles Tracks

08:39 Anthology 4 Highlights and Listener Reactions

16:33 Discussing Anthology Four

17:08 The First Take on the Roof

18:43 Favorite Beatles Albums and Tracks

22:03 Concert Memories with Billy J. Kramer

23:02 Paul McCartney's Yesterday

25:35 The Circle and Candlestick Park Stories

26:24 Beatles Community and Student Engagement

28:18 Hosting Events and Film Screenings

32:08 Paul McCartney in Spinal Tap 2

34:49 Concluding Remarks and Future Plans

Cha-Chi and David welcome Beatles collector Mark Erbach. They delve into Mark's extensive collection of Beatles acetates, master tapes, and rare items, including Ringo Starr's 1964 United Artists Gold Record Award and Paul McCartney's original UnEQ'd master tape for the Ram album. Mark shares anecdotes about acquiring these rare pieces and discusses the upcoming auction of his collection at rrauction.com. This episode offers a deep dive into the world of Beatles memorabilia, the significance of acetates, and the evolving market for collectible records.

The Mark Erbach Collection: https://www.rrauction.com/provenance/the-mark-erbach-collection/

Topics

01:15 Special Guest: Mark's Beatles Collection

02:22 The Hunt for Rare Beatles Memorabilia

06:08 The Changing Collectibles Market

09:57 Iconic Finds and Their Stories

12:06 Personal Highlights and Future Plans

20:00 Beatles Memorabilia and Personal Stories

21:55 Rare Beatles Acetates and Their Origins

22:40 Unreleased Beatles Albums and Acetates

24:48 Upcoming Auction Highlights

26:28 Choosing RR Auction for Beatles Collection

28:26 Rolling Stones Memorabilia

29:52 The Collector's Dilemma and Future Plans

30:50 Understanding Acetates

32:53 The Mythical Beatles Acetate

34:22 Final Thoughts and Auction Details

Cha-Chi and David welcome legendary singer Billy J. Kramer. They discuss Kramer's early years, including his connections with the Beatles, his relationship with manager Brian Epstein, and iconic memories from the British Invasion era. Kramer shares stories about learning songs directly from John Lennon, performing on the Ed Sullivan Show, and the enduring excitement of his music career. The episode also highlights Kramer's upcoming performance at the Regent Theater in Massachusetts and his continued collaboration with songwriter Tom Ambridge. Join this insightful conversation about the timeless legacy of the Beatles and the music that defined a generation.

Topics

00:46 Introducing the Legendary Guest: Billy J. Kramer

02:41 Billy J. Kramer's Early Career and Brian Epstein

05:05 The Beatles Connection and Memorable Moments

09:35 Reflections on Music and Career Highlights

21:12 Upcoming Show and Final Thoughts

Cha-Chi and David welcome Charles Rosenay, a Beatles enthusiast and author. They delve into Charles's extensive work in organizing Beatles conventions and Magical History Tours in Liverpool, bringing fans closer to the band's iconic history. Additionally, Charles shares his passion for the paranormal, discussing his experiences with ghost tours and his book on true ghost stories. The conversation covers Charles's encounters with notable Beatles and their influences, as well as his involvement with Monkees conventions. The episode also highlights upcoming events, including a Beatles brunch in Burlington, a Beatles-themed concert at the Region Theater, and Charles's next Transylvania tour. Tune in for a deep dive into Beatles lore, horror stories, and the vibrant world of fandom.

Links:

 www.bookoftop10Beatleslists.com

www.Bookoftop10horrorlists.com

Topics

01:24 Special Guest: Charles Rosenay and His Beatles Adventures

02:01 AI-Generated Introduction for Charles F. Rosenay

03:36 Charles's Liverpool Tours and Beatles Pilgrimages

08:42 Group Dynamics and Challenges on Beatles Tours

15:55 Networking and Connections in the Beatles Community

27:12 Exploring Cultural Phenomena and Literature

28:14 Charles's Journey as an Author

31:14 The Fascination with Horror

32:33 Paranormal Investigations and True Ghost Stories

38:51 Beatles, Rock and Roll, and Pop Culture

40:28 Concluding Remarks and Upcoming Events