In this episode we trace the life of "Act Naturally": written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison, turned into a hit by Buck Owens, and later covered by the Beatles with Ringo Starr on vocals. First, we explore the original version, followed by discussion about why the song suited Ringo during the Help! session and what made their version stand out.

We also look at notable cover versions (including a Ringo–Buck duet and a Muppet performance), and share related music news and upcoming releases mentioned in the episode.

Live Beatles version

Buck Owens version

Buck Owens and Ringo Starr

The Muppets 

Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Try using Vocaroo for an audio message!

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Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com.

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Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

In this episode, we discuss what makes rock music "psychedelic" and debate the Beatles songs that best capture the era’s "trippy" sounds.

We rank our top psychedelic Beatles tracks (including "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Tomorrow Never Knows," "I am the Walrus," "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," and many more), examine instrumentation and studio effects and of course the lyrics. We then cover news about reissues and Record Store Day releases.

Mentioned in the episode: Interview with William Echard, Episode 172.

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Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com.

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Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

Happy 2026! In this new occasional series "Famous Covers," we'll explore some of the most successful Beatles and solo artist covers from a wide range of musicians.

The first entry features a 1975 double-sided single by Elton John, covering two John Lennon-penned songs - "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" and "One Day At A Time." Elton stays largely faithful to the original recordings, but puts his own spin on the tracks. John Lennon himself contributed guitar and background vocals on Elton's version of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" and played guitar on "One Day At A Time."

So which Elton John cover do we like better - his take on the psychedelic "Lucy In The Sky" or the more introspective "One Day At A Time?" 

Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Try using Vocaroo for an audio message!

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Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com.

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Our annual holiday tradition is providing a year-end review episode covering the big Beatles and solo releases of 2025: the Anthology 4 launch and remasters, streaming-only content and marketing missteps, major John Lennon and Paul McCartney archival sets, George’s quiet reissues, Ringo’s strong country album and vinyl runs, the Sam Mendes film buzz, notable books and merch, plus non-Beatles reissue standouts and a seasonal gift guide. We also discuss the highs, lows, fan reactions and what to watch for in 2026.

Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Try using Vocaroo for an audio message!

Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube!

Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com.

Email: [email protected]

Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

Full list of links to items mentioned in this episode:

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Music 

Beatles

Anthology 4 - 3 LP - https://amzn.to/4aaCtHs

Anthology 4 - 2 CD - https://amzn.to/3XXdsbp

Anthology collection - 12 LP - https://amzn.to/3XQnsTT 

Anthology collection - 8 CD - https://amzn.to/48DUhtt

John Lennon

Power To the People Super Deluxe 9 CD/3 Bluray - https://amzn.to/44rdkVl

2 LP - https://amzn.to/4iWJU7v

1 CD - https://amzn.to/4rXMRZv

2 CD - https://amzn.to/4iX6aOl

Happy Xmas 7” LP (green) - https://amzn.to/4iYWcMv

Ringo Starr

Look Up LP - https://amzn.to/4agWTi6

Look Up CD - https://amzn.to/3XUAPCp

Goodnight Vienna, Ringo, Beaucoups of Blues, & Sentimental Journey - LP 4 Pack - https://amzn.to/3YpXEOv 

Live at Soundstage LP Burgandy - https://amzn.to/48RUdVx

Paul McCartney

WINGS deluxe 3 LP - https://amzn.to/44sGinP 

WINGS deluxe 2 CD - https://amzn.to/4pCVMOp

Wings 1 LP - https://amzn.to/4afPorJ

Venus & Mars (50th Anniversary half-speed Master LP) - https://amzn.to/4acabfJ 

Wonderful Christmastime Canary Yellow 7" single - https://amzn.to/4sc2FrQ

SHM CDs

Flaming Pie - https://amzn.to/4q6KX6W

Chaos and Creation in the Backyard - https://amzn.to/4iWKSR7

Paul Is Live - https://amzn.to/4oXYk8T

Amoeba Gig - https://amzn.to/4j2PYeO

NEW - https://amzn.to/4oS48Ao 

Pipes of Peace - https://amzn.to/4agDXA0

Tug of War - https://amzn.to/3MXOzdc 

McCartney II - https://amzn.to/4se9WaH

George Harrison 

Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison 2 LP - https://amzn.to/4oSjZPC 

Others

David Bowie - I Can’t Give Everything Away LP box - https://amzn.to/3MLYAKx

David Bowie - I Can’t Give Everything Away CD box - https://amzn.to/44ugXtA 

Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska 82: Expanded Edition LP - https://amzn.to/4pEAK20

Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska 82: Expanded Edition CD - https://amzn.to/4rXjRB8 

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell 10th anniv 2 LP - https://amzn.to/48P3bD1

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell 10th anniv 2 CD - https://amzn.to/4agEBxq 

Talking Heads - More Songs about Buildings & Food - 4 LP - https://amzn.to/48G78ve

Jeff Tweedy - Twilight Override 3 LP - https://amzn.to/45azPho

Jeff Tweedy - Twilight Override 2 CD - https://amzn.to/3XUw7ok

Lady Gaga - MAYHEM 2 LP - https://amzn.to/4qdHLXA

Lady Gaga - MAYHEM CD - https://amzn.to/48CZvWb

Destroyer - Dan’s Boogie LP - https://amzn.to/4q7cB3V

Destroyer - Dan’s Boogie CD - https://amzn.to/4q6Mdaa

Geese - Getting Killed LP - https://amzn.to/48RJ5YN 

Geese - Getting Killed CD - https://amzn.to/48P3EoL 

BOOKS

Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run Hardcover – https://amzn.to/3KXCN1Y

The Beatles Anthology (25th Anniversary Edition) - https://amzn.to/458cbSC

John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs - https://amzn.to/48YDsbx

Ribbons Of Rust: The Beatles' Recording History In Context: Volume 1 - July 1954 Through January 1963 - https://amzn.to/48UrDD0

Luca Perasi - Back to the Egg - https://amzn.to/44ndblO

Luca Perasi - Press to Play - https://amzn.to/4pL2ja4

Luca Perasi - Ringo Starr - https://amzn.to/4qaV3UB

War is Over! - https://amzn.to/3MLZkPP

Audible subscription discount - https://amzn.to/4oXb8MF 

Other links

Jude Southerland Kessler website - https://www.johnlennonseries.com/

The Beatles - https://www.thebeatles.com/

John Lennon website & link for War is Over on Youtube - https://www.johnlennon.com/

George Harrison - https://www.georgeharrison.com/\

Paul McCartney - https://www.paulmccartney.com/

Ringo Starr - https://www.ringostarr.com/#/

Rhino reserves - https://store.rhino.com/collections/rhino-reserves 

Disney Plus Beatles Anthology page - https://ondisneyplus.disney.com/show/the-beatles-anthology

We're back to discuss all things Anthology! We do a review of Anthology 4, as well as the Disney+ Anthology series in detail, and even have a strong disagreement about the new remixes of the "Threetles" songs! ("Free As A Bird" and "Real Love"). What do you think? Are you into all the Anthology hype?

Here's the fan site mentioned in the episode -- this person catalogued all the differences between the versions of the Anthology series.

Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Try using Vocaroo for an audio message!

Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube!

Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com.

Email: [email protected]

Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

With all the Wings-related merchandise coming out in the past week -- a book, an audio collection, and an upcoming film -- we thought we'd join the fun and give you two ranked lists:

1) Best/Worst Wings Album Covers

2) Best/Worst Wings Albums 

We had a lot of fun revisiting the Wings catalog and hope you will too!

Buy your new Wings items here!

Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Try using Vocaroo for an audio message!

Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube!

Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com.

Email: [email protected]

Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

We are back after a hiatus to discuss the new release of the "One to One" concert from 1972 featuring John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Elephant's Memory. This concert appears in a beautifully remixed version that substantially improves over the 1986 John Lennon: Live in New York City release. But how does the concert hold up all these years later, and what about the set list, performances, and political messaging? We dig into all of it! Because only the concert was available on streaming (as of the time of recording), we do not discuss the other parts of the Power to the People box set, but we plan to do that as discs get released over the next few months. 

Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Try using Vocaroo for an audio message!

Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube!

Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com.

Email: [email protected]

Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

We take a break from all the news to look at an album that sometimes gets overlooked in the Beatles canon: 1965's Help! It's not just a movie, but a great listening experience as an album (the UK version, in particular). We talk about the album, all the songs, its lyrical themes, its place in the Beatles' output, and what it foreshadows for future albums. Enjoy!

Purchase links:

Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment.

Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube!

Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com.

Email: [email protected]

Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

For the second time this month, we're back with a bonus episode tackling another hot-button Beatles release. This time, it's the Beatles Anthology—a sprawling project spanning film, book, and audio. And just like last time, fans are divided.

We break down each format, share our personal takes, and talk about what’s next. If you'd like to get a copy of anything, preorder links are included below.

Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment.

Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube!

Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com.

Email: [email protected]

Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

Dave and Chris go back into the lab to discuss a quirky, satirical song about the copyright lawsuit leveled against George Harrison in 1976 called "This Song." As always, we discuss the musical arrangement, the lyrics, the musical allusions, and the witty lyrics. And make sure you watch the accompanying video to see some "guest stars" you might recognize!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0i9rjTxhpY

We also give a quick news update, with a prescient foreshadowing about the reaction to the upcoming Beatles Anthology release! 

Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment.

Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube!

Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com.

Email: [email protected]

Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

ORDER THE MUSIC DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE AND IN RECENT EPISODES!