One from the LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS ONION Podcast Archives – brought to you by the McGuigan Brothers Podcast.

It’s a number one hit. It’s a movie title. It’s an album title. It could be the best Beatles song. Written during a ‘trough’ in John’s life (what he referred to as his ‘fat Elvis’ period), Help! is an incredible piece of art.
Suggested by director Dick Lester and actor Victor Spinetti as the title for their next movie - John went home and wrote this amazing song.
Recorded in 1965, Jay talks about the techniques used to record it, what instruments they used and how this record indicates a huge step forward in their careers.
Big questions in this episode -
- Why are there so many versions?
- Jay discusses the art of the reduction mix…oh yea, it’s a rabbit hole of ‘nerdy’.
- Did the Beatles release the best 6 consecutive hits in rock history?
- Is this song the best collaboration between John and Paul?

We think you’re going to love this episode! Either way, we do appreciate you being ‘round. Enjoy Help!

One from the LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS ONION Podcast Archives – brought to you by the McGuigan Brothers Podcast.

Written on Peter Seller’s yacht (know the name? We do!) about the little gardens built by the amazing Octopus. We dive into the what Beatle does what, what gear they used (including a deep dive into what guitar George may have played) and Jay explains how they added the underwater effects onto the background vocals (next level Jay explanation on this one). Big questions...is Octopus’s Garden a better song than Yellow Submarine? Is this the best Ringo song? We discuss. An epic deep dive including John playing drums, EDM, Allen Parsons, other songs Ringo brought to Abbey Road, The Muppets and a lot of Octopus info! And Jay talks about how this song was his worst moment onstage with Yesterday and Today. Lotsa laughs and a super high Glass Onion rating. We would sing and dance around to this one. How about you?

One from the LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS ONION Podcast Archives – brought to you by the McGuigan Brothers Podcast.

What a year it has been! 2020. Riots, pandemics, elections and general upheaval around the world. The world wasn't much different in 1968 when The Beatles went to India to meditate and study with the Maharishi. The result? A myriad of songs that reflected the times. That collection led to the making of the White Album. John started those sessions with this iconic number - Revolution. Billy and Jay dig deep highlighting the differences between Revolution 1 and the single that followed. Of course, Jay talks about that GUITAR TONE! Maybe he'll even reveal how you can recreate that tone at home. Enjoy our final offering of 2020. You say you want a revolution? Don't you know that you can count me out...in? You know it's gonna be alright. Shooby doo wop!

One from the LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS ONION Podcast Archives – brought to you by the McGuigan Brothers Podcast.

A song unloved by The Beatles! Wait, what? A song hated by critics! A song recorded during the Please Please Me sessions, but scrapped because it was not working. A barely audible bass and out of tune Paul singing? Jay and Billy peel back the layers of the Glass Onion to try to convince you that this 'work song' is a real rocker! Do you love this one? Because it feels so right, yeah! From 1963, here's HOLD ME TIGHT!

One from the LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS ONION Podcast Archives – brought to you by the McGuigan Brothers Podcast.

Welcome to the Paul McCartney love fest. Maybe one of his best songs, best vocal performances, best piano songs? Written as homage to the 60s and The Beatles career, You Never Give Me Your Money is an absolute masterpiece. It’s a medley within ‘THE’ medley on Abbey Road and it’s amazing.

A lot of topics in this episode! Why does Abbey Road sound so good? Jay discusses. Who was this song written about and how does it echo the 60s? How does it indicate a look ahead into Paul’s solo career? Billy discusses. George Martin’s advice to Paul on this song? Think symphonically. And boy, did he.

Is Paul the greatest untrained musician of the rock era? Billy and Jay discuss the genius that is Paul McCartney. You’ll also hear a heartfelt discussion between Billy and Jay about playing this song live.

Enjoy our deep dive into this fantastic song. Of course, after we peel all of the layers of this song, Billy and Jay give this one extremely high marks. Know where to go…nowhere to go? Well the yellow lorries slow. Find us a better Beatles song than this one - we don’t think you can! And remember, hold on to your gear!

One from the LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS ONION Podcast Archives – brought to you by the McGuigan Brothers Podcast.

Our biggest and BOLDEST episode yet (also our longest)! The Beatles were surely ready for their big moment...Will Billy and Jay be ready for theirs? 

Let’s start with a question…if The Beatles were a one-hit-wonder, what would be their one hit? Without a doubt, it would have been this song. Billy and Jay break down Beatlemania from the day John and Paul met in Liverpool to the day of their now iconic performance in New York City on the Ed Sullivan Show. It is on this 5 year journey we see that John, Paul, George, Ringo, Brian Epstein and George Martin were all prepared and poised when THIS song broke them in the USA and then all over the world. 

Written nose to nose at Jane Asher’s parents house on a piano and recorded nose to nose WITHOUT headphones in Abbey Road Studios, I Want To Hold Your Hand is a marvel of writing and recording genius. It highlights a point in The Beatles’ career when this collection of brilliant young minds came together to make one of The Beatles most important recordings. Jay talks gear and recording techniques and Billy talks about American music’s influence on both The Beatles and George Martin.

How fun is this song to play in a live setting? Billy and Jay offer their unique perspective having played I Want To Hold Your Hand live hundreds of times in the past 13 years.

Could this be the highest rated song we’ve done?! Take a look through the Glass Onion and find out - We think you’ll understand!!

One from the LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS ONION Podcast Archives – brought to you by the McGuigan Brothers Podcast.

We brought notes for this one! Another of John’s great songs with an odd time signature. Featuring blistering bass, a killer John Lennon guitar solo, wicked drums and Billy Preston.

The first song recorded for the Abbey Road album, I Want You (She’s So Heavy) gets high marks from Billy and Jay. This episode dives into Trident Studios, Billy Preston, white noise and more amazing Beatle outros.

If you don’t love this song as much as we do, you just may after listening to this episode of Looking Through The Glass Onion. We bet you like it better than Robbie Roberson did...

One from the LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS ONION Podcast Archives – brought to you by the McGuigan Brothers Podcast.

Good day! The summer of ‘66 was a fruitful year for summertime songs. ‘Daydream’ by the Lovin’ Spoonful and ‘Sunny Afternoon’ by the Kinks dominated the airwaves in England. Paul went to John’s house on a sunny day and wrote this classic, ‘Good Day Sunshine’.

Billy and Jay talk about the Beatles desire to make an American sounding album in Revolver, Jay dives into George Martin’s use of the varispeed technique and Billy reveals his thoughts on Rolling Stone magazine’s top 500. And of course, Billy and Jay offer up their unique perspective on playing this one live!

Do you love this song as much as they do? It burns their feet as they touch the ground!!

One from the LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS ONION Podcast Archives – brought to you by the McGuigan Brothers Podcast.

A Moog Synth, an electric Spinet, Ringo as a metronome and heroin. These ingredients lead us to another Beatles classic. This is the only Beatles song that uses a flat second. A rare occurrence in pop music. Probably all influenced by Yoko.

This is a snobby Beatles song. You know, in a good ‘musically snobby’ way. Don’t attempt this one live without listening!! The difficult harmonies are reminiscent of Yes It Is and this song is George and Paul’s favorite song on Abbey Road.

Does this start the Abbey Road Medley? We offer our opinion! A couple of language bits in here, but enjoy Because.

BONUS
McCartney vs. Joel. We discuss.

One from the LOOKING THROUGH THE GLASS ONION Podcast Archives – brought to you by the McGuigan Brothers Podcast.

Dave Grohl’s favorite Beatles song gets a lot of love on this episode! Fun game, google what drugs were the Beatles using in 1968 - we did!

Do you know who played the guitar solo on this song? We offer our expert opinion. Did you know this song before 1998? This one is potentially the most obscure Beatles song.

The last true group effort from the group, what is it about this track that contributes to The Beatles being the greatest band of all time? If you’re lonely, you can talk to me.