UnBeatled

By Virgin RadioMusic Music Commentary Music History

UnBeatled episodes

May 15 A Hard Day's Night
The Beatles had been signed for a cash grab film deal. It was filmed and ready to be released as Beatlemania continued to rise but they still didn't have the title and the producers wanted one FAST. Overnight John Lennon wrote 'A Hard Day's Night' in a few hours and that was it. It would go on to become one of their most loved hits and the title of one of the best music films of all time.
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37 min
May 12 I Am the Walrus
In 1967, John Lennon and his childhood friend, Pete Shotton, were diving into and reading a bag of fan mail that was lying around John's house. John pulled out a letter from a pupil at his former high school in Liverpool which said that teachers were now giving lessons on the content of his lyrics. Laughing at the absurdity of this, John went about writing a song that was utter nonsense exclaiming, "let the f**kers work that one out!" It was not initially accepted by George Martin but with Paul taking the lead, the song became one of their most intriguing pieces of work.
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49 min
April 03 Paperback Writer
Welcome to episode 24 of UnBeatled, a channel where we take a deep dive into every single song The Beatles ever recorded. In our discussion we unpick the music, the lyrics, the cultural context at the time, and the impact the song had on the band's success in the UK and the world.

In 1966, The Beatles were stars at the forefront of music and culture, rubbing shoulders with other bright sparks from the worlds of literature, drama, photography, and fashion. A lot of them were also from working class backgrounds. Meanwhile, Paul McCartney's aunt has tasked him to write a song that isn't about love. They interrupt their recording sessions for Revolver to record their next hit single about the story of a man who wants to make his millions as a... Paperback Writer.
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31 min
March 27 EP 23: Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
John Lennon's son, Julian, brought home a painting he had done at school that day and showed it to his dad. To say John was impressed is an understatement. He was immediately taken by the psychedelic painting of Julian's classmate flying in the sky surrounded by diamonds. To a drug addled John Lennon this was the inspiration he'd been waiting for. They completed the song in 24 hours with Paul McCartney taking the reins from an increasingly unmotivated John Lennon. The song would be the most overtly psychedelic track on their Summer of Love masterpiece, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
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27 min
March 15 EP 22: Yesterday
Paul McCartney leaped out of bed one morning with a tune in his head. He sat down at the piano and found the chords, drumming the melody into his memory with a canny rhyme. He couldn't believe he'd written it. After figuring out it was his doing, The Beatles' producer, George Martin, posed the question... should this be the first Paul McCartney solo record? It would have been a financially prudent move for Macca...
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32 min
February 27 EP 21: Hey Bulldog
This episode is sponsored by EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. In IMAX Feb 20 / In cinemas everywhere Feb 27 https://www.epicmovie.co.uk

Welcome to episode 21 of UnBeatled, a channel where we take a deep dive into every single song The Beatles ever recorded. In our discussion we unpick the music, the lyrics, the cultural context at the time, and the impact the song had on the band's success in the UK and the world.

The Beatles convened on Abbey Road studios with a film crew to record a promotional video for their upcoming single, Lady Madonna. Upon entering the deserted studios (it was a Sunday), they saw an opportunity to utilise this precious studio time before flying off to India. They worked on a scrap of a song John had written and ended up having the most fun they'd ever had in the band.

Sit back and watch the history, the music and the trivia before listening to the song in full on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5xYC2ZJJ9TMJL8BOl85O2R?si=c6508bdd9d5e4e2e

Or here it is on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4vbJQ-MrKo
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24 min
February 23 EP 20: Let It Be
This episode is sponsored by EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. In IMAX Feb 20 / In cinemas everywhere Feb 27 https://www.epicmovie.co.uk

Welcome to episode 20 of UnBeatled, a channel where we take a deep dive into every single song The Beatles ever recorded. In our discussion we unpick the music, the lyrics, the cultural context at the time, and the impact the song had on the band's success in the UK and the world.

Paul McCartney, or so it is to be believed, is burned out and is visited by his deceased mother in a dream where she offers highly valuable words of... wisdom. This vision was the basis for a gospel inspired song that would go on to become one of the most universally adored and understood track from The Beatles' discography. Despite its success, it wasn't without turmoil during the recording process as tensions between the band reached fever pitch.
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38 min
February 13 EP 19: Nowhere Man
Welcome to episode 19 of UnBeatled, a channel where we take a deep dive into every single song The Beatles ever recorded. In our discussion we unpick the music, the lyrics, the cultural context at the time, and the impact the song had on the band's success in the UK and the world.

John Lennon, while feeling depressed and suffering from a bad case of writer's block, was sat up late into the night trying to write a song to be included on their upcoming album 'Rubber Soul'. After much self-criticism and introspection, inspiration struck! Nowhere Man spawned out of this and became a favourite from the album with praise lavished on their stacked vocals and signature 60s twangy guitar sound. This song is one of the quintessential examples of the 'Jingle Jangle' sound explored by the likes of The Byrds.
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30 min
January 30 EP 18: All My Loving
Welcome to episode 18 of UnBeatled, a channel where we take a deep dive into every single song The Beatles ever recorded. In our discussion we unpick the music, the lyrics, the cultural context at the time, and the impact the song had on the band's success in the UK and the world.

This episode we take a look at their 1963 song, All My Loving. Written while in a flurry of tours and growing success, the song was inspired by the band's roadie Mal Evans' promise to write home every day to his wife. In classic Beatles fashion, it took inspiration from jazz, R&B and Country & Western and became a live favourite.
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23 min
January 23 EP 17: Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight
Welcome to episode 17 of UnBeatled, a channel where we take a deep dive into every single song The Beatles ever recorded. In our discussion we unpick the music, the lyrics, the cultural context at the time, and the impact the song had on the band's success in the UK and the world.

This week we take a look at Golden Slumbers and Carry That Weight, the emotional climax of Abbey Road's medley. Written while looking through his step-sister's music book, the song is based on a 500 year old poem. However, Paul took the message and turned it into a message of consolation as The Beatles' personal relationships deteriorated.
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39 min

About UnBeatled

From the publisher's feed

UnBeatled is a new podcast that will dive into EVERY song by the Fab Four and discuss what made them great.

An expert talks us through all the details and a musician unpicks the…

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UnBeatled

UnBeatled episodes

About UnBeatled