It’s the story you’ve heard a thousand times before, from a perspective you’ve never heard…Welcome back to the Dolls Pod! To kick off season 2, we’re telling the story of the Beatles from the point of view of their biggest fan: longtime secretary and Fan Club president Freda Kelly! Her no-nonsense attitude, big heart, and hard work are proof of just how much a girl’s love can change rock-and-roll 💌 We’d like to thank listener Pat Reeder for suggesting we cover Freda’s career - “Good Ol Freda Kelly: is available NOW wherever you stream your podcasts!

(Episode starts at 6:07)

Materials used for this episode:
“Good Ol’ Freda” (dir. Ryan White, 2013)

The Beatles, “Anthology” (edited by Bryan Roylance, 2000)

James Sullivan, “Beatles’ Secretary Recalls Madness of Early Days” Rolling Stone, 9/11/2013

Lucy Brazier, “PROFILE: Freda Kelly” Executive Support Magazine, 9/25/2014

Jonathan Deburca Butler, “Freda Kelly: 'I always made sure John, Paul, George, and Ringo's mums knew where they were’” The Irish Examiner, 10/22/2023

Fans On The Run, Ep. 90: Freda Kelly (8/31/2024)

Songs in this episode:

The Beatles - “Besame Mucho” (1962)

The Beatles - “The Sheik of Araby” (1962)

The Beatles - “Love Me Do” (1962)

Little Richard - “Long Tall Sally” (1956)

The Beatles - “I Want To Hold Your Hand” (Live on the Ed Sullivan Show, 2/9/1964)

The Marvelettes - “Please Mr. Postman” (1961)

The Moody Blues - “Go Now” (1964)

The Beatles - “I’m Only Sleeping” (1966)

with samples from “Help!” (dir., 1965,) “Beatles ’64” (dir. David Tedeschi, 2024,) and the Beatles’ 1963 Fan Club Christmas message

Follow @thedollspod on Instagram to see photos and clips from this episode!

Thank you all for an amazing first season of the Dolls Pod! To celebrate, hosts Emma and Abby are answering 25 of YOUR questions - and announce the season 2 premiere date! Follow @thedollspod on Instagram to join in on the fun 💌

Songs in this episode:

Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash - Girl From The North Country (1969)

Slowdive - Brighter (1991)

Nick Drake - Hazey Jane I (1971)

The Beatles - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (1968)

The Beatles - Here There And Everywhere (1966)

The Dolls Pod season 1 finale is dedicated to a real rock-and-roll legend: artist, “recovering groupie,” and beloved Chicagoan Cynthia Plaster Caster. Cynthia was just as vibrant and fun as she was dedicated to her art. She had a wicked sense of humor, and she lit up every room she was in.

We’d like to extend our sincerest thanks to Cynthia’s friends for helping us make this episode happen: Bryan Wendorf, Babette Nov, and our special guest this week, “Plaster Caster” director of photography Jeff Economy. “Cynthia Plaster Caster: Breaking The Mold” is available wherever you listen to your podcasts 🌭 Follow @thedollspod on Instagram to see photos and clips from this episode - and don’t forget to participate in our Q&A!

(Episode starts at 2:19)

Materials used for this episode:
“Plaster Caster” (dir. Jessica Villines, 2001)

Bob Bert, “Casting Call: Cynthia Plaster Caster” (BB Gun Issue no. 5, 2001)

David Kamp, “An Oral History of the British Invasion” (Vanity Fair Magazine, 11/2002)

“Casting Call” (Pop Music via the LA Times, 8/18/2002)

Stephanie Goldberg, “A Groupie Legend’s Tribute to Her Casts” (Woman News via the Chicago Tribune, 10/16/2002)

The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University Annual Report (2023)

And very select quotes from Cynthia’s “Done Dick” book proposal, Rig Books, and Breast Cast book

Songs in this episode:

Julian Fulco Perron - “Intermission” (2022)

Paul Revere and the Raiders - “Just Like Me” (1966)

Noel Redding - “She’s So Fine” (1967)

MC5 - “Ramblin Rose” (1969)

Frank Zappa - “Penis Dimension” (from the “200 Motels” soundtrack, 1971)

The GTOs - “Miss Pamela’s First Conversation with the Plaster Casters of Chicago” (1969)

Kiss - “Plaster Caster” (1977)

“Nardwuar the Human Serviette Theme Song”

L7 - “Monster” (1997)

Those who say “if you remember the 60s, you didn’t live them” clearly don’t account for Uschi Obermaier. From finding fame as a model to being the last person seen with Peter Green before his mysterious weekend at the High-Fish commune, wild nights with Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones, and traveling the world by van, Uschi truly lived life to the fullest. Just as mysterious as she is controversial, there was no such thing as an obstacle for Uschi! Catch “Uschi Obermaier: Globetrotter and Groupie” on the Dolls Podcast, wherever you listen to your podcasts 🦈

(Episode starts at 7:57)

Books:

Uschi Obermaier with Olaf Kraemer, “High Times: Mein Wildes Leben” (2008)

Songs/interview clips in this episode:

Amon Düül - “Between The Eyes” (1970)

“Legendär: Uschi Obermaier. Ich. Narzisstin.”

Jimi Hendrix - “Little Wing” (1967)

The Rolling Stones - “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” (1971)

“Why don’t you call me Miss O’Dell?” We’re back after a short break! From the Beatles to the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, ELO, Santana, and all the bands in between, she saw it all. She’s the woman in the hall in Joni Mitchell’s’ Coyote, Leon Russel’s Pisces Apple Lady, the blonde seated next to Yoko and Maureen on the rooftop, and Layla’s bestie. Chris O’Dell was one of rock-and-roll’s first female tour managers and put in the work to keep all these boys out of trouble…for the most part! Hear all about Miss O’Dell on this episode of the Dolls Podcast, available wherever you stream your podcasts 🍏

Be sure to follow @thedollspod on Instagram to see photos and clips from this episode!

Books:

Chris O’Dell with Katherine Ketcham, “Miss O’Dell: My Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, and Eric Clapton” (2009)

Pattie Boyd with Penny Junor, “Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me” (2008)

(Episode starts at 8:46)

Songs featured:

The Beatles - Hey Jude (1968)

The Beatles - Don’t Let Me Down (First Rooftop Performance) [1969]

Tom Petty - Free Fallin’ (1989)

Bob Dylan - Maggie’s Farm (Live with The Band at Isle of Wight) [1969]

Leon Russell - Pisces Apple Lady (1970)

George Harrison - Miss O’Dell (1973)
The Rolling Stones - Rip This Joint (1972)

Joni Mitchell - Coyote (1976)

She was surrounded by the music, but is seldom heard from. Her relationship was splashed across every tabloid, but she’s largely shunned the press. For being the muse of hits like “And I Love Her” and “We Can Work It Out,” very little is known about her. But this week, host Emma dug up enough about this Doll to put together an episode full of swinging 60s tunes and laughter! Emma shines the spotlight on the quiet Beatle girl: actress, cookbook author, lifestyle queen, and iconic redhead Jane Asher!

Follow @thedollspod on Instagram to see photos and clips mentioned in this episode!

(Episode starts at 6:22)

Songs in this episode:

Jane Asher as Alice in “Alice in Wonderland” (Argo Records, 1959)

Peter and Gordon - A World Without Love (1964)

The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand (1963)

The Beatles - Yesterday (1965)

The Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows (1966)

The Beatles - We Can Work It Out (1965)

Special thanks to friend of the show Michael Tegio for our podcast theme song!

“She loves attention - she’d sing to a pineapple.” - La La Brooks of The Crystals, on today’s Doll: Ronnie Spector

Ronnie needs no introduction. With her sister Estelle and her cousin Nedra, Ronnie broke down barriers and paved the way as pop music royalty and rock-and-roll’s original bad girl. The fabulous Ronettes even boasted the likes of the Beatles AND Rolling Stones in their leagues of fans! But Ronnie’s story is just as much of survival as it is of rock-and-roll. Neither would’ve been possible without her fiery unbreakable spirit. Hear about Ronnie’s 5-decade career of “mascara, miniskirts, and madness” on today’s episode of the Dolls Podcast, available wherever you stream your podcasts 💄💋

Be sure to follow @thedollspod on Instagram to see photos and clips mentioned in this episode!

(Episode starts at 4:14)

Books: Ronnie Spector with Vince Waldron, “Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life As a Fabulous Ronette”

Laura Flam and Emily Sieu Liebowitz, “But Will You Love Me Tomorrow? An Oral History of 60s Girl Groups”

Songs in this episode:

The Ronettes - Be My Baby (1963)

Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers - Why Do Fools Fall In Love? (1956)

The Crystals - He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss) [1962]

The Ramones - Baby I Love You (1980)

Eddie Money - Take Me Home Tonight (1986)

Amy Winehouse - Back To Black (2006)

Ronnie Spector - Back To Black (2011)

Special thanks to friend of the show Michael Tegio for our podcast theme song!

“She was a catalyst. By being in contact with her, the edges were sharper.” - John Anthony Walker, on his college friend…Edie Sedgwick

She wasn’t just Girl of the Year, she was a girl in a million. This week’s Doll is actress, model, dancer, muse to Bob Dylan, and Warhol superstar Edie Sedgwick. Often seen as “the Marilyn Monroe of the 60s” or “the original manic pixie dream girl,” she was so much more than her Poor Little Rich Girl image. You might not know that she was a talented artist herself! Learn more about Edie’s impossible life on the latest episode of the Dolls Podcast, available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Deezer 🐆

Be sure to follow @thedollspod on Instagram to see the photos, video clips, and art mentioned in this episode!

Episode begins at 8:54

You can’t argue with today’s Doll’s resumé. She has a Bond theme, 2 Grammys, an Olympics opening ceremony performance, and over 70 credits to her name. She co-wrote one of the Carpenters’ greatest hits (and one of Eric Clapton’s too…) rolled with Delaney and Bonnie and Mad Dogs and Englishmen, was muse to Leon Russell and Stephen Stills. Not to mention she was on the radio before she even had a single out!

Be sure to follow @thedollspod on Instagram to see photos and clips from today’s episode!

https://www.instagram.com/thedollspod/

When Neil Peart of Rush was asked how it felt to be the world’s greatest drummer, he reportedly said: “ask Karen Carpenter.”

Karen was so much more than meets the eye. Like any other girl had hopes, dreams, hobbies, plus a wicked sense of humor. Did you know she was a largely self-taught drummer, was a Disney superfan, or that she was such a tomboy? This week host Emma bares her heart as she leads us through it all.

Follow us on Instagram to see the clips we mention in the episode:

https://www.instagram.com/thedollspod/