George Martin had a considerably rockier relationship with John Lennon than he did with "The cute Beatle".     This week, we finish our tribute to the work of the Beatles producer, and consider how GM ended up in the ever shifting sands of John Lennon's thoughts and emotions toward all of his sixties compatriots.

" I'm always taking a little of this and a little of that. It's called being influenced. It's either called that or stealing. And what do they say? A good artist borrows; a great artist steals-or something like that. [...] We took a lot of stuff, but in blues, anyway, you do: People lift licks. It's part of the fun of being alive, too. You hear somebody's incredible riff and you go "Oooh." You hear a new chord somewhere and you go, "Oh, my God, that's it!" Yeah, we lifted a lot of stuff from Motown, but quite unashamedly. I'm happy to have done it." -- Paul McCartney, Guitar Player Magazine, 1990.

July 15, 1958 was a tragic day for John Lennon.    John was making tentative inroads into becoming serious about music, he had started a partnership with Paul McCartney, and suddenly his estranged mother, Julia was killed by off-duty police Eric Clague.      This week, we look at what came before that day, and the years-long custody tug-of-war between sisters Julia and Mimi, and occasionally father "Alf."

Much like the Blues Brothers, Ringo Starr understood the value of two types of music - Country and Western.     Of course, to the benefit of the world, Blues, Rock, bluebeat and "The Great American Songbook" would join in that tremendous soup,  resulting in the backbeat that carried the Beatles, solo hits and more.      We look at Ringo's dips into country with the Beatles, Nashville, the Beaucoups of Blues album, and subsequent work with both Buck Owens and Willie Nelson.

Peace and Love!     Join us in wishing Ringo Starr a very happy 76th birthday with this "extra" edition of Beatling About!

July 4 show!     We take this opportunity to look back at Paul McCartney's involvement in the Concert for New York City and the documentary recording the preparations for the show.     Central to the events was the new song he wrote, the short and long-term perceptions of the tune, and why some people felt overstayed it's welcome.   We are talking about "Freedom", everybody.

Chartbusters!  The Big Hits from England & USA.     In 1964, the Beatles were the leaders of the pack in the American charts, but the Beach Boys kept it together with four top ten hits ("Fun,Fun,Fun", "I Get Around", "When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)", and "Dance,Dance Dance"), and still managed to spread some of their California sound to England.    This led to years of competitiveness, as "Rubber Soul" beget "Pet Sounds" beget "Revolver" beget "Good Vibrations" beget "Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane" and "Sgt. Pepper".      We look at the relationship between the Beatles and the Beach Boys, specifically John, Paul and Brian Wilson in this week's Beatling About with special guest Greg Mayfield. .

We celebrate Paul's 74th birthday (+ a day or two) by continuing our look at the One on One tour.    This latest round has taken McCartney and his crew to Argentina, Germany, France, Spain, the Czech Republic and the Pinkpop festival in the Netherlands.    Even on evenings when "the voice" isn't in top shape, he is still the reason everyone is coming to the show, and the result is fully entertaining.   The best description came from one reviewer, who called the show "an Instagram filter for three hours of your life."

Paul McCartney returns to the road, both in the United States, Europe and elsewhere.    We take a look at the "One on One Tour" from the inside out.    This week we consider the soundcheck experience, the material Sir Macca chooses to play each day, the vegetarian dinner, and the wonder known as Shelley Lazar.

For over fifty years people have wanted to know all of the Beatles secrets.       That goal has not been accomplished.     However, some of the books stand above the others (and, as with Beatles music, our favorites change regularly).   Why?   It could be a particularly nice set of photographs, the text of a historic interviews, or great research.    All that and more this week.