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Each episode Tim Tucker talks to a distinguished guest about their favourite song by the Beatles.
74 Episodes
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Send us Fan Mail Tim is joined by writer, literary critic and music historian Kenneth Womack to dig into Paul McCartney's White album gem, Rocky Raccoon. They explore its roots in Robert Service's poem 'The Shooting of Dan McGrew', its talking blues DNA, and why a song that sounds improvised is actually a masterfully constructed short story. Guest links Kenneth Womack website/newsletter: https://kennethwomack.com Follow My Favourite Beatles Song Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/myfavebeatle...
Send us Fan Mail Tim is joined by renowned photographer Tom Murray. They discuss Tom’s remarkable firsthand experience photographing The Beatles during their famous 'mad day out' in 1968, reflecting on creativity, spontaneity, and the band’s enduring legacy. Tom recalls hearing Paul McCartney play Lady Madonna live as he first walked into the session, before capturing a series of now-iconic images of the band across seven locations in London. He shares stories of that extraordinary day; trave...
Send a text Tim is joined by musician and podcaster Matt Howell to explore Lovely Rita. They examine its playful humour, psychedelic atmosphere, studio craft and sequencing on Sgt. Pepper. They also explore its musical details, lyrical ambiguity and cultural context. Follow Matt Howell on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howl_matt Follow My Favourite Beatles Song Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/myfavebeatles.bsky.socialX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/myfavebeatlesFacebook: https://www...
Send us Fan Mail Tim is joined by former Nothing Is Real podcaster Steven Cockroft to explore Only a Northern Song. They examine George Harrison’s frustrations with publishing and ownership, the song’s layered self-referential lyrics, its dense psychedelic production, and its uneasy place in the Sgt. Pepper era before finding a home on Yellow Submarine. Guest Links Steven Cockroft on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/stevenc63.bsky.socialNothing is Real Facebook Group: https://www.facebook....
Send us Fan Mail Tim is joined by Cavern Club owner and author Debbie Greenberg to explore I Saw Her Standing There. They examine the song’s explosive energy, its rock and roll roots, and how it captured the raw excitement of the Beatles’ early Cavern performances. Debbie shares extraordinary first-hand memories of seeing the Beatles live 292 times at the Cavern. She reflects on their transformation from local “lads” (fresh from Hamburg) to leather-clad rock and roll trailblazers, the shock o...
Send us Fan Mail Tim is joined by filmmaker Chris Purcell to explore Please Please Me. They examine its transformation from a Roy Orbison-style ballad into an urgent pop classic, George Martin’s crucial early guidance, the song’s groundbreaking harmonies and driving rhythm, and how it marked the true beginning of Beatlemania. They also discuss Chris’s new feature documentary Evolver 62, featuring Mark Lewisohn, which tells the blow-by-blow story of the Beatles’ pivotal year through rare artef...
Send us Fan Mail Tim is joined by Beatles academic and author Christine Feldman-Barrett to explore Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown). They examine the song’s storytelling ambiguity, its blend of warmth and emotional coolness, and its cultural impact as a depiction of a new kind of sixties woman. On the way they discuss mid-60s London interiors, the revolutionary introduction of the sitar and the wider influence of Indian music on George Harrison and beyond.
Send us Fan Mail Tim is joined by John Lennon’s half-sister Julia Baird to explore “Strawberry Fields Forever.” They trace John’s early musical roots, unpack the song as a window into his inner life, and reflect on Strawberry Field’s legacy today, from the meditative gardens to the “Imagine” Steinway piano. Julia Baird's website: https://juliabaird.co.ukStrawberry Field: https://www.strawberryfield.salvationarmy.org.uk Follow My Favourite Beatles Song Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/myfa...
Send us Fan Mail Beatles statue sculptor Andy Edwards joins Tim to explore Misery, a deceptively bright early Beatles song with a surprisingly rich backstory. They examine its origins backstage in Stoke-on-Trent, its status as the first McCartney/Lennon cover, and the musical details that make its brief 1:47 runtime so distinctive — from unison vocals to George Martin’s half-speed piano. Guest links Website: https://www.cornoviiedwards.com/Lemmy Forever (tribute & projects): https://www....
Send a text Tim is joined by guitarist, arranger and former Wings member Laurence Juber to explore “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” They dig into George Harrison’s leap as a rock songwriter, the song’s folk-rooted chord DNA, that beautifully falling bass line and major-key lift in the bridge, plus the story behind Eric Clapton’s iconic guest solo.  Guest links Laurence Juber website: https://laurencejuber.com Follow My Favourite Beatles Song Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/myfavebea...
Send us Fan Mail Tim and author/musician Adam S Leslie get lost in the fog of George Harrison’s Blue Jay Way. They examine the hazy “post-Pepper, pre-White Album” moment where the band leans into guitar-less experimentation, taking in strange melodic modes, lyrical ambiguities, Leslie-speaker vocals, flanging drums, improvised cello flourishes, and hauntological backward tape fragments. Guest links Adam S Leslie’s book Lost in the Garden: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Lost-in...
Send a text Tim is joined by British filmmaker and author Simon Weitzman to explore The Long and Winding Road. They discuss Simon’s earliest Beatles memories, the emotional pull of the song, its complex chord structure, Paul’s inspirations, and the contrasting recordings – from Phil Spector’s sweeping orchestral version to the intimate 'Let It Be… Naked' take. Simon also shares personal stories connected to the track and reflects on his own Beatles-related film work, including Love Letters to...
Send us Fan Mail Tim is joined by writer and returning guest Vikki Reilly, author of The Beatles 101, to explore Ringo Starr’s classic solo single It Don’t Come Easy. They look at how the song captures Ringo’s resilience, peace-and-love ethos and feelings around the Beatles’ breakup, dig into George Harrison’s vital role in its creation, and trace how it helped define Ringo’s 1970s sound and ongoing legacy. Guest links Vikki on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bookyvikki.bsky.socialVikki on ...
Send us Fan Mail Tim is joined by actor, writer, and comedian Laurence Rickard (Ghosts, Horrible Histories) to explore “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (and its Reprise). They dig into the album’s “new band” concept, that razor-edged guitar tone, Edwardian brass colour, the art and conspiracies of the cover, and how the reprise frames the album like a live show. Guest links •Website: https://laurencerickard.com •Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lazbotron •Amandaland Christmas Spec...
Send a text Tim is joined by musician and original Quarryman Rod Davis to explore “One After 909.” They revisit Rod’s early days with John Lennon, the birth of the Quarrymen, and the song’s long journey from skiffle-era beginnings to its roof-top revival. Along the way they dig into train-song traditions, why the tune’s simple, bluesy structure works so well live, Billy Preston’s sparkling keyboard part, and Lennon’s fondness for the number nine. Rod also shares vivid memories of Julia Lennon...
Send us Fan Mail Tim is joined by musician and YouTuber Nancy Howie (aka Fathom) to explore “And Your Bird Can Sing.” They dive into Revolver-era innovation, Paul’s shape-shifting basslines, those tightly harmonised dual guitars, lyrical interpretations (from Sinatra to Lennon–McCartney dynamics), and why this two-minute gem feels so complete. Guest links Fathom on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fathommusicnzFathom on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fathommusicnz/ Follow My Favou...
Send us Fan Mail Tim is joined by songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Nick Frater for a deep dive into the wonderfully strange "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)." They trace the song's bizarre journey from a playful 1967 jam session to its eventual release as the B-side to "Let It Be" in 1970. The discussion covers the track's suite-like structure of contrasting musical styles, the chaotic and fun-filled recording sessions featuring a guest appearance by Brian Jones of The Ro...
Send us Fan Mail Tim welcomes author Tom Cox for a joyful deep-dive into the rooftop rocker I’ve Got a Feeling. They trace Tom’s earliest Fab Four memories (Paperback Writer on the rug, Yellow Submarine with his Liverpudlian nan), his love of that mid-’60s psychedelic sweet spot, and why McCartney’s work ethic and versatility shine here. Together they unpack Lennon–McCartney’s last true collaboration: two half-songs woven into one, Billy Preston’s spark, George’s tasteful lines, Paul’s ...
Send us Fan Mail Tim welcomes documentary filmmaker Alan G Parker for a deep dive into John Lennon’s ethereal 1974 solo classic #9 Dream. They discuss the song’s dream-like production, Lennon’s lifelong fascination with the number nine, and the curious whispers that still intrigue fans. Alan also shares stories from his forthcoming feature documentary Borrowed Time, revealing new insights into Lennon’s unrealised 1981–82 tour plans. Guest links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alang.parker...
Send a text Tim chats with film director and writer Grant McPhee about the Beatles song Yellow Submarine. They talk about the song’s fun sound, its strange mix of ideas, and the way it has grown into a song for all ages. Find out more about Grant McPhee and his work Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/grantmcphee.bsky.socialX (Twitter): https://x.com/grantmcpheefilmFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/grantmcphee Follow My Favourite Beatles Song Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/myfavebeatl...
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confusing a guest returning, does that make their first choice no longer their favourite?