Marv and I continue our look at the next two discs of the "Power to the People" set before we take a bit of a break from this topic! We review, compare and contrast the evening show, and look at the relationship between "New York City" (disc four) and the original version of the album.
Sean Lennon provides an interesting look at the political Lennons from the early 1970's. Disc One (which we are not covering) is a modern "reimagining" of "John Lennon: Live in New York City" - a "best of" combination of the afternoon and evening shows. We start on the afternoon show. The mix, the setlist and more.
More fantasizing, hypothesizing and Beatle-izing on what might happen were Paul and Ringo to decide to go on tour together. Not advertised as "a Beatles reunion", just two old rock and roll friends joining their talents to play some music (both together and separately), and to pay tribute to some of their comrades in guitar-based arms.
Lonnie Pena and I dive into YouTube (and BluRay/DVD) as we consider the 2018 Documentary "Looking For Lennon". David Bedford and Roger Appleton consider the Lennons as they came to Liverpool from Ireland, through to Alf and Julia, and then young John's unconventional upbringing from Mimi and Julia, and how all this would lead to Lennon's reaction to schooling and authority, which would eventually lead to meeting one James Paul McCartney, and changing the world.
This week we play a little "What If" and consider what Paul might choose to play were he and Ringo to decide to go on the road for a tour of indeterminate length. More Beatles? More solo? Would he take advantage of the "Wings-mania" that (hopefully) will be running the country in the next few months? Marv and I consider the possibilities and playlists, with Ringo's side (eventually) to follow!
Lots of funny costumes this month, as George, Eric, Neil, the Splinter Boys, Hall and Oates all hang out together. They are joined by Macca, Spinal Tap, news concerning Paul's additional tour dates, Ringo talking about Mae West (but not her sweaty vest), and others!
The next disc in "Looney" turns into a discussion of the "Wings Anthology". We talk, clips of Paul (and friends) covering many of the songs on the LP, and chat concerning John and Paul in the seventies. We do finally get to "George and..." (it will be completed next week), as we talk about songs George guests on from Splinter (their second album, including ... a bit of Japanese), Tom Scott, "Legs" Larry Smith, and his namesake Larry Hosford. A Paul and George week, with some John and Ringo too! #madeonzencastr.
Martin and I go back a bit more than twenty years to a time before Superdeluxe Editions, when the Lennon estate was uncertain of the best way to proceed. Their decision? An album called "Acoustic." Part "Unplugged", part "Live", part "Unreleased" Unfortunately, too much of it felt like "Sampler for the Lennon Anthology we just released." Has time helped, hurt, or not changed the reputation, feel and listen-ability of this release. We give it a spin and let you know what we think!
Lonnie Pena and I talk Anthologies 1-3, the previous video releases, and fun with Disney+. We follow with thoughts on the last twenty years of "Revolver" and "Sgt. Pepper". Rolling Stone Magazine has had Pepper on a bit of a downward trajectory (it was "the greatest album of all time in 2003"), while Revolver has maintained a higher standing. Why? Was it the standardization of the catalogue? CDs? Streaming? Psychedelia? All this and more... #madeonzencastr.
Jon Stone, Marv and I chat about the elephant in the room concerning the new Lennon "Power to the People" box, contemplate the original "Some Time in New York City", and (with a little help from our friendly neighborhood Tarot card reader) do some divination on the newly announced "Anthology 4". #madeonzencastr.
Paul or Nothing's own Sam Whiles guests for a discussion/review of the recently released "Wings over Nottingham" upgrade tape. We get to hear every song (although not every version) played on what is genuinely the "test flight" of Paul McCartney's new band in 1972. Blues jams, "My Love", "Lucille" and some little Richard, along with the new single he wrote AND recorded in the weeks prior to this impromptu afternoon!
Jon Stone, Lonnie Pena and I sit down to chat about the inserts, posters and album covers of the Solo Beatles through the years. Tune in as we chat about the visual side of LPs, our faavorites, and ... less so!
From April 2017, in honor of friend of the show Jamie Daruwala joining the Fab 5, I revive a retro episode first aired in April of 2017, where I was joined by what will now be "Nurk Twins - mania". If you have ever wanted to know about the life of local and regional musicians and becoming a "Tribute Paul McCartney" - Tune in and Enjoy!
More of the songs George was involved in that did not come out under his own name. This week we look at the first Splinter album, Alvin Lee, Cheech and Chong, Monty Python, Son of Schmilsson (did you know that cover was taken at Friar Park!) and more! #maadeonzencastr.
Lonnie and Jon get their turn at speculating on the covers that might've been, and we all get to flip our records for side two! We also talk about the news of the day, and editorialize (and reminisce) a bit about the Ed Sullivan Theater! Not quite from CBS Studio 50, but definitely from somewhere over the rainbow, more Gab Four!
Lonnie, Jon Stone, Marv and I together again for another Gab Four! After a somewhat lengthy news segment, we start in on our next topic - "12 covers the Beatles Should (and Could) have done!" We also discuss where these versions might have been released. More singles? More B-sides? Maybe an album somewhere along the way? We start today, with much more coming next week! #MadeonZencastr
Our super-chat with The Ajjancy and Fernando Perdomo continues. More on covering Beatles songs, Fernando's "Brush With Beatles-doc greatness", and Marv and I consider a number of different covers of "All My Loving", and how they fit in with many of he things we've discussed through out chat! #madeonzencaster
Start this at 11:45 AM, and celebrate Peace and Love with Ringo Starr on July 7, 2025. Happy 85th Birthday!
Marv and I have three special guests to discuss the business of discussing Beatles songs. The ajjancy has just released his cover of "Blackbird", which features Fernando ("RAM ON tribute") Perdomo, and Laurence ("needs no introduction") Juber. Some diversions, some music theory and plenty of chat on reharmonization, simplification and some of the different ways to cover the Beatles and solo Beatles songs. #madeonzencastr.
Marv and I are joined by Luca Perasi, as we discuss one of his latest books, "Press to Play: That Unmistakable 80s Sound." We talk about his book, the album, the single "Spies Like Us" and many other things going on in McCartney land, post Broad Street, and before things moved toward "Flowers in the Dirt" and the eighties run!