Take It Away: The Complete Solo Beatles Podcast

When George Harrison's friend came to him, sadness in his eyes - he told George that he wanted help, before his country died. And help is what he got. Enter rock's first major charity concert experience, the night that set the template for benefit shows for decades to come... the Concert for Bangladesh. Organized and headlined by George Harrison in response to friend Ravi Shankar's dismay over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in war-torn Bangladesh, this star-studded event helped rock'n'roll graduate from youthful idealism to pragmatic maturity. While not the first charity concert (nor the first George was in attendance for), this major media event carried into the spotlight by the star power of a former Beatle (still riding high from his successful solo debut the prior December), The Concert for Bangladesh in its various iterations raised millions of dollars and worldwide awareness for the suffering Bengal people. The Take it Away podcast now takes a deep dive into the event, the grammy-winning live album, and the legacy of this grand gesture of commitment to the human race. 

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A podcast may not last all day, but we sure do let it roll. Take it Away is proud to present the third and final installment of our analysis and review of George Harrison's solo masterpiece All Things Must Pass -- and to start we turn our attention to the oft-overlooked instrumental spotlight known as Apple Jam. George Harrison and some principal players from the 18 lyrical contributions to All Things Must Pass use this full third disc to unleash 29 minutes worth of musical prowess, virtuosity, and improvisational ability unseen anywhere else in Beatles or solo Beatles canon. All this, plus album reception, legacy, and some words from Robert Christgau in the grand finale to our look back at one of the great statements in rock and roll.

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Let us in here, you know we've been here. Let us in for part two! The Take it Away podcast returns with the second installment in our three-part deep dive into All Things Must Pass by George Harrison. In the previous episode we covered the inception and recording of this triple album set - starting from the last gasp of the Beatles in those early months of 1970 right up through its release in time for the holiday season that same year. This time around we're picking back up where we left off on our track-by-track analysis with a look at the epic second single ?What is Life,? and ending at the finale of the initial lyrical compositions with ?Hear Me Lord.? While we roll on out the door, we want to hear what your favorite cuts from this solo masterpiece are! Because who are we, without you by our side?

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Join us for a special bonus episode of Take It Away devoted to former Wings member and friend of the show Denny Laine. At the moment, Denny is struggling with serious health problems, and we?ve gotten together to promote his GoFundMe, inform our listeners about his situation, and take a moment to reflect on how important Denny is to us musically. We talked to Denny?s wife Elizabeth Hines for an update on Denny?s health and spent a little time discussing a few of our favorite Denny songs.

There is a benefit concert for Denny in LA on Nov. 27:

https://www.seetickets.us/event/denny-laine/571923

You can donate to Denny?s GoFundMe here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/denny-laine-medical-expenses 

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Welcome to a special BONUS episode of the Take it Away podcast! This past week the world experienced a rarity decades in the making - the advent of a new single by The Beatles titled "Now and Then." Hardcore fans would of course be familiar with this track as the third John Lennon song attempted by Paul, George and Ringo in 1995 for the Anthology project - another demo in the spirit of "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love," which was left unfinished at the time and, as Paul put it, "languishing in a cupboard" for nearly 30 years. Thanks to Peter Jackson's MAL technology, John's demo has been cleaned and separated in spectacular fashion, and the song has at last seen the light of day, and more than that is now the #1 record in the UK charts at the time of this recording. Even MORE spectacular than that? Chris Mercer has not heard the track yet. So join Paul and Chris for a real-time reaction to this piece of Beatles history, experienced in the moment for the first time by Chris Mercer and discussed with the love and attention of the Take it Away podcast.

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It all begins here! The dawn of the Beatles solo era is filled with some of the most memorable, innovative and downright classic moments from all four former fabs - but none left an initial impact quite like George Harrison. An epic 3-disc set, George's All Things Must Pass was more than a simple collection of songs - it was a statement to the world (and to his former bandmates) that he was a musical force to be reckoned with. In this episode of Take it Away, we'll take a look back at the inception of this mammoth release, and use the context accrued over our "Beatle George" installments to glean insight into Harrison's approach, songwriting, and production style. Join us for an intimate look back at our sweet George - hallelujah! 

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Because you're sweet and lovely, we're back for part two of our deep dive into the songs of Beatle George on the Take it Away podcast. On this savoy second installment, we'll cover 1967's ?It's All Too Much? right through the breakup of the Beatles -- as we witness George Harrison's songwriting evolution from gifted novice to peak contender with Lennon and McCartney. The trauma of fame mixed with the clarity of eastern philosophy altered George's outlook drastically from the mid-60s onward?his songwriting acting as a reflection of the sincerity of his convictions. It was the truth of his artistry (embraced by the public, though not always by his bandmates) that would carry forward into the solo years, where George would continue to hone his craft as songwriter, producer, musician, and guiding light for the material world for decades to come. Though this episode marks the end of our "Beatle George" series, it is far from the end of our examination of George's music - and we invite you to join us for a long, long, long journey into the solo catalog of our favorite mystical one...

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The all-new TAKE IT AWAY starts here! Hosts Chris Mercer and Paul Kaminski journey beyond the music of McCartney into the mystical mind of George Harrison in "Beatle George" part one (of two)! In this preamble to the next phase of the podcast, we'll explore the origins of Harrison's songwriting, musicianship and legacy, as the "quiet one" fights for his place amongst both his bandmates and his musical contemporaries alike. We'll chronicle every single (official) George Harrison Beatles songwriting contribution from the band's beginnings up through 1967 in this first installment -- an extensive deep dive you will not want to miss! Now, without further ado: take it away, George...

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The YESTERDAY & TODAY and TAKE IT AWAY podcasts are crossing over! In this special double-feature, double-interview episode, hosts Wayne Kaminski, Chris Mercer and Paul Kaminski join forces to discuss Paul McCartney historiography with special guest authors who have fresh releases on shelves now. Luca Perasi is certainly no stranger to the TAKE IT AWAY podcast -- Luca was interviewed by Chris and Ryan in 2019 to discuss his book PAUL McCARTNEY: RECORDING SESSIONS (1969-2013), which provided much of the framework for the original run of TAKE IT AWAY shows. Luca has returned to promote a brand-new book, PAUL McCARTNEY: MUSIC IS IDEAS, the first volume in a multi-part series which explores the stories behind Macca's massive catalog of solo songs from 1970-1989. Next up, returning YESTERDAY & TODAY guest Paul Salley -- author of LITTLE WING: THE JIMMY McCULLOCH STORY -- is back for the first time in 3 years to discuss the release of his definitive biography of Wings' exceptional young-gun lead guitarist. All this, plus a special announcement about the future of the TAKE IT AWAY podcast in this all-new crossover episode. We hope you will enjoy the show!

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Paul McCartney wouldn?t dare let a whole year go by without a new release, would he? Of course not! When Macca?s manager, Scott Rodger, came to him with the idea for a cover album of McCartney III tracks re-worked, re-recorded, re-mixed or otherwise, well, reimagined by some of the coolest names in modern music - our kid jumped at the opportunity. Enter McCartney III Imagined: an eclectic swath of wonderful music from the likes of St. Vincent, Beck, Phoebe Bridgers and more, bringing new interpretations to every track from last year?s McCartney III. Chris and Paul are on-hand for this finale episode to season 4 of Take It Away, and we're telling the full tale behind this release, plus some classic Take It Away commentary (?hot takes-it-away?? It?s a work in progress). Unleash your imagination, it?s time to talk about Paul McCartney.

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Chris and Paul take to the mic to tackle the latest McCartney release - the conclusion to a trilogy 50 years in the making. With McCartney III, Paul finds himself once again crafting a homespun record born of sudden time on his hands, this time the result of a global pandemic and a pause in the music business (rather than the band shake-ups that spurred McCartneys I and II). Of course, no pandemic could put a pause on the business of Paul McCartney...and Macca's creative engine is still firing on all cylinders. From up-front rockers like ?Lavatory Lil? and ?Slidin'? to the jammy, effortless atmosphere of ?Deep Deep Feeling? and ?Long Tailed Winter Bird,? there's lots to discuss. Take It Away co-founder Chris Mercer is joined by fellow music podcaster Paul Kaminski (The Third Men, Now Hear This, Yesterday & Today) to weigh in on this complex, exciting new record - and to thank the incredible TIA listeners for all the love and support these past few months. This episode (and all episodes) of the show is dedicated to the music and memory of Ryan Brady. So welcome back to the fold, friends - you can see our podcast through windows in our hair.Email us: [email protected]

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Side B: The Take It Away and Now Hear This Podcasts have joined forces to pay tribute to friend and podcasting pioneer Ryan Brady. Hosts Chris and Paul are joined by guests, family and listeners to share the special music and memories given to them - and to all of us - by Ryan over the years in this two-part retrospective. We'll touch on the many facets of a life lived in joy and melody, and spotlight our favorite music made by, and enjoyed, by Ryan Brady. Our thanks go out to all those helping to keep Ryan's memory alive, and to everyone whose support made Take It Away and Now Hear This possible. So sit back, sing along and don't forget to enjoy every sandwich.

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Side A: The Take It Away and Now Hear This Podcasts have joined forces to pay tribute to friend and podcasting pioneer Ryan Brady. Hosts Chris and Paul are joined by guests, family and listeners to share the special music and memories given to them - and to all of us - by Ryan over the years in this two-part retrospective. We'll touch on the many facets of a life lived in joy and melody, and spotlight our favorite music made by, and enjoyed, by Ryan Brady. Our thanks go out to all those helping to keep Ryan's memory alive, and to everyone whose support made Take It Away and Now Hear This possible. So sit back, sing along and don't forget to enjoy every sandwich.

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Crossover episode! Emotional moment, we enter the cage. Cage match that is ... Chris, Ryan, and Paul throw down on the most famous unreleased Paul McCartney project to date: Cold Cuts (or Hot Hitz, and Kold Kutz, for those keeping score). We talk about this long lost, ultimately found, and yet sort of released, yet still unofficially unreleased clutch of rare gems in the McCartney cannon. Will there be debates? Heated. Will there be laughs? Myriad. Did daddy love a dancer? Yes, though she never gave an answer. Mama's little boys and girls, grab your best friends, and hey diddle, head down to the Robber's Ball for one hell of a carnival night out. If there are no tragedies, same time next year?

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Here's the link we mentioned on the show.

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We're back for another surprise episode of Season 4 because Paul released two new Egypt Station singles: "Home Tonight" and "In a Hurry." Also, we touch on Paul's upcoming It's a Wonderful Life musical. We recorded this before the world shut down, but we thought now is the perfect time for a little laughter. Join us for this fun episode.

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Good news everyone! Paul Kaminski and Ryan's episode on Bruce McMouse earlier this year has morphed into its own podcast called Now Here This. In each episode, Paul and Ryan trade their favorite records and talk about one album per podcast for about an hour. In every episode, imagine one guy is the "expert" and the other guy is the rookie. They swap roles throughout the season. They walk through the history of the albums, run through the track lists, and attempt to turn each other - and YOU, the listener - on to new music. 

Enjoy this promo episode where Paul, James, and Wayne Kaminski (you may know them from The Third Men Podcast or the Yesterday & Today Beatles Podcast) talk with Ryan about Now Hear This.

Listen to the new show here: nowhearthispodcast.com

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In this short bonus episode, Mercer introduces his brand-new concept album More To Come. It?s an album about late night television from the early 70s through the mid-90s, using Johnny Carson (host of the Tonight Show from 1962-1992) as the focal point. The musical style is mainly art rock, but with clear influences from sunshine pop, baroque pop, musical theater, and film music. If you?re interested, please join me for a little more discussion on the album and a few musical excerpts.

You can find More To Come, along with my other recent pop music projects, at Bandcamp:

https://mercer1.bandcamp.com/album/more-to-come

Stay up, stay tuned!

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Do you believe it? We made it from McCartney to Egypt Station. What a journey together. We're so glad to see you here with us at the end of the line. Join us as we discuss McCartney's #1 hit 2018 LP which was produced by Greg Kurstin and Ryan Tedder. Whether you enjoy the singles "I Don't Know," "Come on to Me," or "Fuh You," or are more inclined to album cuts like "Do It Now," "Dominoes," or "Back to Brazil," there's so much to love on this album. We hope you've enjoyed the ride, and we thank you all for showing up again and again and again. What's next? You'll have to stick around, we're nearly there. Thank you!

Click here for the Episode 34 topic list.

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Oh boy, this is a fun one. We attempt to tackle all of the songs Paul McCartney covered during his career. We dip back into The Beatles catalog, roll through Wings, and investigate the McCartney solo years. We also pose this question: "What defines a cover?" Find out if we answer it in this hilarious episode. It ain't a shame.

Click here for the Episode 33 topic list.

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Playlist mentioned in the episode.

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Fancy a bit of rock'n'roll? If you're like us, the answer is yes. Join us as we walk through Paul's live albums and performances. Please note, this episode is an overview and is not intended to be definitive. This episode is very fun, and you will not want to miss it. Paul IS live, Jack!

Click here for the Episode 32 topic list.

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Please listen to Ryan Brady?s new song ?It?s Good to Have You Back,? available everywhere now here.

Special thanks:

Vocals, bass, keys: Ryan Brady / Abject Joy

Producer, guitar, vocals, keys: Chris Price

Drums: Ben Lecourt

Lead guitar: Fernando Perdomo

Mixing: Daniel Brooks

Mastering: Ryan Smith

Vocal coach: Wendy Parr

Songwriting coach: Jay Troop

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On January 21, 2019, Paul Kay of the Yesterday and Today Podcast and The Third Men Podcast and Ryan Brady drove to the ArcLight Theater in Hollywood to watch The Bruce McMouse Show on the big screen. Please join Paul and Ryan for a fun and impromptu podcast on the way to and from the theater. We think you may have a fun time with this one. It's the most to say the least! 

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On February 28, 2019, Northwestern University Professor Jacob Smith hosted and led Ryan and Chris in discussion on campus in the Annie May Swift Hall Auditorium in Evanston, IL. Professor Smith is the founder and director of the Master of Arts in Sound Arts and Industries program at the University. In this episode, hear Ryan, Chris, and Jacob talk about the origin of Take It Away, what it takes to produce and market a podcast of your own, and much more. You will get an inside scoop on the nuts and bolts of becoming your own podcast entrepreneur. Stick around until the end to hear Ryan and Chris comment on a few of their favorite clips from the show as well as a fascinating Q&A from the audience. Special thanks to Jacob Smith, Elizabeth Mathis, Katherine Lelek, Brad West, and Northwestern University for having us. It was an honor.

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After a six year wait, five if you count The Fireman project, Paul McCartney returned with 2013's NEW. Mark Ronson, Paul Epworth, Giles Martin, and Ethan Johns take up production duties to varying degrees of efficacy. This is a fun late-era McCartney spin. Highlights include "New," "Queenie Eye," "Early Days," and more. Is this one of Paul McCartney's best albums of all time? Is this one of our best podcasts? Don't look at me, it's way too soon to see.

Click here for the Episode 30 song list.

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Back in 1993 during the Off the Ground sessions, Paul McCartney and Youth formed The Fireman, an experimental electronic music duo. In this episode, we discuss their releases, including Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest, Rushes, Electric Arguments, and much more. Nothing too much just out of sight, man. This one's a clean machine. 

Click here for the Episode 29 song list.

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This episode's audio was edited and updated at 4:01 pm PT on 2/4/19.

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Denny Laine returns to discuss the Wings Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway boxsets, his 2019 tour, his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and much more. Our friend Luca Perasi and author of Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013). A Journey Through Paul McCartney's Songs After The Beatles drops in as well. You may want to tune in for this one.

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Catch Denny on Tour:

Jan 8 - One Longfellow Square, Portland, Maine

Jan 9 - City Winery, Boston, Mass

Jan 10 - The Kate, Old Saybrook, CT

Jan 11 - City Winery, NYC

Jan 12 - The Newton Theater, Newton, NJ

Jan 13 - City Winery, Washington, DC

Jan 15 - Hard Rock Cafe, Pittsburgh, PA

Jan 16 - Sportsman Tavern, Buffalo, NY

Jan 17 - Arcada Theater, St. Charles, Illinois

Jan 18 - Evanston Rocks, Evanston, Illinois?solo storyteller acoustic show ?Solo Songs and Stories?

Jan 19 - The Wildey Theater, Edwardsville, Illinois

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After the smash success of Chaos and Creation, Paul McCartney followed up with Memory Almost Full, another excellent almost refreshing album produced by David Kahne. Taken from a cell phone, the title describes both modern day life and Paul?s songwriting reflections on the album. He explores his ?early days? and even gives us a glimpse of the end with the second to last track on the LP. Highlights include ?Ever Present Past,? ?Only Mama Knows,? and ?The End of the End.? Well, you can come on to our place if you want to, you can do anything you want to do, but listen to this episode first.

Click here for the Episode 27 song list.

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In 2005, Paul McCartney released the acclaimed Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, produced by Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck, The Divine Comedy). Critics and fans love this album and consider it one of the high-water marks in Macca?s solo career. This is a sober and serious outing that hangs best as a full length spin. Chris, Ryan, and special guest Kit O?Toole bring order to chaos in this long Season 4 opener. We can think of nothing more to say.

Click here for the Episode 26 song list.

This episode was re-uploaded with corrections on 11/9/18 at 2:42 pm PT.

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On 9/7/18, Paul McCartney released his Egypt Station LP. Iain Lee asked Ryan and Chris to weigh in with their initial reactions live on his show The Late Night Alternative on talkRADIO that evening at 11 pm BST. Join us as we discuss the album and share that broadcast. Iain and Katherine, thank you for having us! Please stay tuned for our full episode on Egypt Station.

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1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... let's go for a drive through Paul McCartney's 2001 album Driving Rain on our Season 3 finale. Arguably a critical and commercial failure (although possibly not), this episode walks through what some feel is the nadir of Macca's cannon. Highlights include "From a Lover to a Friend," "Magic," Your Way," and "Your Loving Flame." Stick around for a few interesting extras. Anyone tries to take it away, they'll have to answer, 'cause this is my right, we're talkin' about Driving Rain.

Click here for the Episode 25 song list.

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On 6/20/18, Paul McCartney released two singles off his upcoming album Egypt Station. In this bonus episode, Ryan and Chris give you their initial reactions to the two songs, "Come On To Me" and "I Don't Know." Keep your eyes and ears open for the full episode on Egypt Station coming soon.

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We are back for the second helping of Flaming Pie. Chris and Ryan are joined by special guests Simon Barber and Brian O'Connor from the Sodajerker podcast on this two part mega-episode on 1997's Flaming Pie. Because of The Beatles Anthology, Paul McCartney refreshed his record making approach on this album. We close out the second half of Flaming Pie and dig deep into the extras. We always came back to the songs we were ... talking about. Yes, we always came back.

Click here for the Episode 24 song list.

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This one is so big we turned it into two episodes. Chris and Ryan are joined by special guests Simon Barber and Brian O'Connor from the massive hit podcast Sodajerker on this two part mega-episode on 1997's Flaming Pie. Because of The Beatles Anthology, Paul McCartney refreshed his record making approach on this album. We touch on "Free as a Bird," "Real Love," "Now and Then," and dive head first into Flaming Pie and all of its extras. Go ahead. Have a vision. This is the one on Flaming Pie.

Click here for the Episode 23 song list.

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Going back to his Beatle days, Paul McCartney wrote many songs for other artists. Join Chris and Ryan along with author and Beatles expert Andrew Grant Jackson (Still The Greatest) for this special episode on the songs Paul gave away. We venture back to The Beatles' humble beginnings and walk through every song we could uncover up to present day. Artists discussed include Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas, The Fourmost, Cilla Black, The Rolling Stones, Peter & Gordon, P.J. Proby, Mary Hopkin, Badfinger, John Christie, Peggy Lee, Rod Stewart, The Everly Brothers, Diana Krall, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and more. If you want it, here it is, come and get it!

Enter our Still The Greatest Sweeps to win a copy of Andrew Grant Jackson's book.

Listen to our Songs Paul McCartney Gave Away Spotify and Apple playlists.

Buy merchandise in our new Take It Away Shop.

This episode edited since initial publication.

Click here for the Episode 22 song list.

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After the heavily produced and commercially successful Flowers in the Dirt, plus the well received The Paul McCartney World Tour in 1989-1990, Paul decided his follow-up would be recorded ?live in the studio.? 1993?s Off the Ground, the fruits from the 1991-1992 recording sessions, is a mixed bag. Off the Ground: The Complete Works, a collection of B-sides and songs that didn't make the album, reveals many great songs lurking under the often flimsy surface of the official album. Highlights of the period include ?Hope of Deliverance,? ?Big Boys Bickering,? ?Style Style,? ?Get Out of My Way,? and the title track. The last of Paul?s writing collaboration with Elvis Costello (for now) appears on the album as well. If you are looking for the painting that inspired the song, click here. C?mon people, won?t join us for this very fun episode? After all, it wouldn?t take a lot...to get off the ground.

Click here for the Episode 21 song list.

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In 1978, Laurence Juber joined Wings for their final flight. His stellar guitar work on Back to the Egg and the supporting British tour still shines after all these years. On September 23, 2017, at Atlantic Records in North Hollywood, Laurence found time between rehearsals to talk Wings, his incredible solo albums (including Standard Time, LJ, and Mosaic), his work with "yacht rock" icon Al Stewart, his television music career, as well as his fantastic book Guitar With Wings. Without question, Laurence is one of the best guitarists Paul McCartney worked with. Some say Laurence is one of the greatest guitarists of all time. We agree. Please listen to this very special and comprehensive episode with our friend Laurence Juber. It's an honor to share this with you.

Audio and video to check out from the episode:

Listen to Laurence's "Maise" ft. Paul McCartney on bass and "Denny Laine" on harmonica.Watch Laurence play "She Loves You" and "Cobalt Blue."Hear Ilsey Juber's writing discography.

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In 1989, after several years of creative struggle, Paul McCartney released Flowers in the Dirt, a critical and commercial success. From the Beatlesesque pop of "My Brave Face" to the golden-era Hollywood glamour of "Distractions," or the paternal whimsy of "Put It There," Paul is in strong writing and performing form. Also, enter Elvis Costello, his acerbic wit balancing and enhancing McCartney's creative yet cloying compositions from the 1980s. Was Elvis Paul's finest collaborator since John Lennon? Is this Paul's best album of the 1980s? Is there more buried beneath the flowers in the dirt? You'll find out all this and more in this swan ... this one.

If you heard our message at the start of this episode, you can use the coupon TAKEITAWAY when you sign up to Pippa. You will get two months of Pippa for $2! ($1 / month for the first two months.) Don?t even worry about it, sign up now.

Click here for the Episode 19 song list.

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We are back for Season Three! From 1984 to 1987, Paul McCartney recorded an abundance of new material. Although not canon, Return to Pepperland is a canceled album (some say) originally slated for release in 1987 to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Now mainly a curio, this bootleg album makes for a convenient catch-all for the stellar (and less than stellar) material from this period?songs written in the early '70s, polished gems not released until the late '90s, and a few fantastic tunes that remain in the MPL vaults. Press play to hear more because this is an episode for true Paul McCartney fans. Good news too, it's not a mile away. Stick around till the end for a special appreciation of our listeners.

Click here for the Episode 18 song list.

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Correction: Phil Ramone?s last collaboration with Billy Joel was 1986?s The Bridge, not, as stated in this episode, 1983?s An Innocent Man. 4/19/19

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By 1985, Paul McCartney is lost. The critical and commercial bomb of Give My Regards to Broad Street severely shook his confidence. Paul jumps right back in the studio to record his "comeback album" with then in-vogue producer Hugh Padgham (Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, The Police) to turn in Press to Play in 1986. This eccentric "high 80s" album scored a few slightly successful singles including the featherweight "Press" and the #1 smash hit "Spies Like Us" for the John Landis movie of the same name. Love it or hate it, we're here to talk about it. One of the album's B-sides says it best: ?It's got me confused, I'm split down the middle. Conflicting reviews of our life coming in. It's tough on a tightrope.? Tune in to find if it's (not) true.

Click here for the Episode 17 song list.

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On Monday, August 6, 2017, we sat down with Denny Laine in Evanston, IL to talk about his entire career from the 1960s to present day. We discussed songs from The Moody Blues, Ginger Baker?s Air Force, Balls, Wings, and Denny?s solo albums in this wide-ranging, two-part episode.

Episode Includes:

Wings Over America, Anyone Can Fly, Hometown Girls, Wings on my Feet, Lonely Road, Master Suite, All I Want is Freedom, The Rock Survivor, Reborn, Arctic Song, Colin Blunstone?s ?Say You Don?t Mind,? Valley of Dreams, and more. If you want to discover Denny Laine gems, listen to this episode.

Buy Denny?s latest release ?Meant To Be? & ?Over The Horizon? here.

For all official Denny Laine news, follow his Facebook page.

Get tickets to see Denny live here.

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On Monday, August 6, 2017, we sat down with Denny Laine in Evanston, IL to talk about his entire career from the 1960s to present day. We discussed songs from The Moody Blues, Ginger Baker?s Air Force, Balls, Wings, and Denny?s solo albums in this wide-ranging, two-part episode.

Episode Includes:

Magnificent Moodies, Denny Laine String Band, Balls, Trevor Burton, Wings Wild Life, Red Rose Speedway, Ahh?Laine, Band on the Run, McGear, Venus and Mars, Speed of Sound, Wings Over America, Holly Days, London Town, Back to the Egg, Tug of War, Pipes of Peace, Japanese Tears, Cold Cuts, Anyone Can Fly, and Denny?s 2017 single with Ron Pullman, ?Meant to Be? and ?Over The Horizon.?

Buy Denny?s latest release ?Meant To Be? & ?Over The Horizon? here.

For all official Denny Laine news, follow his Facebook page.

Get tickets to see Denny live here.

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In the 1980s, Paul experimented and took a few big risks. Sometimes risks don?t pay off, and the movie Give My Regards to Broad Street was both a critical and box office failure. Failure is feedback though, and we?ll trace the effects of this flop on the rest of Paul?s career. Fascinatingly, ?No More Lonely Nights,? arguably one of Paul?s biggest artistic and commercial achievements, is from the soundtrack. So are the lost Wings songs ?No Values? and ?Not Such a Bad Boy.? But hey, Ringo is in the movie, so maybe you should just watch it and listen to this episode.

Click here for the Episode 14 song list.

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Paul McCartney and George Martin follow up the smash success of Tug of War with a sequel in the also successful, if overlooked, Pipes of Peace. Denny has flown the coop, Michael Jackson shows up for a couple tracks, Ringo is back on drums, and Eric Stewart turns in stellar performances. This is ?English country music? from the 1980s. Highlights include ?Keep Under Cover,? ?Say Say Say,? and ?Through Our Love.? This is a fun episode you will want to check out. Miss it? It?s not on.

Click here for the Episode 13 song list.

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After McCartney II, Paul and the world suffered the horrible loss of John Lennon in 1980. Tug of War picks up the plot in 1982 with Paul?s touching tribute to his brother Beatle ?Here Today?; two duets with Stevie Wonder, including the smash hit ?Ebony & Ivory?; and collaborators like former Beatles producer George Martin, Ringo Starr, Eric Stewart, and Carl Perkins. We named our podcast after a song on this album. You might want to stop and listen up to this one. Take it away, take it away ?.

This episode edited since initial publication.

Click here for the Episode 12 song list.

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After Wings? dissolution, Macca hid at home and recorded another truly solo album in the vein of 1970?s McCartney. Paul is responsible for nearly everything on this record. The real difference this time around? Synthesizers. Despite its experimental nature, the album birthed the number-one hit single ?Coming Up? ? a favorite of John Lennon?s. Believe it or not, the perennial ?Wonderful Christmastime? originates from these sessions. Is this album true genius or absolute garbage? Nobody knows.

Click here for the Episode 11 song list.

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As the 1970s come to a close, Wings takes its last flight with Back to the Egg. McCartney?s answer to New Wave, the album features a brand-new Wings lineup, a dizzying array of genres, and incredible LP artwork. Although commercially unsuccessful, Back to the Egg is revered in the McCartney canon as an underground fan favorite. Love it or hate it, Chris and Ryan give their spin (it on) on it.

Click here for the Episode 10 song list. 

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Chris and Ryan are back with Season Two and one of Paul McCartney?s most unusual and yet rewarding and relaxing releases of the 1970s, London Town. With a working title of Water Wings, it is no surprise we find Paul and crew recording on a boat in the Virgin Islands. Album highlights include ?Girlfriend,? ?Don?t Let It Bring You Down,? as well as the number-one smash hit ?With A Little Luck.?

Click here for the Episode 9 song list.

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In 1976, Paul McCartney triumphs with his new band Wings, enjoying number one hits and a blockbuster tour. In the last episode of Season One, Ryan and Chris cover these Wings milestones and also find a moment to check in with George. Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs. What's wrong with that? Absolutely nothing.

Click here for the Episode 8 song list. 

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In a wide-ranging episode, Ryan and Chris cover Wings? great Venus and Mars. Along the way, they touch on Jimmy McColloch?s background, the ?secret Wings album? McGear by Paul?s brother Mike, solo Beatles output from 1974, and even a little something from Paul?s dad.

Click here for the Episode 7 song list. 

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Ryan and Chris dig into Paul McCartney?s most celebrated solo album, Band on the Run. Released in 1973, it appears alongside a flood of high-quality solo Beatles material. Ryan and Chris place Band on the Run in the context of this peak period of solo Beatles output. We thought the only lonely place was on the moon.

Click here for the Episode 6 song list. 

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