Explore every episode of the podcast The Beatles: Note By Note
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yesterday - Episode 101 with Kyle Hopson | 02 Oct 2026 | 01:30:08 | |
Yesterday may be the most popular song The Beatles ever recorded, but it's surprising just how unusual its story really is. On this episode of our Beatles podcast, we are joined by Kenyon’s longtime friend and former songwriting partner Kyle Hopson. We look at the song as a piece of Beatles history and a case study in how songs actually come into the world. What makes Yesterday feel so universal? How did it expand the boundaries of what a Beatles record could be? Did Paul actually rewrite an earlier song? We cover: -Paul McCartney’s dream, Scrambled Eggs, and the long development of the song -John Lennon’s possible role in completing the song -Billy J. Kramer, Chris Farlowe, Brian Epstein, and whether Yesterday was always destined to be a Beatles song -Delia Derbyshire, the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, Ray Cathode, and Paul’s interest in an electronic arrangement -George Martin, the string quartet, and the original handwritten score -The recording session, detuned guitar, orchestral overdubs, and Paul’s solo performance -George Martin Orchestra arrangement of Yesterday -Possible connections to The Night Before, Georgia on My Mind, and Answer Me, My Love Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| I've Just Seen A Face - Lecture Series 100 (bonus) | 25 Sep 2026 | 00:38:11 | |
In this Beatles lecture series, we are looking at I’ve Just Seen a Face, a song that captures the head-spinning rush of love at first sight. We examine how Paul combines deceptively simple musical and lyrical materials to create the song’s breathless and frenetic energy. Beneath the surface, its overlapping patterns continually pull against one another, while rising and falling gestures mirror the exhilaration of suddenly being swept off balance by another person. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| I've Just Seen A Face - Episode 100 with Ian Leslie | 18 Sep 2026 | 01:14:46 | |
Have you ever realized that another person will change your life forever? Author Ian Leslie joins us to talk about I’ve Just Seen a Face and his book, John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs. Together, we use Paul’s breathless love song to explore chance, recognition, conflict and the mixture happiness and sadness that can exist in a single moment. Could this song tell us something about Paul in 1965 or maybe about what he saw in John Lennon years earlier? We cover: -Ian Leslie’s John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs -This song's origins -John and Paul’s creative and emotional relationship -Love at first sight, fate, and chance -The acoustic arrangement and rapid-fire vocal phrasing -Take 3 from Anthology 4 -The opening of Rubber Soul -A legendary recording session, Paul's Event Horizon Check out Ian Leslie: Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Tell Me What You See - Lecture Series 99 (bonus) | 11 Sep 2026 | 00:42:22 | |
In this Beatles lecture series, we analyze Tell Me What You See. We look at the way the lyrics gradually reveal that this promise is actually an attempt of persuasion. Musically, we explore Paul’s melodic contours, the song’s recurring question-and-answer phrases, and how its simple harmony takes on a more modal character. We also compare blues-inflected and warmer pop sounds, and how the unusual instrumental middle section develops the song’s Latin-influenced character. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Tell Me What You See - Episode 99 with Caro Kelley | 04 Sep 2026 | 01:29:52 | |
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, musician, singer, songwriter and obsessive album listener Caro Kelley joins us for Tell Me What You See. Caro has spent a lot of time not just listening to music, but rating and ranking it and she brings that perspective to a song that Paul McCartney himself dismissed as not particularly memorable. Would you call this a filler track? For our storytime, we have a remarkable firsthand account of the Beatles actually working out the song in the studio with George Martin. Melody Maker journalist Ray Coleman was there as they rehearsed, argued over what was wrong, experimented with percussion, added the electric piano and tried to find a sound they admitted they couldn’t yet define. Tell Me What You See opens up bigger questions about singing, intimacy, imagination and why a song can become more interesting the closer you get to it. What we cover: - Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s conflicting memories of who wrote “Tell Me What You See” - John and Paul’s unusually loose rhythmic phrasing - Ringo Starr’s drum break - Paul McCartney’s Hohner Pianet C - A British post-war religious motto - A possible connection to Elvis Presley’s “Trying to Get to You” - Ray Coleman’s February 1965 Melody Maker article - George Martin’s orchestral version of “Tell Me What You See” Follow Caro Kelley: https://www.instagram.com/caro_kelley Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| You Like Me Too Much - Lecture Series 98 (bonus) | 28 Aug 2026 | 00:42:02 | |
In this Beatles lecture series, we look at the music and lyrics of George Harrison’s You Like Me Too Much. The uneasy relationship at the center of the song seems caught in a cycle: one person threatens to leave, but neither quite manages to end things. Musically, George builds that uneasy feeling into the song. The harmony repeatedly avoids landing on a firm resolution. We explore how these techniques make the verse unusually effective, and how George was already developing some distinctive songwriting instincts. But not every part works equally well. The middle eight introduces a collection of melodic, harmonic, and lyrical ideas that struggle to develop the song’s central premise. Finally, we look at the barrelhouse piano intro, instrumental break, and outro, and how George Martin’s arrangement helps frame the song and give its wandering structure a sense of unity. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| You Like Me Too Much - Episode 98 with Anne (Beatles Research Society) | 21 Aug 2026 | 01:34:58 | |
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, Peter and Kenyon look at George Harrison’s You Like Me Too Much, an overlooked Help! track that turns out to have more going for it than its reputation suggests. It is an entry point into the bigger story of how the Beatles worked. How arrangements took shape in the studio, how imperfect performances still made it onto finished records, and what happened when someone other than John or Paul started finding their own songwriter voice. We talk to Anne (BeatlesResearchSociety) to sort through the song’s unusual piano parts and surviving session notes. In the end, we find out what's going on with this song and why it's important in the Beatles catalog. What we cover: - The writing and recording of “You Like Me Too Much” - George Martin’s session notes and the disputed piano parts - The song’s unusual piano-and-guitar solo - George Harrison’s development as a songwriter - The different UK and US releases of Help! Follow Beatles Research Society: https://www.instagram.com/beatlesresearchsociety Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| It's Only Love - Lecture Series 97 (bonus) | 14 Aug 2026 | 00:34:29 | |
In this Beatles lecture series, we dive into the music and lyrics of It's Only Love. Lennon begins with a unique rhyming scheme, but somehow manages to build a story within this constraint. Musically, John develops a number of melodic and rhythmic ideas that he reuses throughout the song in different ways. What can seem like a slight Beatles song turns out to be an interesting example of how a songwriter can create unity from a few simple ideas. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| It's Only Love - Episode 97 with Elli Rader | 07 Aug 2026 | 01:22:19 | |
John Lennon called It's Only Love a lousy song with abysmal lyrics. But is he right? Peter and Kenyon are joined by their long-time friend Elli to take a closer look at this late addition to Help! and figure out what works, what doesn’t, and whether Lennon judged it too harshly. The conversation turns toward how artists make their work and how old, cringy experiments can become embarrassing with time. Kenyon, Peter, and Elli each bring in an old poem and read it aloud in a beautiful shaming ritual that will now live on the internet forever. Along the way, they consider whether failed work is simply part of the creative process, how artists develop higher standards, and whether John Lennon was too hard on his music. What we cover: - The writing and recording of “It’s Only Love” - The unusual intro guitar effect - Hoshika Rumiko’s visit to the Beatles’ recording session - The song’s release history - George Martin’s orchestral version "That's A Nice Hat" Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Act Naturally - Episode 96 | 24 Jul 2026 | 01:11:15 | |
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, Kenyon, Peter, et al hold 3 important corporate meetings to determine once and for all which song will serve as Ringo's contribution to the Help! album. We have a pre-production meeting, a production meeting and a post mortem to decide what and how Ringo can contribute for this project. They are joined by a few guests that add their input that may or may not help the boys arrive at a conclusion. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| You're Going To Lose That Girl - Lecture Series 95 (bonus) | 17 Jul 2026 | 00:38:19 | |
In this Beatles lecture series, we dive into the music and lyrics of You're Going To Lose That Girl. On first impression, the lyrics seem conniving, but there may be alternative readings. Musically, this is a quintessential Lennon composition and we find all the fingerprints hidden inside the song. At the same time, John moves into new territories and gives us an exciting key change for the middle 8. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| You're Going To Lose That Girl - Episode 95 with Cameron (NationSquid) | 10 Jul 2026 | 01:22:12 | |
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, you are going to lose assumptions you had about this Help! era song. Joined by Cameron from NationSquid and FeedYourHead, we dig deep and try to uncover the essence of this song. As usually, we talk about the songwriting, the recording process and how it was released. But we also dive into adjacent topics such as American cinema and the tech world. Do yourself a favor and check it out. Check out Cameron: https://www.youtube.com/nationsquid https://www.youtube.com/@FeedYourSquid Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Another Girl - Lecture Series 94 (bonus) | 03 Jul 2026 | 00:37:07 | |
In this Beatles lecture series, Kenyon analyzes the lyrics and music for Paul McCartney's Another Girl. Underneath a fun blues jam, a sinister story starts to emerge. And while the song may seem like another one of Paul's work songs for the movie, Paul experiments with the melody's phrasing and the song's form. The middle 8 is one of the most fascinating of the early Beatles middle 8s, and we break down exactly what is happening and why it works. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Another Girl - Episode 94 | 26 Jun 2026 | 00:59:26 | |
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, we cover another song, Another Girl. For the first time in a while, it's just Kenyon and Peter alone together, so things get loose pretty quickly. We come into the episode talking about a minor Paul song, but by the end, we talk about the major pivot point that this song represents. It's insightful and it's a little chaotic. What we cover: -Unconventional songwriting spaces -Sequencing of the first side of Help! -The iconic guitar line -Paul crossing the bar line with his lyrics -Paul's Tunisian vacation Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| I Need You - Lecture Series 93 (bonus) | 19 Jun 2026 | 00:28:30 | |
In this Beatles lecture series, Kenyon begins by focusing on the word "need." We follow the story from George's devotion to his heartbreak and devastation. From there, the music takes over and the volume-pedal guitar motif takes center stage. The music and lyrics are working together and tell us more of the story than the song seems to say at first. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| I Need You - Episode 93 with Harry and Sophie (The Inner Light Podcast) | 12 Jun 2026 | 01:08:42 | |
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, "small" George Harrison song becomes bigger once everyone brings their own meaning to it. This episode, we are joined by the hosts of The Inner Light Podcast, Sophie and Harry. Since this is only our second Harrison track, we got to dig deeper into George’s distinct voice, and why he fits so perfectly into the space John and Paul leave open as songwriters and personalities. We cover: -George's growing voice as a Beatles songwriter -The volume-pedal guitar sound -Strange instrumentation in the backing track -The song's afterlife at the Concert for George Check out Sophie and Harry's socials: https://linktr.ee/innerlightpodcast https://www.instagram.com/harryfitz Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| You've Got To Hide Your Love Away - Lecture Series 92 | 05 Jun 2026 | 00:38:25 | |
In this Beatles lecture series, Kenyon looks at John Lennon's beautiful ballad, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away. We take a look at the lyrics and how John avoids locking into one specific meaning without really feeling vague. On the music side, we talk about the compound meter, how the harmony is a product of the guitar voices, and how the melody tells us what kind of lyric this is. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| You've Got To Hide Your Love Away - Episode 92 with Andrew Shakespeare | 29 May 2026 | 01:38:16 | |
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, we are joined by guest Andrew Shakespeare to discuss one of the most intimate John Lennon songs so far. From there, we attempt to break down how it was written, how it was recorded, and what it could mean to us. Our track by track trip through Help! continues to give us surprises. We cover: -The Dylan comparisons -Pete Shotton's visit to the studio -Johnnie Scott's flute overdubs and the mystery of the tenor flute -The Silkie's cover, produced by The Beatles themselves -A broken glass Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Night Before - Lecture Series 91 (bonus) | 22 May 2026 | 00:40:02 | |
In this Beatles lecture series, Kenyon breaks down the lyrics and music of The Night Before. The song feels immediate, but the lyrics keep shifting under your feet. We look at the craft of Paul’s phrasing, showing how short, telegram-like lines stretch and change once the music takes over. Musically, the episode follows the song through blues color, a warped doo-wop progression, flat-seven chords, chromatic movement, and a middle eight that reframes the entire emotional point of the song. Along the way, we see the connections to Yesterday, I’m Down, and Paul’s broader songwriting habits, showing how one compact Help track can hold far more musical and emotional tension than its reputation suggests. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Night Before - Episode 91 with Rob Collier (Beatles Bass Lines) | 15 May 2026 | 01:38:23 | |
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, we really put this song up to the test. Growing up, Peter felt that this might be one of the greatest Beatles songs, but does he still feel that way today? Together, with our guest Rob Collier (Beatles Bass Lines), we dive deep into the song and see what is going on beneath the surface. By the end, we settle the score and decide where this song lands in the pecking order of Beatles songs. We cover: -The music theory of the song -Similarities to Yesterday -A deep dive on the Pianet C and related instruments -A storytime on how Northern Songs, the Beatles music publishing company, went public on the London Stock Exchange Check out Rob https://www.patreon.com/cw/BeatlesBassLines https://linktr.ee/beatlesbasslines Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Help! Film - Episode 90 with Stephen Ptacek | 01 May 2026 | 03:50:24 | |
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, we are joined by our special guest and film correspondant, Stephen Ptacek along with another super-special surprise guest. The episode is long and loose but the conversation is engaging about one the weirdest, most interesting and complicated Beatles projects. We take on the film’s bigger questions, move through it scene by scene, dig into behind-the-scenes material, listen to radio promos and interview clips, and even get into a restored cut scene. At the end, we give Help! the only thing it was missing: a rating. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| I'm Down - Lecture Series 89 (bonus) | 24 Apr 2026 | 00:24:22 | |
In this Beatles Lecture Series, Kenyon shows how I’m Down is doing several jobs at once: answering the emotional weight of the A-side, giving Paul a sharper and more frustrated voice, and building the whole song out of contradictions, call-and-response, and release. It makes you hear it not as throwaway chaos, but as a carefully placed Beatles move that is funny, tense, and explosive for very specific reasons. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Help! - Lecture Series 88 (bonus) | 24 Apr 2026 | 00:45:18 | |
This Beatles Lecture Series episode makes the case that “Help!” is not just a blunt cry for rescue but one of John’s sharpest balancing acts, pairing some of his plainest words with music that keeps shifting underneath them. Once you hear that tug between stillness and motion, the song stops sounding merely direct and starts feeling brilliantly constructed. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| I'm Down - Episode 89 with Erik McIntyre | 17 Apr 2026 | 01:00:19 | |
In this Beatles podcast, we are joined by bass player Erik McIntyre to discuss the B-side of the Help! single. Written on the back of a telegram, this song was conjured up as a replacement for Little Richard's Long Tall Sally in The Beatles' set list. In the conversation, we dive into the history of the song and, with Erik's help, explore why this song was necessary in the Beatles catalog at this exact moment. We cover: -Decoding Paul McCartney's bass lines -The protest song Eve of Destruction and its role in the Beatles' songwriting -The legedary recording session that produced this song -The politics of being in a band and the importance of keeping it fun Check out Erik McIntire: https://www.instagram.com/erik_mcintyre/ Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Help! - Episode 88 with Jeremy Ivey | 17 Apr 2026 | 01:16:58 | |
This Beatles podcast episode attempts to get at why Help feels so relatable even after all these years. We are joined by songwriter Jeremy Ivey and open up the song as a John Lennon turning point, a George Harrison guitar showcase, and a surprisingly strange bit of Beatles detective work. We cover: -George Harrison’s lead guitar part, the chromatic descent, and the countrified feel of the playing -How John wrote Help, from the film title to Paul’s counter melody -The mystery of a secret recording session pieced together from photos uncovered in 2002 -Where Help landed on the music charts with the other songs of the day Check out Jeremy Ivey: https://jeremyivey.net Video on George's guitar part: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec6M_6ua16o Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| That Means A Lot - Lecture Series 87 (bonus) | 10 Apr 2026 | 00:35:28 | |
In this Beatles Lecture Series episode, Kenyon argues that “That Means a Lot” is one of Paul McCartney’s strangest songs, sounding deeply like Paul and strangely unlike him at the same time as an apparently simple love song turns anxious, vulnerable, and hard to pin down. It makes you hear the song less as a minor castoff and more as a fascinating anomaly, where emotional need, uncertainty, and real musical ambition are all pulling in different directions. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| That Means A Lot - Episode 87 with Mary Devlin (beatledirt) | 03 Apr 2026 | 01:20:06 | |
In this Beatles podcast episode, Mary Devlin joins us for a songwriter’s conversation about That Means a Lot, one of the more interesting Beatles deep cuts. As usual, there is more here than meets the eye, and we have a sharp discussion about songwriting, social media, and Beauty and the Beast. We cover: -How That Means a Lot could be Paul's response to Ticket to Ride -Is there a number of chords you need to have a good song? -PJ Proby’s version of the song -The Beatles’ multiple attempts to record the song, including a Beatles first Check out Mary's socials: https://hoo.be/beatledirt Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Bad Boy - Episode 86 with Jesse Pollack (All You Need Is Pod) | 20 Mar 2026 | 01:25:50 | |
On this episode of our Beatles podcast, we take a song Peter barely knew and turn it into one of the most spirited conversations in the series. On Bad Boy, Note by Note brings in Jesse Pollack from All You Need Is Pod to talk about this iconic track, one of the last of its kind. We cover: -Larry Williams’ original versus the Beatles version and what changed in the arrangement -John Lennon’s vocal performance and the debate over where it ranks among Beatles covers -The emergency Help-era session, Beatles VI, and the rush to get the song to America -The Hohner Pianet C, the Studer tape machine, and a new recording technique Check out All You Need Is Pod: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-you-need-is-pod/id1857843520 Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Yes It Is - Lecture Series 85 (bonus) | 13 Mar 2026 | 00:33:42 | |
In this Beatles Lecture Series, “Yes It Is” stops sounding like a simple warning about a color and starts sounding like grief masked as control, with the lecture arguing the real “it” is pride and the performance carries a ghost-like weight. You also get a guided listen through the three-part harmony, why it feels unusually crunchy and a little unstable, how it shifts between tight clusters and barbershop-like movement, and the question of how much George Martin may have shaped what we’re hearing. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ticket To Ride - Lecture Series 84 (bonus) | 13 Mar 2026 | 00:42:26 | |
This Beatles Lecture Series argues that Ticket to Ride is built on contradictions: the words keep flipping between heartbreak and irritation while the track itself feels bright enough to sound like a shrug. Once you hear how “not caring” can read like a mask instead of confidence, you’ll stop taking the song’s attitude at face value. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Yes It Is - Episode 85 | 06 Mar 2026 | 01:38:35 | |
On this Beatles podcast, Note by Note goes deep on Yes It Is and why it lands like a private confession. We explore the emotional core, the craft behind the recording, and how this B-side fits into the bigger "cry for help" thread. We cover: -Storytime: Peter and Kenyon band history and origin story -Comparisons: Yes It Is next to This Boy and the A-side Ticket To Ride -Recording details: how the session evolved, including choices around vocals and takes -Music theory: harmony and chord movement, with a focus on why the chorus feels so intense ]-Sound and texture: George’s volume pedal and how production shapes the mood Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ticket To Ride - Episode 84 | 06 Mar 2026 | 01:20:59 | |
Season 2 kicks off with Ticket To Ride on this Beatles podcast, and it turns into one of those conversations where the song keeps getting bigger the longer you sit with it. We jump through personal memories, the emotional push and pull of a happy-sad track, the feel of that unforgettable guitar line, and a few surprising detours that shed more light on this song's role in the Beatles canon. We cover: -How Ticket To Ride hits different as grown-ups -The rhythm, groove, and musical choices that give the track its tension and momentum -Lyrics, title meaning, and how our brains mishear songs we swear we know -A pop culture thread that unexpectedly preserves a piece of Beatles history Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby - Episode 83 with Dan Rivkin (They May Be Parted) | 21 Feb 2026 | 01:29:09 | |
A Beatles podcast where a “throwaway” closer turns into a full-on investigation with Dan Rivkin, the guy who went second-by-second through the Get Back Nagra tapes. If you’ve ever skipped “Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby,” this episode is a serious attempt to make you hear why it matters. We cover: - Dan Rivkin’s Nagra-tape method and why it changed Get Back study - Beatles for Sale’s closer, George’s vocal, and what the song is doing as an ending - Rex Griffin vs Carl Perkins vs The Beatles: what’s actually shared and what’s not - October 18 session details: one take, overdubs, and early STEED echo on vocal - Storytime: the 1964 “Another Beatles Christmas Show” pantomime and the live set Dan Rivkin's website: https://theymaybeparted.com/ Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What You're Doing - Episode 82 with Raymond Schillinger (You Can't Unhear This) | 14 Feb 2026 | 01:26:43 | |
This week on our Beatles podcast, we bring in a fourth voice and it gets delightfully nerdy fast. Guest Raymond Schillinger from You Can’t Unhear This joins us to re-hear “What You’re Doing” like it is hiding in plain sight. We cover: - Why “What You’re Doing” feels like a throwaway song - The song’s girl group fingerprints in the call and response vocals - The bass fill at the end, maybe the first time the Beatles had one - Recording breakdown: the September 1964 sessions - Seltaeb, NEMS, Stramsact, the lawsuit, and the merch money fallout Raymond's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@YouCantUnhearThis Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What You're Doing - Lecture Series 82 (bonus) | 14 Feb 2026 | 00:39:14 | |
In this Beatles Lecture Series episode, Kenyon argues that “What You’re Doing” is less a breakup complaint than a song about powerlessness, where the core question is not why it hurts, but what is even being done to you. You will start hearing how the lyric framing, the repeated phrasing, and even the band’s stylistic choices work together to make that confusion feel like the point. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| I Don't Want To Spoil The Party - Episode 81 with Dr Terry Hamblin | 07 Feb 2026 | 01:35:27 | |
In this Beatles podcast episode, we argue “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party” only works because every Beatle leaves a crucial fingerprint. With special guest Dr. Terry Hamblin, we hear the song as a full-band fusion, not just a “John song.” We cover: - Songwriting origins on the 1964 North American tour and the country western frame - The September 29, 1964 session and the nine takes vs nineteen takes confusion - A debated vocal mystery and a Beatles first - Musical fingerprints: flat seven movement, the middle eight, Ringo’s toms, and George’s solo - Storytime on 1964 live TV performances, including Blackpool Night Out, Shindig, and Not Only...But Also Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| I Don't Want To Spoil The Party - Lecture Series 81 (bonus) | 07 Feb 2026 | 00:40:43 | |
In this Beatles Lecture Series episode, you’ll hear “I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party” as an early moment where Lennon’s usual hurt-and-retaliate script gets quietly rewritten into something more adult, centered on the blunt turn of “I still love her.” Kenyon argues the music backs that up by dodging the neat, satisfying landing you expect and letting a more confident lead line reshape the mood, so the whole song feels like a story that refuses to be finished. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Every Little Thing - Episode 80 with TJ Byrnes | 31 Jan 2026 | 01:23:51 | |
Every Little Thing is a Paul McCartney song that could fool you into thinking it is a John song, especially with John’s voice so forward in the verses. In this Beatles podcast episode of Note By Note, Peter, Kenyon, Josh, and guest TJ Byrnes break down the timpani punch, the Anthology 4 takes, and why this deep cut never quite plays by pop rules. We cover: - Recording sessions, the redo, and what Anthology 4 reveals in takes 6–7 - Timpani as a claimed Beatles first, the piano credit debate, and the AKG D19 C drum mic switch - How it gets compared to What You’re Doing and the shift to arranged guitar solos - 1964 UK tour storytime, including the mid-tour nine-hour EMI session TJ Byrnes Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaqdTns-CVdVUMSk7xBhhmw Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Every Little Thing - Lecture Series 80 (bonus) | 31 Jan 2026 | 00:32:46 | |
In this Beatles Lecture Series episode, Kenyon argues that Every Little Thing never fully settles, like it keeps dodging the clean landing you expect from a Beatles love song. You come away hearing the whole track as intentionally unresolved, both in the melody and the chord changes. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Honey Don't - Episode 79 | 24 Jan 2026 | 00:58:00 | |
On this Beatles podcast episode of The Beatles Note by Note, we start with Honey Don’t and end up in some surprisingly detailed territory. If you like songwriting context, studio specifics, and a few 1964 detours that explain why certain songs stuck, this one is for you. We cover: - Where Honey Don’t came from, and how the Beatles folded it into their live set before giving it to Ringo - The last Beatles for Sale recording session and how quickly they put the track together - A version-by-version compare: Carl Perkins, the Beatles, and John’s Plastic Ono Band jam - Ringo’s 1964 tonsil surgery story and the strange press attention around it - The “Ringo for President” campaign and what it said about youth culture at the time Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Words Of Love - Episode 78 with Chris McGovern (The Gen-X Muse) | 17 Jan 2026 | 01:31:57 | |
A Buddy Holly deep cut turns into a surprisingly big conversation in this Beatles podcast episode. With guest Chris McGovern, also known as the Gen X Muse, we dig into why “Words of Love” hits so differently on Beatles for Sale. We cover: - What Buddy Holly meant to the Beatles - Who may or may not be singing - The packing case Ringo plays - The recording session details - A retrospective of Brian Epstein's youth The Gen-X Muse: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/chris-h-mcgovern Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Eight Days A Week - Episode 77 with Josh Goodwin | 10 Jan 2026 | 01:29:29 | |
You would not expect a psychoanalyst to pick Eight Days a Week as the song to talk about, but once he explains why, it clicks. In this Beatles podcast episode, we dig into why their newest hit at the time still feels like an intentional throwback, with little “odd” details that make it more interesting the longer you listen. We cover: - Who actually wrote it, and where the title “Eight Days a Week” may have come from - The intro they could not get right, and why the released version fades in - The musical move that makes the song feel slightly unresolved (in a good way) - How and why it became a U.S. #1 single, plus the Beatles for Sale EP context - A quick Help! pre-production storytime: “Eight Arms to Hold You” and how the film got its final shape Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Eight Days A Week - Lecture Series 77 (bonus) | 10 Jan 2026 | 00:32:29 | |
Eight Days a Week looks like a straightforward love lyric, but this lecture argues the real surprise is how many of the song’s rules quietly break at once, especially in the middle eight where the meter feels unbalanced, the harmony refuses to follow a clean pattern, and the time even drops out. You’ll also hear why the harmony moves works so well, and how the whole track can feel like a pivot point between early pop Beatles and what comes later. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Kansas City - Episode 76 with Agustín Kafka | 03 Jan 2026 | 01:11:52 | |
We recorded this one with our guest Augustín literally out at sea on a cruise ship, which somehow feels perfect for a high-energy cover like Kansas City. In this Beatles podcast episode, we talk Beatles landmarks, the messy songwriting history behind the tune, and why this performance hits the way it does on Beatles for Sale. We cover: - Guest interview with Augustin (Sound and Story), calling in from a cruise ship near Tenerife - Beatles landmarks: 7 Cavendish Avenue, Abbey Road, 57 Green Street, and 57 Wimpole Street - Song history: Lieber and Stoller, Little Richard’s “hey, hey, hey” section, and why credits get messy - Recording on Oct 18, 1964: live take, piano overdub, handclaps, and the fade-out choice - Storytime: the 1964 North American tour and the $150,000 Kansas City show Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Mr Moonlight - Episode 75 with Nancy Howie (Fathom) | 27 Dec 2025 | 01:43:45 | |
Most people skip Mr Moonlight on Beatles For Sale, so on this Beatles podcast we put it on trial. Kenyon and Peter are joined by Nancy to settle it: is Mr Moonlight secretly great, or truly cursed? We cover: - Why Mr Moonlight is the most skipped track on Beatles For Sale - The song’s path back to Roy Lee Johnson and Dr Feelgood and the Interns - Version comparison: Star Club performance vs the Hollies version - Recording comparison: Anthology take with tremolo guitar vs the official release with Paul’s organ solo - Storytime: the 1964 North American tour and the night Bob Dylan got the Beatles properly high Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| I'll Follow The Sun - Episode 74 with Alexei Casselle | 20 Dec 2025 | 01:14:20 | |
What happens when an underground Twin Cities hip hop veteran picks the softest song on Beatles for Sale as his favorite track on the album? On this episode we bring in our old friend Alexei, known as Crescent Moon from Kill the Vultures and Mixed Blood Majority, to talk about why I’ll Follow the Sun hits him so hard. We get into his path from early Minneapolis hip hop crews to folk duos busking Dylan style, and how that journey opened the door to the Beatles. We cover: - The wild origin of the song, written by Paul at 16 while sick at home - The stripped down “bedroom pop” feel of the Beatles’ recording, complete with Ringo drumming on his knees - Bad covers of the song - A cursed 7-Up slogan during the "Uncola" campaign Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| I'll Follow The Sun - Lecture Series 74 (bonus) | 20 Dec 2025 | 00:29:27 | |
What if Paul’s gentle breakup song is secretly in the wrong key? In this lecture Kenyon takes I’ll Follow The Sun apart piece by piece, starting with the lyrics and their roots in an earlier Paul song, I’ll Be On My Way. We look at rain and sun as more than mood words. Rain can stand in for Liverpool and Britain, the sun for a brighter, maybe more exotic future, and the relationship sits right in the middle of that tension. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Rock And Roll Music - Episode 73 with Giggens | 13 Dec 2025 | 01:11:17 | |
In this episode of our Beatles podcast, we invite music critic and musician Giggens into the room to help us pick apart why this cover still hits like a shot of adrenaline. Let's take Rock and Roll Music and make it Beatles. We kick off with our usual on-mic chaos, then settle into the fun stuff: how we frame a song, what we listen for, and why John’s full-throttle vocal changes the game. Along the way we test the line between rock and roll and rock, talk pacing and sequencing on Beatles For Sale, read period liner notes out loud, and let Giggens weigh the musician brain against the critic brain. It is playful, fast, and very us. No spoiler-y deep dives, just the energy of a barn burner, a few ridiculous jokes, and an honest, punchy verdict at the end. If you like hearing passionate people argue about what makes a performance work, this one’s for you. Giggens: https://www.youtube.com/@Giggens Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Baby's In Black - Episode 72 | 06 Dec 2025 | 01:26:35 | |
This week on our Beatles podcast, we cover “Baby’s in Black”, not just a normal track on Beatles for Sale. It’s a doorway. Peter and Kenyon step through it and bring listeners along, mixing storytime with close listening and a lot of spirited back-and-forth. They trace a line from early Hamburg nights and an art-school circle to a song that feels old and new at the same time, then dig into why that mood fits this moment in the album. You’ll hear them puzzle out who carries the tune when two voices move as one, why this waltz feel hits differently, and how a few studio choices shaped what we now hear. If you like episodes where the conversation changes how the song lands, this one’s for you. Come for the harmonies, stay for the way longing and loss thread through the whole thing. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Baby's In Black - Lecture Series 72 (bonus) | 06 Dec 2025 | 00:29:37 | |
In this session on “Baby’s in Black,” Kenyon treats the song as both language and architecture. The lesson begins with the title and first line, tracing how color words shape meaning and mood, then tests competing readings of grief, longing, and the implied triangle in the lyric. From there, we map the form into three functional sections, compare the blended vocal lines to ask where the “main” melody actually lives, and situate the waltz-like feel within compound meter. Harmony is handled as design rather than trivia, highlighting the familiar movement of the outer sections and the brief middle turn that refreshes the tonal space without leaving home. We also profile the arrangement choice that makes this recording singular: the bent-and-slid guitar figures that frame the track and color the solo. Throughout, the aim is precision: how phrasing, interval choice, and form combine to make a small song carry big emotional weight. Website: https://www.notebynoteseries.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/NoteByNoteSeries Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notebynoteseries Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||