The Beatles: Podcasts From Yesterday

Podcasts often have a nice way of bringing the past back to life. Beatles fans will undoubtedly appreciate several audio files dedicated to the Fab Four. Let’s start with a particularly good one. Rolling Stone Magazine, as part of a web feature called Lennon Lives Foreover, has released a podcast (iTunes – Feed – Web Site) of Jann Wenner’s famous 1970 interview with John Lennon, which was conducted shortly after the band’s bitter breakup. Running over 3 hours, it is one of Lennon’s most extensive interviews, and it ranges broadly, touching not just on the breakup, but also on art and politics, drugs, Yoko, primal therapy and more. Another notable podcast along these lines is The Lost Lennon Tapes (iTunes – Feed – Web Site). Originally presented by Westwood One in 1988, this podcast presents a collection of Lennon’s private tapes — tapes that include early recordings of The Beatles, radio interviews with John, demo tapes, chronicles of the Double Fantasy recording sessions, and private moments at home.

Next up is something for George Harrison fans. This podcast, called George Harrison Living in a Material World (iTunes – Web Site) takes a look back at George Harrison’s 3rd solo album. And, among other things, it includes interviews with artists who played on the album. Living in a Material World, which went to #1 on the charts in 1973 and was digitally remastered last year, represents, at least for some, Harrison’s most artistically pure solo work.

Lastly, we conclude with a couple of podcasts that look at The Beatles as the collective Beatles. Here, we give you Beatlegs Podcast (iTunes – Feed – Web Site), a show that always features rare interviews or behind the scenes clips, followed by a rare outtake or live performance that few have heard before. And then there is Beatles Minute (iTunes – Feed – Web Site), a podcast coming out of Philadelphia that gives you short, daily tidbits about the band.

Bonus: you can get a few alternative takes on songs from the Help! and Abbey Road-era here. (The site provides songs in mp3 format.)

As a final note, all of these podcasts are housed in our developing Music Podcast Collection. If you are not sure what a podcast is, check out our Podcast Primer. And finally, if you want more cultural media along these lines, be sure to Subscribe to Our Feed.