Episode 261: Songs under the Microscope, Vol. 36 -- "Act Naturally"

In this episode, Dave and Chris review Morgan Neville’s Man on the Run, the new documentary about Paul McCartney’s first post‑Beatles years. We summarize the film’s release, Neville’s approach to telling Paul’s journey in the 1970s, and discuss the narrative, archival footage, photography, and contributions from all Wings members. Is it worth seeing? As always, we also read listener feedback and cover recent Beatles‑related news and releases. Enjoy! Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Try using Vocaroo for an audio message! Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube! Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com. Email: [email protected] X: @ivegotabeatles Facebook: I’ve Got A Beatles Podcast Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!" Buy albums discussed in this episode: Man On The Run (Soundtrack) [Amazon Exclusive-Color LP] https://amzn.to/3PeOoM4    Ringo Starr - Long Long Road (vinyl) preorder April 24th  https://amzn.to/3P7jS6L    The Claypool Lennon Delirium - Great Parrot-Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy (double vinyl) preorder - May 1st https://amzn.to/4sj17Mn    As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases

In this episode we trace the life of "Act Naturally": written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison, turned into a hit by Buck Owens, and later covered by the Beatles with Ringo Starr on vocals. First, we explore the original version, followed by discussion about why the song suited Ringo during the Help! session and what made their version stand out. We also look at notable cover versions (including a Ringo–Buck duet and a Muppet performance), and share related music news and upcoming releases mentioned in the episode. Live Beatles version Buck Owens version Buck Owens and Ringo Starr The Muppets  Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Try using Vocaroo for an audio message! Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube! Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com. Email: [email protected] X: @ivegotabeatles Facebook: I’ve Got A Beatles Podcast Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

In this episode, we discuss what makes rock music "psychedelic" and debate the Beatles songs that best capture the era’s "trippy" sounds. We rank our top psychedelic Beatles tracks (including "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Tomorrow Never Knows," "I am the Walrus," "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," and many more), examine instrumentation and studio effects and of course the lyrics. We then cover news about reissues and Record Store Day releases. Mentioned in the episode: Interview with William Echard, Episode 172.   Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Try using Vocaroo for an audio message! Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube! Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com. Email: [email protected] X: @ivegotabeatles Facebook: I’ve Got A Beatles Podcast Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

Happy 2026! In this new occasional series "Famous Covers," we'll explore some of the most successful Beatles and solo artist covers from a wide range of musicians. The first entry features a 1975 double-sided single by Elton John, covering two John Lennon-penned songs - "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" and "One Day At A Time." Elton stays largely faithful to the original recordings, but puts his own spin on the tracks. John Lennon himself contributed guitar and background vocals on Elton's version of "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" and played guitar on "One Day At A Time." So which Elton John cover do we like better - his take on the psychedelic "Lucy In The Sky" or the more introspective "One Day At A Time?"  Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Try using Vocaroo for an audio message! Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube! Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com. Email: [email protected] X: @ivegotabeatles Facebook: I’ve Got A Beatles Podcast Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"  

Our annual holiday tradition is providing a year-end review episode covering the big Beatles and solo releases of 2025: the Anthology 4 launch and remasters, streaming-only content and marketing missteps, major John Lennon and Paul McCartney archival sets, George’s quiet reissues, Ringo’s strong country album and vinyl runs, the Sam Mendes film buzz, notable books and merch, plus non-Beatles reissue standouts and a seasonal gift guide. We also discuss the highs, lows, fan reactions and what to watch for in 2026. Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Try using Vocaroo for an audio message! Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube! Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com. Email: [email protected] X: @ivegotabeatles Facebook: I’ve Got A Beatles Podcast Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"   Full list of links to items mentioned in this episode: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Music  Beatles Anthology 4 - 3 LP - https://amzn.to/4aaCtHs Anthology 4 - 2 CD - https://amzn.to/3XXdsbp Anthology collection - 12 LP - https://amzn.to/3XQnsTT  Anthology collection - 8 CD - https://amzn.to/48DUhtt   John Lennon Power To the People Super Deluxe 9 CD/3 Bluray - https://amzn.to/44rdkVl 2 LP - https://amzn.to/4iWJU7v 1 CD - https://amzn.to/4rXMRZv 2 CD - https://amzn.to/4iX6aOl Happy Xmas 7” LP (green) - https://amzn.to/4iYWcMv   Ringo Starr Look Up LP - https://amzn.to/4agWTi6 Look Up CD - https://amzn.to/3XUAPCp Goodnight Vienna, Ringo, Beaucoups of Blues, & Sentimental Journey - LP 4 Pack - https://amzn.to/3YpXEOv  Live at Soundstage LP Burgandy - https://amzn.to/48RUdVx   Paul McCartney WINGS deluxe 3 LP - https://amzn.to/44sGinP  WINGS deluxe 2 CD - https://amzn.to/4pCVMOp Wings 1 LP - https://amzn.to/4afPorJ   Venus & Mars (50th Anniversary half-speed Master LP) - https://amzn.to/4acabfJ    Wonderful Christmastime Canary Yellow 7" single - https://amzn.to/4sc2FrQ   SHM CDs Flaming Pie - https://amzn.to/4q6KX6W Chaos and Creation in the Backyard - https://amzn.to/4iWKSR7 Paul Is Live - https://amzn.to/4oXYk8T Amoeba Gig - https://amzn.to/4j2PYeO NEW - https://amzn.to/4oS48Ao  Pipes of Peace - https://amzn.to/4agDXA0 Tug of War - https://amzn.to/3MXOzdc  McCartney II - https://amzn.to/4se9WaH George Harrison  Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison 2 LP - https://amzn.to/4oSjZPC  Others David Bowie - I Can’t Give Everything Away LP box - https://amzn.to/3MLYAKx David Bowie - I Can’t Give Everything Away CD box - https://amzn.to/44ugXtA  Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska 82: Expanded Edition LP - https://amzn.to/4pEAK20 Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska 82: Expanded Edition CD - https://amzn.to/4rXjRB8  Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell 10th anniv 2 LP - https://amzn.to/48P3bD1 Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell 10th anniv 2 CD - https://amzn.to/4agEBxq  Talking Heads - More Songs about Buildings & Food - 4 LP - https://amzn.to/48G78ve Jeff Tweedy - Twilight Override 3 LP - https://amzn.to/45azPho Jeff Tweedy - Twilight Override 2 CD - https://amzn.to/3XUw7ok Lady Gaga - MAYHEM 2 LP - https://amzn.to/4qdHLXA Lady Gaga - MAYHEM CD - https://amzn.to/48CZvWb Destroyer - Dan’s Boogie LP - https://amzn.to/4q7cB3V Destroyer - Dan’s Boogie CD - https://amzn.to/4q6Mdaa Geese - Getting Killed LP - https://amzn.to/48RJ5YN  Geese - Getting Killed CD - https://amzn.to/48P3EoL  BOOKS Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run Hardcover – https://amzn.to/3KXCN1Y The Beatles Anthology (25th Anniversary Edition) - https://amzn.to/458cbSC John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs - https://amzn.to/48YDsbx Ribbons Of Rust: The Beatles' Recording History In Context: Volume 1 - July 1954 Through January 1963 - https://amzn.to/48UrDD0 Luca Perasi - Back to the Egg - https://amzn.to/44ndblO Luca Perasi - Press to Play - https://amzn.to/4pL2ja4 Luca Perasi - Ringo Starr - https://amzn.to/4qaV3UB War is Over! - https://amzn.to/3MLZkPP Audible subscription discount - https://amzn.to/4oXb8MF  Other links Jude Southerland Kessler website - https://www.johnlennonseries.com/ The Beatles - https://www.thebeatles.com/ John Lennon website & link for War is Over on Youtube - https://www.johnlennon.com/ George Harrison - https://www.georgeharrison.com/\ Paul McCartney - https://www.paulmccartney.com/ Ringo Starr - https://www.ringostarr.com/#/ Rhino reserves - https://store.rhino.com/collections/rhino-reserves  Disney Plus Beatles Anthology page - https://ondisneyplus.disney.com/show/the-beatles-anthology

We're back to discuss all things Anthology! We do a review of Anthology 4, as well as the Disney+ Anthology series in detail, and even have a strong disagreement about the new remixes of the "Threetles" songs! ("Free As A Bird" and "Real Love"). What do you think? Are you into all the Anthology hype? Here's the fan site mentioned in the episode -- this person catalogued all the differences between the versions of the Anthology series. Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Try using Vocaroo for an audio message! Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube! Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com. Email: [email protected] X: @ivegotabeatles Facebook: I’ve Got A Beatles Podcast Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

With all the Wings-related merchandise coming out in the past week -- a book, an audio collection, and an upcoming film -- we thought we'd join the fun and give you two ranked lists: 1) Best/Worst Wings Album Covers 2) Best/Worst Wings Albums  We had a lot of fun revisiting the Wings catalog and hope you will too! Buy your new Wings items here! Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run - Audible Audiobook – Unabridged https://amzn.to/43e2Nfz (paid link)   WINGS deluxe triple vinyl  https://amzn.to/4hGzjNp (paid link) WINGS triple vinyl with extras https://amzn.to/3JIQEZl (paid link) WINGS single vinyl https://amzn.to/3LGvcEU (paid link)   Paul McCartney Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run book https://amzn.to/4hHclFT (paid link)   Audible membership offer - Just $0.99/month for the first 3 months https://amzn.to/47xkVUl (paid link)   (As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)   Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Try using Vocaroo for an audio message! Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube! Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com. Email: [email protected] X: @ivegotabeatles Facebook: I’ve Got A Beatles Podcast Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

We are back after a hiatus to discuss the new release of the "One to One" concert from 1972 featuring John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Elephant's Memory. This concert appears in a beautifully remixed version that substantially improves over the 1986 John Lennon: Live in New York City release. But how does the concert hold up all these years later, and what about the set list, performances, and political messaging? We dig into all of it! Because only the concert was available on streaming (as of the time of recording), we do not discuss the other parts of the Power to the People box set, but we plan to do that as discs get released over the next few months.  Power To The People: Live at the One To One Concert Super Deluxe (9 CD/3 Bluray - paid link)  https://amzn.to/4lxxSB9    Power to The People: Live at the One to One Concert (2 LP paid link)  https://amzn.to/4fIQzR2   Power to The People: Live at the One to One Concert (2 CD paid link)  https://amzn.to/46W3jBz  (As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.)   Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Try using Vocaroo for an audio message! Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube! Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com. Email: [email protected] X: @ivegotabeatles Facebook: I’ve Got A Beatles Podcast Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

We take a break from all the news to look at an album that sometimes gets overlooked in the Beatles canon: 1965's Help! It's not just a movie, but a great listening experience as an album (the UK version, in particular). We talk about the album, all the songs, its lyrical themes, its place in the Beatles' output, and what it foreshadows for future albums. Enjoy! Purchase links: Help! LP https://amzn.to/3VzEuod (paid link)   Anthology Collection 2025 Edition - 12 LP set (paid link) https://amzn.to/47MvDH3   Anthology Collection (2025 Edition): 8CD Boxset https://amzn.to/46zkEPT   The Beatles Anthology (25th Anniversary Reissue) Paperback https://amzn.to/4meW6QX Power To The People: Live at the One To One Concert Super Deluxe (9 CD/3 Bluray - paid link)  https://amzn.to/4lxxSB9    Power to The People: Live at the One to One Concert (2 LP paid link)  https://amzn.to/4fIQzR2   Power to The People: Live at the One to One Concert (2 CD paid link)  https://amzn.to/46W3jBz  (As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.)   Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube! Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com. Email: [email protected] X: @ivegotabeatles Facebook: I’ve Got A Beatles Podcast Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"

For the second time this month, we're back with a bonus episode tackling another hot-button Beatles release. This time, it's the Beatles Anthology—a sprawling project spanning film, book, and audio. And just like last time, fans are divided. We break down each format, share our personal takes, and talk about what’s next. If you'd like to get a copy of anything, preorder links are included below. Anthology Collection 2025 Edition - 12 LP set (paid link) https://amzn.to/47MvDH3   Anthology Collection (2025 Edition): 8CD Boxset https://amzn.to/46zkEPT   The Beatles Anthology (25th Anniversary Reissue) Paperback https://amzn.to/4meW6QX   (As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases).   Disney+ bundle options (we are not an affiliate at this time) https://www.disneyplus.com/welcome/disney-hulu-espn-bundle   Feel free to email or record a message about this episode to [email protected] and we'll include you in our "Please Mr. Postman" segment. Also, please comment on, like, and rate us wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can now watch us on YouTube! Complete episodes can be found at https://ivegotabeatlespodcast.podbean.com. Email: [email protected] X: @ivegotabeatles Facebook: I’ve Got A Beatles Podcast Check out our non-Beatles video venture: "Song Album Career!"