Something About the Beatles

278
Music #84

Hosted by award-winning author Robert Rodriguez, Something About The Beatles is an intelligent but entertaining examination of The Beatles' music and career. Smart, funny and surprising - just like the Fab Four.

Recent Episodes
  • 303: John and Paul - A Love Story in Songs with Ian Leslie
    Apr 22, 2025 – 01:23:45
  • SATB SPECIAL: ONE TO ONE with Gary Wenstrup
    Apr 19, 2025 – 01:08:02
  • 302: TeenSet and Rock Fan Magazines with Allison Bumsted
    Apr 5, 2025 – 01:46:25
  • 301: The Beatles' Bag of Tricks Volume 2 with Jack Petruzzelli and Cameron Greider
    Mar 24, 2025 – 01:25:48
  • 300: Something About The Beatles' 300th Episode
    Feb 26, 2025 – 03:22:07
  • 299: Ringo's Beats and Threads with Gary Astridge
    Feb 1, 2025 – 01:31:30
  • SATB Extra: Magical Mystery Camp 2025
    Jan 30, 2025 – 22:55
  • 296: The Beatles and Fandom with Richard Mills
    Jan 24, 2025 – 01:30:08
  • 298: May the Second - The Found Weekend with May Pang
    Dec 24, 2024 – 01:48:16
  • 297: All I Want Is The Truth with David Whelan and Robert Rosen
    Dec 24, 2024 – 02:27:35
  • FEED DROP: Crime Capsule
    Dec 10, 2024 – 38:33
  • 295: Beatles '64 with David Tedeschi and Margaret Bodde
    Dec 2, 2024 – 01:14:18
  • 294: White Album Olympiad with Gary Wenstrup
    Nov 26, 2024 – 02:04:50
  • 293: Macca's 80s with Glenn Greenberg
    Nov 13, 2024 – 01:54:32
  • 292: The Comedy of The Beatles with Jeff Martin
    Oct 23, 2024 – 01:47:46
  • 291: December 8, 1980 with David Whelan
    Oct 10, 2024 – 01:53:34
  • 290: "Hey Jude" Reconstructed
    Sep 24, 2024 – 01:21:15
  • 289: A Hard Day's Night At 60
    Sep 13, 2024 – 01:33:58
  • 288: Band On The Run (Hand Clapping) with Luca Perasi
    Aug 31, 2024 – 01:18:44
  • 287: The Historian and Get Back with Erin Weber
    Aug 10, 2024 – 01:51:39
  • 286: Nowhere Man '24 with Robert Rosen
    Aug 8, 2024 – 01:19:44
  • 285: Sixty Years Ago in America with Lee Abrams, Dennis Diken, and Elliot Easton
    Jul 21, 2024 – 01:32:33
  • 284: Sixty Years On with Ivor Davis
    Jul 12, 2024 – 01:07:31
  • 283: Giles on Trial - The Reissues Critiqued with John Leckie and Jerry Hammack
    Jun 5, 2024 – 01:38:20
  • We Didn't Start The Fire - British Beatlemania with Mark Lewisohn (Part I)
    May 31, 2024 – 47:18
  • 282: The Women’s Revolution (Or: The Beatles’ Effect)
    May 10, 2024 – 01:34:49
  • 281: The Beatles and The Cars with Elliot Easton
    Apr 28, 2024 – 01:38:05
  • 280: All You Need is the Love You Make with Steven Gaines
    Apr 26, 2024 – 01:27:26
  • 279: The Mal Evans Project Part One with Ken Womack
    Apr 25, 2024 – 01:32:40
  • 278: An Hour With Pattie Boyd
    Mar 17, 2024 – 01:03:06
  • 277: "Mike Tree" in Nutopia with Michael Meideros
    Mar 10, 2024 – 01:42:30
  • 276 Filmtrack Olympiad: Magical Mystery Tour and Yellow Submarine
    Feb 25, 2024 – 02:00:49
  • 275: Anomalies in the Assassination of John Lennon with David Whelan
    Feb 9, 2024 – 01:45:40
  • 274: George, The Reluctant Beatle with Philip Norman
    Jan 25, 2024 – 01:20:46
  • 273: My Private Lennon with Sibbie O'Sullivan
    Jan 9, 2024 – 02:09:02
  • 272: Born At The Right Time with Ray Connolly
    Dec 25, 2023 – 01:33:10
  • 271 Here and Now with "Now and Then": a SATB Special
    Dec 8, 2023 – 04:55:33
  • 270: Top Ten Most Important/Influential Beatles Sources with Erin Weber
    Nov 16, 2023 – 02:00:34
  • 269: George Harrison in the 70s with Eoghan Lyng
    Nov 1, 2023 – 01:27:25
  • 268: Buddy Holly and The Beatles with Luther Russell
    Oct 20, 2023 – 01:58:56
  • 267: Sgt. Pepper's Guitars
    Sep 21, 2023 – 01:26:21
  • 266: Nowhere Man '23 with Robert Rosen
    Sep 17, 2023 – 01:23:20
  • 265: EMI Days with John Leckie and Friends
    Sep 2, 2023 – 01:27:50
  • 264: Harrison, Lennon: It's Also Complicated
    Aug 10, 2023 – 01:35:27
  • 263: Fab 4 On Film: The Dick Lester Films with Steve Matteo
    Jul 31, 2023 – 01:39:03
  • 262: McCartney's Musicality; Post-Beatles with Luca Perasi
    Jun 10, 2023 – 01:39:37
  • 261: Making All Things Must Pass with John Leckie
    May 28, 2023 – 01:49:14
  • 260: Tastemaker Tony King
    May 10, 2023 – 02:16:08
  • 259: Sgt. Pepper Olympiad
    May 2, 2023 – 01:39:10
  • 258: May the First - The Lost Weekend with May Pang
    Apr 8, 2023 – 01:30:22
Recent Reviews
  • BeatlesandMe
    Love the female voices! MORE PLEASE
    I can’t get over the multiple perspectives that are provided on this show. How cool is that. We need all these ideas to better understand our Beatles world…. And Robert brings that. Perfect? What is? But exploratory and curious? Yes! You do not have to like it all to appreciate the efforts. I like to know what is out there, especially if I disagree with it. I feel like I just understand the field better. I also love listen to all the first generation fans and many of the female voices! Candy Leonard, Debbie Gendler, PATTIE BOYD, Christine Feldman-Barrett, Allison Bumsted, Erin Weber… and others!!! SO MUCH ROOM FOR MORE! I really did love hearing Pattie… she felt so close!
  • DaBarrister
    Great Variety, Wide Topics
    The best thing about Something About the Beatles is that it makes me think. I have studied the Beatles to a great extent and find Robert and his guests add layers of nuance to the experience! I enjoy those whose views widely differ from mine as much as the ones who hit the nail on the head! lol How many decades can this continue? Let’s see! Cheers!
  • TecomaKC
    QANON John
    RR is a fool.
  • Samantha Antics
    Great till you invite on conspiracy theorists
    Love the pod but giving a David Whelan a platform to spread his unsubstantiated “second shooter” theory of John Lennon’s murder is a serious error in judgment.
  • arilzbilz
    the oldest, maybe the first… and still my Fave Beatles podcast!
    SATB was the first truly in depth and intelligent podcast dedicated to the many aspects of the Beatles career and impact I can remember finding. Getting down to that granular level. Love it! been listening for almost 10 years now! we are very grateful. thanks to Robert and crew <3
  • Okie 60’s Girl
    A Hard Day’s Night
    I’m listening to your podcast on a Hard Day’s Night turning 60. The comment by the gal who said she lived in Hicksville America…my family had recently moved to Loco Hills, New Mexico from northeastern Oklahoma. Loco Hills probably had a population of 200. I saw a Hard’s Night in Artesia, NM, the nearest town of any size where we shopped for groceries and clothing. I was 9 years old, and I already loved the Beatles, of course I had seen them on Ed Sullivan on our old black and white tv. I had a Beatles hair bow, fake black velveteen that had all their names in white and of course I had Beatles boots. Later on I was the first girl in Loco Hills to sport white gogo boots with fishnet stockings 😂
  • 4wyattabe
    Beatles Breakup
    Apologies if you’ve covered this theory before and I missed it. Theory: what if John pulled himself out of the Beatles because he felt his songwriting abilities were diminishing while George was coming on strong. Paul was on fire of course. Could it have entered his mind that he might become “the George” with a couple songs on each album? He wasn’t too helpful with George songs on the White Album. What if he saw a George as an incoming threat? The good looking guy who’s talking to your wife at a party. We all assume John loved his White Album songs as much as we do. But what if John didn’t love them but “only liked them”… knowing they weren’t “hit” songs in his competition with Paul. He’d already done the “No Ego thing” with LSD. If he didn’t think his songs were “Beatles’ Quality” that could explain his fear of George overtaking him in the band. In John’s mind the songs George contributed to Abbey Road might have really triggered self-doubt. If John goes solo he can avoid direct competition. I know you can shoot holes in this theory… but at least give it a little thought. LOVE YOUR SHOW!!!
  • JakeHansen69
    informative
    the podcast is informative but the host comes across as smug a lot. I wish he still had his old co-host. He was a good balance. Also I think he over-edits a lot of the episodes. Sometimes less is more. I know he’s trying to smooth it out meticulously but because of that you can oftentimes hear multiple edits in one or two sentences. You can tell that because the ambient background noise changes abruptly from edit to edit. It’s not a dealbreaker but def noticeable. If such small sections of audio require THAT much editing, maybe it would be better to just re-record that part?
  • Kristian Goddard
    Essential Beatles Content
    I’ve become pretty obsessed with this podcast over the past couple of years. It has seen me through many long afternoons at work and has added to my enjoyment of The Beatles work. Robert is a great host; knowledgeable and witty. If you’re looking for engaging and balanced Beatle content then SATB is the podcast for you.
  • Freerangemink
    I just can't
    I can't handle the ad-breaks, often mid-song or mid-sentence. It's maddening! Unsubscribing after six years. :-(
  • DarthCat4QTip
    Great Podcast - Only One Gripe…
    I don’t give a flying fuuq about Robert and the guest always nostalgia tripping about the first time they heard [x song] from [x compilation] from [x record store in BFE]. I’m trying to gain some insight into the greatest band of all time, not hear about how your big bro left out a scratched up copy of Sgt. Pepper with some brick weed on top, and it blew your little freshman mind. I DON’T CARE. Otherwise, pretty great though.
  • Birk Shmilby
    Best Beatles Pod
    I binged nearly all these episodes after I was recommended it by my biggest Beatles fanatic friend. Robert has the all the info and the best takes. Also, really appreciate his vocal style and delivery; chill and friendly. Winter of Discontent episodes really prepared me to be the overly-informed person while watching the Get Back doc with friends. Looking forward to an episode on Now and Then! Thanks for everything!
  • One Life CW
    Best Beatles Podcast!
    Robert knows his facts and backs up much of his discussion with documented analysis. I didn’t grow up with the Beatles, but listening to this show has given me a greater appreciation of the their craftsmanship as songwriters and performers. As a history student I appreciate the approach to discussing a topic that has had its issues of myth verses truth over the decades. Thanks Robert for being a balanced and accurate discussion to Beatle fans.
  • Corskittles
    great podcast, hard to listen to <3
    i love this podcast! as a younger beatles fan in her 20s, i’m loving this! unfortunately, the episodes seem to skip around and it makes it really hard to listen to. i really hope this gets fixed because i love this it’s very informative! but the skipping around makes it incomprehensible <3 peace and love i can’t wait till this is fixed :)
  • Woke up, got out of bed
    Great show!
    Love your show, always enjoy listening to each new podcast and learning something new. Also like that you have a balanced, fair approach…don’t always see that with Beatles podcasts.
  • Serene Tami
    Love the show. Hate the broken playback.
    Commercials always starting and resuming mid-sentence, parts repeating... it's difficult listening and I often find myself giving up now. I don't know if it's the show or Apple, but I really hope it gets fixed.
  • jimlenihan
    Playback Glitches
    Does anyone else have trouble with segments of this podcast being out of sequence with abrupt starts and stops? Update: another episode, another glitch. kinda of ridiculous that this problem still persists. Come on Robert! how about fixing this problem for the sake of your loyal listeners!
  • Ghgfgyyhh
    Excellent Beatles inside scoops!
    Remarkably insightful and very educational and really very fair handed where sometimes you have to be careful because the people aren't there to defend themselves and so forth but a lot of substantiation is given for statements that are made, and I think this is one outstanding podcast!
  • james8008
    The best Beatles podcast!
    Still the best Beatles podcast, but the playback glitches on Apple pods makes it frustrating at times. I would recommend just going to the SATB website and listen from there.
  • Airrrrick
    Amazing podcast, but playback errors
    Basically a perfect Beatles podcast, with tons of fascinating isolated tracks and alt takes. The only thing is, each episode skips ahead out of nowhere (seemingly around the 40:00 minute mark)
  • Pauly Software
    Love the podcast but…..
    I’m encountering a lot of “editing glitches” as one previous reviewer commented. Someone please give these episodes a listen before posting. They’re all over the place! Otherwise, I’ve really been enjoying the podcast. Tons of great, well researched content. Keep up the good work but please proof the episodes before posting.
  • Twodoz
    Editing glitches?
    I enjoy this podcast. I just finished listening to the Ray Connolly episode and there were lots of bits that repeated and were out of order. I’m not sure if it’s editing, technical issues or whatever. Not trying to be a whiner but wanted to bring it to your attention. Thanks for the informative entertainment!
  • Joshman68
    Great! IF you can get past the intro
    I’m a lifelong Beatles fan, which means I’ve been listening to them for over 40 years. I’ve read dozens of books, own every record, know the history inside and out etc. That said, this podcast is fine, IF you can get through the insanely lengthy, pointless, self-serving, cliche ridden, introduction of every single show. As I write this, a nearly 14 minute introduction is on right now from the latest episode. I’m done with it for that reason. There are better Beatles podcasts, which are equally knowledgeable, done with humor, because the hosts realize that this is supposed to be fun-not a gravely important topic with an even more self-important host.
  • Thorn 3663
    Best Beatles Podcast
    This is the best, most informative and most accurate Beatles podcast out there today. Robert is very knowledgeable and has excellent guests and topics. It is most enjoyable and I highly recommend it to any Beatles fan
  • Robert Metcalf
    Great Podcast! Robert Metcalf
    If you are a Beatles super fan like me, this is the podcast for you! It covers everything! Robert and Company deep dive Here, There and Everywhere to inform you about things you never knew! 🎸🥁🎤🌹
  • NurseBecque
    Excellent podcast
    This podcast takes you into what was the heart of the Beatles world. It’s fun and informative for even the most hard-core Beatles fan.
  • mltrieu
    Wonderful
    I’ve listened to this podcast for years. One of my favorite things. Robert is great: he is thoughtful, knowledgeable, and unbiased. He has great guests. I highly recommend this great podcast. Thank you RR for all your work
  • Laarubh
    I‘ve learned so much
    Plus I love Robert‘s crush on Erin Webber Smith and love a slight George bias.
  • oboejim
    Impressive Body of Work
    Recently found Robert and SATB through Twitter and following up on Peter Jackson appearances pre the Get Back release. I have been binging on SATB since December 2021 and taking it all in. Robert’s level of commitment and research is outstanding. I learn something new every episode and overall the podcast makes me appreciate the Beatles even more and I have been a fan since the February 1964 Ed Sullivan appearance. Thank you Robert.
  • Arkie in CT
    No 50th Ann’y Abbey Road retrospective? Huh?
    I mean we got Yellow Submarine at 50, but not Abbey Road? A lot of us feel it’s the best of their albums.The lack of a thorough going over it of it, especially of the long medley, appears to be a glaring omission. Maybe the principal of this podcast doesn’t care for that album? Inconceivable, but it’s hard to account otherwise for this gaping hole in Blackburn Lancashire.
  • JackHaynie2042
    Fantastic content and presentation
    I stumbled upon this show following release of the Get Back. I wanted to hear what people were saying and this podcast was the jackpot! Three insightful episodes with wonderful content. I liked it so much I started scrolling backwards and found the pre-release episodes but didn’t realize PJ was the guest! Just awesome. I will listen to all six multiple times!
  • Joe Gorman
    Exceptional
    Perfect show for like minded music lovers who cannot get enough of the Beatles
  • Pitcho20
    Incisive and worth it for big Beatles fans
    Extremely well researched and great guests.
  • erikrocks!
    Great Beatles pod
    One of the trifecta of brilliant Beatles podcasts, along with I Am The EggPod and Nothing Is Real. Lots of great info, along with knowledgeable guests. Both incarnations of the show are great.
  • DeJunko
    better than the others but has some flaws
    As far as Beatles podcasts go, this is about as good as it gets. It's a pretty low bar, though, because most of the others are unlistenable. I do miss the early days, when Richard was a co-host; he added some balance that is missing a little now. Pros: -Robert is extremely knowledgeable and has an uncanny ability to recall specific dates and other details. More than just trivia, this guy is like an encyclopedia. -He doesn't dumb it down. This podcast is for the serious fan, and when Robert and his guests make some casual reference to Trident or Royal Iris or Jimmie Nicol, you'd better know what they're talking about because they're not going to stop to explain it. -Robert and his guests rarely talk over each other or crack themselves up, which is usually the hallmark of an amateur podcast and, for me, a deal breaker. Cons: -Far too much time is spent on the mythology, backstory, and personal drama of the Beatles, leaving relatively little on the music itself. Unfortunately, this is far too common with Beatles podcasts. The only one I've found not to be guilty of this is "Producing the Beatles". -Some of the topics are, at best, Beatles-adjacent. I mean, do we really need a longform interview with Mary Hopkin's daughter? -The audio quality, particularly Robert's mic during the interviews, is often horrible. -The editing can be weird, like the unnecessarily long fade-outs. But more than that, this podcast needs a fresh set of editing ears -- someone who can identify and chop out sections that run on too long without saying anything new. -Robert is so far up his own backside, he has no idea how poorly he comes off.
  • Eee Em Bee
    He Does Know…
    Something About The Beatles
  • SoulDriver
    Favorite Beatle podcast
    This stands out from several very good Beatle podcasts due to the commentary by the host and his guests. In addition he plays great Beatle music. Varies topics from history to music and includes solo years. Look forward to new podcasts in 2022. I did like the old co host but his eclectic guests have made the transition a smooth one.
  • Kacki
    Great for those who love context
    SATB has been a goldmine of deep dives of topics I’ve wanted to know more about. This podcast doesn’t pretend the Beatles are flawless. It adds needed context to remind listeners the Beatles are 4 humans who’s personalities, talents, relationships, life events, ego, culture, substances, and history all come together in this perfect storm to make and break the Beatles.
  • Chris K Sager
    Best Beatles podcast
    Each episode features knowledgeable, in depth conversation and interviews that provides different perspectives and analysis on a variety of Beatles subjects.
  • apv9
    The Best of the Best
    As a long term Beatles fan I find this podcast the most thoughtful , informative and fair analysis of the cultural phenomenon known as the Beatles. In depth interviews including Peter Jackson combined with resources makes this the best of the best of the numerous Beatle fan podcasts out there
  • dpt1213
    The best
    This is thhe absolute best pod put there for serious fans.
  • Beachvbguy
    Gone far downhill
    This is another case of a podcast that ran of of new material ages ago. The first cohost was much better than the guy who's left. Very onanistic
  • Bloppo after 909
    Awesome!
    I love this podcast. Robert Rodriguez is a wealth of Beatle information, and he communicates in a clear, logical way that keeps me listening and wanting more. I grew up with the Beatles and thought I was well informed, but I have found out from listening to “Something About The Beatles”, that there is a mountain of information that I haven’t ever heard before. Thank You Robert! Please keep the podcasts coming!
  • tomcruisefan
    best
    I’ve been listening for years. Such a great podcast and getting better all the time. Peter Jackson podcasts are the cherry on top. Some of my favs are Chris Thomas, all the Jeff Martin (Simpsons writer!) ones, Jerry Hammack episodes. Too many to mention! Please keep going!!
  • uytrdf
    Perhaps the best Beatle podcast out there….
    And I subscribe to about a dozen of them. Robert offers intelligent interviews with quality guests week after week. His devotion to the podcast is very clear. He routinely presents a high caliber show and the topics are always unique and informative. It wasn’t always this way before he rebooted the podcast.
  • mountart2
    Too Paul biased
    Every episode is Paul biased and slams and slogs off John and the episodes are way too long and self self-aggrandizing.
  • Shawkey89
    Top shelf quality!
    I really do enjoy this show. The host, Mr. Rodriguez really knows not only something about the Beatles, but quite a lot about the Beatles. I enjoy soaking in the details he and his guests provides. I recommend the show to any hard core Beatles Fanatics.
  • gen z rocker
    Transcendent
    I once believed I was a Beatles expert. Despite being born too late to even remember George being alive, I knew the majority of their albums, read a handful of books and had staunch opinions on the merit of various “deep cuts.” Then, I discovered this show on a whim. SATB is an unparalleled podcast that is both insatiably entertaining and highly informative, expanding my comprehension of the Beatles twentyfold. It exposed me to many flaws in the bands mythology, unique primary sources, and the greatness of the solo careers, among other things. Now that, to quote Socrates, I know that I know nothing, I have endless excitement for the journey of discovery that this program provides. Robert (and Richard), hats off to you.
  • Ralph and Martha Wright
    Holy crap the latest episode was tedious!
    The Plastic Ono episode. Looooong clips of people screaming, extremely poor quality jams. Wow, bottom of the barrel sludge. Seems like he’s just padding out the running time on this episode. Most of the episodes are FAR better!
  • Camel Fighter
    Fantastic
    Perfect blend of factual background, artistic interpretation, and music. R&R do a tremendous job of setting the stage and letting the music speak for itself. Their knowledge of all things Beatles is unrivaled.
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