To kick off Series Three of The Walrus Was Paul, it's the Third Annual The Walrus Was Paul Christmas Special! In this episode we hear from musicians Barry Keane, Jose Contreras, Jerry Leger, Craig Northey and Jane Gowan as they relate their Beatles themed Christmas memories. Host Paul Romanuk also talks about his memories of The Beatles' music and the Christmas season.

In the first episode of Series Three of The Walrus Was Paul, musician, singer and songwriter Jane Gowan talks with host Paul Romanuk about John Lennon's 1971 number one album Imagine. Jane also talks about her recent work with her band, The Real Shade, and also her work as a podcaster.The Walrus Was Paul on Facebook

In this episode of The Walrus Was Paul, one of Canada's most talented and respected singer/songwriter/arrangers on the indy scene, Jose Contreras, talks with host Paul Romanuk about the 1963 Beatles record With The Beatles. Jose also talks about his band, By Divine Right, and their great new album Otto Motto.You can find out loads about By Divine Right by visiting their website or, better yet, their bandcamp page.Content Notes:At one point in the episode we talk about the cover By Divine Right did of the Depeche Mode album Speak and Spell, including their homage to the cover art. Here is the original cover art. Here is By Divine Right's version.We also refer to the cover of their newest album. Here is what it looks like. We also talk about the iconic cover art of With The Beatles, photographed by Robert Freeman.

In this episode of The Walrus Was Paul, veteran session drummer Barry Keane talks with host Paul Romanuk about an album he loves and the memories that go with it - the 1964 North American release by The Beatles, Something New. Barry also talks about his amazing career and being on the drum kit with Gordon Lightfoot for over 40 years.You can read Barry Keane's full bio right here.SHOW NOTESHere is the cover of the Something New album.It was taken during the recording of one of the Ed Sullivan episodes The Beatles performed on. We also talk about the "hype copy" on the back of the album. Classic 1960s North American stuff.We also talk about Dave Dexter Jr., the 1960s Capitol Records, North America, executive who was primarily responsible for the "Frankenstein-ing" of The Beatles UK catalogue for US release. You can read more about that here. There is also a fascinating discussion on the well respected Steve Hoffman Music Forum about whether Dexter deserves credit or derision for his work on those North American Beatles records.Barry has played on many big hits during his drumming career. He mentions Canadian singer/songwriter Ian Thomas and his 1973 hit Painted Ladies. The record charted in both Canada and the US. Here is the song, with Barry on the skins....

Moe Berg - a Canadian indie music icon and front man of The Pursuit Of Happiness - displays his Beatle chops, chatting with host Paul Romanuk about The Beatles' 1966 North American release Yesterday And Today. EPISODE NOTES-Find out all things Moe Berg at his personal website, moeberg.ca I highly recommend his blog (which he doesn't contribute to nearly enough!) for some great insights into music and culture.-Here's a link to The Pursuit Of Happiness website.-Here's a link to The Pursuit Of Happiness Wikipedia page. -We talk about the infamous Beatles "Butcher Cover" for the album. Here's a link to the original cover art.And the story behind the cover fiasco.-Here's the crap cover they ended up with.-We talk about a band Moe worked with called The Ambers. Here's a link to a YouTube playlist of the album we were talking about.

Host Paul Romanuk talks with singer/songwriter/musician Jerry Leger about John Lennon's 1973 album Mind Games.EPISODE NOTES:You can find out about all things Jerry Leger at his official web site jerryleger.com Anything we discuss about his music, album covers and so on is on that site.More information on host Paul Romanuk and The Walrus Was Paul podcast at Paul's official website romycast.com Here's a link to a television commercial that was done in 1973 to promote Mind Games. I believe that's John Lennon you can hear laughing in the background.We talk about John Lennon appearing on a syndicated US talk show - The Mike Douglas Show - where Lennon apparently came up with the idea for the song Only People. I have clear memories of running home from school that week to see John and Yoko on TV.We talk about legendary US session drummer Jim Keltner. Here's a great interview he did with Ross Garfield (aka The Drum Doctor).The album was recorded at The Record Plant in NYC. It's long gone. Here's a photo of Lennon in the control room. The guy with him in the yellow shirt is legendary engineer Roy Cicala.

Musician and Musicologist Mike Daley joins host Paul Romanuk to talk about The Beatles much bootlegged and sort of, kind of, semi-officially released live recordings from The Star-Club in Hamburg, West Germany in 1962.SHOW NOTES:-we talk about it, but for a much more detailed account of the Star-Club tapes and how this whole mess came to be, check out this page-there are several versions of these tapes, the one we talk about was a Canadian release called Pickwick Star Club, Vol. 2. Here is a YouTube playlist that Mike put together of the version we talk about in this episode and the corresponding track order.-here's a page of images of The Star-Club from "back in the day". The building it was in burned down in 1987.-we talk about the so-called de-mixing technology that might be used to restore the audio that exists from the Star-Club shows. The best version of this technology as of this writing is the one that was used by director Peter Jackson for The Beatles Get Back film from 2021. It was also used to de-mix the instruments on the recent re-issue of Revolver, that were locked in on one track. Here's an article that explains how the technology works.-Here's Mike Daley's website: https://mikedaleymusic.com/

In this episode, classical pianist and artistic director of The Art Of Time Ensemble, Andrew Burashko, talks with host Paul Romanuk about The Beatles genre bending 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Andrew and Paul also discuss The Art Of Time Ensemble's reinterpretation of the album in a series of concerts in 2012.EPISODE NOTESYou can find out more about The Art Of Time Ensemble here.Here is a review (by Brad Wheeler) of the Sgt. Pepper's shows that The Art Of Time Ensemble performed in Toronto in 2012.Here is more information on Andrew Burashko.

Part Two of classical pianist and artistic director of The Art Of Time Ensemble, Andrew Burashko's conversation with host Paul Romanuk about The Beatles' 1967 classic, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Andrew and Paul also talk about The Art Of Time Ensemble's reinterpretation of the album in a series of concerts in 2012.EPISODE NOTESMore information of The Art Of Time Ensemble can be found here.I found this review, by Globe And Mail entertainment writer Brad Wheeler, of the shows that The Art Of Time Ensemble did in 2012.Here's some more information on Andrew Burashko.In this episode I talk about the studio set up at Abbey Road (then EMI Recording Studios). Here's a great history of the place.We talk about the crazy night in Studio One when the orchestral crescendo for A Day In The Life was recorded. Here's some video footage of the night.Here's a review, from The Guardian newspaper in 1967, of Sgt. Pepper's LHCB. Kind of a fun read and window into the thoughts of the time RE: pop music and The Beatles.

Musician and producer Tim Bovaconti talks with host Paul Romanuk about the 1970 album by John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band Live Peace In Toronto. The album was recorded at Varsity Stadium in Toronto, Canada, and featured Lennon, Ono, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman and Alan White.EPISODE NOTES:-The performance was part of the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival - held just three weeks after Woodstock. This festival is a story unto itself, Lennon's performance aside. Here's a link to a great website that tells the story.-Filmaker D.A. Pennebaker (who did the famous Bob Dylan doc Don't Look Back) produced a film of the concert called Sweet Toronto.-Here's some info on the man who designed the cover art for the album, John Kosh. He was early in his career in 1970, but went on to design some iconic album covers.-Here's a link to the piece in The Guardian newspaper that I reference in regards to The Beatles' plans for late 1969 and going forward. The piece centres around research done by Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn.-Tim Bovaconti doesn't have a website, but you can follow him on Instagram at the handles @TimBovaconti OR @TimsGarageRecording

Canadian indie music icon Stephen Stanley (ex-Lowest Of The Low, Stephen Stanley Band) talks about some of his favourite "Beatles guitar moments" with host Paul Romanuk.EPISODE NOTESHere's the "album" Stephen has put together of his favourite Beatles guitar moments.Side OneAnd I Love Her (Feb 1964) A Hard Day’s NightA Hard Day’s Night (April 1964) A Hard Day’s NightYou’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away (February 1965) Help!Day Tripper (October 1965) (single)Norwegian Wood (October 1965) Rubber SoulHello, Goodbye (November 1967) Magical Mystery TourSide TwoBlackbird (June 1968) White AlbumDear Prudence (August 1968) White AlbumHelter Skelter (September 1968) White AlbumI Want You (She’s So Heavy) (August 1969) Abbey RoadHere Comes the Sun (September 1969) Abbey RoadI’ve Got A Feeling (January 1969) Let It Be-The Stephen Stanley Band has an indiegogo campaign on the go to raise funds to help with the cost of finishing up and releasing their new album Before The Collapse Of The Hive. Here's a link to the page if you'd like to help out.-You can find out what The Stephen Stanley Band is up to right here-There are numerous pages on The Beatles' guitars. Here's a link to a good overview that appeared on the Guitar World website of the guitars the Fabs used during their recording career together.-shoutout to musician Chris Bennett for his loan of the original UK pressing of Help! as well as the vintage, 1962, Gretsch Tennessean for the Stephen Stanley episode photo. A note of trivia: that's the same model of Gretsch that George Harrison used on the Help! album.

Canadian indie music icon Stephen Stanley (ex-Lowest Of The Low, Stephen Stanley Band) talks about some of his favourite "Beatles guitar moments" with host Paul Romanuk. This episode is the second of a two-part episode. You can find Part I wherever you get your podcasts.EPISODE NOTESHere's the "album" Stephen has put together of his favourite Beatles guitar moments.Side OneAnd I Love Her (Feb 1964) A Hard Day’s NightA Hard Day’s Night (April 1964) A Hard Day’s NightYou’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away (February 1965) Help!Day Tripper (October 1965) (single)Norwegian Wood (October 1965) Rubber SoulHello, Goodbye (November 1967) Magical Mystery TourSide TwoBlackbird (June 1968) White AlbumDear Prudence (August 1968) White AlbumHelter Skelter (September 1968) White AlbumI Want You (She’s So Heavy) (August 1969) Abbey RoadHere Comes the Sun (September 1969) Abbey RoadI’ve Got A Feeling (January 1969) Let It Be-The Stephen Stanley Band has an indiegogo campaign on the go to raise funds to help with the cost of finishing up and releasing their new album Before The Collapse Of The Hive. Here's a link to the page if you'd like to help out.-You can find out what The Stephen Stanley Band is up to right here-There are numerous pages on The Beatles' guitars. Here's a link to a good overview that appeared on the Guitar World website of the guitars the Fabs used during their recording career together.-Stephen talks about singing with one of his music heroes, Billy Bragg. Billy is one of the great social activist singer/songwriters of all time. Here's more information on him and his work.-Stephen talks about playing on an amp during sessions with Lowest Of The Low in Vancouver that was used by John Lennon during The Beatles Cavern Club days. Here's a page with lots of info on what gear The Beatles used through their careers.-shoutout to musician Chris Bennett for his loan of the original UK pressing of Help! as well as the vintage, 1962, Gretsch Tennessean for the Stephen Stanley episode photo. A note of trivia: that's the same model of Gretsch that George Harrison used on the Help! album.

Grammy and Juno Award winning singer/songwriter Dan Hill talks, with host Paul Romanuk, about some of his favourite tracks from The Beatles White Album.EPISODE NOTES:-you can find out more about Dan and his music at his website: danhill.com-Dan's most well-known song is 1977's "Sometimes When We Touch". The song was a global hit record and has been used in countless movies and TV episodes. We talk about the song in this episode, and here is a lengthy article (from CBC) where Dan talks more about his biggest hit.-Dan's parents (Daniel G. Hill and Donna Hill) were both social activists. Here's a link to an online exhibit about Daniel Hill that was curated by his son (and Dan's brother) Lawrence. It's excellent.-Dan is also a prolific writer. He's been published in numerous magazines and newspapers. Here's a link to a page that showcases some of his finest writing.

Grammy and Juno Award winning singer/songwriter Dan Hill talks, with host Paul Romanuk, about some of his favourite tracks from The Beatles White Album. This is Part II of a two-part episode.EPISODE NOTES:-you can find out more about Dan and his music at his website: danhill.com-Dan's most well-known song is 1977's "Sometimes When We Touch". The song was a global hit record and has been used in countless movies and TV episodes. We talk about the song in Part I of this episode, and here is a lengthy article (from CBC) where Dan talks more about his biggest hit.-we touch on Dan's appearance on the 1985 charity single Tears Are Not Enough. The song was the number one single in Canada that year and featured, at the time, a veritable Who's Who of Canadian music. Here's a good article, from 2015, that looked back on the recording.-Dan's parents (Daniel G. Hill and Donna Hill) were both social activists. Here's a link to an online exhibit about Daniel Hill that was curated by his son (and Dan's brother) Lawrence. It's excellent.-Dan is also a prolific writer. He's been published in numerous magazines and newspapers. Here's a link to a page that showcases some of his finest writing.

Newfoundland singer/songwriter Chris Picco talks with host Paul Romanuk about 1964's Beatles For Sale album.SHOW NOTES:-Chris has a great new record out, Split Down The Middle, and you can find out more about it and Chris' other work at his website.-we talk about what a manic year 1964 - the year they recorded this album - was for The Beatles. Here's a month-by-month, day-by-day list of what they were up to in 1964 (from The Beatles Bible)-Chris refers to Newfoundland musical giant Ron Hynes. Here's a link to his Wikipedia page

Newfoundland based, Canadian, singer/songwriter Chris Picco talks with host Paul Romanuk about 1964's Beatles For Sale album. This is the second part of a two-part episode.SHOW NOTES:-Chris has a really good new record out called Split Down The Middle, and you can find out more about Chris and the record at his website.-we talk about a song Chris wrote and put out on his first EP (2004's The Passenger). The song is called Wood 'N Steel. Good luck finding the EP. Here's the link to it on Discogs-we talk about the creative group Perfect Day, who have done almost all of Chris' album artwork as well as that of The Long Distance Runners. Here's a link to their website, where you can see some examples of their great work. Here's the artwork for The Long Distance Runners album Elements (it was nominated for a Juno Award in 2016). Here's the artwork for Chris' EP The Beach, which I thought was pretty cool as well.

Songwriter and singer James Clark talks with host Paul Romanuk about The Beatles' 1969 soundtrack album for the animated film Yellow Submarine.EPISODE NOTES-you can find out about James and his band, James Clark Institute, at their website-here's a good BBC article on the animated film that went with the album and how it resonates on so many different levels and is, in the eyes of many, a cult classic-we talk about one of James Clark Institute's songs - Marcella Never Got The News. The song is about a 1959 float plane crash in Saskatchewan, in which the pilot died and the plane was never found. That is, until July of 2018, when the wreck was discovered at the bottom of a lake. On the same day the discovery was made, the wife of the deceased pilot passed away. She died before getting news of the finding. The song is based on a book, Into The Mist, by Victoria Hetherington. Here's a CBC article that fills in some details.-we talk about The Beatles song Hey Bulldog. It was an interesting song that The Beatles were filmed, in the studio, creating and recording. There are very few films of them actually working in the studio. Here's a link to some of the film clips from that day.-speaking of films of The Beatles working, here's a link to the short BBC film on the creation of the song All You Need Is Love for the Our World worldwide television broadcast of June, 1967, where the song was premiered.

Part II of host Paul Romanuk's conversation with musician and singer/songwriter James Clark (aka James Clark Institute) about The Beatles' 1969 album Yellow Submarine.EPISODE NOTES:-you can find out about James and his band, James Clark Institute right here.-Side Two of Yellow Submarine consisted of The Beatles' brilliant producer and arranger George Martin's score for the animated film. Here's a look at George Martin and his work. I also highly recommend Kenneth Womack's two outstanding books on Martin and his life and work: Maximum Volume (Vol I) and Sound Pictures (Vol II). Both are widely available.-here's the cover artwork for Yellow Submarine-here's the cover artwork for James Clark Institute's The Colour Of Happy-here's the excellent video The James Clark Institute did for their song Marcella Never Got The News (directed by Sean Ryan). Hey, watch for the "Beatle like" false ending to the song.

Country music star Raquel Cole talks with host Paul Romanuk about The Beatles' 1969 #1 album Abbey Road. Also, lots of talk about her excellent songwriting.EPISODE NOTES:-find out about all things Raquel Cole at her fine, splashy, website.-here's an article from 2020 from Raquel's hometown paper in Vernon, BC, about "hoping to make her hometown proud with some big opportunities."-Raquel, who is from Vernon, now calls Nashville her home. It is the epicentre of the country music world and she seems to fit right in. She talks about the move to Nashville in this piece. -found this, very cool, recording of a 1969 interview that George Harrison did with music writer Ritchie York. George goes through Abbey Road track-by-track. It's a great listen.

In the second part of a two-part conversation, country artist Raquel Cole talks with host Paul Romanuk about Side Two of The Beatles 1969 #1 album Abbey Road. Lots of talk about Raquel's songs and songwriting as well.EPISODE NOTES:-find out what Raquel is up to at her website-Raquel talks about her solo work, but also about her work with a trio, The Woods. Here's a link to one of their videos.-here is a 1969 review of Abbey Road from The Guardian newspaper by critic Geoffrey Cannon. In it he refers to Abbey Road as "a slight matter. The Beatles have lost the desire to touch us." Hmm. That didn't age well, did it?