The Walrus Was Paul

It's been 60 years since the release of The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night movie and the ensuing soundtrack. It was released in the summer of 1964 and was a huge hit. Of course, the music was also a huge hit. In fact, the movie had made a profit even before it was released because United Artists (the producers of the movie and, importantly, holders of the soundtrack rights) had advance orders of over 2-million in the U.S. alone for the soundtrack album.In that spirit, I'm re-releasing an episode from January of 2021 that I did with musician and producer Tim Bovaconti. Tim's a great guy and a very much in demand player on the Canadian music scene. His love of The Beatles and their music shines through in his words. Enjoy.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Series Four of The Walrus Was Paul podcast kicks off with Edmonton-based music creator Jay Sparrow talking with host Paul Romanuk about a couple of sides of The Beatles' 1968 masterpiece The Beatles (aka The White Album). This is a two-part episode. This episode covers Side One and the next episode will centre on Side Three.You can find out more about Jay Sparrow at his webpage. He also has a YouTube channel.Check out his great new album Hard 8, wherever you stream your music.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This is the 2nd of a two part episode with Edmonton-based music creator Jay Sparrow talking with host Paul Romanuk about a couple of sides of The Beatles‘ 1968 masterpiece The Beatles (aka The White Album). This is a two-part episode. The previous episode covered Side One. This episode covers Side Three.You can find out more about Jay Sparrow at his webpage. He also has a YouTube channel.You can also find him on Insta and FB.Hey! Be sure to check out his great new album Hard Eight, wherever you stream your music.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this "break from the normal format" episode, host Paul Romanuk talks with songwriter and musician Drew Arnott (of the 1980s Canadian band Strange Advance) about The Beatles' use of the Mellotron, a cutting edge instrument in the 1960s.Catch up with Drew and Strange Advance at their website: strangeadvance.comThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Canadian Beatles Historian Piers Hemmingsen talks with host Paul Romanuk about the band's Canadian history and a few of The Beatles tunes that mean the most to him. Piers also discusses his definitive account of The Beatles early days in Canada: The Beatles In Canada: The Origins of Beatlemania, and, also, his upcoming companion volume to that book, The Beatles In Canada: The Evolution, 1964 to 1970.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Veteran Canadian session drummer, and longtime drummer with The Gordon Lightfoot Band, Barry Keane talks about some of his favourite Ringo Starr drum moments. Barry also shares some stories, with host Paul Romanuk, about what it was like to be on the drum stool behind Canadian musical giant Gordon Lightfoot for almost 50 years.Find out what The Lightfoot Band is up to here.The homepage for this podcast is romycast.com40jOibH5M2hDpckTdssgThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This is Part I of a two part episode as host Paul Romanuk talks with the multiple award winning Canadian writer and arranger of commercial music, Robert Armes, about George Martin's incredible contributions to The Beatles' work as an arranger and orchestrator. In his prime, Robert worked with the cream of Canadian session players to bring his compositions to life - commercial jingles, television themes, movie music and music for big events and theatre. He's also written hundreds of songs of his own. You can find out more about him here and listen to some of his music here.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This is Part II of a two part episode. Host Paul Romanuk talks with multiple award winning Canadian writer and arranger of commercial music (as well as composing and performing his own music), Robert Armes, about George Martin's incredible contributions to The Beatles' work as an arranger and orchestrator. In his prime, Robert worked with the best of the best of Canadian session players to bring his commercial compositions and arrangements to life. Aside from jingles and his own music, Robert has also written television themes, movie music and music for big live events and theatre. You can find out more about Robert at his website robertarmesmusic.com and you can listen to some of his music here.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

We dig into the archive for this episode, featuring the great Steven Page (founding member of The Barenaked Ladies, solo artist and part of The TransCanada Highwaymen supergroup). Steven talks to host Paul Romanuk about Paul McCartney's 1982 number one album Tug Of War.Here's an interesting interview McCartney did for his Club Sandwich newsletter in 1982, where he talks extensively about Tug Of War. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

It's that time of the year! In this year's edition of The Walrus Was Paul podcast Christmas Special, host Paul Romanuk takes a look back at The Beatles' 1964 - sixty years ago and the year they broke in America. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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....This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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 @TimsGarageRecordingThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacyPodcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy