Kenneth Womack

Everything Fab Four

#105 in Music Interviews · 🇫🇷 #115 in Music Interviews · 🇮🇪

About the show

Everything Fab Four is a podcast from Wonderwall Communications and Salon focused on fun and intelligent stories about the enduring cultural influence of the Beatles. No other band, or popular entity for that matter, has had the worldwide impact the Beatles have. They are part of our human fabric; they created music that still brings people together. Across continents and generations, there are individual Beatles stories to tell, and in each episode, renowned music historian, author, and Beatles scholar Kenneth Womack hosts a special guest to share theirs.

Newest episodes

Episode 75: Michael Lindsay-Hogg on directing the Beatles and the Stones

Oct 31, 2026 51 min

In this episode, host Ken Womack talks to pioneering director Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the man behind early music video and promotional film production for rock legends such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Having discovered his love of rock and roll in the 1950s, Michael began directing British television in his early twenties, including the live rock show "Ready Steady Go!" During the ensuing years, he directed groundbreaking promotional short films and music videos for the Beatles, including such songs as "Paperback Writer," "Rain," "Hey Jude," and "Revolution." Over the years, he has also directed music videos for a host of classic Rolling Stones songs, as well as the TV special "The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus" in 1968. In 1969, he helmed the Beatles documentary "Let It Be," which featured the band's famous Rooftop Concert. Michael will be joining us via Zoom for a discussion at our 2026 "Everything Fab Four" Fest!

Episode 74: The Cyrkle on touring with the Beatles in 1966 and joining us for EF4Fest

Oct 19, 2026 39 min

In this episode, host Ken Womack talks to Don Dannemann and Pat McLoughlin of the American rock band, The Cyrkle. During the 1960s, the Cyrkle scored two Top 40 hits in "Red Rubber Ball" and "Turn-Down Day." The band was formed by guitarists and lead singers Don Dannemann and Tom Dawes, who met while studying at Lafayette College. The group's big break came when they were discovered by attorney Nat Weiss, who recommend them to Brian Epstein, the famed manager of the Beatles. Produced by John Simon, the band's unique spelling of their name came at the behest of John Lennon. In 1966, they played 14 days as the opening act on the Beatles' final American tour, including the August 29th concert at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. In 2014, the Cyrkle roared back to life after McLoughlin pursued the idea and with Dannemann having re-joined the group, the band continues to perform across the United States and will be a part of our 2026 "Everything Fab Four" Fest!

Episode 73 (Bonus): Brian Kehew & Kevin Ryan on the Beatles' Recordings and Sir George Martin's Scores

Aug 11, 2026 39 min

In this episode host Ken Womack talks to Brian Kehew and Kevin Ryan, acclaimed American audio historians, recording engineers, producers, and writers whose work has helped establish a definitive technical history of the Beatles' recording career. They are best known as the co-authors of Recording The Beatles. Originally published in 2006, it is an exhaustive, landmark study of the equipment, microphones, recording techniques, and studio practices that shaped the Beatles' music at Abbey Road. Their latest book is George Martin: The Scores, a three-volume collection reproducing Martin's handwritten orchestral manuscripts, including scores associated with songs such as "Yesterday" and "A Day in the Life," with a foreword by Paul McCartney.

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All episodes

Episode 75: Michael Lindsay-Hogg on directing the Beatles and the Stones

Oct 31, 2026 51 min

Episode 74: The Cyrkle on touring with the Beatles in 1966 and joining us for EF4Fest

Oct 19, 2026 39 min

Episode 73 (Bonus): Brian Kehew & Kevin Ryan on the Beatles' Recordings and Sir George Martin's Scores

Aug 11, 2026 39 min

Episode 72: "Queen of Percussion" Sheila E on Prince and saying yes to Ringo Starr

Jun 16, 2026 39 min

In our Season 8 finale, host Ken Womack welcomes the incomparable, Grammy Award-winning "Queen of Percussion" Sheila E! They discuss how her growing up in a musical family with "the hippest parents in the world" led to her luminous career that included the hits "A Love Bizarre" and "The Glamorous Life," plus working with Prince, Ringo Starr and a host of other artists.

Episode 71: Nat & Alex Wolff on their Beatles upbringing and seeing Sir Paul

Jun 2, 2026 32 min

In this episode host Ken Womack welcomes brothers, duo and self-proclaimed "Beatles fanatics" Nat and Alex Wolff. Raised in a show business family, they discuss how they were introduced to the Beatles' music before they were even born, how they went from starring in the hit Nickelodeon TV show "The Naked Brothers Band" to launching their own musical careers, working with Billie Eilish, their new album and tour, plus much more.

Episode 70: Greg Evigan on being "possessed" by the Beatles and recording at Abbey Road

May 19, 2026 36 min

In this episode, host Ken Womack welcomes actor, musician and composer Greg Evigan, best known for his roles on the classic TV shows "B.J. and the Bear" and "My Two Dads." He began his career in the Broadway production of "Jesus Christ Superstar," followed by playing the lead role of Danny Zuko in a stage production of "Grease," and one of his first roles in Hollywood was a bit part in Ringo Starr's 1978 television special. Evigan's other credits include 13 series, 19 feature films, 50 movies of the week, and guest-starring roles in over 100 other productions – many of which have incorporated his original music. He recently released a new album, "Greg Evigan with London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra," which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios.

Episode 69: Tiffany on covering the Beatles and cooking for her band

May 5, 2026 34 min

In this episode host Ken Womack welcomes '80s pop sensation Tiffany, who was recently introduced to a new generation of fans thanks to "Stranger Things"! They discuss those '60s covers that skyrocketed her career, who in her family is the biggest Beatles fan, how she launched a culinary side business with her new cookbook "Pop Life," and much more.

Episode 68: Brendan Hunt on "Ted Lasso" and how "Hey Jude" changed his life

Apr 21, 2026 36 min

In this episode, host Ken Womack welcomes award-winning actor and writer Brendan Hunt! Best known as "Coach Beard" on Apple TV's "Ted Lasso" (which he co-created alongside star Jason Sudeikis and friends), Hunt is now starring in his own one-man stage production, "The Movement You Need," currently showing at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre. The play explores Hunt's bittersweet memories of his Chicago childhood, a love for the Beatles that sustained him, and the tongue-tied moment he met Paul McCartney. Through it, he and Womack discuss his lifelong journey with the band's music.

Episode 67: Paul Shaffer on Canada's Introduction to the Beatles

Apr 7, 2026 36 min

In our Season 8 premiere, host Ken Womack welcomes legendary musician, band leader, actor and comedian Paul Shaffer! In addition to being David Letterman's musical director and sidekick for 33 years, Shaffer has been a featured performer on "Saturday Night Live," guest star in multiple TV and film productions, and served as musical director and producer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony since its inception. In this episode, Womack and Shaffer discuss how the Beatles put their own spin on American rock 'n' roll, Shaffer's own career pivot while growing up in Canada, whether guitar groups are on their way out, and if Lorne Michaels or Letterman was the bigger Beatles fan.

Morgan Neville on post-Beatles Paul McCartney and "Man on the Run"

Feb 17, 2026 40 min

Host Kenneth Womack welcomes acclaimed documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville to discuss his new film on Paul McCartney's career after the Beatles, "Man on the Run." Neville's films include "20 Feet from Stardom," which won an Oscar and a Grammy, and "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" about the legendary TV host Fred Rogers. "Man on the Run" is out in select theatres February 19, and will be streaming on Amazon Prime on February 27.

Episode 65: Rob Sheffield on "Rubber Soul" and everything Paul McCartney and Taylor Swift have in common

Nov 25, 2025 37 min

Rob Sheffield joins host Kenneth Womack for a spirited discussion on "Rubber Soul," the Beatles' songwriting, and everything Paul McCartney and Taylor Swift have in common. Sheffield is a longtime writer and critic for Rolling Stone magazine, where he started in 1997. He is the author of the 2024 New York Times bestseller "Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music" and "Dreaming The Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World," winner of the 2017 Virgil Thomson Award for Outstanding Music Criticism, as well as "Love Is A Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time," "Talking to Girls about Duran Duran: One Young Man's Quest for True Love and a Cooler Haircut," "Turn Around Bright Eyes: The Rituals of Love and Karaoke," "On Bowie" and "The Wild Heart of Stevie Nicks." Sheffield was a special guest at the recent Everything Fab Four Fest celebrating the enduring majesty of "Rubber Soul," which he often cites as his favorite Beatles album.

Episode 64: Jake Clemons on Clarence, the Beatles and protest songs

Nov 4, 2025 33 min

Born in February 1980, Jake has been a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band since 2012, when he was tapped to play saxophone in place of his late uncle, the renowned Big Man himself, Clarence Clemons. Jake has toured extensively with Springsteen and the E Street Band, handling saxophone, percussion, and backing vocal duties on the Wrecking Ball World Tour, the High Hopes Tour, The River Tour, 2017's Australia and New Zealand Summer Tour, and the recently completed 2023-2025 tour. He has also mounted tours with the Jake Clemons Band, which has crisscrossed the globe, including stints in North America, Europe, and Australia. In 2017, Jake released his debut solo album entitled "Fear & Love." Critics lauded the LP's honest storytelling and powerful emotional resonance. Jake will be performing at the inaugural Everything Fab Four Fest, November 6-8, 2025, at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where we'll be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Beatles' "Rubber Soul" album. Visit www.ef4fest.com for more information and to book your tickets.

Episode 63: "Rocky Horror" cast on the one thing they have in common with the Beatles

Oct 21, 2025 24 min

The longest-running theatrical release in film history, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is celebrating its 50th anniversary with original cast members Barry Bostwick (who played the iconic Brad Majors), Nell Campbell (who played the effervescent Columbia) and Patricia Quinn (who played the incomparable Magenta). They join our host, Kenneth Womack, this week for a spirited conversation about the collaboration behind the underdog movie that became a beloved cult classic, Tim Curry's powerful star turn, and the making of those iconic musical numbers.

Episode 62: Max Weinberg on The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and his own first band

Oct 7, 2025 40 min

This episode's guest is E Street Band drummer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Max Weinberg. In 1974, Max Weinberg answered an ad requesting a drummer capable of playing R&B and jazz for an audition. Weinberg had never seen Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and was unfamiliar with their material, but the skill, acumen, and attentiveness he displayed on Fats Domino's "Let the Four Winds Blow" won him the job. His ability to take cues from Springsteen — specifically, playing a rim shot when Bruce held up his hand to stop the band and then starting back into the song — made a strong impression. Max joined the E Street Band at the same time as new pianist Roy "the Professor" Bittan. Dubbed "The Mighty Max," his crisp, powerful drumming is a highlight of such hits as "Born in the U.S.A.," as well as deeper album tracks like "Candy's Room." Following the band's hiatus in 1989, Max worked on several different projects. Beginning in 1993, he went on to great success as the musical director and band leader for "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," assembling a top-flight set of musicians to form the Max Weinberg 7. In 2014, Max was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band. In 2017, he launched Max Weinberg's Jukebox, an interactive live music show where the program changes nightly based on audience requests chosen from an ever-changing song list. Mighty Max will be performing at the inaugural Everything Fab Four Fest, taking place this November 6th through 8th at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where we'll be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Beatles' Rubber Soul album. Visit ef4fest.com for more information and to book your tickets.

Episode 61: Nellie McKay, singer-songwriter, actor, and comedienne

Sep 23, 2025 32 min

Known for her genre-bending music, sharp social commentary, and activism for animal rights and social justice, Nellie McKay was born in London and raised in the United States, where she studied jazz at the Manhattan School of Music. Her performances at various New York City music venues, including the Sidewalk Cafe and Joe's Pub, drew attention from record labels, which resulted in her debut album Get Away from Me. Produced by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, The New York Times lauded the LP as a tour-de-force. Nellie's music can been heard on Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, Weeds, Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Nurse Jackie, and SMILF. Nellie has made numerous radio appearances on NPR's Mountain Stage, A Prairie Home Companion, eTown, and Marion McPartland's Piano Jazz. She is a recipient of PETA's Humanitarian Award and the Humane Society's Doris Day Music Award in recognition of her dedication to animal rights. She has won a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of Polly Peachum on Broadway in The Threepenny Opera. Nelli co-created and starred in the award-winning off-Broadway hit Old Hats and has written three acclaimed musical biographies, including I Want to Live!, the story of Barbara Graham, the third woman executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin, Silent Spring: It's Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature, an exploration of environmental pioneer Rachel Carson, and A GIRL NAMED BILL: The Life and Times of Billy Tipton. Nellie will be performing at the inaugural Everything Fab Four Fest, taking place this November 6th through 8th at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where we'll be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Beatles' Rubber Soul album. Visit ef4fest.com for more information and to book your tickets.

Episode 60: Psychedelic rockers Blac Rabbit, creators of our theme song "Seize the Day"

Sep 9, 2025 39 min

Joining host Ken Womack on the first episode of season 7 is Blac Rabbit — familiar voices to our listeners. In 2018, Blac Rabbit released their first LP, "Interstella," which included the debut single "Seize the Day," which has served as the "Everything Fab Four" theme song since our very first episode featuring Steve Lukather in September 2020. In 2018, a 48-second video of twin brothers Amiri and Rahiem Taylor, the guitarists and singer-songwriters who perform as Blac Rabbit, playing the Beatles' "Eight Days a Week" went viral, racking up millions of views. They went from staging impromptu shows in New York City subway stations to wowing international crowds from the Bowery Ballroom to Berlin, covering "Michelle" for a Gucci ad featuring Harry Styles, playing Liverpool's Cavern Club, and appearing on "Ellen." They have also famously recreated John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1969 Bed-In for Peace, recording "Give Peace a Chance" alongside Ono, Ringo Starr, Jeff Bridges, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Blac Rabbit will be performing at the inaugural Everything Fab Four Fest, November 6-8, 2025, at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where we'll be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Beatles' "Rubber Soul" album in fine style. Visit ef4fest.com for more information and to book your tickets today.

Episode 59 (Bonus): Singer-songwriter Peter Wolf on his musical upbringing: "It took me a while to warm up to the Beatles"

Mar 11, 2025 37 min

On this episode of Everything American singer-songwriter Peter Wolf joins host Ken Womack to discuss Wolf's life in music and his earliest musical influences. A native of the Bronx, Wolf spent his youth soaking up New York City's music scene, especially the Apollo Theater's array of soul, rhythm & blues, and gospel performers. After moving to Boston, he attended Tufts University's Museum of Fine Arts. During this period, he formed his first band, The Hallucinations, which performed in area clubs. In 1967, Wolf and drummer Stephen Jo Bladd joined the J. Geils Band, which had recently formed in Worcester. During the 1970s, the group notched several Top 40 singles, including a cover of the Valentinos' "Lookin' for a Love" and the singles "Give It to Me," "Must of Got Lost," and "Come Back." By this point, Wolf had emerged as the band's principal songwriter. With "Love Stinks," the J. Geils Band enjoyed breakthrough success, followed by the megahits "Centerfold" and "Freeze-Frame." In 1983, Wolf and the J. Geils Band parted ways after the singer expressed his interest in returning to the band's rock 'n' roll roots. As a solo artist, he notched several hits, including "Lights Out" and "Come as You Are." The latter song was featured in Rob Reiner's acclaimed film The Sure Thing. Wolf continues to enjoy accolades for his solo career. His 2002 album Sleepless featured guest performances by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and was feted by Rolling Stone as one the 500 Greatest Albums of all time. His 2010 album Midnight Souvenirs earned Album of the Year honors at the Boston Music Awards and featured duets with Shelby Lynne, Neko Case, and Merle Haggard. Wolf recently published his memoirs. Entitled Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses, the book traces Wolf's six-decade career in a series of unforgettable vignettes.

Episode 58 (Bonus): Paul Reiser's father "tolerated" the Beatles on Ed Sullivan

Nov 19, 2024 35 min

On this episode of Everything Fab Four, actor and comedian Paul Reiser joins to discuss his first memories of the Beatles on Ed Sullivan and share the Beatles song that "still kills [him]." Reiser began his career as a stand-up comedian, breaking into film with Barry Levinson's 1982 movie Diner. Reiser starred in the sitcom My Two Dads in the late 1980s, and later co-created the television show Mad About You, one of the defining comedy series of the 1990s. For his role in Mad About You, Reiser earned nominations for an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Reiser has also appeared in movies like Aliens and the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, and more recently, in the Netflix series Stranger Things and Amazon Prime's The Boys. Comedy Central has ranked Paul Reiser as the 77th greatest stand-up comedian of all time. He has also established himself as a bestselling author, with such books as Couplehood and Babyhood. Earlier this year, he co-authored the memoir What a Fool Believes with Michael McDonald. This month, Reiser is releasing his first comedy special in more than 30 years, called Life, Death, and Rice Pudding.

Episode 57: Guitarist George Benson on what makes Beatles' songs so special: "They had great stories"

Jul 23, 2024 44 min

On today's episode, American jazz fusion guitarist and singer-songwriter George Benson drops by to discuss what gave the Beatles "prestige" and how the band helped Black musicians succeed. Benson recorded his first album The New Boss Guitar, at 21, and followed it up with It's Uptown with the George Benson Quartet. In 1969, he recorded his homage to the Beatles' album Abbey Road, entitled The Other Side of Abbey Road. Things really took off for Benson in the mid-1970s, beginning with the LP Bad Benson, which topped the Billboard jazz charts in 1974. Benson scored a triple-platinum hit with his 1976 album Breezin', and in 1978, he earned a Grammy award for his live rendition of "On Broadway." In 1980, Benson took the pop charts by storm with his studio album Give Me the Night. Produced by Quincy Jones, the LP yielded several hit singles including the upbeat, jazz-infused title track. Benson's latest LP Dreams Do Come True features orchestrations that had been lost for 35 years, and were recently unearthed from his archive. The collection includes Benson's takes on such standards as "Autumn Leaves," "At Last," "My Romance," "A Song for You," and the Beatles' "Yesterday." Over the years, Benson has earned 10 Grammy Awards, while seeing his career memorialized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Episode 56 (Bonus): How the Beatles inspired these 1970s television icons

Jul 17, 2024 42 min

On this bonus episode of Everything Fab Four, we trace two television icons from the 1970s—both very different in terms of target audience, but united in the inspiration that they drew from the Beatles. First is the New Zoo Revue, the children's TV show that was broadcast from 1972 through 1977. Designed as a musical comedy, it ran for 196 episodes and imparting valuable life lessons to the program's legions of child viewers. The show was hosted by husband and wife duo Doug and Emmy Jo. On the New Zoo Revue, they interacted with an array of loveable costumed characters, including Henrietta Hippo and Freddie the Frog. At the other end of the TV demographic spectrum is George Schlatter, the founder of network television's groundbreaking Laugh-In. The hilarious sketch comedy program ran for more than 140 episodes between 1968 and 1973. With Dan Rowan and Dick Martin as Schlatter's irreverent hosts, Laugh-In thrived on its moveable feast of guest stars, including the likes of Jack Benny, Johnny Carson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Phyllis Diller and more. Laugh-In also launched the careers of series regulars Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin. Last year, Schlatter released his memoir, Still Laughing: A Life in Comedy.

Episode 55: Rosanna Arquette on growing up with the Beatles: "I always loved 'Revolver'"

Jun 25, 2024 34 min

On this episode of Everything Fab Four, actor and activist Rosanna Arquette shares her favorite Beatles song and recounts where she was when John Lennon died. As part of a large show business family—including siblings Patricia and David Arquette—Rosanna began acting as a child. Her father, character actor Lewis Arquette, was well known as "J.D. Pickett" on The Waltons, while her mother Mardi was a poet, political activist, and therapist. Rosanna started working professionally as a teenager and has never stopped. She has since appeared in over 70 films, which have earned over $450 million in domestic box office sales. In addition to such early successes as The Executioner's Song and Baby, It's You, Arquette has appeared in such beloved classics as After Hours and Pulp Fiction. Arquette expanded her talent as a filmmaker by directing and producing the documentaries, 2002's Searching for Debra Winger and 2005's All We Are Saying. She is currently developing projects for both television and film through her company, Flower Child Productions.

Episode 54: Jamie Bernstein says her father Leonard Bernstein was "almost as obsessed with 'Sgt. Pepper' as I was"

Jun 11, 2024 35 min

Author and filmmaker Jamie Bernstein joins Everything Fab Four to discuss growing up with a world-famous father, and why Leonard Bernstein chose Beatles songs to explain musical concepts. Jamie Bernstein's 2018 memoir, Famous Father Girl, traces the story of growing up with composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein, and pianist and actress Felicia Montealegre in an atmosphere bursting with music, theatre and literature. Famous Father Girl served as the inspiration for the Academy Award-nominated movie Maestro. Over the years, Bernstein has written and narrated concerts about Mozart, Aaron Copland, and Stravinsky, as well as "The Bernstein Beat," a family concert about her father. She performs concert narrations all over the world, including for Copland's "A Lincoln Portrait" and her father's Symphony No. 3, "Kaddish." Bernstein has also produced and hosted the New York Philharmonic's live national radio broadcasts, and recently narrated the podcast "The NY Phil Story: Made in New York." Her other works include co-directing the award-winning documentary film Crescendo: the Power of Music, about children from struggling urban communities who participate in youth orchestra programs, and articles and poetry in Symphony, Town & Country, and Opera News.

Episode 53: Darius Rucker on the Beatles' legacy: "Everybody else has to line up behind them"

May 29, 2024 37 min

On this episode, legendary singer-songwriter Darius Rucker joins Everything Fab Four to share how he first discovered the Beatles at five, and which Beatles album he thinks is the "most perfect album ever made." Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, who have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide. Their Double Diamond-certified (21x Platinum) debut Cracked Rear View remains among the best-selling studio albums of all time. Since releasing his first country album in 2008, Rucker has earned four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country chart, 10 No. 1 singles at Country radio, and 11 Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum certified hits. Rucker was also inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012, and his GRAMMY-winning version of "Wagon Wheel," has become one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time. His brand-new album Carolyn's Boy is available everywhere now and his first book, a memoir titled "Life's Too Short," is set for release via Dey Street Books on May 28th. A lifelong philanthropist, Rucker co-chaired the campaign that generated $150 million to help build the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, S.C., and has raised over $3.6 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through his annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament. In addition, Rucker has advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation and serves as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tennessee.

Episode 52: Joan Osborne on how the Beatles inspired her to try different musical styles

May 14, 2024 39 min

Grammy-nominated American recording artist Joan Osborne joins Everything Fab Four to talk about hearing "Revolution 9" at a makeout party and how her music career began. Osborne moved to New York City to attend film school at NYU in the late 1980s, dropping out after becoming involved in the city's downtown music scene. In 1991, Osborne formed her own record label Womanly Hips, releasing her first album Soul Show: Live at Delta 88. She later signed with Mercury Records, and in 1995 she made her major label debut with the album Relish, which reached the Top 10 on the back of "One of Us," an international hit that propelled Osborne to stardom. Osborne has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards, and has performed duets with such icons as Luciano Pavarotti, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Patti Smith, Emmylou Harris, and Isaac Hayes. She has toured with Mavis Staples, the post-Jerry Garcia Grateful Dead, and Motown's Funk Brothers, while also performing for the Dalai Lama at his monastery in Dharmsala, India. She also regularly records and performs with Trigger Happy, founded by Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman. This summer, she will go on tour in support of her latest album Nobody Owns You.

Episode 51: Jeff Daniels got a "lesson in fame" from George Harrison

Apr 30, 2024 51 min

On this episode, acclaimed actor and Beatles fan Jeff Daniels joins "Everything Fab Four" to discuss his experience filming a movie scene with George Harrison and getting his guitar signed by the Quiet Beatle. Across his five decade-long career, Jeff Daniels has worked with some of the world's most revered filmmakers. He made his screen debut in Miloš Forman's Ragtime, and followed with James L. Brooks's Terms of Endearment, Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo, and Mike Nichols's Heartburn. Daniels has been nominated for numerous Golden Globe and Screen Actors Awards for his dramatic turns, including such films as Jonathan Demme's Something Wild and Noah Baumbach's The Squid and the Whale. In 2012, Daniels joined the cast of HBO's political drama The Newsroom, which earned him a Prime Time Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Playing Will McAvoy, Daniels' monologue about American exceptionalism in the series pilot has been viewed more than 22 million times on YouTube. His acclaimed television work also includes his portrayal of John O'Neill in the Hulu miniseries The Looming Tower and FBI director James Comey in Showtime's The Comey Rule. In May 2024, stars in the new Netflix limited series A Man In Full, based on Tom Wolfe's novel of the same name.

Episode 50: Billy Idol: The Beatles breaking up was "like a death in the family."

Apr 16, 2024 32 min

English-American music icon Billy Idol joins Everything Fab Four to discuss the exhilaration of being a Beatle fan "in real time" and how his voice was mistaken for Paul McCartney's. Billy Idol began his rock n roll career as the guitarist for Chelsea, subsequently achieving renown on the London punk rock scene in the 1970s, when he performed as the lead singer for Generation X. His career truly exploded in the 1980s when he moved to New York City to pursue a solo career working in collaboration with guitarist Steve Stevens. His eponymous debut LP yielded monster hits in "White Wedding" and "Dancing with Myself," while his 1983 sophomore album Rebel Yell achieved double-platinum success on the heels of "Eyes without a Face" and the sizzling title track "Rebel Yell." Over the years, he has continued to burnish his star on the shoulders of such albums as Whiplash Smile, Charmed Life, Cyberpunk, Devil's Playground, and, most recently, Kings and Queens of the Underground. In 2024, Rebel Yell was remastered in a deluxe new edition to celebrate Billy's incredible 40-year run as one of music's most beloved, and most notorious, artists.

Episode 49 (Bonus): The Beatles' first Ed Sullivan performance, 60 years later

Feb 6, 2024 33 min

To celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Beatles' first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, our guests revisit the evening that the Beatles graced their living rooms for the first time, on this special episode of Everything Fab Four. These Beatles lovers include Steven van Zandt from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, R&B singer Darlene Love, actor Billy Bob Thornton, and even one lucky audience member from that first Ed Sullivan performance. It's almost impossible to imagine what it was like to be at ground zero of American Beatlemania on February 7, 1964, when the group landed at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport, which had been renamed some fifty days earlier in honor of the fallen leader. The band's Pan Am flight was met with the screams and fanfare of some 5,000 people, whom the Beatles claimed to have heard—incredible as it may seem—even as the plane was taxiing along the runway. As writer Stephen Glynn presciently remarked, "The spirit of Camelot, shot down in Dallas, Texas, had flown over from Liverpool, England, and the unprecedented euphoria that greeted the group seemed part of an expiation, a nation shaking itself out of its grief and mourning." There is little question that the Beatles' timing in the history of the United States was uncanny, as well as a welcome respite from the national malaise, but one cannot overlook the power of marketing in a new media era unlike any that the postwar world had ever seen. Capitol Records had saturated the city with posters announcing, "The Beatles Are Coming," while New York's WMCA and WINS radio stations had given away T-shirts—and, rumor has it, $1 each—to thousands of teenagers who greeted the Beatles that Friday afternoon on the JFK tarmac. Released in December 1963 by Capitol, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" had sold more than one million copies by mid-January, an astounding feat for a group that had been largely unheard of on American shores scarcely a month before. On Sun...

Episode 48 (Bonus): Brian Ritchie of the Violent Femmes on how "My Sweet Lord" inspired him to play guitar

Dec 20, 2023 36 min

Brian Ritchie, bassist for the folk punk band the Violent Femmes, joins host Kenneth Womack on this episode to chat about his first Beatles records and the 40th anniversary of the Femmes' debut album. Ritchie co-founded the Violent Femmes with percussionist Victor DeLorenzo in 1981, and the duo were later joined by singer-songwriter Gordon Gano. Ritchie came up with band's distinctive name on a whim, employing it during their early days playing in Milwaukee's coffee houses. In August 1981, the Violent Femmes were discovered performing on a street corner in front of the Oriental Theatre by James Honeyman-Scott, the guitarist for the Pretenders, and Chrissie Hynde invited the Femmes to play an acoustic set prior to the Pretenders' show that night. In 1983, the Violent Femmes released their self-titled debut album, which emerged as a key soundtrack for the burgeoning alternative and college-oriented rock movements. The inaugural LP featured many of the band's best-known songs, including "Blister in the Sun," "Kiss Off," "Add It Up," and "Gone Daddy Gone." The album became the Femmes' most successful LP, eventually earning platinum status from the Recording Industry Association of America. Over the years, the Femmes have recorded 10 studio albums, including Hallowed Ground (1984), The Blind Leading the Naked (1986), and Why Do Birds Sing? (1991). The group is widely considered to be a key influence on the 1980s and 1990s alternative rock scene.

Episode 47 (Bonus): Joan Baez on the Beatles' biggest thrill coming to America: "A Coca-Cola machine you didn't have to put any money in."

Oct 12, 2023 24 min

On this episode, Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and activist Joan Baez joins host Ken Womack to share her memories of meeting the Beatles for the first time and witnessing their final live concert. Baez's time-eclipsing folk music often champions songs of protest and social justice. Over the years, she has recorded 30 albums in genres ranging from folk rock, pop and country to gospel music. As a performer, Baez has specialized in interpreting the work of other composers, recording songs by such luminaries as the Beatles, Woody Guthrie, Bob Marley, and many others. Baez began her recording career in 1960, producing a trio of successful LPs in Joan Baez, Joan Baez, Vol. 2 and Joan Baez in Concert. During her early years, Baez was one of Bob Dylan's first major collaborators, steadfastly working to popularize his impact upon folk music. She was also a featured performer at the 1969 Woodstock Festival, singing fourteen songs on that vaunted stage. In addition to her musical career, Baez has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to political and social activism in the areas of nonviolence, civil rights, human rights, and the environment. In 2017, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2023, Baez was the subject of the acclaimed documentary "I Am A Noise."

Episode 46: Sophie B. Hawkins on why fans still trust the Beatles: "They didn't exploit us as an audience"

Jul 12, 2023 45 min

Sophie B. Hawkins, the Grammy-nominated American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and painter, joins host Kenneth Womack on the season five finale episode of "Everything Fab Four." Hawkins started her Beatles journey as a kid with "Revolver," and remembers playing along with tennis racket guitars and couch cushion drums. "Even as a non-musician, you can sing basically every part." In this conversation, she digs deep into the unique ways Beatles fans come together through the music, and how being a Beatles fan pushed her toward excellence in her own songwriting. Born and raised in New York City, Hawkins pursued her studies as a percussionist at the Manhattan School of Music before embarking on a music career. She exploded into the international consciousness in 1992 with her debut album "Tongues and Tales." A massive critical and commercial success, the LP spawned the hit single "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover." Her second album, "Whaler," featured additional hit singles in "Right Beside You" and "As I Lay Me Down." As an actress, she has portrayed Janis Joplin in the play "Room 105," while also performing as herself on the NBC TV series "Community," for which she sang renditions of "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover" and "As I Lay Me Down." Her latest album "Free Myself," on the independent label she founded, Trumpet Swan Productions, features such standout tracks as "Love Yourself" and "Better Off Without You."

Episode 45 (Bonus): How the Beatles really got booked on "The Ed Sullivan Show"

Jun 20, 2023 33 min

This week's guests are Margo Precht Speciale and Andrew Solt, who join host Kenneth Womack for a special episode devoted to celebrating the 75th anniversary of The Ed Sullivan Show and its lasting impact on American culture, including Beatles fandom. The granddaughter of Ed Sullivan, Precht is a documentary filmmaker, as well as a UCLA graduate with a degree in Sociology. Her latest project traces her grandfather's life and work as a television pioneer who reigned as the medium's longtime tastemaker. In particular, Precht's documentary explores a little-known aspect of Sullivan's legacy, which involves his radical dedication to diversity that would act as an inflection point for igniting conversations about race in America. Andrew Solt is an Emmy- and Grammy-winning, producer, director, writer and documentary filmmaker. Over the years, Solt has released a number of documentaries on the history of rock and roll. His collaboration with television documentarian and producer David Wolper included their work together on "Imagine: John Lennon" in 1988. In 1990, Solt purchased the rights to The Ed Sullivan Show library, which consists of 1,087 hours of kinescopes and videotapes that CBS broadcast between 1948 and 1971 on Sunday nights. Included in the archive are over 10,000 live performances by virtually every popular entertainer of the post-war era, highlighted by appearances from Elvis Presley and the Beatles.

Episode 44: The Boxmasters, Billy Bob Thornton and J.D. Andrew

Jun 13, 2023 43 min

On this episode, the Boxmasters — an American rock band comprised of Grammy Award-winning recording engineer J.D. Andrew and Academy Award-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton — join host Ken Womack for a spirited discussion of songwriting, recording, and what Thornton says is "the most difficult thing about being a Beatles fan." Formed in 2007, the Boxmasters have recorded a diverse catalog of music that touches on their shared love of the rock and roll of the 1960s. Listening to The Boxmasters, one can hear obvious odes to the Beatles, Byrds and Beach Boys, but also The Mothers of Invention, Kris Kristofferson, John Prine and Big Star. Since the formation of The Boxmasters, several long-time friends have contributed to the sound of the band, but the core of The Boxmasters has always been Andrew and Thornton. As primary songwriters, the sound of the Boxmasters has been an evolution as the duo constantly strive to find new inspiration, new sounds and new means of expression. As a touring band, The Boxmasters have cultivated a rabid fanbase across the United States and Canada. Opening for the likes of ZZ Top, Steve Miller, George Thorogood and Kid Rock, their touring highlights include appearances at Levon Helm's "Midnight Ramble" in Woodstock, New York, a performance at "Ramble at The Ryman" in 2008, and "The Grand Ole Opry" in 2015. Their 14th and latest album is entitled '69, with an ensuing tour that includes a stop at Monmouth University's Pollak Theatre in June 2023.

Episode 43: Jazz guitarist Dan Wilson on urgency in "Eleanor Rigby" and what genius actually looks like

May 30, 2023 33 min

Ken Womack's guest this week is Grammy-nominated American jazz guitarist Dan Wilson. Hailing from Akron, Ohio, Wilson made his recording debut with pianist Joe McBride and performed to worldwide acclaim with Joey DeFrancesco and Christian McBride's Tip City, eventually recording his debut as a band leader with "To Whom It May Concern" in 2012. Over the years, Wilson has shared the stage with a host of jazz greats including Eric Marienthal, Russell Malone, Les McCann, René Marie, Jeff Hamilton, David Sanborn and Dave Stryker. In 2017, Wilson earned a Grammy nomination for his work on DeFrancesco's "Project Freedom" album. He also served as a guitarist on Van Morrison's recent albums "You're Driving Me Crazy" and "The Prophet Speaks." In 2021, Wilson released "Vessels of Wood and Earth," which includes the standout cut "Who Shot John." The album was produced by McBride for his Brother Mister Productions label. In 2022, Wilson was named a Letter Rising Stars Jazz Winner. His latest LP, "Things Eternal," features his innovate take on the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby."

Episode 42: Madison Cunningham: "It's really hard to write a joyful song well"

May 16, 2023 40 min

In this episode, Ken Womack talks with Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Madison Cunningham. She made her recording debut in 2014 with the self-released gospel album "Authenticities," which reflected her exploration of faith. In 2017, Cunningham joined the cast of American Public Media's "Live from Here." In 2019, she released her breakthrough LP "Who Are You Now," nominated for the Best Americana Album Grammy. Her 2020 EP, "Wednesday," featured cover versions of songs by Tom Waits, Radiohead and the Beatles, while also earning a Grammy nod for Best Folk Album. In 2022, she released her follow-up LP "Revealer," which enjoyed extensive critical acclaim. "Revealer" was nominated for two Grammy Awards and won Best Folk Album.

Episode 41: Ian Hunter of Mott the Hoople on the Beatles, playing with Ringo and how to follow a David Bowie hit

May 2, 2023 32 min

Legendary singer-songwriter, author, and rock 'n' roll star Ian Hunter's illustrious career is now in its seventh decade. His rock 'n' roll life has long been marked by collaboration, from the golden age of Mott the Hoople to his fabled partnership with Mick Ronson and 21st-century renaissance with his crack backing combo, the Rant Band. Over the years, Hunter has enjoyed numerous chart successes, especially Mott the Hoople's international hit "All the Young Dudes," the David Bowie composition that emerged as a countercultural anthem in the 1970s. Hunter would later recount the trials and tribulations of his life with Mott the Hoople in his autobiography "Diary of a Rock 'n' Roll Star." During his solo career, Hunter's best known work includes the song "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", later covered by Great White, and "Cleveland Rocks," (originally "England Rocks") the popular theme song for "The Drew Carey Show." With his latest album DEFIANCE PART 1, Hunter takes creative solidarity to an unprecedented new level with accompaniment from a truly awe-inspiring roster of special guests, famous fans, and lifelong friends. DEFIANCE PART 1 sees backing from luminaries such as Ringo Starr, Jeff Beck, Todd Rundgren, Joe Elliott (of Def Leppard), Guns N' Roses' Slash, Jeff Tweedy and – in one of his final recordings – the Foo Fighters' late, great drummer Taylor Hawkins.

Episode 40: With guest Barbara Feldon, Agent 99 on "Get Smart"

Apr 18, 2023 1 hr 0 min

This episode's guest is Barbara Feldon, a model, author and actress best known for portraying "Agent 99" on the classic '60s sitcom "Get Smart." Feldon was born Barbara Anne Hall in a suburb of Pittsburgh and studied drama at Carnegie Mellon University. Soon after, she departed for New York City to pursue a career in acting, where a stint as a showgirl led to her appearance on the game show, "The $64,000 Question," where she took home the top prize for her knowledge of Shakespeare. The next year, Barbara married Lucien Feldon-Verdeaux, a handsome European she'd been dating, and took "Feldon" as her last name personally and professionally. Working as a fashion model led to a few TV ad spots before landing the one that would make her a household face, lolling about on an animal rug and daring all the male "tigers" out there to try Revlon's Top Brass hair tonic. That led to securing the plum role of Agent 99 in the spy spoof "Get Smart" opposite comedian Don Adams. The role became Feldon's biggest break, leading to an Emmy nomination and several film roles to boot. In more recent years, Feldon has written two books: 2003's "Living Alone and Loving It: A Guide to Relishing the Solo Life" and, in 2022, "Getting Smarter: A Memoir," which recounts for the first time the true story of her marriage and the many lessons she's learned since.

Episode 39: Kenny Loggins on the "electricity" of the Beatles and creating anthems for "Caddyshack," "Footloose" and "Top Gun"

Apr 4, 2023 37 min

On this episode, host Kenneth Womack welcomes Grammy winner Kenny Loggins, whose songs have left a musical imprint on "the soundtrack of our lives." Over the last four decades, his chart-topping songs have included "This Is It," "I'm Alright," "Footloose," "Danger Zone," and so many more. "Danger Zone" was featured once again in Paramount's "Top Gun: Maverick," the biggest theatrical release of 2022, earning over $1.5B in box offices globally. "Danger Zone" earned over 1 million streams per day across streaming services at its peak. On June 14, 2022, Hachette Books published "Still Alright," Loggins' long-awaited memoir. In "Still Alright," Loggins gives fans a candid and entertaining perspective on his life and career as one of the most noteworthy musicians of the 1970s and '80s. In addition to his string of successful recordings, both solo and as a member of the famed duo Loggins & Messina, Kenny became the first major rock star to dedicate himself to recording music for children and families. His album "Return to Pooh Corner" remains the best-selling children's album of the last 20 years. His gift for crafting deeply emotional music is unparalleled, and it's been a part of his life as long as he can remember. His generous support of countless local organizations has made a lasting impact on the causes that are close to his heart. And in 2016, he was a recipient of the ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award at the annual Chapin Awards hosted by WhyHunger.

Episode 38: Pattie Boyd on falling for George Harrison and why "you can't grasp" the intensity of Beatles fame

Mar 21, 2023 37 min

Pattie Boyd is an English model, photographer, and an eyewitness to key moments in rock 'n' roll history, particularly in terms of the lives and times of the former members of the Beatles, especially George Harrison. In 1962, Boyd began her modeling career, later appearing on the covers of Vogue and other leading magazines. In 1964, she met Harrison while working as an extra on the set of "A Hard Day's Night." After moving in together at Harrison's Kinfauns home in Esher, Boyd and Harrison married in January 1966. Boyd was a regular fixture in the Beatles' lives, attending the June 1967 Our World live simulcast and joining them in Rishikesh, India, for the group's February 1968 visit to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram. In 1970, Boyd and Harrison relocated to Friar Park, the former Beatle's enormous Victorian mansion in Henley-on-Thames. By 1973, the Harrisons' relationship was disintegrating. In 1974, the couple separated, with Boyd later marrying Harrison's longtime friend and collaborator Eric Clapton, who had nurtured a long-running passion for the model. Over the years, Harrison had written numerous songs for Boyd, including the top-charting Beatles hit "Something." In 1970, Boyd was the subject of the legendary Derek and the Dominos' album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs." The album's title track describes Clapton's unrequited love for Boyd. Clapton later composed the Top 20 U.S. hit "Wonderful Tonight" with Boyd as his inspiration. In 2007, Boyd published her best-selling autobiography entitled "Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me." In 2022, she published her latest book, "Pattie Boyd: My Life in Pictures."

Episode 37: Hayley Orrantia on authenticity, inspiration and "Sgt. Pepper's"

Dec 20, 2022 40 min

Today's guest is Hayley Orrantia, an American singer and actress known for her role in the hit TV show "The Goldbergs." The show follows the hilarious and awkward lives of a colorful, suburban family in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania in the 1980s. Orrantia is a scene stealer as Erica, the eldest Goldberg sibling, who fans have watched transform from a socially awkward, nerdy high schooler to popular, college-aged beauty who drops out of school to form a band with her girlfriends. In film, Orrantia most recently starred in Amazon/Lionsgate's holiday comedy "Christmas is Cancelled" alongside Dermot Mulroney and Janel Parrish. Born and raised in Texas, Orrantia discovered her love of performing at nine years old, performing impromptu concerts in her bedroom. Now Orrantia is widely recognized as a successful independent music artist, who draws on inspiration from all genres to create soulful country-pop. In 2018, Orrantia conducted her first headlining tour, the Strong, Sweet and Southern Tour, hitting 22 cities across the United States. On this episode of "Everything Fab Four," host Kenneth Womack and Orrantia discuss covering iconic songs like "Maybe I'm Amazed," her search for authenticity as an artist, working with the late George Segal, and how Lindsay Lohan's "The Parent Trap" introduced her to the Beatles.

Episode 36: Dougie Payne of Travis on how, as a second-generation fan, the Beatles become "part of your DNA"

Dec 6, 2022 30 min

In this episode, bassist Dougie Payne of Travis joins host Kenneth Womack to talk about his Beatles influence, the 20th anniversary of "The Invisible Band" and why "everyone needs their own Mal Evans." The Scottish band, originally named Glass Onion after the famous "White Album" song, was formed in 1990 and later took its name from a character in the movie "Paris, Texas." Payne learned to play bass and joined the band, also providing background vocals. Growing up, he says the Beatles were "always there," having had three older sisters who loved music and one who was a "Beatles obsessive." As he says, the Beatles' music "has a way of becoming part of your DNA."

Episode 35: Queen of Christmas Darlene Love on what the Beatles took from Black musicians, and what they gave back

Nov 22, 2022 43 min

Ken Womack's guest this week is Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Darlene Love (born Darlene Wright). Best known for her holiday hit "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," in addition to her vocals on records by "girl group" The Crystals and her acting roles such as in the "Lethal Weapon" film series, Love's beginnings were modest, having started out singing in the Los Angeles church choir where her father was the pastor. She began working in 1962 with notorious producer Phil Spector (who'd given her the "Love" surname for recording, and who also worked on several Beatles-related projects). In light of his later troubles, Love explains to Womack, "I will say this: He was not the same guy to me back then that he later came to be." In this conversation she dives deep into her storied career, opens up about working with Phil Spector, and answers a complex question: Were the Beatles influenced by Black musicians, or did they steal from them?

Episode 34: May Pang opens up about John Lennon, the Beatles and her front-row seat to rock history

Nov 8, 2022 46 min

May Pang is a former music executive and an eyewitness to key moments in rock 'n' roll history, particularly in terms of the lives and times of the former members of the Beatles, especially John Lennon. After growing up in Spanish Harlem and Manhattan, Pang's early jobs included working as an old-school record-plugger and at Allen Klein's management office, which represented Apple Records and three former Beatles: Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. In December 1970, Pang was invited to assist Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono with their film projects, "Up Your Legs Forever" and "Fly." Pang was then asked to be Lennon and Ono's secretary in New York and Great Britain, which led to a permanent position as their personal assistant when the Lennons moved from London to New York in 1971. That October, Pang famously coordinated an art exhibition for Ono's This Is Not Here art show at the Everson Museum in Syracuse. When Lennon and Ono separated in 1973, Pang and Lennon began a relationship that lasted more than 18 months. Lennon later referred to this time as his "Lost Weekend". In addition to acting as Lennon's muse, she served as production coordinator for him on such hit LPs as "Rock 'n' Roll" and "Walls and Bridges," which included "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night," John's only number-one solo hit during his lifetime. After Lennon returned to Ono in 1975, Pang began working as PR manager for record companies. Pang subsequently authored two books about her relationship with Lennon—a memoir entitled "Loving John" (in 1983) and a book of photographs, "Instamatic Karma" (in 2008). She was recently the subject of a critically acclaimed documentary, "The Lost Weekend: A Love Story," which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival this past June.

Bonus Episode 33: How Klaus Voormann gave Revolver its signature look

Nov 1, 2022 23 min

German artist, musician and record producer Klaus Voormann, former bassist for Manfred Mann, has played on a number of iconic recordings, from Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" to Lou Reed's "Transformer" album, and with many projects of the former members of the Beatles, whom Voorman has known since their Hamburg days. The one-time London roommate of George Harrison and Ringo Starr won a Grammy for designing the cover of their 1966 album "Revolver," which has just been reissued in a deluxe remastered box set. In 2009, Voormann released his debut solo album "A Sideman's Journey," which featured the two surviving Beatles, McCartney and Starr, performing as "Voormann and Friends." His latest work involves the composition of the graphic novel "Birth of an Icon, which details his efforts behind the creation of the "Revolver" cover art. In this bonus episode of "Everything Fab Four," Voorman — on the phone all the way from Germany — and host Ken Womack discuss the evolution of the Beatles' songwriting, everyone's favorite Mal Evans, and of course, how he created the "Revolver" cover. A note to our listeners: Technical difficulties resulted in audio that's less clear for this episode, but we hope you'll stick around for Klaus' fascinating eyewitness accounts of working with the Beatles.

Episode 32: There are two musicians inside Peter Frampton: "There's a studio me and a live me"

Oct 25, 2022 44 min

This week's guest is celebrated English guitarist, singer, and songwriter Peter Frampton. A musical prodigy, Frampton taught himself to play the guitar at age 7. Within the next few years, he mastered complex jazz, blues and rock riffs. He spent his pre-teen years performing with bands including George & The Dragons, a group that included fellow up-and-coming musician David Bowie. Eventually, Frampton caught the attention of the Rolling Stones' Bill Wyman, and in 1967, under his mentorship, Frampton became the lead guitarist and singer for the pop group The Herd. In 1969, after achieving the adoration of teenaged fans with hit singles like "From the Underworld" and "I Don't Want Our Loving to Die," and after a stint with the blues-based rock band Humble Pie, Frampton decided to strike out on his own. The popularity of his first three solo albums coupled with Frampton's captivating live performances culminated in the 1976 live double recording Frampton Comes Alive!, which sold more than 10 million copies. The LP held the notable distinction of being the best-selling live rock album in history, while the singles "Baby I Love Your Way," "Do You Feel Like I Do?" and "Show Me the Way" dominated the American charts. Considered the crowning achievement of Frampton's career, the album influenced both Billboard and Rolling Stone magazines to name him Artist of the Year. On this episode of Everything Fab Four, host Kenneth Womack and Frampton talk about his watershed live album, John Lennon's legendary Rickenbacker and "Son of Dracula," hearing an early "Sgt. Pepper's" copy that had "fallen off the back of a truck," and how Frampton came to play lead guitar to George Harrison's rhythm on "Doris Troy."

Episode 31: The Bacon Brothers

Oct 11, 2022 44 min

This episode's guests are the duo ensemble The Bacon Brothers — younger brother and veteran actor Kevin and his older sibling Michael, an award-winning composer. Since his breakout roles in the early 1980s, including a starring turn in "Footloose," Kevin has been a star on the big and small screens. And Michael, a music professor at Lehman College, has enjoyed a long and celebrated career as an accomplished guitarist, keyboardist and cellist. Over the years, Michael has composed hundreds of film and TV soundtracks and scores. And since the late 1990s, they've performed together as The Bacon Brothers. In this conversation with host Ken Womack, the brothers talk about how the Beatles brought the electric guitar into their lives, keys to great songwriting, what they thought about the "Get Back" docuseries, George Martin's influence on the Beatles, and the finer points of "Revolver."

Episode 30: Shawn Colvin on writing her hit revenge song and the Beatles landmark that "knocked me dead"

Sep 27, 2022 35 min

This episode's guest is Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and musician Shawn Colvin. A participant in Greenwich Villages' Fast Folk Collective in the early 1980s, Colvin cut her teeth in the Buddy Miller Band and toured with Suzanne Vega after singing back-up on Vega's 1987 hit "Luka." Her 1989 debut, "Steady On," won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Her 1996 album "A Few Small Repairs" and its hit single "Sunny Came Home" rocketed her to mainstream commercial success, landing in the number one spot on the Adult Contemporary chart for four weeks, and earning Grammy Awards for Song and Record of the Year. She's the author of a memoir, "Diamond in the Rough," and a sought-after collaborator, recording songs with Sting, Béla Fleck, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and more.

Episode 29: Ken Burns on the genius of "Penny Lane" and why the Beatles are "etched in my hard drive"

Sep 13, 2022 40 min

American filmmaker Ken Burns is renowned for his documentary films and television series, many of which chronicle American history and culture, such as "The Civil War," "Baseball," "Jazz," and "Country Music." Burns's documentaries have earned two Academy Award nominations and have won several Emmy Awards, among other honors. His latest documentary is "The U.S. and the Holocaust," which premieres this month and was produced with longtime collaborators Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein. But before that, he worked at a record store where the best-selling album of his tenure was "Abbey Road." He still thinks about the Beatles every day. In this conversation with our host Kenneth Womack, Burns discusses what his creative process shares with the Beatles' and reveals the secret ingredient that he believes has made the band's catalog so timeless. And he makes the case for a significant portion of the top 10 "quintessential" Beatles' songs aren't written by Paul or John.

Episode 28: Heart's Ann Wilson on her epiphany about rock and gender roles: "I could be a girl, I could be Paul McCartney"

Apr 26, 2022 32 min

In this episode, host Ken Womack and powerhouse rocker Ann Wilson go deep into Beatles songs and their influence on her own work, the high school politics of fandom, and what the Beatles taught her about gender as a young rocker. Wilson rose to fame alongside her younger sister, guitarist Nancy Wilson, as lead vocalist in the rock band Heart, the first hard rock group fronted by women. In their heyday, Heart released numerous albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including "Dreamboat Annie" and "Little Queen," and "Dog and Butterfly," which generated hit singles such as "Magic Man," "Crazy on You," "Barracuda," "Straight On" and "Dog and Butterfly." The band later enjoyed commercial success with a trio of albums, including the self-titled "Heart," "Bad Animals" and "Brigade," along with a raft of hits such as "What about Love," "Never," "These Dreams," "Nothin' At All," "Who Will You Run To," "Alone," and "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You." To date, Heart has sold over 35 million records. Over the years, Wilson has earned her place as one of rock's most vaunted singers. Known for her operatic abilities and banshee screams, she was ranked no. 78 in Hit Parader's 2006 list of Greatest Heavy Metal Vocalists of All Time. And in 2013, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Heart.

Special Episode: Inside "The Beatles: Get Back to Let It Be" at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Mar 29, 2022 39 min

Today's special episode features our good friends from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, here to discuss their new exhibition, The Beatles: Get Back to Let It Be. Designed to serve as an immersive complement to Peter Jackson's Get Back docuseries, the groundbreaking exhibition allows fans to experience The Beatles' creative journey through original instruments, clothing, and handwritten lyrics used by The Beatles and seen in the film. Artifacts include items loaned directly by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the estates of George Harrison and John Lennon. The exhibit features high-definition film clips, audio, and custom projections, transporting fans into The Beatles' vibrant world of January 1969. Fans will also enjoy audio engineer, producer, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Glyn Johns' record acetate from the sessions and iconic photography by Linda McCartney and by Ethan Russell, who documented the band's January 1969 rehearsals, sessions, and rooftop performance, and whose photos are featured in the Let It Be album art. As with Jackson's Get Back docuseries, the exhibit shows how The Beatles composed and recorded many of their iconic songs from scratch. The exhibit's three screening rooms feature a selection of footage from each location from the docuseries: Twickenham, Apple Studios, and the Apple Corps rooftop. Ken's first guest is Greg Harris, President & CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Prior to serving in his current role, Greg worked as a senior executive at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum for 14 years. Ken is also joined by Nwaka Onwusa, the Rock Hall's Chief Curator & Vice President of Curatorial Affairs. Prior to joining the Rock Hall in 2019, Nwaka spent a decade researching, developing and curating more than 20 full-scale exhibits for The GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE.

Episode 27: Colin Hay on his Beatles influence, Men at Work's breakup and the truths of "Get Back"

Mar 8, 2022 47 min

Scottish-born musician, singer, songwriter, and actor Colin Hay first came to prominence as the lead vocalist of the Australian rock band Men at Work, which won the Best New Artist Grammy in 1983. Their big break came in August 1982, when Men at Work toured Canada and the US to promote their first LP Business as Usual, supporting Fleetwood Mac. That October, their song, "Who Can It Be Now?" reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In January 1983, they became the first Australian artists to have a simultaneous No. 1 album and No. 1 single on the United States Billboard charts with Business as Usual and the song "Down Under" (1981), respectively. As a solo artist, Hay's music has been used frequently by actor and director Zach Braff in his work, which helped establish a career rebirth for the musician in the mid-2000s. Hay has also been a recurring member of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. In this conversation with host Ken Womack, Hay talks about his musical childhood and the work behind the band's seemingly "overnight success," his Beatles influences, playing with Ringo, and what the Beatles documentary "Get Back" reveals about the realities of being in a band.

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Episode 75: Michael Lindsay-Hogg on directing the Beatles and the Stones

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Podcast details

Created by: Kenneth Womack
Status: Active
Latest episode: Oct 31, 2026
Episodes: 77
Release period: Every two weeks
Avg. episode length: 37 min
Explicit: No
Language: English

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