Show Notes
SATB Special: Ivor Davis RememberedLondon-born journalist Ivor Davis holds a special place in the hearts of everyone lucky enough to speak with or spend time with him. He was a charming man who could make you feel like you were old friends in a manner of minutes; a raconteur full of tales from his rich life of the famous he'd crossed paths with and the history he'd witnessed. We came into each other's orbits when he penned his first Beatles memoir in 2014, The Beatles anf Me on Tour - recalling how as a journalist for the Daily Express he'd been assigned to cover the 1964 and 1965 Beatles North American tours for the folks back home. (He also ghost-wrote a column under George's name.) He naturally became a good friend to them, and later on was based in Los Angeles, where he found himself at the center of more history, this time tragic: the assassination of RFK in 1968 and the Tate-LaBianca murders a year later. But there was more pleasant history that he witnsessed, including the legendary meetings between The Beatles and Bob Dylan as well as with Elvis Presley. I hosted Ivor on the show three times:
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284: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sixty-years-on-with-ivor-davis/id1483392342?i=1000662038846
But this 2021 conversation was never heard on the podcast before and serves as a sort of Ivor's greatest hits. So if you never met Ivor, his stories will live on through his books and this is as good an introduction to a friend we'll miss as any. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from Something About the Beatles
The opening chord of "A Hard Day's Night" is one of the most famous sounds in rock history. Musicians still argue about what it is. In this deep dive into the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night album, we break down the chord note by note: John Lennon's and George Harrison's guitars, Paul McCartney's bass and George Martin's piano.
There were two John and Yoko documentaries produced in the last year that covered their political activism during their first year in New York, culminating in the pair of One To One concerts in August 1972. The first was a documentary detailing the context with the shows in the background; the other placed the show front and center. Author Erika White (Meat The Beatles!) and podcaster Gary Wenstrup (Classic Rock Album Olympics) join me in a discussion of the films One To One: John and Yoko and Power To The People. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sixty years ago, The Beatles took their final bow before a paid audience in San Francisco. The occasion was auspicious because they knew this was it: they made sure it was recorded (by Tony Barrow) and photographed (by Jim Marshall). Among the well-wishers in attendance was Joan Baez, who brought her sisters and an 11 year-old friend.
To anyone familiar with '60s Top 40 music, The Cyrkle remain a fond memory, notable for their two hits, 1966's "Red Rubber Ball," a Paul Simon co-write, and "Turn Down Day," an exquisite piece of sunshine pop. They also possess a couple of other distinctions, being the only US act managed by Brian Epstein as well as being one of the supporting acts on The Beatles' final tour, sixty years ago. Don Dannemann was/is their lead singer. Along with his musical partner Tom Dawes, through talent and luck the group managed to hitch the ride of lifetime, making the transition from fans to traveling companions during the most challenging phase of The Beatles' live career. After the hits stopped, both Dan and Tom pivoted into careers in the jingle industry, providing a further soundtrack for those of a certain age. Don has got the stories to tell as a witness to history at a time when popular music was evolving fast. Through happy circumstance, The Cyrkle are back, having recorded a new collection of songs and can be seen in live shows around the country. Visit their website for updates and their YouTube channel for loads of video, past and present.
Imagine having our world rocked by The Beatles as a 1st-gen fan living in New York City. You are a budding musician yourself, and with every release, they inspire you as they advance their art. You see them live - twice - the first time at a renowned event caught on film.