Take It Away

29/07/2024

Bonus episode time!

Let's hear a round of one-handed applause for an all-new bonus episode of the Take it Away podcast! Your humble co-hosts are "live in the studio" to review, analyze and critique the two new Paul McCartney & Wings releases from this past year: One Hand Clapping and Band on the Run - Underdubbed.

First up is the long-awaited standalone release of Wings Mach 1.5's most expansive effort before the departure of drummer Geoff Britton, an idea hatched by Paul & Linda to capture both audio and video of the band prepping for a new tour. While widely bootlegged and only ever officially released in sporadic chunks over the years, One Hand Clapping at last gets its due as a snapshot of this tuneful, rocking, high-energy era of the Wings project. Next, a revelatory gaze into the rough mixes of Paul, Linda and Denny's seminal Band on the Run LP, christened "Under-Dubbed" and freshly issued to mark 50 years since the album's initial release. So grab your polygons, take off your face, and rejoin TIA for a journey back into the complete Paul McCartney archive...

06/05/2024

Try some of this episode! We're back for the second and final installment of our look back at George Harrison's 1973 album Living in the Material World - a masterpiece to many and a worthy follow-up to All Things Must Pass.

In this episode, we'll conclude our track-by-track analysis of the record, including album highlights "Be Here Now," "Who Can See It," and of course the title track "Living in the Material World" - George's ode to rock and roll life and simultaneous yearning to escape it. This collection of nearly all new material was a smash success commercially, though its critical reception would be but a preview of challenges to come for George later in the decade.

That is all for Season 5 of Take it Away, and we'd like to thank everyone for joining us on this foray into the solo work of George Harrison. We'll see you next time as the 70s rage on, the albums multiply, and an upstart record label appears on the scene...

08/04/2024

We're living in the material world!

And we're excited to be giving you part one of a two-part TAKE IT AWAY series detailing the inception, writing, recording, and release of George Harrison's epic LP: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD! In 1973, after a (nearly) three-year absence from record store stands, Harrison returned to the charts with the follow-up studio album to 1970's ALL THINGS MUST PASS -- and thanks to the mammoth success of that album and its singles, anticipation for this new release was at a fever pitch.

Thankfully for fans and critics alike, the lead single did not disappoint, and both "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" and its corresponding album shot to the top of the charts in short order. But while George's commercial successes continued, Living in the Material World showed the world another, darker side of his life -- one fueled by the temptations of both rock stardom and spiritual enlightenment. In this first episode we'll uncover the path toward this crossroads, and drill in on the songs that tell the story of a Pisces fish at a fork in the road...

11/03/2024

As we prepare our deep dive into George Harrison's Living in the Material World LP, the Take it Away podcast has once again partnered with the Yesterday & Today podcast to give you a holistic glimpse into the world of the former Beatles in the summer of 1971. Yesterday & Today - currently on its 185th episode at the time of this release - is a chronological journey of the world's most famous band using interviews, music and rarities collected since the debut of John, Paul, George and Ringo onto the world stage. Nowhere else this side of Tune In covers the Beatle world in such meticulous detail from start to finish, and this re-presentation of the show's 50th episode details the very time period we're focused on now in the Take it Away podcast. So sit back, turn off your mind, relax and download the stream - we hope you will enjoy the show.

05/02/2024

When George Harrison's friend came to him, sadness in his eyes - he told George that he wanted help, before his country died. And help is what he got.

Enter rock's first major charity concert experience, the night that set the template for benefit shows for decades to come... the Concert for Bangladesh. Organized and headlined by George Harrison in response to friend Ravi Shankar's dismay over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in war-torn Bangladesh, this star-studded event helped rock'n'roll graduate from youthful idealism to pragmatic maturity. While not the first charity concert (nor the first George was in attendance for), this major media event carried into the spotlight by the star power of a former Beatle (still riding high from his successful solo debut the prior December),

The Concert for Bangladesh in its various iterations raised millions of dollars and worldwide awareness for the suffering Bengal people. The Take it Away podcast now takes a deep dive into the event, the grammy-winning live album, and the legacy of this grand gesture of commitment to the human race.

01/01/2024

A podcast may not last all day, but we sure do let it roll. Take it Away is proud to present the third and final installment of our analysis and review of George Harrison's solo masterpiece All Things Must Pass -- and to start we turn our attention to the oft-overlooked instrumental spotlight known as Apple Jam.

George Harrison and some principal players from the 18 lyrical contributions to All Things Must Pass use this full third disc to unleash 29 minutes worth of musical prowess, virtuosity, and improvisational ability unseen anywhere else in Beatles or solo Beatles canon.

All this, plus album reception, legacy, and some words from Robert Christgau in the grand finale to our look back at one of the great statements in rock and roll.

04/12/2023

Let us in here, you know we've been here. Let us in for part two!

The Take it Away podcast returns with the second installment in our three-part deep dive into All Things Must Pass by George Harrison. In the previous episode we covered the inception and recording of this triple album set - starting from the last gasp of the Beatles in those early months of 1970 right up through its release in time for the holiday season that same year.

This time around we're picking back up where we left off on our track-by-track analysis with a look at the epic second single “What is Life,” and ending at the finale of the initial lyrical compositions with “Hear Me Lord.” While we roll on out the door, we want to hear what your favorite cuts from this solo masterpiece are! Because who are we, without you by our side?

24/11/2023

Bonus episode: Go Fund Denny Laine

Join us for a special episode of Take It Away devoted to former Wings member and friend of the show Denny Laine. At the moment, Denny is struggling with serious health problems, and we’ve gotten together to promote his GoFundMe, inform our listeners about his situation, and take a moment to reflect on how important Denny is to us musically. We talked to Denny’s wife Elizabeth Hines for an update on Denny’s health and spent a little time discussing a few of our favorite Denny songs.

There is a benefit concert for Denny in LA on Nov. 27:

https://www.seetickets.us/event/denny-laine/571923

You can donate to Denny’s GoFundMe here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/denny-laine-medical-expenses

13/11/2023

Welcome to a special BONUS episode of the Take it Away podcast!

This past week the world experienced a rarity decades in the making - the advent of a new single by The Beatles titled "Now and Then." Hardcore fans would of course be familiar with this track as the third John Lennon song attempted by Paul, George and Ringo in 1995 for the Anthology project - another demo in the spirit of "Free As A Bird" and "Real Love," which was left unfinished at the time and, as Paul put it, "languishing in a cupboard" for nearly 30 years.

Thanks to Peter Jackson's MAL technology, John's demo has been cleaned and separated in spectacular fashion, and the song has at last seen the light of day, and more than that is now the #1 record in the UK charts at the time of this recording.

Even MORE spectacular than that? Chris Mercer has not heard the track yet. So join Paul and Chris for a real-time reaction to this piece of Beatles history, experienced in the moment for the first time by Chris Mercer and discussed with the love and attention of the Take it Away podcast.

06/11/2023

It all begins here! The dawn of the Beatles solo era is filled with some of the most memorable, innovative and downright classic moments from all four former fabs - but none left an initial impact quite like George Harrison.

An epic 3-disc set, George's All Things Must Pass was more than a simple collection of songs - it was a statement to the world (and to his former bandmates) that he was a musical force to be reckoned with. In this episode of Take it Away, we'll take a look back at the inception of this mammoth release, and use the context accrued over our "Beatle George" installments to glean insight into Harrison's approach, songwriting, and production style.

Join us for an intimate look back at our sweet George - hallelujah!

29/10/2023

Tried to savor every last word of this, cannot WAIT for vol2.

For anyone on the fence, do not pass this up. It’s worth every bit of your time.

02/10/2023

Because you're sweet and lovely, we're back for part two of our deep dive into the songs of Beatle George on the Take it Away podcast.

On this savoy second installment, we'll cover 1967's “It's All Too Much” right through the breakup of the Beatles -- as we witness George Harrison's songwriting evolution from gifted novice to peak contender with Lennon and McCartney. The trauma of fame mixed with the clarity of eastern philosophy altered George's outlook drastically from the mid-60s onward…his songwriting acting as a reflection of the sincerity of his convictions. It was the truth of his artistry (embraced by the public, though not always by his bandmates) that would carry forward into the solo years, where George would continue to hone his craft as songwriter, producer, musician, and guiding light for the material world for decades to come.

Though this episode marks the end of our "Beatle George" series, it is far from the end of our examination of George's music - and we invite you to join us for a long, long, long journey into the solo catalog of our favorite mystical one...

https://shows.acast.com/takeitaway/episodes/beatle-george-pt-2

01/09/2023

The all-new TAKE IT AWAY starts here!

Hosts Chris Mercer and Paul Kaminski journey beyond the music of McCartney into the mystical mind of George Harrison in "Beatle George" part one (of two)! In this preamble to the next phase of the podcast, we'll explore the origins of Harrison's songwriting, musicianship and legacy, as the "quiet one" fights for his place amongst both his bandmates and his musical contemporaries alike.

We'll chronicle every single (official) George Harrison Beatles songwriting contribution from the band's beginnings up through 1967 in this first installment -- an extensive deep dive you will not want to miss! Now, without further ado: take it away, George...

https://shows.acast.com/takeitaway/episodes/beatle-george-pt-1

09/07/2023

New Episode Alert!

The YESTERDAY & TODAY and TAKE IT AWAY podcasts are crossing over! In this special double-feature, double-interview episode, hosts Wayne Kaminski, Chris Mercer and Paul Kaminski join forces to discuss Paul McCartney historiography with special guest authors who have fresh releases on shelves now.

Luca Perasi is certainly no stranger to the TAKE IT AWAY podcast -- Luca was interviewed by Chris and Ryan in 2019 to discuss his book PAUL McCARTNEY: RECORDING SESSIONS (1969-2013), which provided much of the framework for the original run of TAKE IT AWAY shows. Luca has returned to promote a brand-new book, PAUL McCARTNEY: MUSIC IS IDEAS, the first volume in a multi-part series which explores the stories behind Macca's massive catalog of solo songs from 1970-1989. Next up, returning YESTERDAY & TODAY guest Paul Salley -- author of LITTLE WING: THE JIMMY McCULLOCH STORY -- is back for the first time in 3 years to discuss the release of his definitive biography of Wings' exceptional young-gun lead guitarist.

All this, plus a special announcement about the future of the TAKE IT AWAY podcast in this all-new crossover episode. We hope you will enjoy the show!

https://shows.acast.com/takeitaway/episodes/mccartney-the-historians-a-yesterday-today-crossover

01/06/2022

Hey folks! Just a quick update to let you know that we are hard at work on Season 5 of Take It Away. We know it's taking a while, but it's dense with research and represents a slight change of direction for us. Hang in there with us...we think it will be worth the wait!

25/12/2021

Friend of the show and host of the fantastic Elvis Costello podcast 'Dangerous Amusements' has written an insightful blogpost on 'Press To Play.' Fans of that album will definitely want to check it out!

https://dangerousamusements.co.uk/half-talked-half-baked-ideas/

Allow me to go off topic slightly in this article to delve into a subplot that’s developing on the podcast: my attempts to rehabilitate one of Paul McCartney’s most maligned albums. I was first “outed” as a fan of this record by Tom Doyle at the start of the year, with Chris Mercer rounding

07/12/2021

TIA co-host Chris Mercer appeared on Stu Arrowsmith's wonderful, informative Elvis Costello podcast 'Dangerous Amusements.' It was a great chat! If you love Elvis, you'll love this podcast. Check it out!

https://dangerousamusements.co.uk

Dangerous Amusements is a podcast where we chat about the songs of Elvis Costello Our guests talk all things EC and help compile the ultimate Elvis Costello playlist Dangerous Amusements is a

27/09/2021

Paul McCartney wouldn’t dare let a whole year go by without a new release, would he? Of course not! When Macca’s manager, Scott Rodger, came to him with the idea for a cover album of McCartney III tracks re-worked, re-recorded, re-mixed or otherwise, well, reimagined by some of the coolest names in modern music - our kid jumped at the opportunity. Enter McCartney III Imagined: an eclectic swath of wonderful music from the likes of St. Vincent, Beck, Phoebe Bridgers and more, bringing new interpretations to every track from last year’s McCartney III. Chris and Paul are on-hand for this finale episode to season 4 of Take It Away, and we're telling the full tale behind this release, plus some classic Take It Away commentary (“hot takes-it-away”? It’s a work in progress). Unleash your imagination, it’s time to talk about Paul McCartney.

Listen: http://smarturl.it/TakeItAwayPodcast
Website: http://bit.ly/MaccaIIITIA

26/09/2021

Hey folks, Mercer here!

I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Paul Kaminski as the new cohost of Take It Away. Many of you will have guessed as much already. When it comes to the Beatles, Paul Kaminski is the real deal. He’s also a highly accomplished podcaster, having worked on the Jack White-related Third Men Podcast, the Beatles podcast Yesterday and Today, The Lucy & Annabel Show, and Now Hear This!, which he cofounded with Ryan Brady. We‘ve already had a productive collaboration going for some time, and we can’t wait to talk everyone’s heads off about music we love!

Take It Away has been in a kind of extended Season 4 for a few years now. Tomorrow we will be releasing the final episode of Season 4, and we are thrilled to announce that we will begin Season 5 this fall. While we will honor the show’s roots by covering McCartney‘s latest projects and expanding our Macca-related offerings, Paul and I are eager to take TIA to new places, and we think you’ll enjoy what we have planned.

07/06/2021

Paul and Mary Hopkin making 'Postcard'

01/06/2021

Paul and Greg Kurstin making Egypt Station.

17/05/2021

All Those Years Ago...

12/05/2021

How is McCartney III Imagined treating everyone so far?

27/04/2021

Take It Away is back to tackle the latest McCartney release - the conclusion to a trilogy 50 years in the making. Chris Mercer is joined by Paul Kaminski (The Third Men, Now Hear This, Yesterday & Today) to weigh in on this exciting new record. This episode (and all episodes) of the show is dedicated to the music and memory of Ryan Brady. So welcome back to the fold, friends.

Listen: http://smarturl.it/TakeItAwayPodcast
Website: http://bit.ly/MaccaIIITIA

26/04/2021

Definitely feels like time to talk about McCartney III. Keep an eye on that podcast feed...

15/04/2021

Bet this sounded sweet in the right car in the right year.