Gimme Some Truth Podcast

09/03/2024

In a throwback to one of the first episodes of Gimme Some Truth, Paul McCartney said in his 31 December 1970 lawsuit declaration that Ringo temporarily left The Beatles in August 1968 because he was "not getting through to the rest of us."

John Lennon's copy with handwritten annotations, now on display as part of The Jim Irsay Collection, notes that Ringo quit because he "said WE didn't want him anymore".

You can listen to the relevant episodes 'Ringo In Sardinia' and 'Dear Prudence' here: https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com

13/02/2024

John Lennon's 'Cassandle' spoof column from A Spaniard In The Works was inspired by a 7 July 1964 scathing piece by Daily Mirror columnist 'Cassandra' (William Connor).

"Well that was mainly because he knocked us - I sat down to do that because, you know, somebody like Cassandra who does knock us - we get a lot of knocking which we don't mind, I don't mind - we don't want everybody to love us. If somebody doesn't like us they're entitled to, but we have no defence against people writing about us in newspapers because we can't say anything back and this is just my way of having a go back and it was a sort of personal joke amongst ourselves."
- John Lennon interviewed by Wilfred De'ath for BBC's World Of Books, 16 June 1965 (broadcast on 3 July)

04/10/2023

In this season's bonus episode, Chip (Lennonology), Erin, Robert (Something About The Beatles) and I explore what Yoko used to record her audio diary. I present a new clue from an unexpected source tied together with photographic evidence to find a possible answer!

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com/page/3/

27/09/2023

In this season's final part of our analysis of Yoko Ono's 4 June 1968 audio diary, Chip Madinger (Lennonology), Erin Torkelson Weber, Robert Rodriguez (Something About The Beatles) and I discuss our final thoughts and takeaways as Yoko continues to worry about Cynthia's imminent return and John wraps up work on 'Revolution' for the day with a rough mix.

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com/page/3/

20/09/2023

This week's penultimate section of Yoko Ono's 4 June 1968 audio diary is perhaps my favourite!

Part III sees her analysing John's handwriting, the other three Beatles and admitting jealousy of John's work on 'Revolution'. Join Chip Madinger (Lennonology), Erin Torkelson Weber, Robert Rodriguez (Something About The Beatles) and I as we discuss!

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com/page/3/

13/09/2023

This week, Part II of Yoko Ono’s 4 June 1968 audio diary with special guests Chip Madinger (Lennonology), Erin Torkelson Weber and Robert Rodriguez (Something About The Beatles)! In this part, John messes around with a fretless guitar, Kyoko goes missing and an interesting visitor arrives to EMI Studios.

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com/page/3/

06/09/2023

In part one, my special guests Chip Madinger (Lennonology), Erin Torkelson Weber, Robert Rodriguez (Something About The Beatles) and I begin our analysis of Yoko Ono's audio diary from 4 June 1968. We gain insight into her and John's early relationship and current events in their lives including the attempted murder of Andy Warhol.

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com/page/2/

Sources include London's The Observer 2 June 1968 and New York's Daily News 4 June 1968.

06/09/2023

Welcome to Season 3!

In this special season, I am joined by Beatles authors and scholars Chip Madinger (Lennonology), Erin Torkelson Weber and Robert Rodriguez (Something About The Beatles) to discuss Yoko Ono's 4 June 1968 audio diary. This introduction episode sets the context for the recording and provides a history of 'Revolution 1'.

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com/page/2/

30/08/2023

With the wonderful news that we have passed 10,000 downloads in less than a year, I am thrilled to announce a special Season 3 starting next Wednesday 6 September!

Thanks to all you listeners 🙏🏻🥰✨

Catch up with the first two seasons now: https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com

07/06/2023

In the Season 2 bonus episode, I present the unexpected results of two searches for the 'real' Sgt Pepper. Was Pepper based on a real person? Who is the military man fans could cut out of the album sleeve?

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com/page/2/

Sources include David Hughes in Disc And Music Echo and Frank Daniels in Bruce Spizer's 2017 book about the album.

04/06/2023

Further to the episodes this season about the 'Paul Is Dead' rumour and The Rolling Stones, who ever heard about the 'Jagger Dead' rumour that swept America three years earlier?

Both musicians invoked Mark Twain's legendary 1897 quote: 'The report of my death was an exaggeration.'

31/05/2023

Season 2 finale episode! Forget everything you think you know about how George Harrison helped to sign The Rolling Stones to Decca Records in May 1963. I am joined once again by Dafydd Rees to discuss our new research, which calls this well-known story into question and revises not only Beatles' history but also Stones' history.

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com/page/2/

Get your copy of Dafydd's book 'The Beatles 1963 - A Year In The Life' from Omnibus Press.

Sources include Record Mirror 25 May 1963, 11 May 1963 and Thee Rolling Stones' contract with Impact Sound (21 May 1963).

24/05/2023

In the first of two episodes with author/researcher Dafydd Rees, we look at how he uncovered two previously unknown gigs The Beatles performed on 29 June 1963. Dafydd's detailed book 'The Beatles 1963 - A Year In The Life' is available through Omnibus Press

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com/page/2/

Sources include an original poster for one of the dates and George Harrison's 29 June 2963 letter to his sister Louise Caldwell.

17/05/2023

New documents and information update the timeline of The Beatles' messy departure from Germany after their first Hamburg residency in 1960. This week's episode highlights the wonderful research of Thorsten Knublauch in his recent book 'The Beatles Mach Shau in Hamburg'.

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com/page/2/

Sources include Bruno Koschmider documents, John and George's passports, John's 1 December 1960 work permit re-application and more!

10/05/2023

This week we take a look at the true origins of the most famous myth in The Beatles' history: the 'Paul Is Dead' rumour. Find out who invented the tall tale and how they confessed within a month.

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com/page/2/

Sources include Drake Times-Delphic (17 September 1969), Michigan Daily (14 October 1969), Detroit Free Press (23 October 1969) and Indianapolis News (24 October 1969). Plus a contemporary interview on the subject with Leslie Cavendish!

05/05/2023

https://beatlesrecordcollection.blogspot.com

New post on a side-project blog I started about The Beatles' personal record collections!

May 05, 2023 20 November 1965: Beatles' Records      On 20 November 1965, The Beatles convened at the Donmar Warehouse rehearsal theatre (41 Earlham Street, Covent Garden, London) to prepare for, what would be, their final UK tour starting on 3 December in Glasgow. Donmar was a lighting and stage...

03/05/2023

This week: Part 2 of my portrait of Yoko Ono with Madeline Bocaro which picks up from when Yoko met John until they officially became a couple in 1968.

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com/page/2/

Get your copy of Madeline's book 'In Your Mind - The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono' at https://conceptual-books.myshopify.com/collections/all and find reviews and more information at https://inyourmindbook.com

Thank you to Olivia Barnes-Brett for her wonderful readings from Cynthia's book 📖

26/04/2023

Yoko Ono is one of the most central, divisive and misunderstood figures in The Beatles' history. In the first of a two-part episode, I am joined by author Madeline Bocaro to discuss Yoko's early life and work and to present a more complete version of the woman, the artist and herstory. Part 1 covers Yoko's early life up until she met John Lennon.

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com/page/2/

Get your copy of Madeline's new book In Your Mind - The Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono at https://conceptual-books.myshopify.com/collections/all and find reviews and more information at https://inyourmindbook.com

19/04/2023

In 1969 the Plastic Ono Band were set to release a mysterious track called 'Rock Peace' that never saw the light of day...or did it?

This week I am joined by Axel Korinth APCOR Books to discuss how Antonio Caroselli solved a 50-year-old mystery in the second volume of their fabulous A Is For Apple book series, the history of The Beatles' multimedia corporation.

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com/page/2/

You can find out more about Apcor and all the brilliant things they do at: http://www.apcor.net/

Sources include letters between David Platz and Robert Stigwood (16 May 1969), Apple's and RSO's lawyers (6 & 9 June 1969).

12/04/2023

The fan fever The Beatles inspired in Britain in 1963 inspired a new word - Beatlemania. But where did the term actually come from and what is its history? Find out in this week's episode!

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com

Sources include Daily Mirror (2 November 1963), Daily Mail (21 October 1963) and The Observer (13 October 1963). And thank you to Greg Jenner for inspiring the section on the history of 'manias'.

05/04/2023

Season 2 begins today with a revisionist look at how Ed Sullivan came to sign The Beatles to his show in 1963. Was Sullivan at London Airport to witness The Beatles triumphant return from Sweden as he claimed? Find out!

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com

Thank you to Trond Olav Berg for his help with this episode.

31/03/2023

Announcing Season 2 of Gimme Some Truth Podcast! New episodes every week starting next Wednesday 5 April on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen 🎧

I've been hard at work since the start of the year putting together eight new episodes packed full of new discoveries and wonderful guests.

In the meantime, you can re-listen to or catch up on Season 1: https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com

07/12/2022

In this short bonus episode, I explore the connections between The Beatles and the game of chess. Did Ringo learn to play chess during the recording of Sgt Pepper? Not 'alf he didn't!

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com

30/11/2022

For the season one finale episode, I am joined by acclaimed authors/researchers Chip Madinger and Scott Raile to discuss the timeline of events surrounding the recording of John & Yoko's Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins. In their meticulously researched chronology, Lennonology: Strange Days Indeed - A Scrapbook Of Madness, Chip & Scott date the recording to earlier in May 1968 than is widely thought.

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com

You can buy Lennonology from the official website: https://lennonology.com/

Sources include The Times 2 May 1968, Melody Maker 4 May 1968, Guam Daily News (Associated Press) 9 May 1968.

Clip of Donovan and Magic Alex in Rome: https://youtu.be/MYjEY7Ql6j8?t=255

Thank you to Olivia Barnes-Brett for her excellent readings from Cynthia and Jenny's books🙌🏻

23/11/2022

New episode!
https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com

In this week's instalment of we take a deep look at the events that led to The Beatles' arrival and triumph in the United States. Did they really wait until they had a number one to stage their arrival or was it fortuitous?

16/11/2022

One of the enduring mysteries in The Beatles' music is the opening chord for 'A Hard Day's Night'. Who played what and how? In this episode, I attempt to unravel the elements and get to the truth.

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com

Thank you to Liam Narrie and God's Own Guitars for their help with this episode 🙏🏼🎸

11/11/2022

New investigative article tracking The Beatles’ driving incidents and accidents! Thank you to The Daily Beatle for publishing 🤓

http://webgrafikk.com/blog/beatles/drive-my-car-the-beatles-road-incidents/?fbclid=IwAR3FOnvzJaZQpOpcXct8IMnblnL3j5uFasyU4FQWGmVw1frMc1P_3mLGIXc

“Better slow down/Baby now you’re movin’ way too fast” – Larry Williams (1958) by guest blogger Obadiah Jones Apart from their obvious love of music, each of The Beatles had an eye for nice cars. W…

10/11/2022

Loving the feedback and reviews so far! Thank you all for listening 🙏🏼😊

09/11/2022

New episode!

https://gimmesometruth.podbean.com

A holiday car crash in the Scottish Highlands delayed John Lennon's return to sessions at EMI Studios for The Beatles' 1969 Abbey Road LP. New evidence shows that John returned later than we previously thought!

Sources include the 19 July 1969 issues of Melody Maker and New Musical Express, and Aberdeen Press & Journal 5 July 1969.

03/11/2022

Further to the first episode about Ringo leaving sessions for the White Album, I have since discovered an earlier occasion that Ringo recounted 'the story' to Elliot Mintz on 18 April 1976 (later broadcast on Inner-view and released in parts on 45 records).

"And the White Album is important to me for different reasons. One-- I'd left the band on the White Album 'cause I couldn't take it. It's a great funny story, right? We're doing this album, and I'm getting weird, right? You know, I'm going through crazy head jobs, right? I'm sitting 'round and I've gotta leave. This is to me-self: 'I've gotta leave this band, it's not working', you know. So I go around to John, and you know knock-knock, and I said, 'John, listen, you know, it's not working. You three are really fine. I feel out of it, you know, I don't feel I'm any good to the band.' And he said, 'I thought it was you three!' Then I went 'round to Paul - I'm still checking it out, right, after he'd said he thought it was you three. So I go around to Paul (knock knock), 'Listen I'm leaving the band, you know, we're not getting on, you three are really getting it together. I feel like, you know, I'm out of it, not doing anything.' He said, 'I thought it was you three!' S**t this is crazy, we're all going through it, are we? So I said, 'Okay, well I'm going on holiday,' and I went away for two weeks. (laughs) And, uhh, that's when I left the band. And then I got a telegram from John saying, 'Great drums' or whatever, you know, on the tracks we'd done. And I came back and it was great, 'cuz George had set up all these flowers all over the studio saying welcome home. And then we got it together again. And the White Album was important also because it was more like a band, you know."

Audio: https://youtu.be/h6Jb-52MFus?t=4304

Thanks to Joe Wisbey for inspiring this discovery!

Elliot Mintz interviews Ringo Starr in 1976 about his life and experiences as a "Beatle".For more interviews with Ringo Starr and many others visit elliotmin...