Stroll Down Penny Lane

Celebrating the music of Paul McCartney

Podcasts

Ep. 4: Michelle – Where Voodoo Meets the Devil

In this chapter in our podcast series we explore the creation story for this song, Michelle. We also uncover how Paul McCartney’s bass playing was transformed by his experience in the recording of Michelle. Finally, in this episode we will explore an unusual subject – the voodoo and the devil in this song, Michelle.

So settle in for a story that will knock your socks off!

Songs

Michelle, Lennon and McCartney; performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, Winter, Mark Abbott)

Twenty Flight Rock, Eddie Cochran, performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Getting Closer, Paul McCartney; performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

La Mer, Charles Trenet, Albert Lasry; performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

La Belle Vie, Sacha Distel, with French lyrics by Jean Broussolle; performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

That’s Amore, Harry Warren and Jack Brooks; performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Money Honey, Jesse Stone; performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Jailhouse Rock, Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller; performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

La Vie En Rose, Édith Piaf (lyrics), Louiguy and Marguerite Monnot; performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar)

Purple Haze, Jimmy Hendrix; performed by Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Till There Was You, Meredith Wilson; performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, Winter, Mark Abbott)

I Put a Spell on You, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins; performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Another Day, Paul McCartney; performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, Winter, Mark Abbott)

Patience, Guns N’ Roses; performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Moment of Truth, Bill Conti, Dennis Lambert & Peter Beckett; performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Richard Wagner

Tristan und Isolde, Richard Wagner; Conductor: Wilhelm Furtwangler; Philharmonia Orchestra

The End, Lennon and McCartney; performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, Winter, Mark Abbott, Matt Twain)

Sources

Recording the Beatles; Kevin Ryan and Brian Kehew; Curvebender; 2006.

Beatlesongs; William J. Dowling; Simon & Shuster, New York, 1989.

Here, There and Everywhere; Geoff Emerick and Howard Massey; Gotham Books; New York; 2006

Paul McCartney, Many Years from Now; Barry Miles; Secker &Warburg; 1997

McCartney; Christopher Sandford; Carroll and Graf Publishers; 2006

Paul McCartney, the Life; Philip Norman; Little Brown and Company; 2016

Songwriting Secrets of the Beatles; Dominic Pedler; Omnibus Press; 2003

The Beatles; Hunter Davis; McGraw-Hill; 1968

The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions; Mark Lewisohn; Hamlyn (a division of the Octopus Publishing Group); 1988

All You Need Is Ears; George Martin, with Jeremy Hornsby; St. Martin’s Griffin; 1979

This is Your Brain on Music, The Science of a Human Obsession; Daniel J. Levitin; Plume; 2007

Paul McCartney After the Beatles; Understanding Michelle; Adrian Allan; 2020

Michelle History; Beatlesbooks.com

Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley; Peter Guralnick, Little Brown, 1994

Careless Love, the unmaking of Elvis Presley; Peter Guralnick, Little Brown, 1999

Music Historian Peter Guralnick — Serious Jibber-Jabber with Conan O’Brien;

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins; Songfacts

I Put a Spell on You; Wikipedia.

Dominant seventh sharp ninth chord; Wikipedia.

What is the ‘Hendrix Chord’? Fender; articles, tech-talk; Purple Reign: the ‘Hendrix Chord’

McCartney: Yesterday … and Today; Ray Coleman; Boxtree Ltd; 1998.

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

Ep. 3: Penny Lane

Penny Lane – and the ‘other song’ to which it is inextricably linked!

In this chapter in our podcast series, we explore the genesis of this song and the characters that inhabit Paul McCartney’s memories of his childhood days in Liverpool. We also examine the songwriting elements that make Penny Lane so compelling – including what is called a ‘truck driver’s modulation.’

The third thread in our podcast narrative covers the ‘other song’ that is inextricably linked to Paul’s song, Penny Lane. Get ready for a surprise here!

Songs

Penny Lane, Lennon and McCartney; performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, Winter, Mark Abbott, Matt Twain, and Chris Barnes)

Strawberry Fields Forever, Lennon and McCartney; performed by Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Twilight Zone Theme, Bernard Herrmann and Marius Constant; performed by Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Good Day Sunshine, Lennon and McCartney; performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

The Dance of the Salty Sardines, Mike Sugar, performed by Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

And I Love Her, Lennon and McCartney; performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Another Day, Paul McCartney; performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, Winter, Mark Abbott)

Rabbit Hole Interstitial Music – Penny Lane melody, Lennon and McCartney, arranged and performed by Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Brandenburg Concerto Number 2 in F Major, Johann Sebastian Bach; piccolo trumpet solo, performed by Chris Barnes, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Release Me, Robert Yount, Eddie Miller and Dub Williams; performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

The End, Lennon and McCartney; performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, Winter, Mark Abbott, Matt Twain)

Sources

Rolling Stone Magazine; George Martin; interview; 2001

Recording the Beatles; Kevin Ryan and Brian Kehew; Curvebender; 2006

500 Greatest Songs of All Time; Rolling Stone’s definitive list of the 500 greatest songs of all time; by Rolling Stone; interview with Paul McCartney

The Beatles Anthology; George Martin interview; John Lennon interview

Beatlesongs, William J. Dowling; Simon & Shuster, New York, 1989.

Here, There and Everywhere, Geoff Emerick and Howard Massey; Gotham Books; New York; 2006

Paul McCartney, Many Years from Now, Barry Miles; Secker &Warburg; 1997

McCartney, Christopher Sandford; Carroll and Graf Publishers; 2006

Paul McCartney, the Life, Philip Norman; Little Brown and Company; 2016

Songwriting Secrets of the Beatles, Dominic Pedler; Omnibus Press; 2003

The Beatles, Hunter Davis; McGraw-Hill; 1968

The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, Mark Lewisohn; Hamlyn (a division of the Octopus Publishing Group); 1988

All You Need Is Ears, George Martin, with Jeremy Hornsby; St. Martin’s Griffin; 1979

This is Your Brain on Music, The Science of a Human Obsession, Daniel J. Levitin; Plume; 2007

Engelbert Humperdinck (singer), Wikipedia

Release Me (Eddie Miller song), Wikipedia

Voice Actors 

Joe Anastasi
Mike Sugar

Thanks to the Library of Congress for this episode’s image.
This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

Ep. 2: Eleanor Rigby – The Counter-Narrative!

In our second chapter in this podcast series, we explore the creation myth surrounding this famous song, Eleanor Rigby. Travel with us, back in time, to the very moment of formation, of… the Beatles.

Why this moment in time?

Well, because it provides one of several clues we unearth regarding the creation of this song. Join us in our forensic investigation, as we discover what, in the world, a psychological ‘phenomenon,’ known as cryptomnesia, has to do with the creation of Eleanor Rigby.

Buckle up, for we are going to visit a very specific graveyard in Woolton, just outside Liverpool. And there — everything will be revealed. Well, almost everything. Try to figure out now, in advance, if you can … what the film, Psycho!, has to do with this song, Eleanor Rigby!

Songs

Eleanor Rigby, Lennon and McCartney;
performed by Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, and Winter, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Yesterday, Lennon and McCartney;
performed by Joe Anastasi, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Ola-na Tung-eee, Paul McCartney;
performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

A Day in the Life, Lennon and McCartney, ‘outro;’
performed by Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Mellow Yellow, Donovan;
performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Da-Zi-Di-Da-Zu, Paul McCartney;
performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

A Hard Day’s Night, Lennon and McCartney; ‘intro’;
performed by Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, Richard Strauss

“Think!,” Merv Griffin, original recording cue;
mangled by Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Twilight Zone Theme, Bernard Herrmann and Marius Constant;
original recording cue, mangled by Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Lennon and McCartney;
performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

1985, Paul McCartney: ‘outro’,
performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, Winter, Mark Abbott, and Matt Twain)

The Girl Can’t Help It, Bobby Troup;
performed by Little Richard

Twenty Flight Rock, Ned Fairchild and Eddie Cochran;
performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Penny Lane, Lennon and McCartney;
performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, Winter, Mark Abbott, and Matt Twain)

Cry Me a River, Arthur Hamilton;
performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Shake It Off, Taylor Swift, Max Martin, and Shellbac;
performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Moonlight Sonata, Piano Sonata No. 14, Ludwig van Beethoven;
performed by Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Easier Said Than Done, William Linton and Larry Huff;
performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Barracuda, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Roger Fisher and Michael DeRosier; performed by Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Maniac, Michael Sembello;
performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

String Concerto, Vivaldi;
performed by Baroque Band

Bad Idea, Ariana Grande, Peter Svensson, Savan Kotecha, Max Martin and Ilya Salmanzadeh;
performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Psycho!, Bernard Herrmann, original recording cue;
mangled by Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

The End, Lennon and McCartney;
performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, Winter, Mark Abbott, Matt Twain)

Sources

McCartney, Christopher Sandford; Carroll and Graf Publishers; 2006

Paul McCartney, the Life, Philip Norman; Little Brown and Company; 2016

Songwriting Secrets of the Beatles, Dominic Pedler; Omnibus Press; 2003

This is Your Brain on Music, The Science of a Human Obsession; Daniel J. Levitin; Plume; 2007

Recording the Beatles, Kevin Ryan & Brian Kehew, Curvebender Publishing; 2006

The Beatles Anthology; Chronicle Books; 2000

www.merriam-webster.com/medical/cryptomnesia

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/ice calving

Sunbeams Music Trust; private communication with Annie Mawson, Director; by Mike Sugar of Stroll Down Penny Lane

The Girl Can’t Help It; produced and directed by Frank Tashlin, with a screenplay adapted by Frank Tashlin and Herbert Baker; 1956

Psycho! directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock; written by Joseph Stefano; 1960

Voice Actors 

Joe Anastasi
Mike Sugar
Annie Mawson — as herself.

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

Ep. 1: Golden Slumbers

In our first chapter in this podcast series, we explore the creation story that surrounds the song Golden Slumbers, which is found on the second side of the Abbey Road album. In our discovery process, we find ourselves traveling back in time – of all things!

Indeed, we need to go back, some 400 – 650 years, to discover the genesis of the lyrics to this song on the Abbey Road album.

You might exclaim; 400 – 650 years!? Really?

Well, here’s a heck of a question for you. What is the connection of ALL of the following, to Paul McCartney’s song, Golden Slumbers?

  1. A poem written by Thomas Dekker in the year 1599 AD
  2. Canterbury Tales, finished by Chaucer in 1400 AD
  3. The Decameron, written by Giovanni Boccaccio, who died in 1375 AD
  4. The Black Death, in Tuscany, in the 1300’s
  5. The Covid-19 crisis of today?

Find out by listening to Chapter 1 of this podcast series celebrating the life and music of Paul McCartney. The answer will surprise you. And what is more, in this discovery journey, we explore how it was that Paul knew how to construct the underlying chord progressions for this song and why they move us so. Believe it or not, the answer to this question can be found in the songs, Twist and Shout and She Came in Through the Bathroom Window.

To boot, we finish the first podcast in this series with an introduction to another creation story – this time for the song, Eleanor Rigby. In this exploration, we discover the connections of Eleanor Rigby to these songs: Ferry ‘Cross the Mersey (remember Gerry and the Pacemakers?), and Mellow Yellow, Donovan’s best-selling pop hit. Do you remember him? We do!

Songs

The End; Lennon and McCartney; performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, Winter, Mark Abbott, Matt Twain)

Golden Slumbers; Lennon and McCartney; performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, Winter, Mark Abbott, Matt Twain)

Ferry Cross the Mersey ; Gerry Marsden; performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Twist and Shout; Bert Russel & Phil Medley, performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

She Came in through the Bathroom Window; Lennon and McCartney; performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, Winter, Mark Abbott, and Matt Twain)

Eleanor Rigby; Lennon and McCartney; performed by Stroll Down Penny Lane (Joe Anastasi, Mike Sugar, Winter, Mark Abbott, and Matt Twain)

Mellow Yellow; Donovan; performed by Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane A Hard Day’s Night; Lennon and McCartney, performed by Mike Sugar, of Stroll Down Penny Lane

Voice Actors

Joe Anastasi and Mike Sugar

Sources

The Cradle Song; Thomas Dekker; 1599

Patient Grissel; Thomas Dekker, with Henry Chettle and William Haughton; 1603

Canterbury Tales; Geoffrey Chaucer; 1400

The Decameron, The Human Comedy; Giovanni Boccaccio; 1348–53St.

Nicholas’s Songs, with illustrations, Waldo Seldon Pratt; The Century Co., New York; The Devinne Press

Golden Slumbers Kiss Your Eyes; W. J. Henderson p, 177; 1885.

McCartney, Christopher Sandford; Carroll and Graf Publishers; 2006

Paul McCartney, the Life, Philip Norman; Little Brown and Company; 2016

Songwriting Secrets of the Beatles, Dominic Pedler; Omnibus Press; 2003

This is Your Brain on Music, The Science of a Human Obsession, Daniel J. Levitin; Plume; 2007

The World Through a Lens, an Intimate Look at Italy’s Saffron Harvest, Susan Wright; The New York Times, May 12, 2020

A Hard Day’s Night, directed by Richard Lester; written by Alun Owen; 1964

Thanks to Bianca Berg at Unsplash this episode’s image.
This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.