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PODCAST

The Beatles: Note By Note

Note By Note Series

Join former bandmates and lifelong friends Peter and Kenyon as they dive deep into the legendary discography of The Beatles in "The Beatles: Note by Note." With decades of friendship and a shared passion for music, these lifelong Beatles fans meticulously analyze each Beatles song in chronological order of release. Blending historical context with personal anecdotes and technical insights, Peter and Kenyon"s discussions are enriched by their background as musicians. From their humble beginnings to

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All Episodes

1:08:50

EP046 - Long Tall Sally

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/06/08

The Beatles may have written hits by the dozen, but when it came to raw vocal power, they turned to “Long Tall Sally.” In this episode, Peter and Kenyon examine how Paul McCartney tackled Little Richard’s blistering classic and made it his own. From the song’s gospel-tinged triplets to McCartney’s throat-shredding vocal performance, this cover became a defining moment in Beatles live sets—often saved for their explosive finales. The hosts explore the band’s deep reverence for American R&B, the

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1:16:37

EP045 - You Can't Do That

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/06/01

The Beatles wrote dozens of love songs—but “You Can’t Do That” is all jealousy, threat, and menace. In this episode, Peter and Kenyon unpack John Lennon’s ferocious 1964 track, a surprisingly harsh B-side to the exuberant “Can’t Buy Me Love.” The hosts explore how Lennon channels emotional volatility through biting lyrics, raw vocal delivery, and a snarling lead guitar part that George Harrison devised with a newly acquired Rickenbacker 12-string. They delve into the song’s modal blues influences,

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39:37

LS045 - You Can't Do That - Lecture Series (bonus)

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/06/01

This lecture examines “You Can’t Do That” as an early exemplar of John Lennon’s emotionally unvarnished songwriting. Kenyon dissects how the track pushes against the pop conventions of 1964, both musically and lyrically. Built on a blues framework yet rich in modal ambiguity, the song contrasts a driving, almost brutal rhythmic groove with harmonic suspensions and key flirtations that mirror the instability in its lyrics. Lennon’s vocal delivery is sharp-edged and unrepentant, revealing a narrator

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1:08:26

EP044 - Can't Buy Me Love

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/05/24

It sold 2 million copies in a day and knocked America off its feet—but was “Can’t Buy Me Love” the beginning of the end for the Beatles’ greatest songwriting era? In this episode, Peter and Kenyon dissect the band’s first true solo-credited hit, where Paul McCartney goes it alone vocally and compositionally, breaking the “eyeball to eyeball” method that had defined Lennon-McCartney’s early work. The duo explores the track’s Paris hotel origins, its 12-bar blues structure, and George Martin’s

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25:28

LS044 - Can't Buy Me Love - Lecture Series (bonus)

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/05/24

In this lecture, Kenyon examines Paul McCartney’s “Can’t Buy Me Love,” a pivotal track in the Beatles’ early catalog that bridges 12-bar blues tradition with modern pop innovation. Written in Paris and released as a single before appearing on A Hard Day’s Night, the song is often remembered for its hook, but Kenyon’s analysis reveals deeper structural and harmonic nuance. The lecture explores the song’s lyrical progression, which subtly reframes materialism into a broader reflection on emotional

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52:35

EP043 - A World Without Love

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/05/18

What happens when a teenage Paul McCartney writes a song so sentimental that even John Lennon rolls his eyes? In this episode, Peter and Kenyon explore “A World Without Love,” a track McCartney penned at just 16 and later gave to his girlfriend Jane Asher’s brother, Peter, for his duo Peter and Gordon. The hosts break down the song’s swooning lyrics, lush harmonies, and the famously rejected opening line, “Please lock me away,” which Lennon reportedly found too corny for the Beatles’ image. They

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30:46

LS043 - A World Without Love - Lecture Series (bonus)

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/05/18

In this lecture, Kenyon explores “A World Without Love,” a Paul McCartney composition that became a chart-topping hit for Peter and Gordon in 1964. Written when McCartney was just 16, the song reflects his early fascination with grand, romantic gestures, yet reveals hints of deeper themes. Kenyon examines the song’s unusual opening line, “Please lock me away,” which John Lennon reportedly rejected as too sentimental, and considers the possible influence of the Asher family on McCartney’s lyrical

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1:05:04

EP042 - This Boy

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/05/10

What do the Beatles and classic doo-wop have in common? More than you might think. “This Boy” finds the Beatles experimenting with close harmonies, complex chord changes, and emotional storytelling in a way that set them apart from their early rock and roll contemporaries. In this episode, Peter and Kenyon break down how John Lennon’s Smokey Robinson-inspired melody blends seamlessly with the band’s distinctive vocal blend, drawing on influences from The Teddy Bears and Bobby Freeman. They also

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25:31

LS042 - This Boy - Lecture Series (bonus)

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/05/10

In this lecture, Kenyon explores “This Boy,” one of the Beatles’ earliest attempts at doo-wop-inspired songwriting. The session examines the track’s compound 12/8 meter, close vocal harmonies, and unusual pronoun construction, where Lennon opts for the ambiguous “this boy” instead of the more direct “I” or “me.” Kenyon breaks down the song’s harmonic structure, focusing on its use of appoggiaturas, minor-key resolutions, and the signature D-Bm-Em-A7 progression that anchors the verses. The lecture

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1:47:30

EP041 - I Want To Hold Your Hand

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/05/04

What happens when a single song conquers two continents at once? “I Want to Hold Your Hand” wasn’t just a hit—it was the ignition switch for Beatlemania in America. In this episode, Peter and Kenyon break down the Beatles’ biggest early gamble: a song written specifically to win over U.S. audiences, composed “eyeball to eyeball” in the basement of Jane Asher’s house. They unpack the song’s explosive chord change, its international recording sessions, and the moment a teenage girl and a rogue DJ

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36:52

LS041 - I Want To Hold Your Hand - Lecture Series...

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/05/04

In this lecture, Kenyon offers a comprehensive analysis of “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” a track often celebrated for its cultural impact but rarely studied for its structural depth. Far from merely a straightforward pop song, Kenyon argues that its emotional resonance stems from a carefully balanced interplay between action and sentiment, mirrored in both its lyrics and harmonic choices. The lecture examines how Lennon and McCartney use alternating couplets to create tension between directness and

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1:01:53

EP040 - Money (That's What I Want)

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/04/26

How did one of the roughest, hardest-rocking Beatles performances come from a $800 loan in Detroit? In this episode, Peter and Kenyon dive into “Money (That’s What I Want),” tracing its wild origins at the dawn of Motown through Barrett Strong’s legendary first recording. They explore how the Beatles discovered this deep cut and transformed it into a ferocious album closer for With the Beatles, powered by John Lennon’s raw vocals, Ringo’s pounding toms, and George Martin’s driving piano. Along the

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1:10:18

EP039 - Not A Second Time

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/04/20

What do Mahler, Stephen King, and John Lennon’s “Not a Second Time” have in common? More than you’d think. In this episode, Peter and Kenyon dig into one of the Beatles’ most misunderstood songs—praised by London Times critic William Mann for its so-called “Aeolian cadence,” a term Lennon would later call “exotic birds.” The hosts dissect the track’s odd structure, haunting piano solo, and emotionally unstable chord progressions, exploring why it stands apart on With the Beatles. From the lack of

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26:52

LS039 - Not A Second Time - Lecture Series (bonus)

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/04/20

In this lecture, Kenyon offers a critical and introspective analysis of “Not a Second Time,” a John Lennon composition from With the Beatles that has baffled fans, critics, and even the band themselves. Often cited as one of Lennon’s weakest early efforts, the song nonetheless presents a unique opportunity for study. Kenyon examines the track’s fragmented melodic development, harmonic aimlessness, and the infamous “Aeolian cadence” praised by The Times critic William Mann—an observation Lennon would

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1:00:05

EP038 - Devil In Her Heart

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/04/13

How did one forgotten girl group from a Detroit suburb end up shaping one of the eeriest Beatles covers? In this episode, Peter and Kenyon uncover the story behind “Devil in Her Heart,” originally recorded as “Devil in His Heart” by the Donays—high schoolers who released only one single before disbanding. The Beatles discovered the track through Brian Epstein’s record shop and transformed it into a haunting George Harrison-led performance. The hosts break down the Beatles’ faithful arrangement,

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1:01:32

EP037 - You Really Got A Hold On Me

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/04/06

Could the Beatles really match Smokey Robinson? That’s the challenge they set for themselves with “You Really Got a Hold on Me”—and, incredibly, they just might have pulled it off. In this episode, Peter and Kenyon break down one of the most vocally demanding songs the Beatles ever attempted to cover. Originally a B-side by the Miracles, the track became a soulful highlight of With the Beatles, driven by John Lennon’s searing vocal, George Harrison’s raunchy guitar bends, and subtle backing from

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1:16:19

EP036 - Hold Me Tight

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/03/30

Was “Hold Me Tight” really the Beatles’ weakest link—or a hidden pivot point in their early sound? Peter and Kenyon dig into this overlooked track from With the Beatles, a song Paul McCartney began writing at age 18 and one that even John and Paul would later dismiss. But beneath its shaky reputation lies a revealing story: failed takes, scrapped sessions, and a frenzied remake that may have included the first-ever Beatles tape-speed manipulation. The hosts dissect Paul’s layered vocal performance,

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30:55

LS036 - Hold Me Tight - Lecture Series (bonus)

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/03/30

In this lecture, Kenyon unpacks Paul McCartney’s “Hold Me Tight,” a deceptively simple track from With the Beatles that reveals deeper structural and harmonic complexity on close inspection. Though the song was often dismissed by its creators, Kenyon explores how its repeated ostinato patterns, major-minor tension, and chromatic middle eight create an unsettled, almost adolescent emotional landscape. The lecture analyzes the use of anti-phrasing, call-and-response, and tonal ambiguity—particularly

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1:08:06

EP035 - Roll Over Beethoven

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/03/22

What happens when the Beatles take a Chuck Berry anthem and make it their own? In this episode, Peter and Kenyon dive into “Roll Over Beethoven,” a song they’d been playing since their earliest club days. Originally sung by John, the band handed vocal duties to George Harrison—an inspired choice that gave the track a youthful punch and raw authenticity. The hosts explore George’s biting vocal, slashing guitar tone, and how the Beatles’ version, recorded in just five takes, adds a muscular polish to

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1:01:56

EP034 - Please Mister Postman

The Beatles: Note By Note ·

2025/03/17

What happens when the Beatles take a Motown classic and make it their own? Please Mr. Postman was already a #1 hit for the Marvelettes, but John Lennon’s urgent, near-desperate vocal delivery transforms it into something raw and electrifying. In this episode, Peter and Kenyon explore how the Beatles' version differs from the original, from its tighter rhythm section to its heightened emotional intensity. The hosts discuss why this was the final girl-group cover the Beatles ever recorded and how

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119 results

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