Studio Walls

   Every week I send my Minutia Men Co-Host Dave Stern a list from our audio archives for this week's Studio Walls feature. These are the possibilities for this week. Which one will he choose?

*November 14--Actor DB Sweeney's birthday. (Listen to our interview here)  

November 14, 2014—Jane Byrne passed away. Landecker & The Legends did two different songs about her. (AUDIO)

November 14, 2010—Tangled released by Disney. We interviewed the lyricist of that film, Glenn Slater.  (Listen here)

November 14—Jimmy Piersall birthday. The late Chicago White Sox announcer was a colorful guy. Two different guests on Minutia Men told us great stories about Jimmy. Eric Soderholm and Rich King 

November 15, 1989—Comedy Central debuted. Ryan Beck was a long-time contributor, and we spoke to him on our show.  

November 15, 1940—The town of Niles Center changed it's name to Skokie, IL. Brendan Sullivan told us a great Skokie story

November 16, 2008—Mortal Kombat released, debut of Richard Epcar as Raiden. He told us all about it.

November 17, 1964—Beatles release "I’m a Loser". Carl Giammerese of the Buckinghams told us the story of their cover version of the Beatles song. 

November 18—Mickey Mouse Day. 3-year-old Johnny Kaempfer reviewed Mickey’s Magical Christmas. (AUDIO)

November 18, 1983—The original version of the movie Christmas Story was released. Zach Ward, the actor who played bully Scut Farkus, appeared on our show. 

November 19, 1995—Toy Story was released. Debbi Derryberry told us the story of how she came up with the voice of the Aliens from that film.

November 19, 2021—Mick Rock passed away. We were lucky enough to talk to the famed rock photographer a few years ago. 

Minutia Men--If I Was a Hitman

 Our latest episode is out now. You can listen to it here.

A musical about a murdering rabbi, a tribute to PJ O’Rourke, a great Beatles story by someone who knew them, Jenkins at the art museum, a four-day work-week, and memories of Chris Farley are discussed by Rick and Dave. [Ep260]

Across the Universe

Everything you ever wanted to know about the great Beatles song "Across the Universe", which was being recorded exactly 45 years ago today, courtesy of Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac...

February 4, 1968… In London, the Beatles began recording "Across the Universe" at EMI's Abbey Road Studios. Sensing that the song could be improved by the addition of falsetto harmonies, John Lennon and Paul McCartney invited two girl fans – 17-year-old Gayleen Pease and 16-year-old Lizzie Bravo – into the studio to sing on the recording. Take 8 from this day was used for overdubs four days later, then the song was shelved for 11 months before being remixed in January 1969 and appearing on the World Wildlife Fund charity album, "No One's Gonna Change Our World," released in December 1969. This version was later issued on the Beatles compilation albums, "Rarities" and "Past Masters."

In January 1970, Glyn Johns remixed the February 1968 recording, omitting the teenage girls' vocals and the bird sound effects of the World Wildlife Fund version, but this version was not released.

The most familiar rendition of the song came from Phil Spector, who in the spring of 1970 remixed the February 1968 recording and added orchestral and choral overdubs for the Beatles' "Let It Be" album.

In 2003, the "Let It Be... Naked" CD included the February 1968 master remixed yet again, stripped of most of the instrumentation, and digitally processed to correct tuning issues.


This is the last version Bob mentions. I think it's my favorite of the many versions.

Don't Go Into the Clothing Business

From Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac, 45 years ago today...

December 7, 1967…The Beatles' Apple boutique opened in London. It closed seven months later and all its merchandise was given away to passersby.

Ringo

I just got the June issue of Shore Magazine in the mail. It's the music issue, and contains a back page essay I wrote about my brush with a Beatle.

If you're interested, you can read it here.