By the summer of 1964 The Beatles had conquered the world. Hot on the heels of their first visit to America, they were back at work. But not in the recording studio. This time it was the film studio, to make their first feature film ‘A Hard Day’s Night’.

Back in the 60’s pop acts were fair game for feature films. Be it a cameo appearance or some convoluted storyline. ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ broke new ground with a story based around 24 hours in the life of John, Paul, George and Ringo.

However, the financial reasons why the film was made go deeper than box office takings. In this episode of Fixing A Hole we take a look at the ‘BIGGER PICTURE’ as to why United Artists made the movie.

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On 29 January 1964 while playing an 18-day residency at the Paris’ Olympia Theatre. The Beatles entered the Marconi Studios in Paris, for their first and only session for EMI outside of the United Kingdom. A session with a specific purpose. To rerecord two of their biggest hits ‘She Loves You’ and ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’.

However, these weren’t straight rerecording’s, but German language versions with titles that translate as ‘Sie Liebt Dich’ and ‘Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand’. This would be the one and only time they recorded foreign language recording of their hits.

In this episode of Fixing A Hole we look into the story behind this unique session and where these recordings where released.

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Patrick Humphries is a well-respected music journalist and author. He worked for both the NME and Melody Maker from the mid-70’s and has written features for Mojo, VOX and Record Collector. In addition, he has authored books about Nick Drake, Bruce Springsteen, and Elton John among many others.

In a change to our advertised episode. Patrick joined Mark and Paul to talk about his latest book, ‘With The Beatles, From The Town Where They Were Born To Now And Then’.

During this fascinating conversation Patrick discusses the impact John, Paul, George and Ringo had on music and culture. Tells us why he wrote his book and shares stories of interviewing Paul, George and Ringo.

Copies of Patrick’s book can be ordered direct from the publisher www.greatnorthernbooks.co.uk or from Amazon With The Beatles: From The Town Where They Were Born to Now and Then: Amazon.co.uk: Humphries, Patrick: 9781914227691: Books

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At lunchtime on January 10th 1969, George Harrison walked out of Twickenham film studios and out on his band mates. As he left his parting words were, ‘I’ll see you in the clubs’.

The Beatles January 1969 ‘Get Back’ sessions were all about throwing aside the excesses of ‘Sgt. Pepper’ and getting back to a more basic sound which would allow them to play live together as a group. Just as they had in the Cavern.

In this episode of Fixing a Hole we take a look at the five-year period between 1957 and 1962 when John, Paul, George and Ringo’s served their apprenticeship in the dance halls and clubs of Merseyside and Hamburg and discover what audio and visual recordings of this important era in the groups development have survived.

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On their return from India in the spring of 1968. The Beatles set about recording the ‘White Album,’ a collection of 30 songs, many of which were written in Rishikesh.

In between these 6 months of recording sessions, they released their 18th single ‘Hey Jude’ and launched their own record label Apple.

In episode 7 of Fixing a Hole we look at the 2021 Peter Jackson documentary ‘Get Back’. Which tells the story of why following this intensive period of work, John, Paul, George, and Ringo decided that 6 weeks after the release of the ‘White Album’, they would go back into the studio and write, rehearse, and perform 14 new songs in January 1969.

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Ever since Paul McCartney announced he was leaving the group on 10th April 1970. Fans desire to hear new, or unreleased Beatles music has never stopped.

In this episode we tell the story of how a series of articles published in the New Musical Express back in 1974, lead to EMI searching the tape vault for unreleased Beatles recordings. Compiling two reels of tape of unreleased music and the executive meeting which took please in the Spring of 1976 to listen and determine what if anything was suitable for future release.

Amazingly, like all key events in the story of The Beatles. A sound recording of that EMI meeting, almost 5 decades ago was made and leaked into the hands of collectors in the early 80’s.

That meeting and the sound recording would become, the catalyst for the Anthology project co-produced by Apple and EMI two decades later.

In this episode we discuss the ‘Boardroom Tape’ as it has become known by collectors. Together with the chain of events that happened between that meeting in 1976 and the release of the Anthology project in 1995.

If you’re a Beatles fan, or just love music we’d love to hear from you.

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Each year between 1963 and 1969 The Beatles gifted members of the official UK fan club, specially recorded Christmas messages. These exclusive recordings have not only become collectors’ items. They inadvertently trace the story of the group. From the lovable ‘Moptops’ who conquered the world. Through the psychedelic years of peace and love. To John, Paul, George and Ringo starting to drift apart.

In this episode we not only discuss the story of these fascinating recordings. We also look at how I discovered and first heard them. Along the way we touch on how EMI scheduled new Beatles releases to hit the lucrative Christmas market. Plus, the solo Christmas songs of John and Paul.

Christmas time is here again, and this episode is a Christmas gift from me to you.

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Like an old family photograph, or a treasured gift. Music has the ability, to instantly transport you back in time to the place where you first heard a certain song. Or trigger a special memory, of a first date, or family gathering.

In the first episode of Fixing A Hole, Beatles expert Paul Humbley told the story of how he discovered The Beatles as a 10-year-old and the impact they have had on his life. In Episode 4, we discover how and when he discovered The Beatles albums. From being gifted a couple of original 60s pressings, to making his pocket money stretch by recording albums onto cassette loaned to him by family and friends.

Along the way Paul even admits that for a few weeks in the summer of 1976, the new Wings album, Wings At The Speed Of Sound was more important to him than Sgt. Pepper! Perhaps there is some truth behind the Alan Partridge statement. That Wings were the group The Beatles could have been.

If you’re a Beatles fan, or just love music we’d love to hear from you.

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Email: paul@paulhumbley.com