Blogpost #32

Welcome back, Beatle people! November 24 marks the birthday of Pete Best, born 1941 and still remembered as the unlucky soul who was "drummed out" of the Beatles just before the start of Beatlemania. This week's show features my biography of Pete, including the true reason he was dismissed from the group.

Pete made his American TV debut on March 30, 1964 as a mystery guest on the game show "I've Got A Secret" with Garry Moore as host. A clip from that show is on YouTube.

In March 1982, Pete gave an in-depth interview about his life to Los Angeles FM deejay Jim Ladd, who released an edited version on an LP titled "Like Dreamers Do" that also featured ten tracks from the Beatles' Decca studio sessions. It's currently available on eBay from a collector who wants $120 for a sealed copy. If you're only interested in the interview, it's available on video for only ten bucks from Robert York at eskimo.com.

If you're interested in Pete's life story, he's written three autobiographies, including a 1985 book that completely ignores Neil Aspinall's relationship with Pete's mom. Next week we'll feature highlights from the Million Dollar Quartet sessions from 1956 that inspired the stage musical. Thanks for listening!

Blogpost #31

Welcome back, radio historians! Today is the 83rd birthday of the National Broadcasting Company. NBC signed on the air November 15, 1926 with a four-hour program of music from various dance bands, comedy from Will Rogers, and numerous speeches from company executives. The program cost $50,000 to produce and was heard as far west as Kansas City via a "chain" of 25 stations.

Today, we celebrate NBC's birthday with an hour of excerpts from a 1966 radio special produced for NBC's 40th anniversary. The special was hosted by ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his dummy Charlie McCarthy. It was heard over the NBC radio network on November 13, 1966 and was later issued as a two-LP set.

I had considered playing the show in its entirety over two weeks, but there were too many things that needed to be edited out. You probably won't miss the commercials for Chase and Sanborn coffee or the annoying laugh tracks, but just in case you'd like to hear the unedited version, it's available for free download at archive.com. I also decided to delete the performances by Al Jolson and Amos 'n' Andy, who represent a style of humor that has no place in the 21st century. If there's a Museum of Outdated Stereotypes, you'll find them there.

Next week, it's another Beatle birthday tribute. This time we're remembering Pete Best, who famously got the sack just days before the group was to make their TV debut. You'll hear a 1982 in-depth interview, plus rare recordings from his two years as a Beatle. There's also a clip from a 1964 TV quiz show where a celebrity panel tries to guess his identity. Thanks for listening!