Revolver Side Two, Track Six “Got to Get You Into My Life,” An Ode To Pot by Jude Southerland Kessler and Dr. Kit O’Toole   This month, the Fest for Beatles Fans Blog takes an in-depth look at Revolver’s “Got ..read more

Shyamasundar das will be a featured speaker at the upcoming Chicago Fest For Beatles Fans — Aug. 9-11 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.   The author of Chasing Rhinos With The Swami, Shyamasundar will be sharing fantastic stories of his experiences with The Beatles, as told in his remarkable book.   Here’s a bit of a sneak preview:   Over the past 60 years, nearly every aspect of the Beatles’ collective and individual lives has been explored in great detail. But what about the Hare Krishnas? Till now, no one has chronicled Bhaktivedanta Swami and the Krishna devotees’ profound and en ..read more

Side Two, Track Four Calling ‘Dr. Robert’ by Jude Southerland Kessler and Steve Matteo   This month, the Fest for Beatles Fans Blog enjoys a closer look at Revolver’s “Dr. Robert.”  Jude Southerland Kessler, our Fest Blogger and author of The John Lennon Series works hand-in-hand with Steve Matteo, author of Act Naturally: The Beatles on Film (2023), Let It Be, and Dylan to examine a Lennon song that has frequently been brushed aside as “a minor creation.” As Jude and Steve dig into the music and lyrics of this tongue-in-cheek creation, here’s hoping we all uncover some new insights ..read more

Revolver Side Two, Track Three “For No One” Is For Everyone by Jude Southerland Kessler   This month, the Fest for Beatles Fans Blog enjoys a closer look at Paul McCartney’s exquisite ballad, “For No One.”  Jude Southerland Kessler, our Fest Blogger and author of The John Lennon Series is “going solo” on this deep dive, but calling upon the wisdom of many respected Beatles music experts as she explores this outstanding and touching work. Insights into this song have been enhanced by:   Lewisohn, The Beatles Recording Sessions, 78-79, Lewisohn, The Complete Beatles Chronicle, 220 ..read more

Side Two, Track Two In Which “You Don’t Get Me” becomes “And Your Bird Can Sing” by Jude Southerland Kessler and Erin Torkleson Weber   This month, our Fest Blog continues our in-depth study of Revolver with a song that has “more than meets the eye.” It’s John Lennon’s enigmatic “And Your Bird Can Sing,” a track full of vitriolic lyrics, incredible musicianship, and controversy about “who did what.”   Joining Jude Southerland Kessler, author of The John Lennon Series this month to explore this song is the highly respected author Erin Torkelson Weber.  A graduate of Newman Univer ..read more

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Side Two, Track One Good Day, Great Song! by Jude Southerland Kessler with Special Guest, Ivor Davis   The Fest for Beatles Fans kicks off the exciting 60th Anniversary of 1964 – that landmark year in which many significant Beatles events (including The Beatles’ first trip to America and the release of the film “A Hard Day’s Night” with its remarkable soundtrack LP) took place! Simultaneously, The Fest will celebrate its 50th Anniversary – by gathering at the TWA Hotel in New York on Feb. 9-11. (Yes, the very date that The Beatles were first featured on “The Ed Sullivan Show”!) I’ll be th ..read more

Our Fest for Beatles Fans in-depth study of Revolver has reached the mid-point. Throughout 2023, we moved song-by-song through the album, enjoying the insights of Beatles music experts, historians, and biographers. Before plunging into Side Two of this transformative LP, we asked the Executive Editor of Beatlefan magazine, Al Sussman, to put Revolver into perspective against the rich backdrop of 1966’s diverse and creative plethora of hit songs, films, and television programs.   Al is a lifelong member of our Fest family, and for many years assisted Mark and Carol in the planning of the F ..read more

Revolver Side One, Track Six We  Dive  Deep  With  A  “Yellow Submarine”   by Jude Southerland Kessler, Laura Cortner, and Dr. Bob Hieronimus   Through 2023, the Fest for Beatles Fans blog has been enjoying some time well spent with the songs on The Beatles brilliant LP, Revolver. This month, Laura Cortner and Dr. Bob Hieronimus, authors of Inside The Yellow Submarine and It’s All in the Mind: Inside The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine, Vol. 2 join Jude Southerland Kessler, the author of The John Lennon Series, for a fresh, new look one of the most beloved Beatles ..read more

A decade ago or more, it seemed as if ages and ages crawled by between Fests. The span of time between the New Jersey and Chicago events dragged on forever! But now, the days seem to fly by, and I’ve barely unpacked before it’s time to find my Beatles sweatshirts, buttons, hats, and paraphernalia…and head right back again.     “You’re going to another Fest?” my hairdresser said (as I asked her to “put the fire back in those locks!”).   “Yep, as fast as my car can drive me!” I smiled.   “But…I mean…don’t you get tired of…it’s just…you go all the time, it seems like.”   ..read more