#137 - Dr. Robert with guest Bruce Ferber (writer, producer, author)
If there was any inclination the Fab Four were down to “expand their minds,” by the time Revolver came around, there was very little second guessing. The sounds are out there, backwards, mystical. And on "Dr. Robert," what might have been a nudge and wink previously is now just a punch in the face: THESE GUYS TAKE DRUGS. Whether it’s autobiographical or a character piece though, it’s a fantastic mind movie, where the band paint a great picture sonically of the good Doctor, while John’s vocal moves to almost Dylan-esque places. On an album wherein the band is really starting to use the studio as an instrument, “Dr. Robert” holds its’ own as a great live band performance, especially with John and Paul’s fantastic vocals being recorded together. Sonically, this is maybe the song that exemplifies to me the brilliance of the sound of the Revolver album, chiming Epiphone Casinos and Vox Amps, thumping Rickenbacker bass. It’s maybe my favorite SOUNDING Beatles album, and this is one of my favorite sounding moments. It’s not a major player in the overall arc of the catalog, but it’s a good one for sure. Joining us this week is Emmy and Golden Globe nominated screenwriter, producer, and author Bruce Ferber. While his biggest credits include some truly classic sitcoms like Home Improvement, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Bosom Buddies, Coach, and Growing Pains, these days he’s turned his pen towards writing award winning novels. His current book is I Buried Paul, a story of a man who plays Paul McCartney in a Beatles Tribute band. It’s a self-described love letter to the power of music, and an exploration of the sacrifices its disciples are willing to make in service to its’ magic. We chat with Bruce about just what drove him to dive into the world of Beatles Tribute acts, learning to be open to change, the REAL Dr. Robert, and what may be the greatest Beatles Tribute band of all time. Get yourself a copy of I Buried Paul at bruceferber.net, or anywhere you buy good books! P.S. - This was recorded prior to the announcement of the upcoming Revolver box set reissue. What do you think? Too high? Too low? Just right? Let us know in the comments on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rankingthebeatles, Instagram @rankingthebeatles, or Twitter @rankingbeatles! Be sure to check out RTB's official website, www.rankingthebeatles.com and our brand new webstore!! RANK YOUR OWN BEATLES with our new RTB poster! Pick up a tshirt, coffee cup, tote bag, and more! Enjoying the show, and wanna show your support? Buy Us A Coffee! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rankingthebeatles/support