Kenneth Womack – Telling Mal Evans’ Untold Story of Living With the Beatles
Longtime Beatles fans know Mal Evans – he went from part-time bouncer to road manager and personal assistant for perhaps the most important band in rock music playing a vital…
Longtime Beatles fans know Mal Evans - he went from part-time bouncer to road manager and personal assistant for perhaps the most important band in rock music playing a vital role.
What you may not know is that Evans kept a diary chronicling his life with the Fab Four.
Those diary entries have now been put into a new book by noted author Kenneth Womack who joined Jim Monaghan this morning on All Mixed Up to talk about telling Evans' untold story of living with the Beatles.
Mal Evans interview
JIM MONAGHAN - My guest, Kenneth Womack has a brand new book out called Living the Beatles Legend: the Untold Story of Mal Evans. Kenneth, good morning and welcome to WDHA here in New Jersey.
KENNETH WOMACK - Wonderful to be with you. Thanks so much.
JM - What was it like when you got the access to Mal's diary entries and had to turn it into a book? What was that process like?
KW - Well, it was amazing because usually I'm used to not having any material, and suddenly I had a lot of, you know, that was kind of exciting in its own like like you and so many others, we've always been fascinated by Mal. He's this big guy at the heart of the Beatles story, always lurking there. He's one of the world's great photo bombers, and just seeing him is interesting. But to learn that he had such a super size, no surprise, given his own height role in the Beatles story was all the more interesting. So it was just a wonderful gift to be able to tell the story, but have access to all of that material.
JM - Mal may not have been there at the very, very beginning, but he was certainly there from the Cavern through the end of it. And the stories in the book are amazing because you're seeing it from inside, but someone who's just a little on the outside of the vortex, if you will.
KW - Yeah, I mean, he is the central player. He probably spent more time with the guys than anybody, including their mean. He was their driver, he was their fixer. He plays on about three dozen different songs. When they needed help, it was Mal who invariably was called. They just felt comfortable with him. And probably more importantly, given their stature, they trusted him.
JM - And the kind of help you talk about varied from different things. He's fixing one of Paul McCartney's guitars with a piece of another guitar because it had fallen off the van and broken. You need a guitar pick, he's got one. And if he doesn't have one, he's making one from plastic cutlery in Elvis Presley's home. That's an amazing story in and of itself.
KW - Oh, it sure is. And it's that kind of resourcefulness that I'm sure endeared him to the boys because he was able to get the job done right when they needed something in the middle of the night, Mal was the guy who was able to get was able to make that happen. And, man, it was just essential. Right? In fact, we all need a Mal.
We need an anvil
JM - For Beatles fans who saw the Get Back documentary that Peter Jackson did, one of my favorite moments, and it was, Mal, we need an anvil. And lo and behold, he comes up with anvil!
KW - That's right. And, you know, part of what made him special is he had a rolodex that had everything in it. So when they said that probably knew Mal could get it done, they knew Mal could get it done, he called up a theatrical agency not far away in Twickenham there where they worked on the soundstage and next thing you know, he's got one over there.
JM - You did a book not that long ago on George Martin and in that book you noted that initially George wanted nothing to do with The Beatles and then of course, became such an integral part of the whole story of The Beatles. Mal, on the other hand, the first time he sees them at the Cavern, goes, I need to be part of this, there's something going on here. And I'm struck by that contrast of the first guy. I don't want anything to do with this to how do I get into this?
KW - Isn't it interesting that several people, as you know, had that Stu Sutcliffe, you know, knew that he's an artist, but he met them and he thought, well, I want to see what this is going to be for a while. There was just an extraordinary energy in the air around them and Mal picked up on that and it excited him. You probably know the line he said about them toward the end of his life. It's extraordinary. They are better than food or drink from a guy who loved to eat and a guy who loved to drink.
JM - His story is amazing and there's two points in the book that come to mind where he's writing his will and one is out of nerves on an airplane and the other is far more tragic. And I'm struck again by the dichotomy of those two scenarios in the book.
KW - Yeah, he was writing the first time because he thought they were going to go down in flames on a plane and he was sure of it, he had his own fear of flying, as did George Harrison wanted his wife to know and children to know that he loved them. But the second time he's doing it on purpose. He is orchestrating his own demise.
JM - And for listeners who aren't aware of that, the story is in the book and it's very tragic and very sad the way that Mal Evans's life ended. And we're speaking with Kenneth Womack this morning here at 105.5 WDHA on All Mixed Up his new book Living the Beatles Legend: the Untold Story of Mal Evans. And we were talking about George Martin and Mal before, and I'm struck by some of the studio things that George Martin did versus some of the studio things that Mal did, like the anvil and the hammer. Or in the case of the recording of "Yellow Submarine," you note that John wanted his voice to sound as if he was underwater. So, lo and behold, Mal has a condom that he sticks a microphone in and they try that.
KW - And that was part of his brief, right, was to try to help them bring these ideas to fruition. Whether it was working with George Martin or Geoff Emmerick or Neil Aspinal, whatever they wanted was what he was going to do. Because here they are, they're the client, right?
JM - You make a point in the book a couple of times of as the Beatles are talking about coming off the road and it happened in as early as 1965 because they were so fed up with what was going on and even though it wouldn't end until a year later. And Mal, though he had been involved with them both in the studio and on the road, was concerned that he was going to lose his job. And I was very surprised by that. Do you really think that they would have fired him?
KW - No, they never fired him. They wouldn't fire him. I think because we knew so little about what rock and roll's future might look like, it looked like that's not something you're going to do when you're 40, that there's not going to be a job here. And even George Harrison said, well, I guess I'm not a Beatle anymore, when they stopped touring, and they were all wrong. In fact, Mal discovered very quickly that he was about to work more, not less, than he did when they were on the road, because they knew that the importance of their work was in the studio and not on stages where they couldn't hear themselves playing. That was really the key. And suddenly Mal is working even more with them for even longer hours, because, of course, their hearts were in making music in the studio and they knew that they were doing something special. And thankfully for all of us, that's where they put their time and energy.
Mal's commitment to the Beatles
JM - Mal's commitment to The Beatles, whether it was when the four of them were still together or even afterwards, working with them separately, is legendary. And I'm struck by the difference between his commitment to them and his lack of commitment to his family. Why do you think that?
KW - That's a tough one. So here's Mal. Like us, he's a Beatles fan. In fact, Pete Best told me, first and foremost, Mal just loved the music. And that's the thing, that's the unforgettable thing here, is Mal had what every fan wants. He had unlimited access, he lived their lives with them, he was absorbed with it. And of course, the casualties of something like that are the family, right? What are they going to do? How are they going to fit into this messed up equation? And the truth is, they didn't. And I wish I had a different answer. I talk about this with Mal's son Gary all the time, but when it was Beatles versus family, Beatles won 100% of the time.
JM - In addition to being a noted author, you're also a professor of English and popular music at Monmouth University. Boy, I wish we'd had a class like that when I was in college, Kenneth!
KW - Well, I'll tell you what. Monday nights, we do the Beatles class in the fall. You're always welcome to audit.
JM - That would be great. It really would. And of course, in February, we get the 60th anniversary of the groundbreaking night on The Ed Sullivan Show. So I'm sure you'll be dealing with that then.
KW - Oh, yeah. We're going to have a special symposium down here at Monmouth the week before because we don't want to clash with the Super Bowl, although I think the Beatles might trump the Super Bowl. But anyway, our Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music are going to be doing a special event.
JM - That's Bob Santelli, who actually was just a guest here on All Mixed Up a few weeks ago. And I can't wait for that, Kenneth.
KW - Well, then we've got to have you down and have some fun.
JM - You can find all things Kenneth Womack online on his website. Kennethwomack.com. And again, the new book Living the Beatles: Legend the Untold Story of Mal Evans. Kenneth, best of luck with the book, and thank you so much for your time this morning here on WDHA.
KW - Thank you. Have a good one.
Beatles: Top 50 Songs Ranked
Narrowing down The Beatles catalog to just 50 songs and then ranking those 50 songs is both enjoyable and torture. After all, we're trying to rank The Beatles.
Much like snowflakes, it's unlikely any two rankings will shake out the same, but isn't that the beauty of lists like this? So, without further ado, here are The Beatles' top 50 songs ranked. Let the debating begin!
But First, The Latest Beatles News
In February 2024, The Fab Four continue pumping out film content, with the latest project being a unique biopic movie series.
Per TheBeatles.com, the biopic movie series will be broken up into four separate feature films. Each film will tell the story of the legendary band from the perspective of each member. Tentatively, these films will receive a global theatrical release in 2027.
The series is the first time Apple Corps Ltd., The Beatles and their families/estates have agreed to such a project. This project has also acquired music rights permissions. The concept of this series was thought of by director Sam Mendes. He will be helming the films in a joint venture with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Neal Street Productions.
In a statement, Mendes said, "I'm honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies."
RELATED: Beatles: Hear Their Final Song 'Now And Then'
One of the latest major film projects about the Fab Four was The Beatles: Get Back. The project was a lengthy three-part, six-hour documentary of the making of the Let It Be album. It was led by Academy Award-winning director Peter Jackson for Disney+.
The Beatles: Get Back was met with critical and commercial acclaim. The doc was nominated for and won five Emmy Awards. Among the honors it won were Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.
The other Beatles-related film was If These Walls Could Sing, which was also a Disney+ title. The film chronicles the history of Abbey Road Studios and is directed by Mary McCartney, the daughter of Paul and Linda McCartney. Mary says in the trailer below, "Abbey Road Studios has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember." As evident by the trailer, Mary clearly has a tremendous amount of love for the legendary recording studio.
The documentary features new interviews with Elton John, Nile Rodgers, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Noel Gallagher, George Lucus, Roger Waters, David Gilmour and many more.
50. "Getting Better" - 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' (1967)
UMGUpbeat yet revealing, "Getting Better" and its jaunty melody are a unique juxtoposition with its lyrics in which John Lennon admits, "I used to be cruel to my woman/I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved/Man I was mean but I'm changing my scene." It's one of many examples of lyrical and musical differences between Lennon and Paul McCartney and how magical their partnership was.
49. "With a Little Help for My Friends" - 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' (1967)
UMGObviously, this is one of Ringo Starr's best Beatles moments, and how can it not be? It's a classic tune about friendship whose power only increased when it was covered by Joe Cocker in 1968.
48. "Twist and Shout" - 'Please Please Me' (1963)
UMGWhich is more memorable: John Lennon's vocal performance or the song's use in 'Ferris Bueler's Day Off'? One thing that is for certain is that this song is one of the greatest covers of all time.
47. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" - 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' (1967)
UMGEven though the song isn't about drugs, its dreamy melodies certainly do lend themselves to a good trip. Alas, it's just a really catchy, charming tune inspired by a child's drawing.
46. "Please Please Me" - 'Please Please Me' (1963)
UMG"Please Please Me" was the first single the Beatles released in the United States where it would eventually peak at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Not a bad first outing on the charts or an intro to the band.
45. "Got to Get You into My Life" - 'Revolver' (1966)
UMGSure, McCartney rhymed "there" with "there" a lot, but "Got to Get You Into My Life" is so joyful it doesn't matter just like it doesn't matter the song is about weed and not love. And that brass section? A pure delight! Of course, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention Earth, Wind & Fire's incredible 1978 cover, which became a Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit for the R&B icons.
44. "Day Tripper" - Single (1965)
UMGNot subtle but definitely cheeky, "Day Tripper" told the tale of a woman who just wasn't in it for the long haul when it comes to relationships...or it's about drugs, which very much a common theme to some of the Beatles' biggest and best songs.
43. "Paperback Writer" - Single (1966)
UMGAny writer hustling to land a job or to get published can surely relate to this one. Add in Paul McCartney's amplified bass, and the Beatles score yet another no.1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
42. "P.S. I Love You" - 'Please Please Me' (1963)
UMGAs I write this entry, it's hard not to send a ton of love to this early Beatles single. P.S.: It will always be a perfect love letter.
41. "Love Me Do" - 'Please Please Me' (1963)
UMG"Love Me Do" was The Beatles' first single in the U.K. but it received a proper single release in the U.S. in 1964. Plus, that hooky harmonica intro is "chef's kiss."
40. "Don't Let Me Down" - Single (1969)
UMGThe moment John Lennon belts out "Don't Let Me Down," it's hard not to be transported to the concert on the rooftop of Apple Corps headquarters. Simple, straight to the point, it's hard not to feel this one in your heart and gut.
39. "Blackbird" - The Beatles (1968)
UMGThere are multiple interpretations of "Blackbird," with the most notable one being about the civil rights movement in the United States. Whatever you feel the source of inspiration is, it goes without saying that more than anything, "Blackbird" is a song of healing, and like other poignant Beatles songs, it has brought comfort to so many for decades.
38. "I Saw Her Standing There" - 'Please Please Me' (1963)
UMG"I Saw Her Standing There" is basically the poster-child of the 'American Bandstand' phrase, "It's got a good beat and you can dance to it." Try to listen to it's poppy goodness and not dance or at least tap your foot. If you can resist, you might be a cyborg.
37. "Across The Universe" - 'Let It Be' (1970)
UMGJohn Lennon told 'Rolling Stone' in a 1970 interview, "It's one of the best lyrics I've written. In fact, it could be the best. It's good poetry, or whatever you call it, without chewin' it. See, the ones I like are the ones that stand as words, without melody. They don't have to have any melody, like a poem, you can read them." Of course, the dreamy melody doesn't hurt either.
36. "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" - 'Help!' (1965)
UMGHEY! You've got to admit that this Bob Dylan-influenced ballad is brilliant, especially the "Feeling two-foot small" line. The original lyric was "Feeling two-foot tall," but after a fateful flub when playing it for McCartney, Lennon changed it. Talk about a happy accident.
35. "The Long and Winding Road" - 'Let It Be' (1970)
UMGThe Phil Spector production on "The Long and Winding Road" is very grand in the best way possible. The grandeur paid off, though. "The Long and Winding Road" would be the last song from The Beatles to top the Billboard Hot 100 giving the band an even 20 no. 1's.
34. "Dear Prudence" - 'The Beatles' (1968)
UMG"Dear Prudence" and its warm, inviting lyrics appeal to everyone. If you're looking for proof, both the Jerry Garcia Band and Siouxsie and the Banshees have covered the tune, with the latter's cover becoming the band’s most successful single in the U.K. topping out at number three.
33. "The Ballad of John and Yoko" - Single (1969)
UMGThe autobiographical song about John and Yoko's wild wedding and honeymoon protest might just be the coolest song about a wedding and honeymoon ever. George Harrison and Ringo Starr are absent on the recording due to being on vacation and filming a movie, respectively, but Lennon just couldn't wait to record the song (that's Paul on the drums, by the way). When you gotta record, you gotta record.
32. "Ticket to Ride" - 'Help!' (1965)
UMGWhether you believe the song is about a woman leaving her boyfriend or about prostitutes who tested negative for STDs, one thing we all can agree on is Ringo Starr's stellar drumming on the track.
31. "Hello, Goodbye" - Single/'Magical Mystery Tour' (1967)
UMGThe song may not be explicitly about Lennon and McCartney, but the whole opposites/two sides of the same coin message in the lyrics certainly could open itself to that interpretation. Remember the phrase "yin and yang," because it's going to pop up later in this list.
30. "We Can Work It Out" - Single (1965)
UMGMany Beatles songs feature all sorts of life lessons, but perhaps the most underrated might be, "Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend." While the song is about two lovers, "We Can Work It Out" can easily be applied to two friends once proving the universal nature of The Beatles.
29-22. “You Never Give Me Your Money,” “Sun King,” “Mean Mr. Mustard,” “Polythene Pam,” “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,” “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight,” “The End" - 'Abbey Road' (1969)
UMGIt's really hard to break up this 'Abbey Road' medley into individual pieces when they were meant to be together. The closest this eight-song delight gets to being broken up is on the radio when "Golden Slumbers," "Carry That Weight" and "The End" are played together. Frankly, if the only contribution to society this medley yielded was that classic moment on 'Saturday Night Live' between Paul McCartney and Chris Farley, it would be legendary enough.
21. "She Loves You" - Single (1963)
UMGIs this the Beatles' second no. 1 song in the U.S? Yeah. Was it one of the big steps that birthed "Beatlemania"? Yeah. Does it have one of the greatest hooks in music history? Um...YEAH, YEAH, YEAH!
20. "Eight Days A Week" - 'Beatles for Sale' (1964)
UMG"Eight days a week is not enough to show I care." Can you say, "Swoon!"? Love is beyond complex and strange, but some of those early Beatles songs make it sound so simple and delightful.
19. "Help!" - 'Help!' (1965)
UMGIf you went through the madness that was Beatlemania, you'd probably freak out, too, just like John Lennon. Of course, Lennon sure had a way to turn his anxiety into a catchy no. 1 hit song.
18. "Something" - 'Abbey Road' (1969)
UMG"Something" remains one of the most-beloved, best ballads of all time. It has been covered by a number of artists over the years including Smokey Robinson, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Tony Bennett and Ike & Tina Turner.
17. "Penny Lane" - Single/'Magical Mystery Tour' (1967)
UMGPaul McCartney's ode to suburban life, "Penny Lane" might be the prettiest song about living in the 'burbs ever. Very strange, indeed.
16. "Eleanor Rigby" - 'Revolver' (1966)
UMGA tribute to the loniness of life, "Eleanor Rigby" becomes even more haunting thanks to the very moody string section.
15. "Tomorrow Never Knows" - 'Revolver' (1966)
UMGIf LSD had a theme song, it might be this closing track on 'Revolver.' The song would also go on to close the Season 5, Episode 8 episode of 'Mad Men,' which saw Don Draper put the album on his turntable and put the needle on the track at the recomendation of his very young second wife, Megan. Draper is clearly not impressed nor does he want to "float downstream" or "surrender to the void" and turns the song off before it ends. Side note: The price tag to use "Tomorrow Never Knows" on 'Mad Men'? A cool $250k.
14. "Get Back" - 'Let It Be' (1970)
UMGSure, lyrically speaking "Get Back" doesn't make much sense, but its power lies within its killer groove and the wonder that was Billy Preston's electric piano. No one said a great song had to make sense!
13. "Strawberry Fields Forever" - 'Single/'Magical Mystery Tour' (1967)
UMGRife with experimental recording effects, most notably John Lennon's slowed down vocal track, "Strawberry Fields Forever" is a lovely nod to the garden where he played as a child and is easily one of the most unique songs in the Beatles catalouge. Simply put, no other song sounded like "Strawberry Fields Forever" before its release and no other song has sounded like it since.
12. "Can't Buy Me Love" - 'A Hard Day's Night' (1964)
UMG"Can't Buy Me Love" triggers two memorable images: The Beatles running down a fireescape and froliking in a field and Patrick Dempsey riding off into the sunset on his lawnmower after getting the girl. Both moments have the perfect soundtrack, and that soundtrack was yet another no. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
11. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" - Single (1963)
UMGHearing the studio recording of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" now, it's hard not to also hearing the screaming of fans in attendence during that legendary Beatles appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show.' The song itself was released a little over a month after the tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and it was the perfect, wholesome pop song to raise the spirits of a mourning nation.
10. "A Hard Day's Night" - 'A Hard Day's Night' (1964)
UMG"A Hard Day's Night" has two unique destictions: 1. You can recognize it with just its opening note. 2. By hearing it, you can immediately imagine yourself running while being chased by crazy fans in a train station.
9. "Here Comes the Sun" - 'Abbey Road' (1969)
UMGFamously written by Harrison in Eric Clapton's home garden after playing hooky from some meetings at Apple Records, "Here Comes the Sun" is the angelic sound of relief and release from whatever problems life may have thrown at you. Understandably, the song remains a major fan favorite of fans to this day and has been covered by numerous artists from Nina Simone to Booker T. & the M.G.'s and was even covered on an episode of musical dramady 'Glee.'
8. "Revolution" - Single (1968)
UMGThird time was the charm for "Revolution." The single version served as the b-side to "Hey Jude" and followed the versions "Revolution 1" and "Revolution 9" on "The White Album." The tempo increased and got a heavy dose of fuzzy guitar and that helped transform a great song into a classic song.
7. "In My Life" - 'Rubber Soul' (1965)
UMG'Rubber Soul' was obviously a major turning point for the Beatles, and the album's standout track is "In My Life." The track hinted at the depth of what was to come from the band and is still one of the most moving songs about love and friendship to ever be written.
6. "Come Together" - 'Abbey Road' (1969)
UMG"Come Together" and its wacky lyrics kick off 'Abbey Road' in epic fashion. It provided The Beatles with one of their final number one singles topping the Billboard Hot 100 and staying on the chart for 16 weeks. It has one of the coolest, most-recognizable intros in music history. Simply put, it's 4:19 of rock and roll perfection that is unlike anything else in the Beatles catalog.
5. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" - 'The Beatles (1968)
UMGWelcome to George Harrison's coming out party! When taking in 'The White Album,' there's obviously a lot to absorb track-wise, but it's hard to walk away and not be moved by the tension of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Add in Eric Clapton's iconic solo, and you don't just have a song; you have a statement.
4. "Hey Jude" - Single (1968)
UMGBy now, we all know the story behind "Hey Jude," the 7:11 epic McCartney wrote for Julian Lennon when his parents split up. The song would go on to top the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks in 1968 and is the most-successful song in the Beatles' catalouge, which is a stunning statistic when looking at their catalouge. And if you've been fortunate enough to see Sir Paul live since he added it to his setlist, "Hey Jude" is always a highlight live.
3. "Let It Be" - 'Let It Be' (1970)
UMGIt's a pop song, and to some, it could also be a prayer. A beautiful tribute from a son to his late mother, it was the last song released by the Beatles before Paul McCartney left the band. Like many Beatles songs, it topped the Billboard Hot 100. As far as exits, what a way to go.
2. "A Day in the Life" - 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' (1967)
UMGRemember how at the start of this list in the entry for "Getting Better" we mentioned how magical the Lennon/McCartney partnership was? This might be the greatest example of their yin and yang together. Lennon's chaos and McCartney's calm. Add in a dizzying orchestra, and it provides for an incredible closing track to 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.'
1. "Yesterday" - U.S. Single/'Help!' (1965)
UMGIt might be cliche to name "Yesterday" as the best Beatles song, but cliches aren't neccessarily a bad thing when they're this devastdatingly beautiful. It's beauty can be found in its lyrics and its simplicity. On the other hand, the song's pain is universally felt by anyone who's been dumped. It's a 2:03 masterclass in pop excellence, and you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone to disagree with that.
