Interview for Radio Caroline

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On March 25, 1966, The Beatles visited 1 The Vale, Chelsea, London, a top-floor studio leased by Oluf Nilssen and frequently used by renowned photographer Robert Whitaker.

During their visit, The Beatles recorded an interview with Tom Lodge, a DJ from Radio Caroline. This interview was later distributed as a free flexi-disc named “Sounds of the Stars“, accompanying an issue of the music magazine, Disc & Music Echo, co-owned by Brian Epstein.

Before the photo session with Robert Whitaker, The Beatles posed for a more conventional session at the studio with Nigel Dickson of The Beatles Book magazine. Wearing light turtleneck sweaters and dark jackets, they posed for what would become their 1966 handout and standard promotional pictures.

The photo session with Whitaker yielded a series of avant-garde images, including provocative photos of the Beatles dressed as butchers, accompanied by raw meat and mutilated plastic baby dolls. Whitaker intended the butcher photo as part of a surreal triptych — never realized — that would represent the mass adulation surrounding the Beatles and the illusory nature of stardom.

One of those photographs was chosen for the cover of their upcoming US album, “Yesterday And Today,” which was set to be released in June 1966. The cover sparked significant controversy ahead of its release, prompting Capitol Records to initiate “Operation Retrieve” to recall all LP copies from distributors and replace the controversial image and any related promotional materials.

From “That Magic Feeling: The Beatles’ Recorded Legacy, Volume Two, 1966-1970” by John C. Winn:

Brian Epstein was half owner in the newly merged Disc and Music Echo paper, and to promote its inauguration, a free flexi-disc single would be mailed as a premium to readers who sent in coupons. The disc, titled Sound of the Stars, was to feature interviews with a number of British pop stars. With Epstein’s involvement, and NEMS’s Tony Barrow producing the recording, the Beatles’ participation seemed mandatory.

At least that’s how it sounds during the unedited interview, with none of the group having anything interesting to say, and Radio Caroline DJ Tom Lodge having no interesting questions to pose. Instead, he tries desperately to fill time, receiving little assistance from his interview subjects. As the tape begins, Lodge asks such inane questions as “What’s it like being a Beatle?” and “What do you think of this microphone?” John, just starting to use LSD recreationally around this time, mentions “hallucinations,” and Paul knowingly sniggers about “poiple hearts … All them pop groups take ’em.” In fact, when Ringo’s earnest answer to a question about answering mail induces riotous laughter for no apparent reason, it appears some of the lads may be high, and the tape is switched off.

As we rejoin them, Tony Barrow is heard admitting he has nothing particular in mind for this recording, which is a pity for anyone having to listen to the next fifteen minutes. Such “wacky” jokes as Paul’s twins, ages “four and five,” and having Gershwin and Trotsky ghostwrite their songs, come across as forced rather than whimsical. In desperation, Lodge even asks Ringo when he first had sex! Even more embarrassing are his attempts to get the Fabs to send greetings to other Radio Caroline DJs; they obviously don’t listen to his station and recognize almost none of the names, although John is sure they used to work with Tony Blackburn. After requesting “Green Door,” a 1956 hit for Jim Lowe, and “Priscilla,” a hit for Eddie Cooley and the Dimples the same year, they make a dedication to Donny Andrews, bassist for the Liverpool group the Remo Four. Finally, the conversation turns toward politics, and George struggles to make some valid points about military spending and the BBC’s monopoly on terrestrial radio. But in the end, only a fraction of this tape was suitable for the flexi-disc.

From “That Magic Feeling: The Beatles’ Recorded Legacy, Volume Two, 1966-1970” by John C. Winn

Transcript taken from “Beatles ’66: The Revolutionary Year” by Steve Turner

Tom Lodge: Do you think, George, that Ugly Ray Teret is really ugly? [Ugly Ray Teret was a Radio Caroline DJ.]

GEORGE: Who? Ugly Red Terror?

Tom Lodge: Ugly Ray Teret.

RINGO: Ray Teret?

PAUL: Who’s he?

GEORGE: I don’t know Ugly Ray Teret.

RINGO: No, Ray’s okay.

Tom Lodge: You know Ray, don’t you?

RINGO: I know Ray. Good ol’ Ray.

JOHN: Oh, Ray.

RINGO: Ray Terripp. Owes me two and six.

PAUL: Who’s that?

Tom Lodge: He’s shaved his head off.

PAUL: Who is he?

Tom Lodge: He’s a disc jockey.

PAUL: Oh, yeah?

Tom Lodge: Caroline North.

PAUL: Oh, of course!

RINGO: Of course!

PAUL: Of course, Eggley Ray —

JOHN: Ugly Ray Taylor!

PAUL: Eggley Wreck Tailor. Great!

GEORGE: Keep playin’ em, Ugly!

The Beatles also discussed UK’s tax system, which inspired George Harrison to write “Taxman“, released on the “Revolver” album in August 1966.

Tom Lodge: Do you have any ideas of — you like to change this country in any way?

JOHN: Yes, like to change it a lot.

Tom Lodge: In what way?

JOHN: Well, the tax problem.

Tom Lodge: What would you do with the tax?

JOHN: Well, I’d reduce it drastically.

Tom Lodge: That’s if you were Chancellor of the Exchequer.

JOHN: No — if I was anybody. I’d reduce it. Drastically.

PAUL: Give the pop stars a fairer share of the country’s wealth!

Tom Lodge: That — if you were in politics, that’s what you would do.

PAUL: Yes, and any boy that can swim like that ought to be in England’s team.

Tom Lodge: What would you do if you were in politics, to help the country?

RINGO: Oh, I don’t know.

JOHN: Go on, tell ’em, Ringo. You know what you’d do.

RINGO: I don’t know, no!

PAUL: You’ve got a plan!

GEORGE: But they can’t — they can’t pull the — take the taxes down, ’cause they haven’t got enough money. And, uh, they’ll never have enough money while they’re buying all that crap like F-111s [a newly developed tactical fighter-bomber]. Harold! Which — they’ve proved they’re no use whatsoever ’cause we’re not all — y’know, what good’s all that? So if they pay off a few of the bloody debts —

RINGO: — steel industry —

GEORGE: — then maybe they’d be able to cut the tax down a little, Harold?

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