#171 - Cry Baby Cry with Paul Sanchez (singer, songwriter, ex-Cowboy Mouth)

Written at the end of 1967 and finding a home later the following year on the back end of the White Album, "Cry Baby Cry" serves as several different significant markers. It's John's last real psychedelic track, marking the end of his acid-haze word play and the start of writing as reporting on real life. It's the last track engineer Geoff Emerick works on with the band, quitting mid-session due to ongoing tensions. And it's also the start of what Jonathan refers to as "the creepiest 11 and a half minutes in the Beatles catalog." This dreamy, opium-den-sounding track is a fantastic tune, with great work all around from the band, especially Paul's brilliant bass work (Julia thinks the his part at the beginning sounds like a spaceship!). A great tune, with an ominous vibe that leads the listener down a dark path, with Paul's "Can You Take Me Back" segue guiding the listener into the darkness of whatever they're about to experience with "Revolution 9." Returning to the show this week is singer/songwriter Paul Sanchez, one of the most prolific, award-winning, and beloved songwriters in New Orleans. After releasing 19 solo albums (including a recent vinyl reissue of his 1992 solo classic Jet Black and Jealous), we take the time to look back at the role the Beatles, as writers, have impacted his songwriting through the years. We touch base on all sorts of things, like the chemistry of bands vs brands (Paul was a guitarist and founding member the band Cowboy Mouth, and after leaving after 15 years, Jonathan joined the band as guitarist for the next 3 years, more details in the show), whether Nebraska is Bruce Springsteen's Plastic Ono Band, the immediacy and vulnerability of Lennon, and realizing that your songs are ALWAYS about you in some way. We also get a rendition of the first song Paul ever wrote! Paul also now is co-host of "Another Cup of Coffee," a Youtube-based podcast airing live Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9am CST! Tune in!  What do you think? Too high? To low? Just right? Be sure to follow along, leave your comments, and join in on the discussion on the rankings at Facebook (facebook.com/rankingthebeatles), on Twitter @rankingbeatles, and on Instagram @rankingthebeatles. Enjoying the show and want to show your support? Check out https://anchor.fm/rankingthebeatles/support!