The Transatlantic Cul De Sac

Ned and Paul are joined by James Eller, who shares his story of trading in a future in graphic design for a career as a bass player that's now spanned five decades and seen him anchor records by the Teardrop Explodes, Julian Cope, the Pretenders, Billy Bragg, Kirsty MacColl, Damien Saez and Mark Knopfler to name just a few. As a longtime member of The The, James discusses the lasting brotherhood between his comrades past and present (including Johnny Marr, DC Collard and Barrie Cadogan), shares tales from making the band's seminal "Mind Bomb" and "Dusk" LPs and explains what made Matt Johnson's (last second) return to singing on the 2017 single "We Can't Stop What's Coming" so special. Come for the stories – stay for the philosophical ruminations on kindness, positivity and unobtrusive functionality.https://linktr.ee/jamesellerhttps://trnsmssn.bandcamp.com/

Ned and Paul are joined by world-class flamenco guitarist and composer Rafael Lloyd Iglesias for a rich discussion about the origins and history of flamenco, the musical magic that happens after the show, how a multicultural upbringing (and an early love for new romantic bands) informs his own approach to composing, working through otosclerosis (and the inspiration that comes from being able to hear again) and takeaways from time spent in the company of Paco de Lucía. Oh and also teaching Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien how to play flamenco.Learn more about Rafael and discover more of his work at www.flamencoguitarist.com"M21 Electro Flamenco" and "Sinfonía del Mar" are copyrighted by Rafael Lloyd Iglesias and used with permission of the composer.

On the back of Morgan Neville's new "Man on the Run" documentary, Ned and Paul reassess the importance of Linda McCartney in Paul's life from the breakup of the Beatles until her passing in 1998. Critical barbs about her musicianship and taking "the old lady" on the road (or, OK, even "Cook of the House") notwithstanding, the evidence shows that the wealth of nuggets from Paul McCartney's catalogue over that 28-year period very likely would not have existed without Linda's presence.

Tasked with a mission to sort through boxes and crates of beat-up old 45s from Pinwheel Records in Chicago, Paul discusses the job – and the wave of emotions it unleashed – with Ned. This leads to extended rumination on record collecting, the thrill of the chase, parallels to the "Detectorists" TV series and the trying to explain the real value of any treasure in your personal collection – or any treasure you still seek.

Paul and Ned ponder a great "what if" on the 67th anniversary of the Day the Music Died. Buddy Holly was only 22 and undergoing one of the fastest evolutions in the history of popular music. Had that plane reached Fargo and the Winter Dance Party tour finished to give Buddy the financial footing to launch any of his myriad ideas, would the Beatles still hold their place in music history – or would they even be relevant? It's hard to understate the reverberations still echoing from Buddy's short time on this planet – and it's hard to not celebrate the man's oeuvre at any given opportunity.

Taormina. Chicago. Naples. Milwaukee. Oxford. Hebden Bridge. Hot summers. Brutally cold and dangerous winters. Ned and Paul reminisce about some of the best gigs they've seen and how not only the performers and performances played a role, but so did the events surrounding these times in their lives.

Bassman Damon Minchella joins Paul and Ned to chat about his upcoming book, "You'd Look Good on a Donkey: Britpop, Basslines and Bad(ish) Decisions." Also up for discussion: Italian roots, Liverpool upbringing, his father nearly getting Neil Aspinall's job, Ronnie Lane's bass, Ocean Colour Scene (and "Britpop" at large), the Oasis Live 25 tour, Mani, Mingus and more.

Ned and Paul discuss some of the "double bill" albums from their respective record collections. This episode explores male/female dynamics, old songwriting teams getting back together and hero and follower combinations against a variety of factors driving the collaborative efforts. John and Yoko. Linda and Curtis. Reed and Cale. Marriott and Lane. Touré and Diabaté. What works? What doesn't? Are your motives pure?!

The strange backstory behind Peggy Lee and George Shearing's 1959 "live" LP, "Beauty and the Beat!" leads Paul and Ned down wormholes to a larger discussion of facades, fabrications and falsehoods in the music industry – and showbiz in general. Who benefits?!

Ned and Paul embark on a continuing series that looks at music from Italy and Japan, with perspective on the countries, regions, musical influences and output of the time – as well as personal connections. This chapter focuses on Pino Daniele's debut LP, "Terra Mia" (1977) and Sugar Babe's one and only LP, "Songs" (1975).

Ned and Paul reacquaint themselves with the "Woodstock" and "Summer of Soul" films to compare and contrast the Woodstock Music and Art Fair and the Harlem Cultural Festival – and to assess the evolution (or de-evolution) of festivals and their sense of purpose since.

Ned and Paul discuss artists who stepped away from major bands – or from behind the songwriting scenes – into the spotlight for themselves. Dennis Wilson, Gene Clark, Larry Graham, Ronnie Wood, Carole King and Tina Turner are up for discussion – but the conversation also touches upon the Kinks, Sly Stone, Prince, Ronnie Lane, Isaac Hayes ... and, of course, determining what exactly Al Jardine contributed to the Beach Boys.

Ned and Paul pay tribute and discuss the lasting impact of two of popular music's more celebrated bassists, Gary "Mani" Mounfield of the Stone Roses and Primal Scream, who passed away on November 20, and Danny Thompson, who passed away on September 23.

Paul and Ned reminisce about being teenagers when "The Beatles Anthology" first arrived – and reassess its value on the eve of the Anthology's return with an older, more cynical eye.