Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy popped into our studio to discuss his love of The Beatles, working in Abbey Road, and to reflect on a career that includes 13 solo albums, 2 Duckworth Lewis Method collaborations, the soundtrack to Wonka, and many film and TV Themes including Father Ted and the IT Crowd.

Mark Hooper was on summer holidays, so friend of the podcast, Richard Merrett, joins Des Burkinshaw for the chat.

The new album is really excellent, and we wouldn't just say that, so do go check it out. We both agree The Man Who Turned into a Chair is one of Neil's strongest songs full stop. And be honest - you're going to listen to Mar-a-Lago by the Sea as soon as it comes out, right?

The album - Rainy Sunday Afternoon - is out on September 19th but you can hear Achilles, The Last Time I Saw the Old Man and Invisible Thread right now on all streaming platforms.

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We always ask this question: can you imagine your life without the Beatles?

Today's guest definitely can't.

Jacob Jeffries is a member of Vulfpeck, Jack Stratton's collaborator in Vulfmon, and is about to release a solo album in September, made at Theo Katzman's cabin studio.

As co-writer and performer on many of the above projects, he's right at the heart of one of the most powerful musical networks of the century so far. And it's fair to say, he's also a bit of a Beatles' fan.

Des Burkinshaw and Mark Hooper discuss all these projects, as well as musical theatre and inter-generational influence with Jacob.

We'd like nothing more than to have included a few snippets of music in the programme to illustrate everything, but then we'd have gotten copyright strikes etc, a good example of how the record companies, publishers and even platforms, are ruining the experience for fans. Instead, tediously, when you have finished listening to this fascinating interview, come back here and explore this fantastic world of music through these links.

Don't forget to visit our website, withoutthebeatles.com for all the usual stuff. The audio version of this goes out on all the usual networks.

Here's our favourite collaboration between Jack Stratton and Jacob.

https://youtu.be/Akaa9xHaw7E?si=iUqj7f6NwsNI4BDd

Here's Jacob with Vulfpeck singing his song, Big Dipper.

https://youtu.be/QEah75Oyv8c?si=gtIvsvQwrOd5E-55

You'll love this. Red Cardinal from Jacob's new album, You Got The Right Idea.

https://youtu.be/q-j1DMrPRUU?si=k2gQDtOiek2iSw0T

Here's Jacob, Jack Stratton and Harrison Whitford, channelling their inner Beatles and Byrds.

https://youtu.be/1aQpedzFOHA?si=1FRVRfdQ-chf9Rov

Mark mentions Jacob's cover of I am the Walrus.

https://youtu.be/7xGKx09S524?si=VQpOj_95LQtwczRb

Both Des and Mark discovered this whole world during Covid watching the Vulfpeck Live at Madison Square Gardens footage. Neither of us knew who Vulfpeck were, but both of us watched the whole thing anyway. It's that entertaining.

https://youtu.be/rv4wf7bzfFE?si=zpw4VE-NBcbWtUy1

Jacob's album isn't out until September, but here's another track from it, Steady. Nick Nagurka Holden's mic choices paying off here. So warm.

https://youtu.be/SP3_qq2sP9Y?si=RMhEeFeI4PutrIKh

We have pushed you down the rabbit hole. Now off you go to Wonderland.

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James Warren wrote and sang The Korgis' classic, Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime. As a member of Stackridge, he not only was the first act on at the first ever Glastonbury, but Stackridge were produced by George Martin, engineered by Geoff Emerick. He's famous for his song, There's Something About the Beatles, but in this episode Mark Hooper and Des Burkinshaw discuss the equally big impact of Brian Wilson who died on June 11, aged 82. Des and Mark both met Brian and they share some of their stories too.

Check out Season 1 of the podcast which features interviews with Steve Van Zandt, Jona Lewie, Lol Creme, Terry Gilliam, Lemmy and Mary Quant,

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