Paul is dead – from BBC Radio

New radio programme explores the myth.

In 1969, with The Beatles in financial and creative turmoil, a strange rumour swept the world. It began with a phone call to a US chat show – Paul McCartney had been killed in a road accident and replaced by the winner of a look-a-like competition, William Campbell an orphan from Edinburgh. And there were clues that could only be revealed by playing the Beatles records backwards.

It sounds unlikely, but millions of fans believed it.

In this radio programme, we speak with the man who took that phone call, the hoaxer who developed the myth, and an expert on folklore who sees uncanny parallels with ancient myths about changelings and the darker side of fairies.

What does this odd tale tell us about The Beatles’ place in our cultural history?

The programme includes out takes, clips from interviews and rarer versions of Beatles songs.

Produced by Matt Thompson

A Rockethouse production for BBC Radio 4

The half hour programme is available from this link: BBC Radio 4

NOTES ON THE MUSIC USED IN THE PROGRAMME

Wherever possible or appropriate, raw sounding demo or instrumental recordings from The Beatles Anthology albums were used. For ultra lush mixes, the remixed versions from The Beatles’ Love album were used. Interludes and chit chat were from the Let it Be Naked – Fly on the Wall CD which contains out takes from the Let It Be film recordings.

Timings refer to the actual programme start.

0.00 Yesterday (alt acoustic version) (Disc 1, Track 7 – Anthology 2, The Beatles)

1.08 Ballad Of Paul (Track 24 – Beatlemaniacs!!! The World of Beatles Novelty Records)

1.17 I Am The Walrus (no overdubs) (Disc 2, Track 14 – Anthology 2, The Beatles)

1.37 Revolution 9 (Disc 2, Track 12 – The Beatles, The Beatles)

1.53 Ballad Of Paul (Track 24 – Beatlemaniacs!!! The World of Beatles Novelty Records)

3.17 I’m Looking Through You (Unissued version) (Disc 1, Track 15 – Anthology 2, The Beatles)

4.07 Revolution 9 (Disc 2, Track 12 – The Beatles, The Beatles)

4.17 Revolution 9 (reversed by programme producer)

5.25 The Fool On The Hill (Demo) (Disc 2, Track 15 – Anthology 2, The Beatles)

6.33 A Day In The Life (take1/2) (Disc 2, Track 5 – Anthology 2, The Beatles)

8.16 Strawberry Fields Forever (Track 8 – Magical Mystery Tour, The Beatles)

8.24 I’m Only Sleeping (Rehearsal) (Disc 1, Track 22 – Anthology 2, The Beatles)

9.02 Fly On The Wall (In rehearsal) (Disc 2, Track 1 – Let It Be…Naked, The Beatles)

9.12 Revolution 9 (Disc 2, Track 12 – The Beatles, The Beatles)

10.57 Glass Onion (Remix) (Track 3 – Love, The Beatles)

11.12 Glass Onion (Disc 1, Track 3 – The Beatles, The Beatles)

12.07 Eleanor Rigby (Strings Only) (Disc 1, Track 21 – Anthology 2, The Beatles)

13.34 Strawberry Fields Forever (Remix) (Track 13 – Love, The Beatles)

14.54 Strawberry Fields Forever (Remix) (Track 13 – Love, The Beatles)

16.47 I’m Looking Through You (Disc 1, Track 15 – Anthology 2, The Beatles)

17.33 John, Paul, George & Ringo (Track 1 – Beatlemaniacs!!! The World of Beatles Novelty Records)

18.13 Within You, Without You [Instrumental] (Disc 2, Track 11 – Anthology 2, The Beatles)

21.21 Your Mother Should Know (take 27) (Disc 2, Track 16 – Anthology 2, The Beatles)

23.18 Fly On The Wall (Paul on piano) (Disc 2, Track 1 – Let It Be…Naked, The Beatles)

23.54 Fly On The Wall (Anyone seen John) (Disc 2, Track 1 – Let It Be…Naked, The Beatles)

25.15 Octopus’s Garden / Sun King (Remix) (Track 16 – Love, The Beatles).