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This week we sort through and rank John’s Beatles output. Very hard to narrow this down to 20 but I did my best.

Enjoy.

In case you missed it here’s the top 20 Paul episode:

20 Best Paul McCartney Beatles Songs

And eventually: 5 Worst Paul Beatles Songs / 5 Worst John Beatles Songs

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10 songs. No theme. And delightfully different from what we’re listening to on the radio show.

(QUBOZ has been added (thought its occasionally missing songs)— so now all playlists come in Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Tidal and Quboz!)

Playlist links below (subscribers only)

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Hi – after Wednesday’s episode about Rolling Stone’s list of the best rock songs of this century, I wanted to play some stuff they overlooked and poke around a few of the songs they picked.

Then we get a little sidetracked with some Britpop and some name-dropping, but we close it out nicely with a surprise cover.

Rock ’n’ roll is so tricky. It’s really hard to do it right and really easy to do it wrong. And when it’s done right, it’s better than anything. I’m very happy it’s still so alive.

Here’s the track listing for reference (after you listen!).

For paid subscribers

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Not sure if this does much apart from making clear how little I know about 21st-century rock music... but it was fun.

Rolling Stone released their list of the 200 Greatest Rock Songs of the 21st Century So Far last week, and I was curious, so I printed out the list, took it on a walk with me, and plow through it fast and furious.

Enjoy.

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Hi - here’s everything from Friday’s episode: Autumn Gooschase.

Enjoy your Sunday!

• Beach House

• Smiths

• Bert Jansch

• Leonard Cohen

• The Troggs

• Warpaint

• Mazzy Star

• The Clash

• Jay Z

• etc.

  (Qubuz, Apple, YouTube, Tidal and Spotify playlists below for paid subscribers)

  

  

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Ok hi everyone -

I released my 2026 Halloween Playlists on Wednesday and got most of the spooky stuff out of my system with a midweek Halloween rerun. So today we go through some non-spooky “autumnal” records: we dissect some Smiths songs, make some Smiths connections, get into artful off-key singing, look at how real bands try to recreate fake studio effects, find the warmest records imaginable, talk ocarinas, and lots more.

Here’s the track listing for reference (after you listen!).

For paid subscribers

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Become a Walter Martin Radio member today and get access to all paid features. If you’re enjoying the show — this is the best way to get the full experience.

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2026’s Halloween Playlists & Episode

Hello and happy Halloween week. I wanted to bring back one of my favorite Radio Hour episodes to get you ready for Halloween weekend.

I’ve also updated my annual Halloween playlists. Links below to Halloween Chill (spooky, beautiful music) and Halloween Horror Party (spooky dance-party music). Subscriber playlists below (Quboz, Spotify, Apple, Tidal, YouTube)

Happy Halloween!

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Quick programming note: Beatles Season Encore continues next Wednesday with 20 Best John Lennon Beatles Songs. In the meantime, listen to last week’s 20 Best Paul Beatles Songs

Hi - here’s everything from last week’s episode. Enjoy your Sunday!

• Cat Power

• Etta James

• Johnny Otis

• Eric Clapton

• Bob Marley

• Toots and the Maytals

• Will Oldham

• etc.

  

(Qubuz, Apple, YouTube, Tidal and Spotify)

Enjoy.

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Ok hi everyone -

Lots to get into this week: early-aughts adult indie, ’50s Los Angeles R&B, Friday Night Lights advice, reconsidering Eric Clapton, Bob Marley in 1973, Toots meets Will Oldham, and a fabulous request from a friend of the show.

Enjoy.

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This week we sort through and rank Paul McCartney’s Beatles output: the adorable sweater vest songs, the hard-hitting rock ’n’ roll, the epic masterpieces, the heartwarming acoustic numbers, the oddball favorites.

And yes, we’re going to indulge in some countdowns for a few upcoming Wednesday special episodes. We’ve earned it.

First up: 20 Best Paul McCartney Beatles Songs
Then: 20 Best John Lennon Beatles Songs
And eventually: 5 Worst Paul Beatles Songs / 5 Worst John Beatles Songs

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Hi - here’s everything from last week’s episode. Actually not everything — the Abana Ba Nasery record we listened to is not on the digital outlets but I found a different equally great one. (Qubuz, Apple, YouTube, Tidal and Spotify)

Enjoy.

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Hi folks—

Beatles season is over, and we’re returning to regular programming. There will be some special midweek Beatles episodes for paid subscribers scattered around in the upcoming months, but on Fridays we’ll be following whatever we feel like.

This week: records I picked up recently and songs that come up as we roll along. New, old, near and far—a very fun time.

The episode tracklist below and Sunday’s playlist are for paid subscribers.

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10 songs. No theme. And delightfully different from what we’re listening to on the radio show.

(QUBOZ has been added — so now all playlists come in Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Tidal and Quboz!)

Playlist links below (subscribers only)

Read more

Subscribe now

Ok hi everyone -

So here’s my Cameron Winter at Carnegie Hall episode.

Take a listen.

But, most importantly, go get the album and go see the movie asap.

Info on the film and vinyl buy links are here.

Enjoy.

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Listen to my March 2025 Cameron Winter at Joe’s Pub episode

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As many of you know, Cameron Winter Live at Carnegie Hall is coming out Friday, along with a film by Paul Thomas Anderson. I got my paws on an early copy of the record last month, and Friday’s episode will be all about it.

The Carnegie Hall show was December 11, 2025.

I’d seen Cameron up close at Joe’s Pub in NYC on March 15 of that year. He was already very buzzed about by then, but in the months after I saw him, the buzz grew, the Geese record came out, and the buzz became enormous.

And then he did Carnegie Hall solo and I missed it like a goddam fool.

Anyway, I thought it would be nice to revisit this episode today—my first impressions of a young fella who seems to be leaping into stardom.

I went into that Joe’s Pub show knowing very little about the guy and walked out a fan for life.

Enjoy.

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Ok — as promised, here’s a Ringo playlist to stimulate the soul and help you catch Ringo Fever if you don’t already have it.

Remember, with a lot of this stuff: don’t judge, just enjoy. Listen with your heart, not your head.

And remember — Ringo loves you!

(QUBOZ has been added — so now all playlists come in Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Tidal and Quboz!)

Playlist links below (subscribers only)

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The Solo Ringo Episode

I honestly think the whole reason I wanted to do Beatles season was so I could do this episode. Every other Beatles episode I’ve done has really just been setting this one up.

This week, I do my best to show why Ringo’s solo records (not all of them) are worth your time—and how they might make your life better, as they did mine.

To slightly overstate it: these records showed me a way to listen to music that changed my entire perception of the world.

So enjoy this passionate tribute to our most lovable (and photogenic) Beatle.

Ringo, I love you. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Become a Walter Martin Radio member today and get access to all paid features. If you’re enjoying the show — this is the best way to get the full experience.

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Usually these playlists are: “10 songs. No theme. And delightfully different from what we’re listening to on the radio show.” - but this one has a sort of whimsical “childhood/innocence/despair” theme.

(QUBOZ has been added — so now all playlists come in Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Tidal and Quboz!)

Playlist links below (subscribers only)

Read more

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The Ringo Effect

After last week’s look at Ringo’s drumming, this week we look at Ringo the person: who he is, where he came from, what inspired him to become a musician, what he believed about music, and the huge effect his personality had on the biggest band in the world.

And there’s a quiz! A Ringo quiz! So be prepared.

Enjoy,
Walt

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This was fun. Just going through a new pile of records I got.

Tracklist below but don’t read it till after you hear the show! (paid subscribers only)

Enjoy.

Become a Walter Martin Radio member today and get access to all paid features. If you’re enjoying the show — this is the best way to get the full experience.

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