“It was like hitching a ride on a shooting star: a fantastic experience that caused immense pain, but I’m glad I had it…That sort of experience doesn’t come twice.”

Except when it does.

You know the story, you know the songs, but there’s so much more to the woman behind them. Episode three of the Dolls Pod Beatle Girl Miniseries is dedicated to rock-and-roll’s Helen of Troy: Pattie Boyd.

Pattie’s story is a lot more than meets the eye. She broke generational cycles, gained her independence (the hard way,) discovered her self-worth, and finally found herself after decades of living in song. (Plus: Abby hears 99 Luftbaloons in a bagel shop and goes straight to Emma for the story.)

Pattie Boyd: The Real-Life Layla is up now, wherever you stream your podcasts 🌹

(Episode starts at 4:56)

Sources used for this episode:

Pattie Boyd with Penny Junor, “Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me” (2007)

Pattie Boyd, “My Life in Pictures” (2022)

Eric Clapton, “Clapton: The Autobiography” (2007)

Kenneth Womack and Jason Kruppa, “All Things Must Pass Away: Harrison, Clapton, and Other Assorted Love Songs” (2021)

Chris O’Dell with Katherine Ketcham, “Miss O'Dell: My Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the Women They Loved“ (2009)

Cherry Marshall, “The Cat Walk” (1978)

“Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars” (dir. Lili Fini Zanuck, 2017)

“Clapton Admits Abusing Wife” Associated Press, 6/27/1999

“Taylor Swift Interviews Rock ’n’ Roll Icon Pattie Boyd on Songwriting, Beatlemania, & the Power of Being a Muse” Interview Magazine, 7/10/2018

Songs in this episode:

Nena - “99 Luftballons” (1983)

The Beatles - “A Hard Day’s Night” (1964)

The Beatles - “I Need You” (1965)

The Beatles - “Norwegian Wood” (Take 1, from “Anthology 2 Version”) [1965/1966]

George Harrison - “Dream Scene” (From the “Wonderwall” soundtrack) [1968]

The Beatles - “Birthday” (1968)

The Beatles - “Something” (Studio Demo) [1969]

Derek and the Dominos - “Bell Bottom Blues” (1970)

Derek and the Dominos - “Layla” (1970)

Eric Clapton - “Wonderful Tonight” (1977)

Eric Clapton - “Pretty Girl” (1983)

with samples from Pattie’s L’oreal Shampoo ad (1966,) her Smith’s Crisps ad (1963,) and “A Hard Day’s Night” (dir. Richard Lester, 1964)

Follow @thedollspod on Instagram for clips and photos from this episode!

“She married Ringo, but she could’ve had Paul, that’s why the lady is a champ!” Episode two of the Beatle Girl Miniseries is about sweet, strong, and rebellious Maureen Starkey. She never wrote a biography and gave very few interviews. She’s the silent fashion icon of the decade. But she was the heartbeat of the backbeat and an emotional refuge for our big-hearted Beatle. And she was no wallflower - it takes guts to sneak to another country with your pop star boyfriend! (Plus, Emma and Abby chat about DIY wins, gardening fails, and the joys of pickling.) “Maureen Starkey: A Life Between The Beats” is available now, wherever you stream your podcasts. Thanks, Mo! 💇‍♀️

(Episode starts at 6:47)

Sources:

Alan Clayson, “Ringo Starr: Straight Man or Joker?“ (1992)

Nicola Bardola, “Ringo Starr: Die Biographie“ (2020)

Ringo Starr, “Postcards from the Boys“ (2004)

Chris O’Dell with Katherine Ketcham, “Miss O'Dell: My Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and the Women They Loved“ (2009)

Pattie Boyd with Penny Junor, “Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me“ (2007)

Cynthia Lennon, “John” (2005)

The Beatles, “Anthology“ (2000)

Graeme Thomson, “George Harrison: Behind the Locked Door“ (2013)

Peter Brown and Steven Gaines, “The Love You Make: An Insider's Story of The Beatles“ (1983)

Songs used in this episode:

Rory Storm and the Hurricanes - “Rip It Up” (Live at The Jive) [1960]

The Beatles - “Some Other Guy” (1962)

George Martin, “Ringo’s Theme” (1964)

The Beatles - “With A Little Help From My Friends” (1967)

The Beatles - “The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill” (1968)

Frank Sinatra - “The Lady Is A Champ” (1968)

Paul McCartney - “Little Willow” (1997)

Follow @thedollspod on Instagram for clips and photos from this episode!

“For far too long now, Mum has put up with being relegated to a puff of smoke in Dad’s life and that is simply not the truth. Now it’s time to set the record straight.” - Julian Lennon, about his mom, Cynthia

At face value, it’s the classic tale of “boy meets girl, boy is in a band, boy’s band becomes the biggest band in the world.” But wait, what about the girl? Though much of her story was dictated by her first husband’s career, Cynthia Lennon was a whole lot more than just the Mrs. The first episode of the Dolls Pod’s Beatle Girl Miniseries is up now, wherever you stream your podcasts 🤍

(Episode starts at 5:35)

Sources used for this episode:

Cynthia Lennon, “John” (2005)

Bill King, “Interview with Cynthia Lennon” Beatlefan Vol. 4 No. 2-3 https://beatlefansomethingnew.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/the-beatlefan-interview-with-cynthia-lennon/

Gerry in Liverpool, “White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon” That’s How The Light Gets In, 8/3/2009 https://gerryco23.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/white-feather-the-spirit-of-lennon/

“White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon” via jamiebeatles on YouTube, 6/29/2009 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFwP2oFv6lE (originally in “White Feather” exhibition at The Beatles Story museum, summer 2009)

Songs used in this episode:

The Beatles - “Til There Was You” (Live on the Ed Sullivan Show, 2/9/1964)

Gene Vincent - “Ain’t She Sweet” (1956)

Chuck Berry - “Maybellene” (1955)

The Quarrymen - “That’ll Be The Day” (1958)

Tony Sheridan and The Beatles - “My Bonnie” (1961)

The Beatles - “She Loves You” (1963)

The Beatles - “I Want To Hold Your Hand” (Live on the Ed Sullivan Show, 2/9/1964)

The Beatles - “Help!” (1965)

The Beatles - “Hey Jude” (1968)

Follow @thedollspod on Instagram to see clips and photos from this episode, including Cynthia’s art!