The Beatles History: Daily action

** The following events in Beatles history all took place on December 14. **
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Beatles * [J] John * [P] Paul * [G] George * [R] Ringo * [O] Other
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[J] 1912
Alfred "Freddie" Lennon, John Lennon's father, is born in England.
1962
The Beatles perform at the Music Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
1963
The Beatles perform a special concert for their Southern Area Fan
Club at Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, London. They shake hands with
all 3,000 fans after the show. To prevent damage to the stage from
unruly Beatlemaniacs, the management of the Palais had constructed
a platform for The Beatles to perform on, and it was surrounded by
a steel cage to protect The Beatles. The Beatles themselves don't
much like the arrangement, and John, seeing fans crushed up against
the cage wire, quips, "If they press any harder they'll come
through as chips."
[J] 1969
James Hanratty, at Speaker's Corner, Marble Arch, London, calls for
a public inquiry into his son's execution. Near Hanratty is a
white sack labeled, "A Silent Protest For James Hanratty". The
sack has two anonymous figures wriggling about inside (presumed to
be John and Yoko).
[R] 1969
Ringo Starr participates in filming for a BBC special on George
Martin to be called "With a Little Help From My Friends". Ringo
pretends to sing "Octopus' Garden", performing lip-sync (miming) to
a pre-recorded track. Since there is a ban in place on miming on
British television, George Martin re-mixed the "Abbey Road" version
of "Octopus' Garden", removing some of the instruments and getting
Ringo to record a new vocal track, to make it appear as if Ringo's
performance is 'live'.
[J] 1980
Around the world people gather in groups ranging from small,
intimate get-togethers to tens of thousands, in remembrance of John
Lennon. Observing a day of mourning for Lennon, 10 minutes of
silence is observed all around the world at 2:00 pm EST. Many
radio stations worldwide cease broadcasting during this time. In
Liverpool, 100,000 mourners stage a seven-hour tribute to Lennon
outside Liverpool's St. George's Hall. The ceremony ends with the
10 minutes of silence requested by Yoko.
[G] 1984
George Harrison makes a surprise stage appearance with Deep Purple
in Sydney, Australia. He is introduced as "Arnold Grove from
Liverpool" (when George was born, his parents lived at 12 Arnold
Grove).
[J] 1990
UK release of John Lennon interview CD "Testimony" (Magnum Music
Group). Taken from the RKO Radio interview with Lennon on Dec. 8,
1980, just hours before his death. This CD adds over 18 minutes of
the interview in ad***ion to material on the previously released
"Reflections and Poetry" (US) and "The Last Word" (UK).
1995
"The Beatles Anthology 1" is #1 in the US charts for the third
straight week.
[P] 1999
Paul McCartney plays at the ****rn Club in Liverpool in a special
end-of-the-century appearance. Said McCartney, 57, "I cannot think
of a better way to rock out the end of the century than with a rock
'n' roll party at the place where it all began...I'm going back
just for one night as a nod to the rock 'n' roll that has always
and will forever thrill me." McCartney last played at the ****rn
Club on August 3, 1963, as a member of The Beatles. (The ****rn
Club was rebuilt in the 1980's; the original club was demolished in
1973.) Backing McCartney is the five-piece band that he used in
recording his album "Run Devil Run", the group including David
Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and Ian Paice (Deep Purple). Since only 150
fans would be able to fit into the ****rn Club, free tickets were
distributed through a raffle. The first person to receive a ticket
was 18-year-old John Ono Lennon (he'd had his name legally
changed). Applications for tickets had come in from all over the
world; one lucky fan in Tokyo received a ticket. The show is also
broadcast live over the Internet. [Thanks to Alan Beaubien for
much of this information].
Hasta La Vista

** The following events in Beatles history all took place on December 15. **
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Beatles * [J] John * [P] Paul * [G] George * [R] Ringo * [O] Other
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1961
The Beatles perform at the ****rn Club at lunchtime. That night
they perform at the Tower Ballroom, New Brighton, Wallasey.
Several other groups also appear during the Tower's five-and-a-half
hour show, including Cass & the Cassanovas and Brian Cassar & the
Big Three.
1962
The Beatles perform two separate engagements at the same venue, the
Majestic Ballroom in Birkenhead. First they play a standard
Majestic booking. At midnight, the first-ever "Mersey Beat" poll
awards show (for 1962) begins. As poll winners, The Beatles close
the show (at 4:00 am), and they are given a handsome plaque. The
poll runners-up, Lee Curtis & the All-Stars, perform immediately
before The Beatles, so The Beatles have another encounter with Pete
Best, drummer for the All-Stars.
1963
The Beatles tape their eighth appearance on the ABC Television
program "Thank Your Lucky Stars", another all-Merseyside affair.
The Beatles perform lip-sync to their songs "I Want to Hold Your
Hand", "All My Loving", "Twist and Shout", and "She Loves You".
The Beatles also received, on camera, two gold discs. Recorded at
Alpha Television Studios, Aston, Birmingham. Broadcast on December
21.
1964
US release of Beatles LP "Beatles '65" (Capitol). Songs: "No
Reply", "I'm a Loser", "Baby's in Black", "Rock and Roll Music",
"I'll Follow the Sun", "Mr. Moonlight", "Honey Don't", "I'll Be
Back", "She's a Woman", "I Feel Fine", and "Everybody's Trying to
Be My Baby". 70 weeks on Billboard chart; highest position #1.
1966
The Beatles in the recording studio (Studio Two, EMI Studios,
London). Continuing work on "Strawberry Fields Forever", four
trumpets and three cellos are recorded to augment the track. Then
John Lennon overdubs two separate lead vocals.
1967
Release of The Beatles' fifth Christmas record, "Christmas Time Is
Here Again", to members of their fan club in the UK and the US.
John and Ringo designed the front of the record sleeve; the back
was drawn by John's son Julian.
[O] 1969
Glyn Johns begins again to try to make a usable album out of the
"Get Back" tapes. His initial master tape was rejected by The
Beatles, and he is given the task of re-working the master tape to
make it tie in with an accompanying film that is currently in the
works.
[J] 1969
John and Yoko sponsor a concert to benefit UNICEF, at the Lyceum
Ballroom in London. The concert is called "Peace for Christmas".
After a number of support bands play, the Plastic Ono Supergroup,
featuring John and Yoko, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Klaus
Voorman, Bobby Keys, Billy Preston, Keith Moon, Alan White, Jim
Gordon, and Delaney & Bonnie, perform "Cold Turkey" (nearly seven
minutes) and "Don't Worry Kyoko" (16 minutes). The entire concert
is recorded, and the Plastic Ono Supergroup tracks will appear on
the 1972 John and Yoko album "Some Time in New York City".
[J] 1971
John and Yoko attend a reception for retiring United Nations
Secretary-General U Thant.
Hasta La Vista

** The following events in Beatles history all took place on December 16. **
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Beatles * [J] John * [P] Paul * [G] George * [R] Ringo * [O] Other
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1961
The Beatles perform a night show at the ****rn Club, Liverpool.
1962
The Beatles perform at the ****rn Club at night.
1966
Release of The Beatles' fourth Christmas record, "The Beatles
Fourth Christmas Record", to members of their fan club in the UK
and the US.
[R] 1967
Ringo completes shooting for his role as Emmanuel, a Mexican
gardener, for the movie "Candy". The filming takes place in Rome,
Italy. Ringo will fly back to England the next day.
[J] 1969
In eleven cities around the world, huge posters and billboards go
up, stating "War is Over! If You Want It. Happy Christmas from
John and Yoko."
[J] 1974
US release of John Lennon single "#9 Dream/What You Got" (Apple).
12 weeks on Billboard chart; highest position #9.
[J] 1983
UK release of John Lennon interview LP "Heart Play - Unfinished
Dialogue" (Polydor/PolyGram). Contains selected portions of John
Lennon's conversations with David Sheff in Sept. 1980 for the
Playboy magazine interview.
Hasta La Vista

** The following events in Beatles history all took place on December 17. **
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Beatles * [J] John * [P] Paul * [G] George * [R] Ringo * [O] Other
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1960
The Beatles perform at the Casbah Coffee Club, their first
appearance since returning from Hamburg. The house is filled to
capacity. Chas Newby joins The Beatles on bass guitar (to replace
Stu Sutcliffe, who had remained in Hamburg), a position he would
hold for only two weeks and four performances. When Newby bowed
out to return to college, Paul McCartney became The Beatles' bass
player.
1961
The Beatles perform at the Casbah Coffee Club, West Derby,
Liverpool.
1962
The Beatles appear in a live television appearance from Studio
Four, Granada TV Centre, Manchester, for the program "People and
Places". They perform "Love Me Do" and "Twist and Shout" during
the live transmission.
1963
The Beatles tape an appearance on the BBC radio program "Saturday
Club", for broadcast on December 21. They perform "All My Loving",
"This Boy", "I Want to Hold Your Hand", "Till There Was You", "Roll
Over Beethoven", and "She Loves You". The Beatles then sang a scat
song that they called "All I Want For Christmas is a Bottle", which
was a take-off of the current hit "All I Want For Christmas is a
Beatle". They finished up with a zany medley called "Chrimble
Mudley"--29 seconds of bits from "Love Me Do", "Please Please Me",
"From Me to You", "She Loves You", "I Want to Hold Your Hand", and
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". Recorded at London's Playhouse
Theatre.
1965
Release of The Beatles' third Christmas record, "The Beatles Third
Christmas Record", to members of their fan club in the UK and the
US.
[R] 1968
The motion picture "Candy", co-starring Ringo Starr, premieres in
New York.
[J] 1971
John and Yoko appear at a benefit concert for families of victims
of the Attica State Prison riots in New York. John performs
acoustic versions of "Imagine" and "Attica State". At Attica State
Prison, four days after rioting prisoners had taken prison guards
hostage, 1,000 New York State troopers blasted into the prison,
killing 28 prisoners and nine hostages. Initial reports by the
authorities claimed that the hostage deaths were at the hands of
vengeful prisoners, but an investigation later discre***ed that
assertion. [Note: Ray Coleman gives the date of Nov. 6 for this
event].
[G] 1976
Release in Sweden of George Harrison compilation LP "The Best of
George Harrison" (Parlophone). Includes Beatles and solo tracks.
[G] 1991
George Harrison completes his tour of Japan with a concert at the
Tokyo Dome.
1999
France's "Le Parisien" newspaper reports the results of a poll of
over 1,000 people to determine France's favorite singers of the
century. The Beatles were voted into first place, receiving 28
percent of the votes. Following The Beatles on the list are Johnny
Hallyday, Charles Aznavour, Luciano Pavarotti, Frank Sinatra, and
Elvis Presley.
2000
The Beatles' compilation album "1" is #1 in the UK for the 5th week
in a row. The album has sold 1.4 million copies in the UK to date
and 12 million copies worldwide. It has topped the charts in 30
countries around the world and is the top-selling album for the
year.
2000
The Beatles' compilation album "1" is #1 in Finland, Italy and
Switzerland.
Hasta La Vista

** The following events in Beatles history all took place on December 18. **
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Beatles * [J] John * [P] Paul * [G] George * [R] Ringo * [O] Other
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1961
The Beatles perform a lunchtime show at the ****rn Club, Liverpool.
1962
The Beatles perform at the Star-Club, Hamburg, West Germany. This
is the first night of their fifth visit to Hamburg, another
two-week engagement. The Beatles are not at all happy to have to
return to Hamburg. Their activities and success in England are of
more interest to them than what seems to be a return to the past.
They play 13 nights (having Christmas night, Dec. 25, off), and
they play 3 hours each night. The Beatles' combined experience in
Hamburg, consisting of 800 hours on stage, honed their skills and
their endurance to the level that enabled them to achieve
world-wide fame and to endure the demanding years of Beatlemania.
The final night's performance of this Hamburg visit (Dec. 31, 1962)
was recorded by Ted 'Kingsize' Taylor. The recording, later known
as "The Star-Club Tapes", was not released until 1977, and it was
released against the wishes of the ex-Beatles themselves.
1963
The Beatles tape a special two-hour BBC radio program, initially to
be called "Beatletime", but ending up as "From Us to You". The
Beatles record an altered version of "From Me to You", 55 seconds
long, as the program's signature tune to be used to open and close
the program. The Beatles also perform "She Loves You", "All My
Loving", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Till There Was You", "Boys",
"Money", "I Saw Her Standing There" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand".
The show is hosted by Australian Rolf Harris, who adapted his 1960
hit "Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport" into a song about The Beatles,
referring to their long hair and their first names. The Beatles
join Harris in presenting the number.
1964
Release of The Beatles' second Christmas record, "Another Beatles
Christmas Record", to members of their fan club in the UK and the
US (this is the first Beatles Christmas record issued to US fans).
[P] 1966
The motion picture "The Family Way", with musical score composed by
Paul McCartney, premieres in London. The movie will premiere in
the US on June 28, 1967.
[J] 1968
John and Yoko appear onstage in a large white bag at the Royal
Albert Hall, during "Alchemical Wedding", the underground art
movement's Christmas party.
1968
A review of The Beatles' movie "Magical Mystery Tour" in "Boston
After Dark" reports the film to be "complex", "lyrical", and
"sobering, but always fun."
1970
US release of "The Beatles Christmas Album" (Apple). Contains all
7 Beatles Christmas records. Issued to fan club members; not sold
commercially.
1970
UK release of Beatles Christmas record compilation LP, "From Them
to Us" (Apple). An album of the Christmas records released by The
Beatles to their fan club members 1963-1969.
[J] 1971
John and Yoko go to Houston, Texas, in search of Yoko's daughter
Kyoko.
1978
Release in Sweden of Beatles boxed album set "The Beatles
Collection" (Parlophone). Thirteen albums, including "Please
Please Me", "With The Beatles", "A Hard Day's Night", "Beatles For
Sale", "HELP!", "Rubber Soul", "Revolver", "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely
Hearts Club Band", "The Beatles", "Yellow Submarine", "Abbey Road",
"Let It Be", and "Rarities".
[G] 1987
George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Elton John shoot a promotional
video for George's song "When We Was Fab".
2000
The Beatles' compilation album "1" is #1 in Sweden for a 4th week.
The album is also #1 in Germany.
Hasta La Vista

** The following events in Beatles history all took place on December 19. **
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Beatles * [J] John * [P] Paul * [G] George * [R] Ringo * [O] Other
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1961
The Beatles perform a lunchtime show at the ****rn Club, Liverpool.
1962
The Beatles perform at the Star-Club, Hamburg, West Germany.
1969
Release of The Beatles' seventh Christmas record, "The Beatles'
Seventh Christmas Record", to members of their fan club in the UK
and the US.
1983
US re-release of Beatles single "Ain't She Sweet/Sweet Georgia
Brown" (Atlantic).
Hasta La Vista

** The following events in Beatles history all took place on December 20. **
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Beatles * [J] John * [P] Paul * [G] George * [R] Ringo * [O] Other
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1958
The Quarry Men (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Colin
Hanton, and maybe also John "Duff" Lowe) perform (for free) at the
wedding reception for Harry Harrison, George's brother (Upton
Green, Speke, Liverpool).
1961
The Beatles perform at the ****rn Club - a night show.
1962
The Beatles perform at the Star-Club, Hamburg, West Germany.
1963
The "New Musical Express" 12th International Popularity Poll lists
The Beatles as the #1 group. "She Loves You" was voted record of
the year.
1966
The Beatles in the recording studio (Studio Two, EMI Studios,
London). Recording backing vocals for "When I'm Sixty-Four".
1966
The Beatles, all now sporting moustaches (and in George's case, a
beard), give interviews to refute the rumors that The Beatles are
breaking up.
1968
Release of The Beatles' sixth Christmas record, "The Beatles' 1968
Christmas Record", sent to fan club members in the UK and the US.
Includes the song "Nowhere Man" sung by Tiny Tim.
[J] 1969
John and Yoko meet communications theorist Marshall Macluhan in
Toronto, and US television network CBS-TV films a 45-minute
interview with Lennon and Macluhan.
[G] 1971
US release of George Harrison (and friends) triple LP "The Concert
for Bangla Desh" (Apple). Recorded live August 1, 1971. Songs:
"Bangla Dhun", "Wah-Wah", "My Sweet Lord", "Awaiting On You All",
"That's the Way God Planned It", "It Don't Come Easy", "Beware of
Darkness", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Jumping Jack
Flash/Youngblood", "Here Comes the Sun", "A Hard Rain's Gonna
Fall", "It Takes a Lot to Laugh/It Takes a Train to Cry", "Blowin'
in the Wind", "Mr. Tambourine Man", "Just Like a Woman",
"Something", and "Bangla Desh". 41 weeks on Billboard chart;
highest position #2.
[G] 1974
UK release of George Harrison LP "Dark Horse" (Apple). Songs:
"Hari's On Tour (Express)", "Simply Shady", "So Sad", "Bye Bye
Love", "Maya Love", "Ding Dong; Ding Dong", "Dark Horse", "Far East
Man", "It Is He (Jai Sri Krishna)".
[G] 1974
George Harrison finishes up his North American Tour with two shows
at New York's Madison Square Garden. John Lennon was scheduled to
perform with George during the second show, but a backstage
argument between John and George before the concert resulted in
John not appearing. John and George settle their argument after
the show, and they record a joint interview for Los Angeles radio
station KHJ. John and Yoko, arriving separately, attend George's
end-of-tour party, held at New York's Hippopotamus Nightclub.
Hasta La Vista

** The following events in Beatles history all took place on December 21. **
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Beatles * [J] John * [P] Paul * [G] George * [R] Ringo * [O] Other
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1961
The Beatles perform at the ****rn Club - a lunchtime show.
1962
The Beatles perform at the Star-Club, Hamburg, West Germany.
1963
The Beatles perform at the Gaumont Cinema, Bradford. This is a
concert-only preview of their upcoming "The Beatles' Christmas
Show", without costumes or comedy sketches.
1966
The Beatles in the recording studio (Studio Two, EMI Studios,
London). Clarinets and bass clarinet overdubbed onto "When I'm
Sixty-Four". John Lennon then overdubs more vocals and piano onto
"Strawberry Fields Forever".
1967
The Beatles hold a party at the Royal Lancaster Hotel to preview
their movie "Magical Mystery Tour".
2000
The Beatles' compilation album "1" is #1 on Billboard's Top 200
album chart for the 3rd week (US). Sales for the album's 5th week
of release are its highest yet (823,000). Total US sales to date
are 3.35 million. "1" is also #1 on Billboard's Top Internet Sales
chart.
Hasta La Vista

** The following events in Beatles history all took place on December 22. **
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Beatles * [J] John * [P] Paul * [G] George * [R] Ringo * [O] Other
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1962
The Beatles perform at the Star-Club, Hamburg, West Germany.
1963
The Beatles perform at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool. This
appearance is the second concert-only preview of their "The
Beatles' Christmas Show", due to open in London in two days.
[O] 1966
John Lennon challenged George Martin to find a way to merge the
original, lighter version of "Strawberry Fields Forever" with the
later, heavily orchestrated version. Martin discovered that when
take seven was sped up and take 26 was slowed down, the tempos and
key matched exactly. The join of the two tracks occurs 60 seconds
into the released version of "Strawberry Fields Forever". Begun on
November 24, the song is now completed
[J] 1971
Anthony Cox, Yoko's ex-husband, is jailed for five days in Houston,
Texas, for refusing to allow Yoko to visit her daughter Kyoko.
Hasta La Vista

** The following events in Beatles history all took place on December 23. **
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Beatles * [J] John * [P] Paul * [G] George * [R] Ringo * [O] Other
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1961
The Beatles perform at the ****rn Club during another of the club's
all-night sessions.
1962
The Beatles perform at the Star-Club, Hamburg, West Germany.
1963
Radio Luxembourg begins a 15-part series, "It's The Beatles". The
Beatles will not record any performances or interviews for the
series, which consists of playing their released recordings. The
15-minute installments are broadcast on Monday nights through March
30, 1964.
[J] 1968
John and Yoko dress up as Father and Mother Christmas to hand out
presents at the Apple Christmas party at Savile Row.
[J] 1972
John and Yoko's film "Imagine" premieres on US television. It will
be released on videocassette in 1985.
[G] 1974
US release of George Harrison single "Ding Dong; Ding Dong/Hari's
on Tour (Express)" (Apple). 6 weeks on Billboard chart; highest
position #36.
2000
The Beatles' compilation album "1" is #1 in Portugal.
Hasta La Vista