50th Blog

Studio Five, Maida Vale Studios, London

The four week trial of "Pop go the Beatles" had been a success, and the BBC booked another run, a further 11 programs, making 15 in total. These additional shows ran after only a two-week absence and featured a new host, Rodney Burke, replacing Lee Peters. The Beatles' disregard for names continued. Off air they had called Lee Peters "Pee Litres", on air at the start of the program, when the host said, "My name is Rodney Burke", John piped up "That's your fault!"

The Beatles taped their contribution to the fifth edition on this day, to be broadcast in the Light Programme on Tuesday, July 16th, between 5:00 and 5:29 pm. Rehearsal and recording took place at Maida Vale Studios between 6:30 and 9:30 pm. From the standpoint of musical versatility, no other Beatles session for BBC radio could match this, they began with a cover of Elvis Presley's "That's All Right (Mama)" and followed with their own "There's a Place", Chuck Berry's "Carol", Arthur Alexancer's "Soldier Of Love (Lay down your arms)", Carl Perkins' "Lend me your comb" and the Jodimars' "Clarabella". Yet more songs were recorded but not broadcast: the Coaster's "Three cool cats", Chuck Berry's "Sweet little sixteen" and their own "Ask me why". The Beatles' guest act in this edition was Duffy Power with the Graham Bond Quarter.

Studio Two, EMI Studios, London

Compose in Newcastle-upon-Tyne the previous Wednesday, "She Loves You" - which was to become the Beatle's first million-selling single, yielding the "Yeah, yeah Yeah" catchphrase so loved by the media was recording during a 345-minute session the day at EMI, as was it's B-side "I'll get you" (known at this point by it's working title, "Get you in the end".

The session was arranged for 2:30-5:30 pm, instead it ran from 5:00-10:45, however, existing EWI paperwork does not document the number of "takes" it took for the two songs to be recorded.

"She Loves You" was issued by EMI on Friday, August 23rd; British sales passed the half-million milestone on November 27th. The single also achieved the very rare feat of enjoying two separate spells at number one, originally occupying the summit for four weeks, spending a further seven in the top three and then returning to the top for two more.

ABC Cinema, Regent Rd. Gt Yarmouth, Norfolk

The first date in a ten-week run of engagements at seaside resorts. On this night, the Beatle's repertoire comprised "Some other guy", "Thank you, Girl", "Do you want to know a secret", "Misery", "A taste of honey", "I saw her standing there", "Love me do", "From me to you", "Baby, it's you", "Please Please me", and "Twist and Shout". The compere was Ted Rogers.

Today, the Beatles took a break.

Queen's Hall, Sovereign St. Leeds, Yorkshire

Three thousand, two hundred people crammed into the vast Queen's Hall to see the Beatles share the bill with Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band.

The Beatle's decided to take off today.

Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

The Beatle's last performance in a Top Rank ballroom, although they were to continue utilizing the company's extensive cinema and theatre network.

After the show, in their Newcastle hotel room, John and Paul wrote the A-side of the Beatle's next single, "She loves you".

The Beatles - Astoria Ballroom, Wilson St., Middlesbrough, Yorks

Playhouse Theatre, London

Another recording for "Saturday Club", broadcast in the BBC radio Light Programme between 10:00 am and 12:00 noon on Saturday, June 29th. After a 2:30 pm rehearsal, the Beatles taped this sesssion between 5:30 and 6:30 at the Playhouse Theatre in London, performing "I got to find my Baby", "Memphis, Tennessee", "Money (That's what I want), "Till there was you", "From me to you", and "Roll over Beethoven". The last two songs were included in the final 29 minutes of the programme, broadcast simultaneously by the BBC's General Overseas Service.

Alpha Television Studios, Aston, Birmingham

In February 1964, the sensational success of the Beatles would open the floodgates of the North American record market, allowing scores of other British groups from Liverpool. They were dominating the UK charts at the time. Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas, the Fourmost, the Searchers and others, with people like Cilla Black waiting in the wings. To celebrate the "Mersey Beat" boom, and entire edition of ABC Television's "Lucky Stars" (Summer Spin) - the summer title of "Thank your Lucky Stars" - was given over to Liverpool acts. Hosted by Pete Murray, it was taped during this afternoon and transmitted on Saturday, June 29th, between 6:05 and 6:45 pm on most of the ITV network. More than 6 million people tuned in, although Beatles fans had a dilemma in that the last 10 minutes overlapped with John's appearance on the BBC's Juke Box Jury.

The Beatles topped the bill, and closed the show miming to "From me to you" and "I saw her standing there"