A Day in the Life Blog

No events occurred today.

Beatles for Sale is the fourth studio album by English rock band the Beatles, released on 4 December 1964 and produced by George Martin for Parlophone. The album marked a minor turning point in the evolution of the Lennon–McCartney partnership, John Lennon particularly now showing interest in composing songs of a more autobiographical nature. "I'm a Loser" shows Lennon for the first time coming under the influence of Bob Dylan,^[3] whom he met in New York while on tour, on 28 August 1964.^[4]

Beatles for Sale did not produce a single for the UK – the non-album tracks "I Feel Fine" and "She's a Woman" performed that role. Nevertheless, that coupling was followed up in the United States by "Eight Days a Week", which became their seventh number one in March 1965. In Australia, the only-ever non-original Beatles single (either side) went to Number One: Chuck Berry's "Rock and Roll Music" backed with Carl Perkins' "Honey, Don't", which held the summit for four weeks.

The album hit the UK number one spot and retained that position for 11 of the 46 weeks that it spent in the Top 20. Beatles for Sale did not surface as a regular album in the US until 1987. In its place was Beatles '65 which featured eight songs from Beatles for Sale, plus the A and B-side of "I Feel Fine" and "I'll Be Back" from the UK's A Hard Day's Night album. Beatles '65 enjoyed a nine-week run at the top of the US charts from January 1965.

No events occurred this day.

No events occurred today.

1 Dec 1964
Ringo Starr has his tonsils removed at the University College Hospital in London.

The Beatles will be relaxing for the next three weeks - as far as performing publicly.

Studio One, Television Centre, London

The second part of John's contribution to the opening edition of Not Only....But Also was taped this evening, from 8:30, before an audience at the BBC's Television centre in west London.

Several items from his book In His Own Write were read, mostly straight to camera. John alone read "About The Awful" - his own biography from the book's back-cover - he and Norman Rossington recited "Good Dog Nigel" and "The Wrestling Dog" and then John, Rossington and Dudley Moore delivered "All Abord Speeching". Additionally, Rossington and Moore, without John's involvement, read "Unhappy Frank". Right at the end of the programme, as the credits were rolling to Moore's signature tune, "Goodby-ee", John also flitted somewhat maniacally across the screen.

The Complete Beatles Chronicle - Mark Lewisohn

"Kenwood", Wood Lane, St. George's Hill, Weybridge, Surrey

The December 4th issue of New Musical Express carried a full-page feature about John's new house in Weybridge, written after a visit this day by news editor Chris Hutchins. The NME man also took along his portable BBC tape recorder and interviewed John about the property for the Light Programme radio show The Teen Scene; the item was broadcast the following evening, Sunday, November 29th.

The Complete Beatles Chronicle

Mark Lewistohn

The Beatles' fourth album, Beatles for Sale, was released on November 27, 1964. It featured 8 original songs, including "Eight Days A Week" and 6 cover songs (written by other artists) including "Rock and Roll Music".

The Beatles were so busy all year, and by the end of 1964, they only had two weeks in their schedule to complete their fourth album, Beatles for Sale.

On this album, John was starting to write more introspective songs that hinted at his dislike of the Beatles fame, such as "I'm a Loser" and "Baby's in Black."

1) No Reply (Lennon/McCartney)
2) I'm a Loser (Lennon/McCartney)
3) Baby's in Black (Lennon/McCartney)
4) Rock and Roll Music (Berry)
5) I'll Follow the Sun (Lennon/McCartney)
6) Mr. Moonlight (Johnson)
7) Medley:
a. Kansas City (Lieber/Stoller)
b. Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey (Penniman)
8) Eight Days a Week (Lennon/McCartney)
9) Words of Love (Holly)
10) Honey Don't (Perkins)
11) Every Little Thing (Lennon/McCartney)
12) I Don't Want to Spoil the Party (Lennon/McCartney)
13) What You're Doing (Lennon/McCartney)
14) Everybody's Trying to be My Baby (Perkins)

Beatles enjoyed a rare day off.