A Day in the Life Blog

Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead

Night Cavern Club, Liverpool - and 527 Club, Lewis's, Ranelagh Street, Liverpool

Two engagements in one night, the second of which was a "Young Idea Dance", for the staff of Lewis's, the premier department store in Liverpool, held on the top floor of the shop.

BBC Paris Studio, Regent Street, London

The Beatles' first radio session in London. It took place at the Corporation's confusingly named "Paris Studio" - situated not in France, but just south of Piccadilly Circus in the heart of the West End.

The recording was for the Light Programme Show, "The Talent Spot", broadcast on Tuesday, December 4th, between 5:00 and 5:29 pm. Rehearsals ran from 4:00 pm and recording before a live studio audience from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. Among the other acts appearing on this programme - "who make our guests for today and stars for tomorrow," as Programme host Gary Marshal announced at the start of the show - was Elkie Brooks, who also went on to achieve fame , albeit several years hence.

The Beatles performed three songs on this programme, "Love me do, PS, I Love you, and Twist and Shout".

Studio Two, EMI Studios, London

With the modest success of "Love Me Do", the Beatles were invited to return to EMI to record a second single. "Please Please Me", first aired in the studio on September 11th, was completed during this session, booked for 7:00-10:00 pm, but was finished 15 minutes ahead of time - 9:45. The group arrived at Abbey Road at 6:00 pm and had a short rehearsal prior to the session proper.

Including overdubs of John's distinctive harmonica wailing, "Please Please Me" was recorded in 18 takes and was chosen as the A-side. Then, after a short break, six takes of a re-make of "Ask Me Why" were taped (the first version having been recorded on June 6th) and the best was selected for the B-side. The Beatles also played to George Martin a third Lennon-McCartney number, "Tip Of My Tongue", but George was unhappy with the arrangement and said that it would have to be held over for another time. In fact, the Beatles never revived it, and it wasn't until July 1963 that it was recorded - by another Epstein artist, Tommy Quickly.

Night Cavern club, Liverpool

Royal Lido Ballroom, Central Beach

Prestatyn, Flintshire

Only the Beatles' second engagement in Wales, following the debut in nearby Rhyl four months earlier.

The Lunchtime slot at the Cavern Club this day was played by the Remo Four because the Beatles were in London for an audition with BBC Television, arranged so that their TV potential could be assessed.

Surprisingly, the audition came about not through the endeavours of Brian Epstein, but through two persuasive letters sent to the Corporation by one of the the Beatles' fans, David John Smith of Preston, who wrote asking for the group to be featured on BBC programmes. Assuming that Smith managed the group, the BBC wrote back to him offering them an audition in London on November 6th. Smith passed on the letter to NEMS Enterprises, from where Clive Epstein (brother Brian was with the Beatles in Hamburg) re-arranged this November 23rd date.

The 10 minute audition took place at 12:20 PM in a central London church hall. Four days later, Brian Epstein received a non-committal "Don't call us, we'll call you" letter from Mr. Ronnie Lane, Light Entertainment Auditioner. It would only be when the Beatles had enjoyed a number one record that they would make their BBC TV debut.

After the audition, the Beatles sped back to Merseyside for an unusual engagement at the Tower Ballroom, the 12th annual "Lancashire and Cheshire Arts Ball". Sharing the bill with the Beatles were Billy Kramer and the Coasters (prior to Epstein's signing Kramer to a management contract, adding the spurious middle initial J and severing the Coasters link in favor of Manchester group the Dakotas) the Llew Hird Jazz Band and the Clan McCLeod Pipe Band.

Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead

Cavern Club, Liverpool

Lunchtime and Night Gig

Floral Hall, Southport

Another two "house" theatre appearance.