tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21121554888013139752024-03-05T09:42:00.415-08:00Beatles+50It's been a little less than 50 years since the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show February 9th, 1964 and changed our lives forever. The Beatles started their professional careers with a trip to Hamburg, Germany in August of 1960. I'm going to post to this blog what the Beatles were doing 50 years ago to the day from just before that first tour until the historic Ed Sullivan appearance. "Follow by email" for ongoing updates. (Eternal thanks to Mark Lewisohn.)Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.comBlogger290125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-31810666970766103122015-08-18T18:30:00.000-07:002015-09-10T11:11:25.640-07:00Another Huge Day in the History of RockAugust 18, 1965
Hope everything is going well for all you Beatle fans. I promised to end this blog when the Beatles played Ed Sullivan in the states, but I just had to make a post for this seminal event.
50 years ago today, the Beatles played for the first time on a stage with a wonderful new innovation - stage monitors, so they could actually hear what they were doing. Here's a Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-20934752391200946742015-08-15T15:11:00.001-07:002015-08-15T15:11:50.467-07:00The Amazin' SheaAugust 15, 1965
Some might call it the high water mark of classic Beatlemania. The Beatles make their way to Shea Stadium today and absolutely kill it. Not bad for a four lads from Liverpool.
Beatles at SheaMike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-63719464812774143912014-02-21T14:00:00.000-08:002014-08-02T10:19:51.723-07:00Exclamation point
February 22, 1964
It has been a lot of fun for me to write this blog over the last three years and get a sense of all the events and people who came together to make the Beatles possible.  It's impossible to overestimate the impact they have had on popular culture and so I'd like to finish by publicly thanking John, Paul George and Ringo for bringing so much joy and meaning into so many Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-24350004686054012332014-02-09T18:36:00.000-08:002014-04-03T12:45:29.957-07:00No More Talk, Just ListenSunday - February 9, 1964
It's been a long journey but, the big day has finally arrived. Sunday night. Clustered around the eerie glow from the big, bulky, black and white TV. If you were there, relive it. If not, imagine you were.
Follow this link.
Signing off now. Happy listening to you all. Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-36146618786201904702014-02-07T13:09:00.000-08:002014-04-03T12:45:22.692-07:00Bringing Coals to NewcastleFebruary 7, 1964
They are here (in the US!) Their Pan Am flight from London Heathrow touches down at NYC's recently renamed JFK airport at 1:30 pm. The Beatles stage a short chaotic press conference. "Can you sing something?" John: "We need money first!" "Are you going to get a haircut while you are here?" George: "I had one yesterday."
They move on, in four Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-63898323580636271572014-01-29T09:17:00.000-08:002014-04-03T12:45:15.426-07:00Recording in ParisJanuary 29, 1964
The Beatles record at Pathe Marconi Studios in Paris, the one and only time they record as a group outside the confines of England. To facilitate their growing popularity on the continent, they use previously recorded instrument tracks and sing two hits in German, finishing "Sie Leibt Dich" and "Komm Gib Mir Deine Hand". Their exposure to the German language during Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-66655544020610171322014-01-16T12:29:00.000-08:002014-04-03T12:45:09.889-07:00A Tune UpJanuary 16 - February 4, 1964
The Beatles, via Brian Epstein, are actively looking for new audiences to conquer. With that in mind, they do a three week residency at the Olympic Theatre in Paris France. At first, audiences are reserved and sit quietly and listen, but by the end, they are screaming and carrying on like their English counterparts.
While the first Paris show was a Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-46613265615732056642013-12-26T10:19:00.002-08:002013-12-27T10:54:36.739-08:00First Shot Across the BowDecember 26, 1963
Capitol Records in the USA can not resist the rising tide any longer. In response to a groundswell of
popularity, they move up the planned release of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" backed by "I Saw Her Standing There" officially into the US market. It must have been about this week that I first caught the buzz. I was just about to turn twelve and I recall beingMike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-86417694626109219822013-12-24T08:51:00.000-08:002013-12-24T08:51:12.394-08:00Christmas with the BeatlesDecember 24-31, 1963
The Beatles, always true to their English heritage, are always involved up to their necks at Christmastime. For the people of northern climes, it can be a great equalizer, during the worst of the cold, dark winter months to gather together for song and fun.
This year, it's a stage production "The Beatles Christmas Show" that starts today and runs for 16 nights at the Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-46472663258342655362013-12-17T12:19:00.000-08:002013-12-17T13:31:22.930-08:00Thank You, Marsha and CarrollDecember 17, 1963
After seeing the human interest piece about the band on CBS News December 10th, Marsha Albert makes a listener request of Carroll James, a DJ on Washington DC radio station WWDC. Play the new record by this unusual group from England called the Beatles. James asks a stewardess friend, who's on the transatlantic run, if she can get hold of a copy for him. Today, the Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-63972076892210475062013-12-10T06:54:00.000-08:002013-12-10T06:54:00.544-08:00CBS Gets the NewsDecember 10, 1963
The Beatles appear in a CBS news feature, presented by Walter Cronkite.
According to the CBS News website, it was December 10. And who remembers Alexander Kendrick and his stiff ultra-cool delivery and his "wethead is dead" hairstyle?Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-63219203935288504462013-12-07T14:29:00.000-08:002013-12-07T14:29:00.474-08:00Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity JigDecember 7, 1963
The Beatles return to Liverpool for a few days and how those boys did work at it!
Today's agenda includes:
Empire Theatre Juke Box Jury - Beatles as judges
Empire Theatre fan club concert - taped for broadcast that evening to the UK as It's the Beatles
Empire Theatre Top of the Pops - Christmas interview for broadcast December 25th
Odeon Cinema - two evening performancesMike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-52007517791928110052013-12-02T14:34:00.000-08:002013-12-02T14:34:00.470-08:00Hellllooo, Bongo!December 2, 1963
The Beatles make an appearance on a national BBC TV show, The Morecambe and Wise Show. A bit of musical hall silliness is the result.
Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-84420512044752642962013-11-22T10:10:00.000-08:002013-11-22T10:10:11.205-08:00A Black DayNovember 22, 1963
The assassination of a president.
It may seem unconnected to the story of the Beatles, but I was there and I think they are profoundly connected. After a period of deep cultural depression and national mourning, American kids will be ready for something upbeat and optimistic.Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-74393568291296291672013-11-20T12:40:00.000-08:002013-11-20T12:40:00.702-08:00Let's go to the concertNovember 20, 1963
Wanna go see the the Beatles at ABC Cinema in Manchester tonight? I've got a couple of tickets. Let's go!
Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-35241000547818249402013-11-16T13:30:00.000-08:002013-11-16T13:30:00.940-08:00Jack Parr Scoops 'Em AllNovember 16, 1963
The Tonight Show with Jack Parr.
Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-12351051549905101582013-11-04T11:49:00.000-08:002013-11-14T13:16:50.537-08:00A Royal Command to PerformNovember 4, 1963
The Beatles, really making inroads now, are invited to play at this year's Royal Command Variety Show at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London. The tradition of an annual command performance goes back to 1912 (hey, just about 50 years before the Beatles!) It's a chance for the best entertainment from the British Isles and the world to show their stuff to members of Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-1301082263785228222013-10-30T11:30:00.000-07:002013-10-30T11:30:03.498-07:00Goodbye for Now, SwedenOctober 30, 1963
The Beatles record an appearance on the Swedish teenager's show "Drop In". Tomorrow they head back to Blighty and another UK tour.
Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-21242227495945612212013-10-23T14:53:00.000-07:002013-10-23T14:53:00.148-07:00Finishing "With" and Hello SwedenOctober 23, 1963
The Beatles and George Martin put some finishing touches on their second album, "Meet the Beatles" and then they head for the airport and their first tour of Sweden. Skål!Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-53076784420094977392013-10-13T13:24:00.000-07:002013-10-14T18:54:34.255-07:00See You at the Palladium, SonOctober 13, 1963
The Beatles make it to the London Palladium today (coincidentally, right next to where Apple Corps headquarters would be in a few years and where a famous roof top concert would occur in the future.)
Audio of the entire concert
And this is the last time the Beatles wore their famous collarless jacket suits. If you were there (in the US, at least), you no doubt Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-70778332863693878032013-10-09T11:32:00.000-07:002013-10-09T11:32:00.578-07:00Haworth Goes Out Over BBCOctober 9, 1963
Today is the first broadcast of the Don Haworth piece wherein he seems to take the whole Mersey Beat phenomenon as worthy of serious consideration. Groundbreaking! Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-67895991363449966092013-10-04T11:11:00.000-07:002013-10-04T11:11:00.122-07:00She's Not Leaving Home...YetOctober 4, 1963
Melanie Coe (who's picture as a 17 year old runaway in a newspaper in 1967 inspired "She's Leaving Home") meets Paul McCartney as a contestant (she wins!) on the BBC's "Ready Steady Go" today. I just absolutely love these strange coincidences!
It is the very first appearance of the Beatles on this iconic TV show, which premiered in August.
Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-30766805191904351312013-10-03T11:11:00.000-07:002013-10-03T11:11:00.174-07:00The Public EarLots of insights here. Looking back from a distance of a few years, a radio show called The Public Ear, records for a show to be broadcast later. Topic: the Mersey Beat. (Especially love the clip of Millie Sutcliffe!)
The Public Ear 10/3/1963
Near as I can tell this show was recorded today and broadcast on November 11. Mike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-63894545557480006642013-09-16T10:55:00.000-07:002013-09-20T12:46:11.786-07:00George and "She" Sneak into AmericaSeptember 16-30, 1963
Swan Records was an independent label based in Philadelphia, home of Dick Clark's American Bandstand and the Philadelphia sound. (American Bandstand in the early 60s is a great source if you want to better understand the main competition the Beatles would run into on American shores.) Swan had scored hits with "Palisades Park" and "Way Down Yonder in New OrleansMike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2112155488801313975.post-6762415575598466202013-08-27T11:07:00.000-07:002013-09-17T15:18:38.329-07:00Haworth Takes Them Seriously August 27-30, 1963
Don Haworth is a distinguished radio writer and producer in the second half of the 20th century. During this week, he produces a BBC television documentary on the Mersey Sound, which has been sweeping the UK. It is the first time that the band is treated as a subject for serious consideration as part of a social phenomenon. They do the shooting inMike Wilhelmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01558322272145679100noreply@blogger.com0