A Tune Up

January 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 disappointment with polite audience and equipment breakdowns, the mood improved later because of a telegram from America.  According to Cashbox Magazine, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is going to be number one in the USA!

The Paris shows bundle the Beatles with American Latin sensation, Trini Lopez and local rocker girl Sylvie Vartan.  Below is some footage I stole from a Beatles documentary "Rare and Unseen" which is worth watching just for the reminiscences of many of the characters who appear earlier in this blog and who were instrumental in the development of the band over the last four years, or so.

It's also a tune up for their foray into the huge US market, which will take place immediately following and now with a number one record on their resume'.

Here's the shorter clip from "Rare and Unseen".