Fab Four Blog

Hippodrome Theatre, Hurst St. Birmingham, Warks

After this date, the tour resumed on the 12th.

Granada Cinema, Barking Rd. East Ham, London

Five days after concluding the Helen Shapiro tour, five days in which they had fulfilled three live engagements, a recording session for EMI and a radio session for the BBC - the Beatles set off going around a still-snowbound Britain on a second theater ...

The Beatles at the Royal Hall, Ripon Rd. Harrogate, Yorkshire

Elizabethan Ballroom, Co-Operative House

Parliament St. Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

An inspirational idea from Brian Epstein, a one-night stand featuring his fast growing array of artists, all beginning to enjoy great success. The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Big Three, and Bill J. Krame...

Playhouse Theater, Manchester

A return trip to the Playhouse in Manchester for the Beatles 5th and final appearance on the BBC Light Program radio show "Here we go", produced by Peter Pilbeam, the man who had auditioned and broadcast the group before they had an EMI recording contract. After a 4:00...

Studio Two, EMI Studios, London

Five days after writing on the Helen Shapiro coach, the Beatles recorded "From me to you" this day at EMI. It began the session at the B-side of their 3rd single, during the session, however, it was promoted to premier status over the previously preferred "Thank you ...

The Beatles first 100 pound booking at the Plaza Ballroom, St. Helens

Gaumont Cinema, Piccadilly, Hanley, Staffordshire

The final night of the Helen Shapiro package tour. By this time, the Beatles had been elevated on the bill from playing the first spot to the final act in the first half.

City Hall, Barker's Pool, Sheffield, Yorkshire and then Studio One, Didsbury Studio Centre, Parrs Wood Rd. Manchester, Lancashire

After finishing the 2nd Shapiro "House" at Sheffield, the Beatles drove 38 miles to Manchester, to appear live on the ABC TV news magazine program ABC At Large, boradcas...

The Beatles at the Odeon Cinema, Lord St. Southport, Lancashire

Granada Cinema, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

While traveling this day between York and Shrewsbury, on the coach containing the entire Shapiro entourage, John and Paul wrote the Beatles' next single "From me to you". On this date, Helen Shapiro resumed her role as headliner, and Billie Davis...

The Beatles at the Rialto Theatre, Fishergate, York, Yorkshire - Helen Shapiro bowing out to do illness.

Gaumont Cinema, Corporation St. Taunton, Somerset

Back to the package tour. in the terrible winter weather, Helen Shapiro came down with a cold and was forced to miss this date. Danny Williams assumed top-of-the-bill status and Billie Davis, currently charting with "Tell Him", was drafted in to pad...

Casino Ballroom, Lord St. Leigh, Lancashire

In the Beatles absence, George Martin and his team produced the mono and stereo masters of the "Please please me" album, mixing and banding the 14 tracks in 10:00am to 1:00pm AND 2:30PM to 5:45pm sessions in Studio One at EMI. The group were in a van on t...

Granada Cinema, West Gate, Mansfield, Notts

Part II of the Helen Shapiro package tour. Before going on stage for the first of the two "houses", the Beatles crowded into Helen's dressing room and watched their latest appearance on "Thank your lucky stars", taped the previous Sunday. Being the headli...

The Beatles at the Oasis Club in Manchester

Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead

Once again there were two separate "House", the Beatles appearing at 7:30 and 11:30 pm.

Playhouse Theatre, London and Swimming Baths, St. James St. Doncaster, Yorkshire

The Beatles were not present at Abbey Road for a 10:30 AM to 1:00 pm overdub session in Studio One, which saw George Martin add piano to "Misery" and celeste and piano to "Baby It's You". (The latter piano piece was ne...

Cavern Club - Liverpool

The Beatles first Cavern Club performance in more than a fortnight. The queue for admission formed two days beforehand. Also on the bill were Lee Curtis and the All-Stars. This was the last time that any of the Beatles set eyes on Pete Best in person.

Another NEMS Enterprises showcase, with 2 separate "houses" at the Queen's Hall, Widnes. Both were sell-outs.

Teddington Studio Center on Broom Rd. In Teddington, Middlesex

The Beatles 2nd appearance on ABC Television's "Thank your lucky stars", one of the most influential TV programs in Britain (before Top of the Pops) taped this time at the company's Teddington Studio Center southwest of London. Rehearsa...

The Beatles at the Carfax Assembly Rooms, on Cornmarket St. in Oxford, Oxfordshire.

A one nighter at this city center venue and the Beatle's first booking with John Smith, one of the top London promoters.

The Beatles at the Ritz Ballroom, King's Heath, Birmingham. This engagement which was postponed from January 11. The situation was ideal for the Ritz promoters who presented a group now featuring in the top 3 of the singles chart at the same cost as when they were an unknown act.

The Beatles at the Locarno Ballroom, West Derby Rd. in Liverpool.

A special Valentine's Day dance. It was the Beatles' first appearance at this Liverpool ballroom, although the Quarry Men did perform here a few times in late 1950's skiffle contests.

The Beatles at the Majestic Ballroom, Hull

The Beatles were at the Azena Ballroom, on White lLn. Gleadless, Sheffield, Yorkshire and Astoria Ballroom, on King St. Oldham, Lancashire

So, it really wasn't unusual for pop groups in 1963 to record an entire album in one day - quality and care were forsaken but budgets were adhered to. What was rare was the Beatles' ability to turn out a brilliant debut album under these circumstances. Please Please Me, the 14-track LP for which all...

THE BEATLES ACTUALLY TOOK A DAY OFF TODAY, 50 YEARS AGO.......

For the Beatles, these Sunderland shows marked the last night of the Shapiro tour's first leg, to be resumed on February 23rd. The Beatles did not participate in two February 10th "houses" at the Embassy Cinema in Peterborough (where their place on the bill was temporarily filled by Peter Jan and th...

Probably the highlight of an otherwise uneventful tour happened after these two "houses", when the Beatles, Helen Shapiro and Kenny Lynch were ejected from a Carlisle Golf Club dance at  the Crown and Mitre Hotel in the town Center. The reason? The Beatles were wearing leather jackets.