This Day in Beatle History

May 20

1954 (May 20) - 'Rock Around The Clock' Released

Bill Haley and His Comets release ‘Rock Around The Clock’ for the first time. It does little but becomes a hit year when inserted in the movie ‘Blackboard Jungle’.

1960 (May 20) - The Silver Beetles are in Scotland

Tommy Moore (shown) was the drummer with the Beatles in Scotland.

The Silver Beetles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stu Sutcliffe, and Tommy Moore) played the first night of a short tour of Scotland backing singer Johnny Gentle, at Alloa Town Hall in Clackmannanshire. Three of the Silver Beetles adopted stage names: Paul McCartney became Paul Ramon, George Harrison was Carl Harrison, and Stuart Sutcliffe became Stuart de Stael.

1962 (Jun 6) - First Beatles Recordings at What Will Become 'Abbey Road'

The first Beatles recording session took place at EMI studios. The group recorded four tracks, one of which was ‘Love Me Do’ the four musicians received payments for the session of £7.10 ($12.07) each.

1967 (May 20) - George Visits Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

George Harrison visits the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for the first time.

1967 (May 20) - BBC Bans 'A Day In The Life'

Because of the line, “I’d love to turn you on,” the BBC bans ‘A Day In The Life’. Their reasoning? They think it might promote drug use.

1967 (May 20) - Special Preview of 'Sgt Pepper's' on the BBC

The Beatles new album Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band had a special preview on the Kenny Everett BBC Light program, ‘Where It’s At’, playing every track from the album, (except ‘A Day In The Life’ which the BBC had banned saying it could promote drug taking).

1968 (May 20) - Impromptu Recording Session at George's House

The Beatles armed with a bunch of new songs after their visit to India, met at George Harrison’s home in Esher, Surrey. They taped 23 new songs on George’s 4-track recorder, many of which would end up on The Beatles’ next two albums, (The White Album) and Abbey Road. The demos include: ‘Cry Baby Cry’, Revolution’, ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’, ‘Blackbird’ and ‘Child of Nature’ (a Lennon song that became ‘Jealous Guy’).