This Day in Beatle History - The Beatle Zone

July 9

1968 - 'White Album' is #1 in the US

It was the group’s 12th US #1 album. The double album has no graphics or text.

1968 (Jan 20) - 'Judy In Disguise' is #1. Inspired by 'Lucy In The Sky'?

One Hit Wonders John Fred and the Playboy Band started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Judy In Disguise, (With Glasses)’. It topped at No.3 in the UK. The song was allegedly inspired by The Beatles ‘Lucy In The Sky’.

1969 (Jul 9) - Beatles Record 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer'

Working at Abbey Road studios in London The Beatles recorded ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.’ John Lennon returned to the studio after recovering from a car crash in Scotland, and a bed was installed in the Abbey Road studio for Yoko, who was pregnant, and who had been more seriously injured in the car accident.

1972 (Jul 9) - Wings Plays First Gig

Paul McCartney and Wings played their very first show in the small French town of Chateauvillon. The band included Denny Laine, Denny Seiwell, Henry McCullough and Paul’s wife, Linda. It was McCartney’s first time on the road since The Beatles quit touring in 1966. The band travelled on a double Decker London bus with a psychedelic interior.

2008 (Feb 20) - Beatles' Autographed Rolling Stones Album Auctioned

A 1976 Rolling Stones album bought for £2 at a car boot sale sold for £4,000 at an auction. The ‘Black and Blue’ LP was signed by John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Paul and Linda McCartney and George Harrison as well as members of the Rolling Stones. The seller obtained the album after haggling the cost down from £3.

July 10

1964 (Jul 10) - 200,000 Celebrate Beatles Return to Liverpool

200,000 Liverpudlians took to the streets to celebrate The Beatles return to Liverpool for the northern premiere of the group’s first film ‘A Hard Day’s Night.’ The group were honored in a public ceremony in front of Liverpool Town Hall and as The Beatles stood on a balcony looking at the large crowd gathered below, John Lennon gave a few Nazi “Sieg Heil” salutes. Not everyone appreciated his sense of humor.

1966 (Feb 18) - Brian Wilson Finishes 'Good Vibrations'

Beach Boy Brian Wilson finished recording the future classic song ‘Good Vibrations’, which went on to become the band’s third US number-one hit. As a child, his mother told him that dogs could pick up “vibrations” from people, so that the dog would bark at “bad vibrations” Wilson turned this into the general idea for the song.