This Day in Beatle History

July 21

1943 (Jul 21) - Wings Guitarist Henry McCullough Born

Northern Ireland rock guitarist, Henry McCullough. He recorded with Paul McCartney and Wings, featuring on the hit James Bond theme, ‘Live and Let Die’ and ‘My Love’, the solo which he made up on the spot in front of a live orchestra. He was also a member of Spooky Tooth and The Grease Band. McCullough died on 14th June 2016 aged 72.

1963 (Jul 21) - Beatlemania Begins!

4,000 fans without tickets try to crash a Beatles gig in Blackpool, England – the only way the band can get in is via the roof.

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.

1967 (Jul 21) - Beatles Head For Greece

The Beatles (and wives sans Maureen) are in Greece. The trip is due to an idea John has of them all living on an island together. Their real estate search is unsuccessful.

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 21) - Work Begins on 'Come Together'

The Beatles started work on the John Lennon song ‘Come Together’ at Abbey Road studios in London. The track became the opening song on The Beatles Abbey Road album and was later released as a double A-sided single with ’Something’, their twenty-first single in the UK and twenty-sixth in the US where it reached the top of the charts.

1987 (Jul 21) - Paul McCartney In Studio

Paul McCartney records “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” “Ain’t That A Shame,” and “Crackin’ Up.”

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 22

1963 (Jul 22) - Vee-Jay Records Presses First US Beatles Albums

The Beatles first US album, Introducing The Beatles was pressed by Vee-Jay Records, who thought they had obtained the legal rights from EMI affiliate, Trans-Global Records. When it was finally released in January, 1964, Capitol Records would hit Vee Jay with an injunction against manufacturing, distributing, advertising, or otherwise disposing of records by the Beatles. After a trial, Vee-Jay was allowed to release any Beatles records that they had masters of in any form until October 15th, 1964. After that time, they no longer had the right to issue any Beatles product.

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