This Day in Beatle History

September 28

1968 (Sep 28) - 'Hey Jude' #1 in the US

The Beatles started a nine week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Hey Jude’. The Paul McCartney song written about John Lennon’s son Julian gave the group their 16th US No.1 and the biggest selling single of 1968. In 1996, Julian paid £25,000 for the recording notes to the song at an auction.

1976 (Sep 28) - A&M Sues George For $6 Million

A&M Records sued George Harrison for $6 million over non-delivery of a new album after he missed the deadline by two months.

2007 (Sep 28) - John Lennon Northern Lights Festival Held

The John Lennon Northern Lights Festival was held in Durness, Scotland, the most northwesterly and remote village on mainland Britain. Lennon spent his childhood holidays between the ages of nine and 13 in the village and returned with his son Julian, Yoko Ono and her daughter Kyoko in 1969.

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.

2009 (Sep 28) - The 'Lucy' Who Inspired 'Lucy In The Sky' Dies

Lucy Vodden, the childhood pal of John Lennon’s son Julian, passed away at the age of 46 after losing her battle with auto-immune disease lupus. She was the inspiration for The Beatles track ‘Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds’, written mostly by John after Julian showed his father a nursery school drawing he called Lucy – in the sky with diamonds, depicting his classmate.

2010 (Sep 28) - Ringo's Childhood Home Vandalized

Souvenir hunters were being condemned for “wanton vandalism” after sections of masonry were hacked off the house of Ringo Starr’s birthplace. Fans who were campaigning to halt town hall plans to demolish 9 Madryn Street, found that chunks of brickwork had been removed from the house.

September 29

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.

1964 (Sep 29) - Beatles Proficient in Studio

The Beatles record “Every Little Thing,” “I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party,” and “What You’re Doing.”

1967 (Sep 29) - John Hears Shakespeare and Decides to Incorporate It

John Lennon flips on the radio while working on “I Am The Walrus” and hears a BBC broadcast of the Shakespeare play King Lear, which he decides to mix into the song.

1967 (Sep 29) - Work Continues on 'I Am The Walrus'

Working at Abbey Road in London, The Beatles mixed the new John Lennon song ‘I Am The Walrus’, which included the sound of a radio being tuned through numerous stations, coming to rest on a BBC production of William Shakespeare’s “King Lear”. Lennon composed the song by combining three songs he had been working on. When he learned that a teacher at his old primary school was having his students analyse Beatles’ lyrics, he added a verse of nonsense words.

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