This Day in Beatle History

October 14

2009 (Oct 14) - ASCAP Names Paul 'Songwriter of The Year'

Paul McCartney was named Songwriter of The Year at the 29th Annual ASCAP Awards in London, England. The awards presentation honored songwriters and publishers of the most performed works in the US during 2008.

October 15

1960 (Oct 15) - First Time John, Paul, George & Ringo Record Together

The Beatles (minus Pete Best) and two members of Rory Storm’s Hurricanes (Ringo Starr and Lou Walters) recorded a version of George Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’ in a Hamburg recording studio. The track which was cut onto a 78-rpm disc marked the first session that included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo together.

1961 (Oct 15) - Beatles Play Charity Event in Liverpool

The Beatles play a local charity benefit in Liverpool.

1966 (Oct 15) - Paul Attends International Times Opening

Pink Floyd (who were paid £15 for the gig), The Move, Denny Laine, Soft Machine, Yoko Ono and a West Indian steel band all appeared at the launch for the International Times (which became the first and longest running British hippy paper), at London’s Roundhouse. Beatle Paul McCartney attended the event in Arabian dress. The flyers for the evening stated: ‘Bring your own poison, bring flowers & gass (sic), filled balloons’. Admission was 10 shillings (50p) on the door.

1980 (Oct 15) - Auction at Abbey Road Studios

For the first time ever, London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios auctions off thousands of dollars of equipment, including some used on Beatles recordings.

1995 (Oct 15) - Paul & Linda on 'The Simpsons'

Paul and Linda McCartney were the guest voices on Fox-TV’s The Simpsons in an episode called “Lisa the Vegetarian”. Macca’s stipulation for appearing was that Lisa’s decision to become a vegetarian would be a permanent character change, to which producer David Mirkin agreed.

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.