This Day in Beatle History

December 26

1970 - George Harrison #1 with 'My Sweet Lord'

George becomes the first former Beatle to have a #1 in the US. He had written the song thinking it would be a good vehicle for Billy Preston.

1979 - 'People of Kampuchea' Benefit Concerts Begin

These concerts were organized by Paul McCartney and Kurt Waldheim, and were designed to raise money for victims in Cambodia. Among the artists appearing were Queen, The Clash, The Pretenders, The Who, Elvis Costello and Wings.

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.

December 27

1960 - The Beatles Appear at Litherland Town Hall Ballroom (Liverpool)

The group was added at the last minute. Banners were pasted on posters saying ‘Direct From Hamburg, The Beatles!’. Most of the audience assumed they were a German group.

1962 - 'Love Me Do' reaches #17 on the British charts

17 was the highest position the single would reach.

1963 - Lennon/McCartney Named 'Outstanding Composers of 1963'

The honor was bestowed by ‘The Times’. Two days later, Sunday Times music critic Richard Buckle proclaimed the two as “the greatest composers since Beethoven”.

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.