This Day in Beatle History

1939 - Phil Spector Born

1963 - Capitol Releases 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' and 'I Saw Her Standing There'

Capitol was an EMI affiliated company.  Until this date, they had rejected the US rights to all Beatles records.  Five weeks after its release, ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ was number one in the US.  It stayed on top for seven weeks.

1964 - 'I Feel Fine' #1 in the US

The song would be #1 for three weeks. It was the Beatles’ sixth number one song of 1964. They were #1 a total of 18 weeks that year.

1965 - Paul McCartney Injured in Moped Crash

While visiting his father in Cheshire, Paul crashes a moped and suffers a cut to his mouth and a chipped tooth.  Details and pictures of the event were later used to support the ‘Paul is Dead’ rumors.

1966 - John Appears on the BBC's 'Not only..But also'

John makes an appearance as a men’s room attendant in the Peter Cook-Dudley Moore vehicle.

1967 - BBC Broadcasts 'Magical Mystery Tour'

1967 - Paul McCartney & Jane Asher Announce Engagement

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.