This Day in Beatle History

January 16

1981 (Jan 16) - John Lennon's 'Woman' Released in the UK

The second single released from the Double Fantasy album, and it was the first Lennon single issued after his murder on 8 December 1980. The B-side of the single is Ono’s song “Beautiful Boys”.
The single debuted at number 3 in Lennon’s native UK, then moving to number 2 and finally reaching number 1, where it spent two weeks, knocking off the top spot his own re-released “Imagine”. In the US the single peaked at number 2 on Billboard Hot 100 (kept out of the top spot by REO Speedwagon’s hit “Keep On Loving You” and Blondie’s hit “Rapture”) while reaching number 1 on the Cashbox Top 100.
In an interview for Rolling Stone magazine on 5 December 1980, Lennon said that “Woman” was a “grown-up version” of his Beatles song “Girl”.

1988 (Jan 16) - George Harrison #1 in the US with 'Got My Mind Set On You'

24 years after The Beatles first topped the chart, George Harrison went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Got My Mind Set On You’. The song was originally recorded by James Ray in 1962. In the UK, Harrison’s version spent four weeks at No.2.

2005 (Jan 16) - Elvis Tops UK Charts for the 20th Time

On this date, Elvis Presley’s single ‘One Night’ made chart history by becoming the 1,000th UK No.1. Elvis scored more number one UK hits than any other artist with 20 No.1’s, beating The Beatles’ 17 chart toppers.

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.

January 17

1963 (Jan 17) - Cavern Club for Lunch; Majestic Ballroom for Dinner

The Beatles played at The Cavern Club at lunchtime and in the evening played at the Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead. At the Majestic, every ticket had been sold in advance, leaving 500 disappointed fans waiting outside.

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.