004 - January 4

January 4

1955
American session musician, guitarist, bassist, singer–songwriter and musical director, Brian Ray, best known for his work as a rhythm guitarist and bassist with Paul McCartney, is born.

1962
"Mersey Beat" front page: "Beatles Top Poll!". Issue almost completely dedicated to the Beatles.

1964

With The Beatles number 1, 5th week (UK Record Retailer).


"I Want To Hold Your Hand" number 1, 2nd week (Australia Kent Music Report).

"She Loves You" number 1, 3rd week (Hitkrant Europarade).

"Beatles Christmas Show", at the Astoria Cinema, Finsbury Park, London.

Indifferent reaction of US critics after "The Jack Paar Show" transmision of a fragment of a Beatles concert.

1965
"I Feel Fine" number 1, 3rd week (Irish Singles Chart).

"Another Beatles Christmas Show" at the Hammersmith Odeon, London (two performances).

1966
Brian flies to New York to negotiate the next tour.

1967
Studio 2. 7:00pm-2:45am. Recording: "Penny Lane" (overdub onto take 7). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Phil McDonald.

The club Speakeasy opens at 48 Margaret Street, London.

1969

The Beatles number 1, 5th week (UK Record Retailer.)
The Beatles number 1, 2nd week (US Billboard).
The Beatles number 1, 3rd week (Australia Kent Music Report).

"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" covered by Marmalade number 1 (UK Record Retailer).
"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" covered by Marmalade number 5 (Dutch Top 40).

"Lily The Pink" by The Scaffold number 1, 3rd and last week (Irish Singles Chart).
"Lily The Pink" by The Scaffold number 4 (Dutch Top 40).

UK music weekly "Disc and Music Echo" reported that the Beatles were to release five new albums. One would be their first ever live album plus four separate LPs, each one the choice of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr.

1970
Studio 2. 2:30pm-4:00am. Recording: "Let It Be" (overdub onto take 27, tape reduction edit of take 27 into takes 28-30 with simultaneous overdub, overdub onto take 30). Stereo mixing: "Let It Be" (remixes 1, 2, from take 30). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Phil McDonald; 2nd Engineer: Richard Langham.

Recording of brasses and second guitar solo for "Let It Be" (included on the LP version).

Last recording session of Paul, George and George Martin.

Last recording session of the Beatles as a band.

At the Kolnischer Kunstverein in Cologne, West Germany, the exhibition of Yoko's work "Happening And Fluxus" is shown.

1973
"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" number 1 (Irish Singles Chart).

1975
"Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" number 1 for Elton John (US Billboard).

1977
In Los Angeles, an exhibition of Linda's photographs is on display at the Jan Baum and Iris Silverman Gallery.

1978
Start of sessions for London Town at Abbey Road Studios (second period).

1981
The ITV network airs the presentation of highlights from the Kampuchea concerts, entitled "Rock For Kampuchea".

1983
BBC1 shows a documentary called "Beatlemania", which takes a look at the past and present Beatles fans.

In Los Angeles, the Linda exhibition "Photographs" is displayed at the Molly Barnes Gallery.

1991
Due to the Gulf War, Yoko, Sean and Lenny Kravitz update John's song "Give Peace A Chance" with twenty other recording artists.

1997
At the Museum of Modern Art in Oxford, Yoko's art exhibition "Have You Seen The Horizon Lately" is on display.

1998
The ITV network broadcasts the documentary "The Story Of Abbey Road", a program that looked into the conception and history of the now-famous recording studio. Among the interviews for this show are with Paul, George Martin and Pink Floyd, it also featured former Beatle Pete Best, returning to the studio for the first time in 34 years.

In Washington, D.C., an exhibition of Beatles photographs taken by Harry Benson is on display at the Govinda Gallery.

1999
In Tampa, Florida, the exhibition of Linda's pictures entitled "Sixties" is on display at the Tampa Museum of Art.