1963, January 22

(above) Beatles walking outside BBC Paris Studio

Brian Epstein had done a terrific job of securing The Beatles timely appearances, and this was no exception. The day after signing a deal with Vee-Jay Records, giving them access to America (Capitol Records had at this time politely declined), The Beatles were back on the radio for their first appearance on BBC Light’s Saturday Club, a rock and pop venue with tart host Brian Matthew and an audience of millions. The combination of their several TV and radio spots this January would push “Please Please Me” to #1, and Matthew was not without some foresight, his introduction of the band saying as much. The Beatles performed on January 22, between 4-5pm, at the Playhouse Theatre, London, and played five songs. The show was aired on January 26 from 10am-noon.

On the same day, the lads moved over to London's BBC Paris Studio where, from 7-8pm, they performed three songs for The Talent Spot. This show was broadcast on January 29, from 5-5:29pm ("Please Please Me" and "Some Other Guy" are unavailable).

(ref: Winn, Way Beyond Compare)

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TRACKS:

“SOME OTHER GUY” (Leiber/ Stoller/ Barrett) (Saturday Club)

“LOVE ME DO” (Saturday Club)

“PLEASE PLEASE ME” - fragments (Saturday Club)

“KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY BABY” (Goffin-King) (Saturday Club)

“BEAUTIFUL DREAMER” (Foster) (Saturday Club)

“ASK ME WHY” (Talent Spot)

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AUDIO SOURCE: Purple Chick's The Complete BBC Sessions - Upgraded for 2004, Disc 1 provides the cleanest, most complete, and speed-checked experience. You can also hear the tracks: here.

Apple’s release of “Keep Your Hands Off My Baby” (Live at the BBC) includes a manufactured instrumental intro where none existed (fake).

A comprehensive history of The Beatles at the Beeb bootleg releases is: here.

VIDEO: None.

ACETATE: A look at a possible acetate from this date is: here.

TOURISM: The BBC Paris Studio, where many famous BBC radio shows were recorded, was in Waterloo Place at the bottom of Lower Regent Street. It closed in 1995.

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Tom Wise
gengar843@msn.com

Although I use quotes from sources, or cited fact, much of the material on this and other pages of my blog is original, from my own pen. This is not cut-and-paste, it is a work of art. Copyright © 2010 Tom Wise.

1963, January 16

(above) photo taken January 16, at Granada TV, earlier in the day

When the Fab Four returned from Germany on January 1, 1963, it was the end of an era. Hamburg had been a place where the Beatles could let it all hang out, feeding on the excess and insanity (the long sets, the wacky stage antics, the uppers, the drink, the women) without it becoming a world-shaking event. Through the years, all of the Beatles have agreed with this assessment. George put it wistfully, “I’d have to say with hindsight that Hamburg bordered on the best of the Beatles times.”

Back in England, the boys returned to the road, stuffing their schedule with as many gigs as possible. Detrimentally, it was one of the coldest winters on record in the area, and several concerts were canceled. However , following the January 11 release of “Please Please Me”/ “Ask Me Why,” our Beatles were not to be deterred from recording key appearances on ABC’s Thank Your Lucky Stars (taped January 13, 1963; aired January 19), and on BBC Radio’s Here We Go, this installment’s focus.

On January 16, between 8:45-9:30pm, The Beatles performed in front of a zealous audience (again, at the Playhouse Theatre, Manchester), playing four songs (“Three Cool Cats” was cut from the show, and is currently undiscovered). This show was broadcast on January 25 at 5pm.

(refs: Winn, Way Beyond Compare; Lewisohn, Chronicles)

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TRACKS:

“PLEASE PLEASE ME”

“ASK ME WHY”

“CHAINS” (Goffin/King) – fragment

_______________________________________________________________________

AUDIO SOURCE: Purple Chick's The Complete BBC Sessions - Upgraded for 2004, Disc 1 provides the cleanest, most complete, and speed-checked experience. You can also listen to the tracks: here.

You can find a comprehensive history of The Beatles at the Beeb bootleg releases: here.

VIDEO: None.

_______________________________________________________________________

Tom Wise
gengar843@msn.com

Although I use quotes from sources, or cited fact, much of the material on this and other pages of my blog is original, from my own pen. This is not cut-and-paste, it is a work of art. Copyright © 2010 Tom Wise.