A Day in the Life Blog

For Paul McCartney's father's James' 62nd birthday, his son gave him a picture of a horse. "Very nice," James said. "It's not just the picture, dad. I bought you the bloody horse," said Paul.

Studio E, Lime Grove Studios, London and Television House, London

Release of a new single meant more appearances on Top of the Pops. The Beatles this day taped mimed performances of three songs; the new A and B sides, "A Hard Day's Night" and "Things we said today", and also the title track of their new EP, "Long Tall Sally".

Brian Epstein had agreed that the Beatles would tape their contribution in Manchester on July 8, a few hours ahead of transmission, but then changed his mind. Instead, they were engaged for an afternoon taping session without an audience at Lime Grove Studios in West London. Immediately after, the Beatles were driven across town to Television House, Rediffusion's central London studio, where they taped an interview for transmission a few minutes later in Granada Television's Scene at 6:30 programme, discussing a Hard Day's Night. (A short clip was shown).

Also on this day, probably while he was at Television House, John gave an interview to New Musical Express news editor Chris Hutchins, although not for the paper. Hutchins had also been taken on as a freelance contributor to The Teen Scene, a new BBC radio series broadcast every Thursday night from 9:30 to 10:00 pm on the Light Programme. This particular interview - John discussing A Hard Day's Night for 3 mins and 27 seconds went out on July 9th. The Teen Scene had been on the blocks for some time, a pilot edition, not transmitted, having been compiled on February 27th. This had included an interview that Hutchins did with the Beatles at some point during their February 7-21 February US visit, when he travelled with them covering the trip for the NME.

The Beatles’ first feature film, A Hard Day’s Night, had its première at the London Pavilion.

The première was attended by The Beatles and their wives and girlfriends, and a host of important guests including Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon. Nearby Piccadilly Circus was closed to traffic as 12,000 fans jostled for a glimpse of the group.

I remember Piccadilly being completely filled. We thought we would just show up in our limo, but it couldn’t get through for all the people. It wasn’t frightening – we never seemed to get worried by crowds. It always appeared to be a friendly crowd; there never seemed to be a violent face.

It was a charity event held in support of the Variety Club Heart Fund and the Docklands Settlements, and the most expensive tickets cost 15 guineas (£15.75).

After the screening The Beatles, the royal party and other guests including The Rolling Stones enjoyed a champagne supper party at the Dorchester Hotel, after which some of them adjourned to the Ad Lib Club until the early hours of the morning.

Time off for the Beatles

The Beatles enjoying some time off.

The Beatles taking a rest after the long tour.

The Beatles had arrived at London Airport at 11.10am, following their flight back from Sydney, Australia. In the afternoon John Lennon and Paul McCartney attended a recording session at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, in which Cilla Black recorded their song It’s For You.

The song was produced by George Martin. McCartney played piano, and both he and Lennon suggested ideas for the recording – not all of which were welcomed by the singer.

Paul was at the recording session when I made Anyone Who Had A Heart. He said that he liked the composition and he and John would try to produce something similar. Well they came up with this new number, but for my money it’s nothing like the Anyone composition. That was some session we had when I made the new recording. John and Paul joined me, and George Martin. We made one track and then everyone had a go at suggesting how they thought it should be recorded. And everyone had different ideas. George said it should be one way, Paul and John another and I just added my suggestions while they were thinking of what else they could do with the composition.

The Beatles flew out of Brisbane, changing planes again in Sydney. After refueling stops in Singapore and Frankfurt, their Quantas flight touched down at London Airport on July 2nd.

The Beatles’ 1964 world tour ended on this night, with two shows at the Festival Hall in Brisbane. Each of the concerts was seen by 5,500 fans.

During the day they took two hire cars to the Gold Coast, where they spent time relaxing on a stretch of sand between Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise.

The Beatles returned to Lennons Hotel in Brisbane after their second concert of the night. The following day they began their long return journey back to England.

Festival Hall, Charlotte St. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Four shows over two nights, each before 5500 people, closed the Beatles hectic tour of the Antipodes.