July 6th – On This Day In Beatles History

Monday, July 6th, 2009 at 8:08 am

After an outside performance on a makeshift stage in a field behind the church, The Quarry Men begin setting up their instruments in the church hall for an evening dance; they are scheduled to play alternating sets with the George Edwards Band. A 15-year-old friend of Ivan Vaughan, Paul McCartney, had arrived during the afternoon performance, and he had been impressed with John Lennon’s stage presence. Paul is introduced to John by Ivan as The Quarry Men are setting up for their evening performance. John is a bit drunk. Paul, eager to impress John, picks up a guitar and plays versions of the recent hits “Twenty Flight Rock” (Eddie Cochran) and “Be-Bop-A-Lula” (Gene Vincent). John is indeed impressed, and even more so when Paul writes down the lyrics for him, which John has trouble remembering. Paul then shows John and Eric Griffiths how to tune their guitars, something they’d been paying someone else to do for them. John recognizes Paul’s talent right away wanting him to join The Quarry Men. Some sources state that the songs Paul played this day were “Long Tall Sally” and “Tutti Frutti.” The Quarrymen are recorded by Bob Molyneux using a reel-to-reel tape recorder belonging to his father at the evening dance of the Woolton Garden Fete, St. Peter’s Church, Woolton, Liverpool, England. This tape recorder is on display at the John Lennon Exhibit, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland, Ohio.

1961 – John Lennon’s short story entitled, “Being a Short Diversion On The Dubious Origins Of Beatles” is published in the first issue of Bill Harry’s Liverpool music newspaper “Mersey Beat.” In the piece, written in the style that will later bring Lennon world-wide literary fame, he attributes the naming of The Beatles to a mysterious man on a flaming pie.

1962 – The Beatles perform on board MV ‘Royal Iris’ on the River Mersey. Another “Riverboat Shuffle” put on by the Cavern Club, Liverpool. Once again, they share the bill with Acker Bilk, whose single “Stranger On The Shore” remains in the Top Ten six months after its release. Sometime that evening, Bilk gives each of The Beatles (John, Paul, George, and Pete) a black bowler hat, his trademark.

1963 – The Beatles perform at (Victory) Memorial Hall, Northwich. Before their appearance, The Beatles attended the annual Northwich Carnival, causing a lot of commotion. Paul McCartney personally crowned the new carnival queen.

1964 – The Beatles attend the London premiere of their first feature film, “A Hard Day’s Night.” The movie is an instant success with fans and critics alike. The Beatles’ single “Ain’t She Sweet/Nobody’s Child” (Atco 6308) is released in the U.S. 9 weeks on Billboard chart; highest chart position: No.19.

1969 – John, Yoko, and Kyoko leave Lawson Memorial Hospital in Golspie, Scotland, having recovered sufficiently from wounds received in an auto accident to be released by their doctors. They fly back to London in a specially chartered helicopter.

1978 – Ringo Starr’s single “Heart On My Sleeve/Who Needs a Heart” (Portrait 6-70018) is released in the U.S.

1981 – John Lennon’s single “(Just Like) Starting Over/Woman” (Geffen GGEF-0408) is re-released in the U.S. Both songs previously issued as the A-side of different singles.

1987 – The Beatles single “All You Need Is Love/Baby You’re a Rich Man” (Parlophone RP-5620) is released in the U.K. as a 20th anniversary reissue. Released as a regular vinyl single and also as a picture disc, and also as a cassette single. First Beatles single released in the cassette format. A 12-inch vinyl single was also released this date.