Fab Four Blog

US release of the John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band single Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) / Who Has Seen the Wind (Apple). The flip side is a Yoko Ono song. 13 weeks on Billboard chart; highest position #3.

The Plastic Ono Band appears on "Top of the Pops," in a pre-taped performance of Instant Karma!

-John Lennon holds a birthday party for Yoko Ono at the Apple Records offices in London. Yoko is 37.

Also, Ringo Starr in the recording studio (Studio Two, EMI Studios, London). Recording (unreleased) takes of It Don't Come Easy. George Martin is producer and the musicians playing with Ringo (drums, vocal) are George Harrison (acoustic guitar), Klaus Voorman (bass), and Stephen Stills (piano).

Today, the backing track and lead vocals for Ringo Starr’s Sentimental Journey song I’m A Fool To Care had been recorded on February 11, 1970. During this follow-up session a 15-piece string orchestra was added to that song, and to Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing.

The session began with a reduction mix of I’m A Fool To Care, to free up space on the multitrack tape. Recording started at 10am, with Francis Shaw conducted the string players. The session ended at 1pm.

I’m A Fool To Care was completed on this day, but Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing was finished two days later with the addition of more instruments and vocals.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin editing the raw footage of their Montreal Bed-In For Peace at a cutting room in London.

Back on February 15, 1963

The Beatles at the Ritz Ballroom, King's Heath, Birmingham. This engagement which was postponed from January 11. The situation was ideal for the Ritz promoters who presented a group now featuring in the top 3 of the singles chart at the same cost as when they were an unknown act.February 15, 1963.

Back on February 14, 1966

George carrying Pattie piggy-back through the surf at Sandy Lane Beach in Barbados posing for the press during their honeymoon.

Back in 1963.....

The Beatles at the Majestic Ballroom, Hull

Today, the backing track for the song Let The Rest Of The World Go By, for Ringo’s debut album Sentimental Journey, was recorded.

Let The Rest Of The World Go By was written in 1919, and was notably recorded by Dick Haymes for the 1944 film When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.

Starr’s version was arranged by Les Reed, who from 7-9pm conducted a 31-piece orchestra in Studio Two at Abbey Road. Eleven takes were recorded, six in B flat and a further five in C.

It was decided that B flat was better suited to Starr’s vocal range, and between 9pm and 1am he overdubbed lead vocals onto take six. A stereo mix was made from 1-1.30am, but new vocals were recorded on 18 February.

A lot happened on this date in 1970.

John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band tape a performance of Instant Karma! for the BBC-TV program "Top of the Pops," to be broadcast the following evening. The Plastic Ono Band is comprised of John (electric piano), Klaus Voorman (bass), Alan White (drums), Mal Evans (occasional tambourine), and Yoko Ono (blind-folded knitting and card-holding). This video would be given general release on the 1992 "The John Lennon Video Collection." John sings a new vocal on top of a single-track vocal version of the EMI recording from January 27. Two different versions of Plastic Ono Band are taped, the first being broadcast on February 12 and the second being shown on February 19. The video is later included in the DVD, "Lennon Legend," released on November 18, 2003.

1970--John Lennon pays fines, totaling £1,344 ($1867), that have been imposed on 96 protesters who'd been arrested while protesting a rugby game in which a team from the apartheid state of South Africa was participating.

1970--US release of the soundtrack LP, The Magic Christian, a movie starring Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers. The song Come and Get It by Badfinger was written by Paul McCartney, who also produced the track. The album contains some of Ringo's movie dialogue. (Released in the UK on April 10).

Today, three mono mixes of the Plastic Ono Band’s third single, Instant Karma!, were made. John Lennon had written the song on the morning of January 27, 1970, on an upright piano at Tittenhurst Park, at his mansion in Ascot, Berkshire. It was recorded and mixed later that day, ready for its release as a single the following month.

The mixes made today were for the Plastic Ono Band’s appearance on the BBC television show Top Of The Pops the following day. Engineer Geoff Emerick took out one of Lennon’s two lead vocal tracks during the verses, allowing him to sing live in its place during the show.

On this date, Ringo Starr had a session in the studio working on two songs for his debut solo album Sentimental Journey.

He recorded a mono demo of Whispering Grass, a 1940 hit for The Ink Spots. Several takes were recorded, and an edit of takes three and five was taken away by George Martin and given to arranger Ron Goodwin.

Ringo Starr added lead vocals to Elmer Bernstein’s new arrangement of the 1945 song Have I Told You Lately That I Love You.

Starr’s vocals were added simultaneously with a tape reduction mix; it took 18 attempts before everyone was happy with the results. Between 6pm and 7pm the completed recording was mixed into stereo.

ON THIS DAY IN 1964

John Lennon and Yoko Ono appear on British TV for the first time since cutting off their long hair. They tape an appearance on this date, to be broadcast the following day, on London Weekend TV's "The Simon Dee Show." Michael X, the British Black Power leader who was the beneficiary of the auctioning of John and Yoko's hair, appears with them.

And....Joe Cocker's version of The Beatles' classic, She Came In Through The Bathroom Window, peaks at #30 on the pop chart.

Today John and Yoko Ono gave an interview to David Wigg for the BBC radio show at Apple Headquarters in Savile Row, London.

Even though The Beatles had split up, and Lennon had no intention to work with them again, he was still reluctant to draw a line under the group in public. Although he admitted there were no plans to work together until the release of the Let It Be album and film, he said he “wouldn’t destroy it [the group] out of hand”, and that the current hiatus could be “a rebirth or a death”.

He did, however, reveal plans to record an album with Ono and Phil Spector, and that Paul McCartney was planning his own solo release (Lennon was unaware that McCartney had been working on the McCartney album since late 1969.)

Challenged by Wigg on The Beatles’ lack of activity, Lennon pointed out that a similar lull had taken place before the release of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. He explained further that the discussions over appointing a manager to run Apple had caused a great deal of friction, as had the failure to retain control over Northern Songs.

Back on this date - February 5, 1963

The Beatles at the Shapiro package tour at Gaumont Cinema, Hallgate, Doncaster, Yorkshire

In a publicity stunt on a London rooftop, the newly-shorn John Lennon and Yoko Ono give Michael X a bag of their cut hair in return for a pair of Muhammad Ali's boxing trunks. The British press ignore the latest Lennon escapades, a sign that they have grown weary of the couple’s constant quest for media attention. One thing does not go ignored however: it was at this event that it became evident from John’s ragged physical appearance that he was on heroin.

Cover of Rolling Stone

Today Ringo recorded the eighth session for his debut studio album, Sentimental Journey.

On this date in 1963....The Beatles headed an eight hour eight band "Rhythm and Blues Marathon" at the Cavern Club (where else?) in Liverpool.

Today Ringo and Maureen returned to London from New York. Ringo would be back in the recording studio, to begin a session for his debut solo album Sentimental Journey.

Back on February 1, 1963

Ringo Starr and his wife Maureen Starkey returned to Los Angeles after their meeting with Elvis Presley in Las Vegas. They had arrived in LA on 26 January to attend the US premiere of The Magic Christian, which starred Ringo.

This was a short stop in the city. The following day they flew to New York, returning to England the day after.

Ringo and his wife Maureen flew to Las Vegas to watch Elvis Presley perform at the International Hotel. This was Presley’s second run of shows in Las Vegas. The opening night of the month-long residency at the International was on January 26th.

The main purpose of the Starkeys’ trip was to attend the premiere of Starr’s film The Magic Christian, which took place at the Four Star Theater on January 29gh.

Ringo and Maureen were accompanied at the show by Ken Mansfield, who had formerly been the US manager of Apple Records. After the show, Presley requested Starr’s presence in his penthouse suite.

On this day....The Magic Christian, starring Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers, had its US première in Los Angeles.

Ringo and his wife Maureen attended the event, which took place at the Four Star Theater at 5112 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles. Afterwards they went to a party held at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Today was the end of John's lithographies exhibition at the London Arts Gallery.  

Ringo made a taped appearance on the Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In television show to promote his film The Magic Christian. Dan Rowan and Dick Martin were the hosts.

The show was filmed at NBC Television Studio in Burbank, Los Angeles. Starr made a number of cameo appearances alongside other guest stars and the regular cast.

Ringo Starr and his wife Maureen flew to Los Angeles from London’s Heathrow Airport on this date to attend the premiere of Starr’s film The Magic Christian.

During the US trip they also met Elvis Presley and saw him perform in Las Vegas, and travelled to New York.

January 25, 1966

People in US were listening to We Can Work It Out by The Beatles. In UK Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out by The Beatles was in the top 5 hits.

Beatles fans around the world hear the news that John and Yoko have cut off their long hair to mark the start of "Year One for Peace."

January 23, 1966

In UK Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out by The Beatles was in the top 5 hits

January 22, 1963