First published 1985

Due to the tremendous work load The Beatles endured during 1964, there is a vast amount of recorded material both on film and tape to be looked at.

Below is a selection of TV shows and Concerts the fabs appeared on during the hectic 12 months of 1964, which can be heard on “bootleg” tapes and records presently available. They are in chronological order:

February 9: ‘First’ Ed Sullivan Show CBS TV

Their historic first American live performance in front of an estimated 73 million viewers, captures The Beatles playing five numbers. A good to very good version of the tracks exist on both LP and cassette.

Track Listing:

• All My Loving
• Till There Was You
• She Loves You
• I Saw Her Standing There
• I Want To Hold Your Hand

On the same LP is the February 16 appearance by The Beatles on the same show but this time recorded in the Deauville Hotel in Miami in front of an enthusiastic live audience.

Track Listing:

• She Loves You
• This Boy
• All My Loving
• I Saw Her Standing There
• From Me To You
• I Want To Hold Your Hand

February 11: Washington DC Concert

The Coliseum in Washington staged The Beatles first live US performance before an 8600 capacity audience. A surprisingly good recording can be found, which is amazing considering the circumstances of a revolving drum kit and near hysterical crowd scenes the following can be heard:

Track Listing:

• Roll Over Beethoven
• From Me To You
• I Saw Her Standing There
• This Boy
• All My Loving
• I Wanna Be Your Man
• Please Please Me
• Till There Was You
• She Loves You
• I Want To Hold Your Hand

April 27-28: Around The Beatles [Rediffusion TV]

A fair recording of this one hour TV special exists, including a scene from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night Dream” with Paul as Pyramus, John as Thisbe, George as Moonshine and Ringo as the Lion.

Guest stars include Cilla Black, Long John Baldry and PJ Probe; the above show was presented by Murray the K:

Track Listing:

• Medley: Love Me Do / Please Please Me / From Me To You / She Loves You
• I Want To Hold Your Hand
• Can’t Buy Me Love
• Twist And Shout
• Roll Over Beethoven
• I Wanna Be Your Man
• Long Tall Sally
• Shout

June 15: Melbourne, Australian Concert

Recording during their short Australasian tour which included dates in New Zealand, this show sees the return of Ringo beating the skins after his touch of tonsillitis. An excellent recording is available clearly showing the overwhelming enthusiasm of Aussie teenagers, a fab show!

Track Listing:

• You Can’t Do That
• All My Loving
• She Loves You
• Can’t Buy Me Love
• Twist And Shout
• Long Tall Sally

22 August: Vancouver, Canada. Empire Stadium

The fourth show of the fabs, five wee North American tour catches them the day before their now familiar Hollywood Bowl concert.

An excellent copy of the press conference and show can be found on a double LP ‘Vancouver ’64’. Track listing is similar to the released Hollywood Bowl LP:

Track Listing:

• Twist And Shout
• You Can’t Do That
• All My Loving
• She Loves You
• Things We Said Today
• Roll Over Beethoven
• Can’t Buy Me Love
• If I Fell
• Boys
• A Hard Days Night
• Long Tall Sally

September 2: Convention Hall, Philadelphia

The track listing for this concert is virtually identical as the Vancouver gig mentioned above. Also it is of excellent quality and one of the best around.

Track Listing:

• Twist And Shout
• You Can’t Do That
• All My Loving
• She Loves You
• Things We Said Today
• Roll Over Beethoven
• Can’t Buy Me Love
• If I Fell
• I Want To Hold Your Hand
• Boys
• A Hard Days Night
• Long Tall Sally

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1965 is scanned in next ish, see you then ….

By Craig Smith.