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   THE BEATLES DIARY VOLUME 2: AFTER THE BREAK-UP 1970-2001

1987


"John was annoyed 'cos I didn't say that he'd written one line of 'Taxman'.
But I also didn't say how I wrote two lines of 'Come Together' or three
lines of 'Eleanor Rigby'."

- George


January

In the UK, Woman's Own magazine runs a poll to find out who are the most popular Britons abroad. Paul comes in third behind Princess Diana and the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.


Saturday January 3

An exclusive interview with Paul, carried out at his MPL offices in Soho Square, London, is transmitted on the 24-hour music station Music Box, during the weekly pop-profile series Private Eyes.


Monday January 5 (until Tuesday March 31)

At his Friar Park studios in Henley-on-Thames, George begins recording the tracks that will eventually form the basis of his album Cloud Nine. These include: 'That's What It Takes', 'This Is Love', 'When We Was Fab', 'Got My Mind Set On You', 'Fish On The Sand', 'Just For Today', 'Devil's Radio', 'Someplace Else', 'Wreck Of The Hesperus', 'Breath Away From Heaven' and the title track, 'Cloud 9'. The 11-week sessions also produce the unreleased track 'Vatican P2 Blues'.


Tuesday January 6 & Wednesday January 7

A two-part interview with Paul is transmitted on Manchester's Piccadilly Radio station.


Friday January 9

Following a delay from last October, the film Twice In A Lifetime, featuring theme music from Paul, opens in London.


Saturday January 17

The Music Box programme Off The Wall reveals that a total of 70 "pornographic" pictures of Paul and Linda have been stolen from the McCartneys.


Wednesday January 28

In America, The Beatles' 1965 film Help! is released on home video cassette and laser disc. (The home video is released in the UK on March 26, 1990.)


February

This month, a UK CD release of John and Yoko's Some Time In New York City is quickly withdrawn due to sub-standard audio quality. The album is subsequently re-mastered and re-issued on August 10 this year.


Monday February 2

Paul holds a recording session at Audio International Studios in London.


Wednesday February 4 & Thursday February 5

At Paul's home studios in West Sussex, he plays host to Duane Eddy, who today records a cover version of Paul's 'Rockestra Theme' for inclusion on his album Duane Eddy. During the two-day sessions, Paul participates by producing the track and providing bass and backing vocals.

In Memphis, Tennessee, at the 3 Alarm Studios of Chips Moman, Ringo begins recording songs for an album with Moman serving as producer. These sessions, which include tracks such as 'Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Dey', 'Some Kind Of Wonderful', 'Beat Patrol', 'Ain't That A Shame', 'Whiskey & Cola', 'I Can Help', do not go satisfactorily, lasting less than a week, until Tuesday February 10. A simultaneous record of the sessions is captured on videotape. (Note: In the middle of 1989 Ringo sues Moman to halt a planned release of the album. Ringo claims Moman is attempting to capitalise on Ringo's current All-Starr Band concert tour, which was then underway. Ringo also claims that the album was done under the influence of alcohol, which he had, by 1989, given up, after undergoing treatment. In his testimony on November 15, 1989, Ringo noted that he objected mostly to the timing of the release of the album, provisionally scheduled for August, 1989, and claimed that he wanted more time to overdub his own drum tracks. Ringo had not played drums during the sessions and had required help from Moman's wife, Toni, to complete his vocals.) Ringo resumes these sessions on Saturday April 25.


Tuesday February 10 & Wednesday February 11

Eddy continues with his album Duane Eddy by recording the tracks 'The Trembler' and 'Theme For Something Really Important', this time at George's home studio in Henley, with George playing slide guitar on both tracks. The album is released in the UK on June 19.


Monday February 16

George and Olivia leave Heathrow Airport, en route to Los Angeles, California.


Thursday February 19

In America, George is to be found alongside Bob Dylan, John Fogerty and Jesse Ed Davis when they join the singer Taj Mahal on stage during his performance at the Palomino Club in North Hollywood. The two-hour performance is captured on low-quality videotape, connected to the in-house video system. Amongst the tracks George performs are 'Matchbox' (with Mahal), 'Honey Don't', 'Blue Suede Shoes' (with Fogerty), 'Watching The River Flow', 'Peggy Sue' (with Dylan) and 'Dizzy Miss Lizzy'.


Wednesday February 25

The build-up to the release of The Beatles' albums on compact disc reaches fever pitch when a feature on their issue appears on both ITN's News At 5:45 and News At Ten.


Thursday February 26

With great anticipation, The Beatles' first four (UK) albums are, at last, officially released simultaneously around the world on compact disc. The albums, Please Please Me, With The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night and Beatles For Sale, are, for technical reasons, all in mono, which naturally results in outrage among Beatles fans and audiophile experts alike. When EMI is asked why they appear in mono, they insist that: "We had indeed prepared stereo CD releases of these albums but when George Martin was called in to review them, he found their sound quality so bad that he had no alternative but to remix all four in mono and thus reach the scheduled release date." The mono/stereo argument still rages on! To coincide with the issues, the giant HMV stores release, Apple approved, limited edition box sets, which house the CDs. This practice will continue throughout the "Beatles On CD" campaign.


Friday February 27

As an advertisement to the opening of Linda's photograph exhibition in Bath tomorrow, flowers arranged to spell Linda's name on the grass verges on the banks of the M4 just outside Bath are quickly removed because they have distracted motorists and caused several accidents.

To celebrate the issue of the first four Beatles albums on CD, Channel 4's rock show The Tube screens, according to them, some "previously unseen Beatles footage". Fans are naturally disappointed to see excerpts from the well played November 1965 Intertel Studio clips for 'Day Tripper' and 'I Feel Fine'.


Saturday February 28 (until Monday April 20)

As scheduled, an exhibition of Linda's photographs open at the prestigious Octagon Gallery in Bath, the principal gallery of the Royal Photographic Society.


March

At his home studios in Peasmarsh, Sussex, Paul records 'Love Comes Tumbling Down', co-produced by Paul and Phil Ramone and unreleased until December 1997 as part of the 'Beautiful Night' CD singles.

Work on In My Life (later to become John Lennon: Imagine) officially begins when Yoko gives film producer David Wolper unlimited access to her private film and video tape archives. He sets out to make "the most definitive motion picture about the professional and private life of John Lennon ever made".


Wednesday March 4

While the world is hurriedly buying and judging the issue of The Beatles' first four albums on compact disc, Paul and Linda are to be found on location in Moor Park, in Hertfordshire, shooting a small scene for inclusion in the Comic Strip film production of Eat The Rich.


Saturday March 7

The timeless popularity of The Beatles' music is underlined today when their four Parlophone albums, issued on CD just over a week ago, re-enter the UK album charts. Please Please Me reaches number 32, With The Beatles number 40, A Hard Day's Night number 30 and Beatles For Sale makes number 45.


Monday March 9

In New York, John is posthumously inducted into the U.S. Songwriters Hall Of Fame. Yoko is on hand to collect the award.


Friday March 27

In America, the footwear manufacturers Nike begins running commercials featuring The Beatles' 1968 recording of 'Revolution'. This angers Beatles fans around the world, even though Yoko had given her blessing to the idea.


Saturday April 4

At a New York ceremony, Yoko presents to long-time rock promoter Bill Graham, the first John Lennon New Age Award.


Tuesday April 7

Paul accompanies Linda to the all-women's luncheon at the National Rubella Council in London. Also in attendance this afternoon is the Princess Of Wales.


Wednesday April 8

A portion of The Beatles' $80 million lawsuit against EMI is dismissed. (A further ruling occurs on May 17, 1988 when the decision is reversed.)


Monday April 13

In the UK, John's compilation album Menlove Ave. is released on CD.


Saturday April 18

At BBC Broadcasting House, George Martin is interviewed by Ian Grant for the BBC Radio 2 Programme Sounds Of The Sixties. The feature also includes another public airing of The Beatles' 1962 unreleased recording of 'How Do You Do It?'


Friday April 24

The UK release takes place of the Prince's Trust Tenth Anniversary Birthday Party album, which includes a free bonus McCartney single. (This special freebie is not included with the US version of the album, which is released on May 11.)

Meanwhile, at the Sadler's Wells Theatre in London, a ballet set to the music of the 1970 John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band album opens and features the choreography of Christopher Bruce.


Saturday April 25 (until Thursday April 30)

Ringo resumes his recording sessions with Chips Moman in Memphis, Tennessee. The sessions, on which Ringo does not play drums, again do not go according to plan, even though Bob Dylan attends the sessions on April 29. The tapes from both this and the February sessions, which feature a total of 16 tracks, remain unreleased.


Monday April 27

Paul's McCartney and Ram albums are released in the UK on CD.


Thursday April 30

The second phase in the worldwide CD releases of the Beatles' original (UK) albums take place when stereo versions of Help!, Revolver and Rubber Soul all appear.


May

In America, Goodtimes home video, release the unofficial documentary Fun With The Fab Four containing a variety of interesting newsreel footage, most notably the Shakespeare sketch from Around The Beatles in 1964. Due to fears of a reprisal from Apple, no Beatles music is featured on the soundtrack.


Friday May 1

In London, Paul appoints Richard Ogden as his new manager.


Thursday May 7 (and Friday May 8)

In America, Entertaining Tonight run a two-part feature on the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band over successive nights.


Saturday May 9

As expected, the second batch of Beatles albums on CD enter the UK album charts. Help! reaches number 61, Rubber Soul number 60 and Revolver number 55.


Monday May 18

In the UK, CD releases of George's All Things Must Pass and The Best Of George Harrison take place.


Tuesday May 26

Simultaneously in both the US and UK, John's Shaved Fish album is released on CD. While in the UK, CD releases take place of Ringo's Blast From Your Past, John's Rock 'N' Roll and Imagine, plus Paul's Wings Over America.


Saturday May 30

Geoff Baker reports in the UK papers: "Fab Three are back with a secret record". The report goes on: "Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr have secretly recorded an album - 25 years after their first hit. The shock news was revealed to Radio 1, according to DJ Mike Smith, by a 'very large rock star'. Last night Mike was refusing to reveal his source but a BBC spokesman has this to offer: 'I have no reason to doubt this', adding, 'The report is not a hoax'. Mike Smith says: 'The Beatles were re-united by George at his home recording studios at Henley-on-Thames. There's been a hell of a buzz in the recording industry about this, and now it's been confirmed by a very large rock star. I understand the album is at the final mixing stage.' "


Monday June 1

To coincide with what is noted as its original 1967 release date, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is officially released around the world on compact disc by EMI. (Sales of the disc are high, with 75,000 being sold before it had even reached the shops, prompting it to reach number 3 in the UK charts.) The "It was twenty years ago today" slogan is brandished around in the media more than once during this spectacular release. The fact that the album was actually rush-released by EMI on May 24 back in 1967 is conveniently overlooked! In London at Abbey Road's Number Two studio, Paul and Linda are special guests at a huge private EMI party, where he is seen cutting a Sgt. Pepper's cake especially made by Linda. Yoko, George and Ringo had all received invitations to the bash. John's widow declined to come, George was unable to attend and Ringo was reported to be out of the country on business. (Later in the day, he is seen at his Startling Music offices in Knightsbridge.) When asked about the album by a BBC reporter, Paul remarks: "I like it. I really like it as an album. I got it out a few weeks ago and listened to it and it really sounded good to me. It did sound fresh." When pushed for a favourite track on Sgt. Pepper's, Paul replies: "If I had to pick one track, I guess I'd pick 'A Day In The Life'..."

The party, also attended by stars such as Roy Orbison, features on television news bulletins throughout the world. In the UK, there are Sgt. Pepper themed reports on TV AM, which include an interview with Derek Taylor, Newsround (BBC1), the Six O'clock News (BBC1), News At 5:45 and News At Ten (ITN), and London Plus (Thames ITV). A further report on the get-together is transmitted on TV AM the following morning. Granada TV in the UK join in the celebrations by broadcasting across the ITV network tonight (between 8:01 and 9:58pm), a two-hour documentary titled It Was Twenty Years Ago Today. This chronicles the Sixties in general, and includes a great deal of Beatles-related footage and new filmed interviews with George and Paul. In America, PBS (Public Broadcasting Station) screens the show way past the twentieth anniversary on November 11. Also today, June 1, The Beatles' producer George Martin makes a live appearance to talk about Sgt. Pepper on the BBC1 early evening talk show Wogan, broadcast live from the BBC Television Theatre in Shepherd's Bush, London. To coincide with the album's release, ten-second Sgt. Pepper's television commercials begin appearing on ITV and Channel 4 this week.

In America, Sgt. Pepper is featured on the NBC beakfast show Today.


Tuesday June 2 (until Tuesday June 30)

At his home studios in Rye, Sussex, Paul holds more Phil Ramone produced sessions. During this four-week period of recording they produce 'Once Upon A Long Ago' (which is released in the UK only), 'Back On My Feet', co-written with Elvis Costello, 'I Wanna Cry', and a new arrangement for The Beatles' 1962 recordings of 'Love Me Do'/'P.S. I Love You', re-titled 'P.S. Love Me Do'. (The latter will eventually appear in Japan during March 1990 as part of a special double CD release of Flowers In The Dirt.) In addition, work continues on the tracks 'Beautiful Night' and 'Love Come Tumbling Down'. Further finished recordings during this month-long session produce an album's worth of material that remains unreleased. Also during this period of recording, Paul records a special version of The Beatles' track 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', in celebration of the UK disc jockey Alan Freeman's 60th birthday. The performance is transmitted on July 6 by Capitol Radio in London.

In America, Sgt. Pepper is featured on the ABC TV breakfast show Good Morning America.


Friday June 5 & Saturday June 6

At the Wembley Arena in London, one year after Paul graced the show, George and Ringo make an appearance, on both of these dates, at the Prince's Trust Rock Gala Concerts alongside Elton John, Bryan Adams, Dave Edmunds and Alison Moyet. George sings 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' and 'Here Comes The Sun', while Ringo appears delivering the ever-popular 'With A Little Help From My Friends'. During the opening night of June 5, George and Ringo appear with Ben. E. King to perform 'Stand By Me'. Their performances are released on The Prince's Trust Concert 1987 album, released only in the UK and highlights from both shows are edited into a TV special aired in the UK, across the ITV network on June 20. The show also forms a radio special, which is transmitted on January 1, 1988, on BBC Radio One. On June 14, 1988, in the UK, a home video of the performances is released.


Sunday June 7

The Music Box music channel broadcasts (at 12:30pm and repeated later in the day) a special 48-minute celebration programme on The Beatles and their Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.


Wednesday July 1

Paul returns to the Abbey Road studios in London to record overdub tracks for three songs, one of which is 'Once Upon A Long Ago', where again he works with George Martin.


Monday July 20

The UK CD release takes place today of John's Walls And Bridges album.


Monday July 20 & Tuesday July 21

During a two-day session of pure jamming at a large studio by the Thames in London, Paul records eighteen rock 'n' roll oldies, most of which are released in Russia in 1988 on the album CHOBA B CCCP (Back In The USSR, or alternatively known as Again In The USSR). The musicians joining him on the sessions include Mick Green (guitar), Chris Witten (drums) and Mick Gallagher (piano). The recordings include, on day one: 'Lucille', 'Twenty Flight Rock', 'That's All Right (Mama)', 'Bring It On Home', 'Summertime', 'Just Because', 'I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday', 'Midnight Special', 'Kansas City', 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy' and 'I'm In Love Again'. The second day of sessions produce 'Crackin' Up', 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore', 'Ain't That A Shame' and 'I Saw Her Standing There' which remains unreleased. Some of the tracks also appear as bonus tracks on various Paul singles prior to the entire album being issued on CD, with one additional track 'I'm In Love Again', on September 30, 1991, in the UK and on October 29, 1991, in America. One further track from these sessions, 'It's Now Or Never', had appeared on the charity album The Last Temptation Of Elvis, which was released in the UK on March 24, 1990. This compilation was initially available only via mail order through the UK music paper the New Musical Express, but import copies soon started appearing in America shortly after.


Friday July 31

George attends a hearing at Brentford Magistrates' Court on speeding charges.


August

Paul spends most of the month between his Sussex home studios and at George Martin's AIR Studios in London, completing the mixing and editing of yet another version of his unreleased Kold Kuts album. He spends most of the time working with the producer Chris Thomas and engineer Bill Price. While at the end of the month, Paul's new line-up of musicians travel to his Scottish farmhouse for extensive rehearsals. Rumours in the music industry suggest that the former guitarist with The Smiths, Johnny Marr, will be amongst those present.

A planned month-long booking for Ringo at the Mayfair Recording Studios in London is scrapped shortly before the sessions were due to begin. The recordings, intended to concentrate of his new album, were booked by Elton John's manager John Reid and were scheduled to feature production by Elton himself.


Monday August 3

The UK CD release takes place of John's 1973 album Mind Games.


Friday August 7

The Beatle City exhibition opens at the West End marketplace in Dallas, Texas, where it is scheduled to run until January 3, 1988. (It had arrived in the country from Liverpool in June.) After its stint in the States, Beatle City will be packed up and shipped out to Japan.


Monday August 10

The UK CD re-release of John's Some Time In New York City takes place. Originally scheduled for February, it was withdrawn due to the poor sound quality.


Friday August 14

The Prince's Trust Concert 1987, featuring George and Ringo in live performances from June 5 and 6, is officially released.


Friday August 21

In New York, Paul records the song 'Beautiful Night'.


Monday August 24

Phase four of the release of The Beatles' albums on CD continues today with the worldwide issue of both The Beatles (aka The White Album from 1968) and Yellow Submarine.


Tuesday August 25

In America, reports on Beatles items on offer at Sotheby's auctions and the use of 'Revolution' in the Nike television commercial are featured in the programmes CNN Showbiz Today and CBS TV's Entertainment Tonight.


Wednesday August 26

In California, Ringo and Barbara are pictured having a late dinner at Le Dome Restaurant in West Hollywood.


Friday August 28

To coincide with the release of the album on CD, Yellow Submarine, the film, is officially released on United Artists home video in the UK Fans are disappointed to discover that an American print of the film has been used for the release and therefore omits the track 'Hey Bulldog' from the tape. (The American release, naturally featuring an American version of the film, occurs on October 20.)


Monday August 31

The spoof TV documentary Bruce Willis - The Return Of Bruno, which briefly features Ringo, is transmitted this evening on BBC2 in the UK


September

In America at the end of the month, as promotions for his upcoming album Cloud Nine, interviews with George appear in the magazines Newsweek, Guitar Player and Musician.


Saturday September 5

The CD issues of The Beatles White Album and Yellow Submarine enter the UK charts, reaching numbers 18 and 60 respectively.


Monday September 7

This evening, Paul and Linda drop into the annual EMI Records sales conference at the Metropole Hotel in Brighton. Paul reveals the line-up of tracks to be featured on his upcoming greatest hits compilation, which is entitled All The Best. Amongst them is the unreleased recording 'Waterspout'.


Wednesday September 9

At the Dolphin Brasserie, in Pimlico, London, during the annual MPL promoted Buddy Holly Week, an impromptu jam session takes place featuring Paul performing with Alvin Stardust, Mick Green (former member of Johnny Kidd and The Pirates) and the DJ Tony Prince. They perform 'What'd I Say', 'Mean Woman Blues' and 'Twenty Flight Rock'. Guests in the audience include Twiggy, Jonathan Ross, Adam Faith, Faye Dunnaway, Anne Diamond, Mike Rutherford of Genesis, Joan Collins and her husband "Bungalow" Bill Wiggins.


Sunday September 13

In America, the HBO (Home Box Office) Network transmits the 1987 Prince's Trust Concerts starring George and Ringo. This 60-minute version features extra backstage interviews with the former Beatles not included in the ITV version transmitted on June 20. (Further HBO screenings take place on September 16,19, 21 and 25, with simultaneous FM-radio broadcasts in stereo.)


Monday September 21

The worldwide release of The Beatles' albums on CD continues today, with the release of the 1967 American compilation album Magical Mystery Tour. The store HMV again issues a limited edition (12,500 copies) box set for the album.


Friday September 25

Ringo and Barbara leave England and head off en route to Atlanta, Georgia in a specially chartered plane for the grand opening of his new restaurant, the London Brasserie. Accompanying them on their trip are various British radio personalities and competition winners.


Saturday September 26

At the grand opening of his London Brasserie restaurant, situated in the Peach Tree Center, in a shopping mall in Atlanta, Ringo takes part in an all-star impromptu jam session, playing drums in a group which comprises Isaac Hayes, Jerry Lee Lewis and, amongst others, Jermaine Jackson. Among the tracks they perform are 'Whole Lotta Shakin' ' and 'Mony Mony'. The following morning, Ringo and Barbara fly on to Boston, and then Los Angeles.


Monday September 28 (until Saturday October 3)

The 60-minute NBC Radio programme Legends Of Rock, which this week focuses on Ringo, is syndicated across various US radio stations. Also this evening, pre-taped interviews with Ringo are transmitted in the television programmes Showbiz Today on CNN and Paramount TV's Entertainment Tonight.


Wednesday September 30

A pre-taped interview with George is transmitted on Entertainment Tonight.


September (into October)

During the Flowers In The Dirt recording sessions, held at Paul's Sussex recording studios, the former Beatle begins recording, with Elvis Costello, 'My Brave Face', a track co-written with Costello. The sessions also produce more Paul/Costello songs, namely 'Flying To My Home' (appearing on the 'My Brave Face' single, released in May 1989) 'Don't Be Careless Love', 'You Want Her Too' and 'That Day Is Done'. Three further co-compositions, 'Lovers That Never Were', 'So Like Candy' and 'Playboy To A Man', which Costello later records for his album Mighty Like A Rose, are also recorded. Other unreleased Paul/Costello tracks include 'Twenty Five Fingers' and 'Tommy's Coming Home'.


October

George's rather unusual high profile continues when interviews with him are featured on the UK breakfast stations TV AM and BBC Breakfast Time and in Q magazine.

In America, Ringo works for the first time with the world famous trumpet player, and co-founder of A&M Records, Herb Alpert when they record the track 'When You Wish Upon A Star' for inclusion on the 1988 Disney album Stay Awake.

A pre-recorded interview with Paul is syndicated across America in the radio series Tim White's Rock Stars.


Saturday October 3

The CD version of The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour reaches number 52 in the UK album charts.


Monday October 5

In the UK, the CD release takes place of Paul's Red Rose Speedway, McCartney II and Wild Life albums.

In America at the offices of Warner Records in Burbank, California, George records a promotional 37-minute interview to assist with the sales of his new album Cloud Nine. During the taping, where he is occasionally seen puffing away on a cigarette, George is reminded that the interview today is taking place exactly 25 years since The Beatles signed their first EMI contract, to which he replies: "About time they gave us some royalties then!" (The exact 25th anniversary of signing their EMI contract was actually on June 4, while the anniversary today is 25 years since the release of The Beatles debut single, 'Love Me Do', in England.) George denies rumours that he was booked into the Betty Ford clinic for alcohol addiction, that he is producing a television special featuring 'Every Grain Of Sand' performed by Bob Dylan, and that he didn't like his voice on the live Prince's Trust concerts.

In typical Harrison fashion, a large percentage of the interview is laden with humour. On his collection of guitars: "Some old Fenders I've got, I think, 'Oh!, that's the one that played the solo on 'Nowhere Man'. That's the one that played on 'Guitar Gently Weeps', this nice Les Paul that Eric (Clapton) gave me and the Rickenbacker 12-string, the one I just played on 'Fish On The Sand'. Oh yes, there's Betty, she was that nice blonde from back in '67'... it's a bit like that. The only difference is you can't have all the women hanging up by the neck on the wall."

On that he is one of the guitar greats in rock 'n' roll: "Well, I think that's a matter of opinion. Maybe to some people I am ... to some people I'm a load of rubbish!"

In America, NBC Radio (until Sunday October 11) syndicates the 60-minute radio programme Legends Of Rock, which this week turns its attention to John's career.


Sunday October 11

In the UK, selected regions of the ITV network transmit the Bill Wyman produced charity video Willie & The Poor Boys, which features cameo appearances by both Ringo and Barbara.


Monday October 12 (September 28)

In the UK, George releases the first single off his album Cloud Nine, namely 'Got My Mind Set On You'/'Lay His Head'. (The release in America takes place on October 16. The single reaches number two in the UK, Canada and Australia and the number one position in America.) A special 12-inch edition, released only in the UK, features an extended mix of the A-side. To accompany the release, George appears in two Los Angeles produced promotional film clips. The first features George playing the song set in a "what the butler saw" machine, which is standing in an amusement arcade. Apparently he was not entirely happy with this version, or an alternative re-edit, which was simply the performance without any cutaways at all, so an alternative version is quickly prepared. This second clip, directed by Gary Weiss, whom George met through his association with Saturday Night Live in America, features George in a haunted house, singing the song in a chair, guitar in hand, breaking out into some impressive dancing (done, of course, by a double).


Tuesday October 13

In the States, Capitol Records file a complaint in the US District Court in Los Angeles to stop Geffen Records from issuing a CD version of the 1982 album The John Lennon Collection.


Friday October 16

BBC Radio One begins transmitting the first of a three-part interview with George to promote his new album Cloud Nine. Part two is transmitted on October 29 with part three being aired on October 31. This evening on Channel 4, George appears live on the show The Last Resort With Jonathan Ross, where he is interviewed at the very end of the programme by Ross in a nearby pub with the BBC disc jockey John Peel. Viewers had been led to believe that George had already been and gone from the studios by the time the programme had started.

Just hours after the famous hurricane gripped Britain, Paul is to be found climbing the perilous Valley of the Rocks, near Plymouth in Devon, where he shoots the promotional clip for 'Once Upon A Long Ago'. (Subsequent footage, which is later combined with especially created animated cartoon footage, is edited to make three different promotional films, of which only version two will be transmitted.) Paul had briefly toyed with the idea of shooting the clip in Iceland, taking advantage of the country's snowy conditions.


Saturday October 17

George makes a surprise appearance with Bob Dylan on stage at his concert at the Wembley Arena in London, performing 'Rainy Day Women #12 & 35' during the encore. George, who had attended all four of Bob's Wembley shows, had been watching the show from the side of the stage.


Monday October 19

The worldwide CD release of both Abbey Road and Let It Be takes place. HMV releases a limited edition (10,000 copies) box set for each album.

In the UK, the first part of an interview with George is broadcast on BBC Breakfast Time. (Part two is aired the following morning.)


Tuesday October 20

In a pre-recorded interview at Friar Park with Tizianna Ferrario, George appears on the RAI UNO programme TG1 on Italian TV. Further excerpts from the interview occur on the show Prisma, transmitted by the station on October 24. While in the UK, just after the BBC have finished transmitting the final part of their two-part interview with George, the rival breakfast station TV AM, which serves the ITV regions, are featuring the "quiet Beatle" as their Man Of The Week, in their regular After Nine slot. (The second part of their 10-minute feature is transmitted the following day.) The interviews continue thick and fast, when a two-part pre-recorded 11-minute interview with George, conducted by Rona Elliot, is transmitted on NBC TV's Today show in America. (Part two is aired the following morning.)


Wednesday October 21

George and Ringo visit Paul at his London home at Cavendish Avenue in St. John's Wood. The three former Beatles spend a quiet evening together, dining, relaxing and discussing their future plans, including the long-forgotten official Beatles' story The Long And Winding Road.


Thursday October 22

In America, Rolling Stone magazine features George on the front cover with an accompanying article inside, entitled "The Return Of George Harrison".


Friday October 23

The Comic Strip Productions comedy film Eat The Rich, featuring a cameo appearance by Paul and Linda, receives its premiere in London this evening and at several other key regional locations in the UK.


Saturday October 24

The first of a three-part interview with Paul, carried out by the DJ Mike Read, and recorded at the International Christian Community Studios, Eastbourne, Sussex, on October 12 and 13, is transmitted on BBC Radio One. Part two is broadcast on October 31, while part three is aired on November 7. During the lengthy interview, Paul gives fascinating stories behind the songs featured on the All The Best compilation.

In America, a pre-recorded interview with George is transmitted on the MTV programme Week In Rock.


Friday October 30

Australian television broadcasts the third version of The Beatles' edition of the music programme Rage, which features over four hours of Beatles and solo promotional film clips, television appearances, newsreels and interviews. (The first version, which ran just over three hours, had appeared in June to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper.)


Saturday October 31

The CD versions of Abbey Road and Let It Be enter the UK album charts. They reach numbers 30 and 50 respectively.

EMI Records in the UK delete the following Paul McCartney singles, 'Say, Say, Say', 'Spies Like Us', 'Press' and also the 1969 Plastic Ono Band single (Apple 15) 'Give Peace A Chance'.


Monday November 2

The simultaneous release in America and the UK takes place of George's album Cloud Nine. The cover features the guitar he bought for £75 off a sailor when he was 17 years of age. A journalist asks George about the persistent rumours that Paul and Ringo were going to play on the album. He cheekily replies: "Yeah, the only person who wasn't going to be on it was George!"

In the UK, Paul's second greatest hits compilation All The Best, is released, delayed from October 26. (The American release, featuring a different track listing, takes place on December 5 and will reach the number 62 position in the charts.) The CD version of the album omits three tracks, 'Maybe I'm Amazed', 'Goodnight Tonight' and 'With A Little Luck', which are found on the cassette and double album versions of the album. Originally scheduled as the first song on side two of the album, just before 'No More Lonely Nights', is the unreleased track 'Waterspout'. As promotion for All The Best, EMI release a limited edition box set comprising nine Parlophone singles, numbered PMBOX11 through to PMBOX19, which feature the tracks on the album. This evening, the first 30-second television advertisement for All The Best is premiered nationally across the ITV network in the UK. It is seen at approximately 7:43pm, halfway through tonight's edition of the popular Granada TV soap opera Coronation Street. (The commercial is directed by Derek Hayes.)


Friday November 6

The home video entitled The Paul McCartney Story, a repackaging of the 1986 MPL/BBC co-production McCartney, is released in America. (The UK release takes place on November 27.)

A pre-recorded interview with George, conducted by Geraldo Rivera, is aired on the Paramount TV show Entertainment Tonight in America. (The promotional film clip for 'Got My Mind Set On You' [version two] ends the show.)


Sunday November 8

In America, promotions for Cloud Nine continue when George is interviewed for WNEW Radio in New York. Then, later this evening, a pre-taped interview with George is aired on the CBS programme Entertainment Tonight.


Monday November 16

In the UK, the home video release containing the first 26 episodes of Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends, featuring a narration by Ringo is released. To add to this, collectors are also able to buy several book/audio cassette packs, which again also feature Ringo's reading of the Thomas stories.

Also in the UK, Paul's single 'Once Upon A Long Ago'/'Back On My Feet' is released on a 7-inch and two separate 12-inch vinyl editions as well as on a CD. (There is no American release.)


Tuesday November 17

In Studio 5, at the Tyne-Tees Television Studios in Newcastle, working with the director Gavin Taylor, Paul videotapes a mimed performance of 'Once Upon A Long Ago'. (Sessions last between 2:00 and 5:59pm.) This clip, in front of an audience featuring 150 school children, is intended for inclusion in the new Tyne-Tees/ITV pop show The Roxy, a programme hosted by the DJ David Jensen. During the taping session, Paul also performs impromptu instrumental versions of 'Ob La Di, Ob La Da', 'C Moon', 'What'd I Say' and 'Sailor's Hornpipe'. Due to a technician's dispute, the screening of Paul's performance of 'Once Upon A Long Ago' is delayed for one week, and is not transmitted across the ITV network (between 7:31 and 7:58pm) until November 24. Backstage, during a break from the afternoon taping, Paul also gives an interview to Nick Piercey of Radio Tess (T.F.M.) in dressing room number 3.

In Holland, a 16-minute pre-recorded interview with George is broadcast on the NED TV show Tros.


Wednesday November 18

Further promotions for 'Once Upon A Long Ago' take place with a rather humorous live satellite link-up from London to Japan for the programme Yoru No Hit Studio.

A pre-taped six-minute interview with George, carried out by Mark Sheerer, is aired on the ABC TV programme Good Morning America.


Thursday November 19

Paul and Linda return to the BBC Television Theatre in Shepherd's Bush, London, where they videotape another interview, appearing as the only guests on the popular early evening talk show Wogan, hosted by the genial Irish DJ Terry Wogan. Their 36-minute appearance, which includes studio performances of 'Jet', 'Listen To What The Man Said' and a screening of the promotional film for 'Once Upon A Long Ago', is transmitted on BBC1 the following day, November 20. After the taping Paul is introduced backstage to the Russian rock writer Artemy Troitsky, in town to promote his book Back In The USSR, a history of rock in the Soviet Union. Troitsky briefly interviews Paul for a Moscow newspaper which subsequently publishes a photograph taken by Linda of Paul and Troitsky. This is the first time in his long career that Paul has been interviewed by a Russian journalist.

In the UK, EMI re-release twelve Beatles albums (from Please Please Me to Let It Be) on high quality XDR audio tape, taken directly from the same digital masters as used for the CD versions of the albums released this year. (The album Sgt. Pepper had been released on XDR tape, alongside the CD version, on the 20th anniversary on June 1.) Keeping in line with the CD releases, the first four albums (Please Please Me, With The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night and Beatles For Sale) are again issued in mono.


Friday November 20

In the States, a pre-recorded interview with George is transmitted on the CNN programme Showbiz Today. (Part two of the interview is broadcast one week later, on Friday November 27.)


Sunday November 22

In the UK, George appears on the front cover of the Observer colour supplement. Inside, there is an interview with the previously reclusive former Beatle by Mark Lewisohn, the author of The Beatles Live! In the States, various US radio stations air the two-hour show Powercuts, which features an appreciation of the music of George and Pink Floyd.


Friday November 27

In London, Paul makes a 15-minute appearance on the programme The Last Resort With Jonathan Ross, transmitted live on Channel 4 this evening. Paul performs with Steve Nieve And The Playboys the songs 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore', 'I Saw Her Standing There' and 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy'. In between tracks, Ross gives Paul a pile of Beatles albums to sign, but after inscribing a few, Paul insists he is doing no more and tells him jokingly to "get out of here!" When the broadcast finishes, Paul and the band, for the benefit of the highly excited studio audience, perform a brief snippet of the 1979 Wings' track 'Spin It On'. (Highlights from Paul's appearance this evening reappear during Jonathan Ross's compilation programme Phew! Rock 'N' Roll, which is transmitted on Channel 4 on April 24, 1988. A further screening of the appearance is transmitted on the German television programme Ohme Filter, aired on March 30 and 31, 1988.)


Monday November 30

Paul and his band return to Holland where they record another appearance on the Dutch TV show Countdown. Their 29-minute appearance, which includes another mimed performance of 'Once Upon A Long Ago', is transmitted on Veronica TV's NED 1 on Wednesday December 2.

Release of the three-volume home video set series entitled Queen: Magic Years, featuring Paul in a 1986 interview on Volume 1, called The Foundations; while Volume 2, entitled Live Killers In The Making, features Ringo and Barbara.


December

In the US album charts of 1987, Sgt. Pepper's is placed 13th in the Best Selling CDs Of The Year and The Beatles (White) album is placed at number 25.


Tuesday December 1

Paul spends the day working on a new piece of music for his Rupert The Bear film with George Martin at the AIR Studios in London. In America, the Wings album Band On The Run is released on CD.


Wednesday December 2

At the BBC Television Centre in London, Paul records a performance of 'Once Upon A Long Ago' for inclusion in the following evening's edition of BBC1's Top Of The Pops. Following the afternoon taping session, Paul and Linda, again at BBC TV Centre, record a sketch for the BBC1 fund-raising Comic Relief special, which is not scheduled for transmission until February 5, 1988. At the end of the sessions, Paul and Linda drop in to see Pete Townshend at his home on Richmond Hill. During their visit, Pete remarks to the couple how lucky The Beatles are to have George Martin remixing their albums for CD, a reference to the fact that Pete is none too pleased with The Who's CD reissues.

On the European Super Channel television station, the programme Track Record broadcasts an excerpt from George's Cloud Nine promotional interview, recorded on October 5 (see entry).


Thursday December 3

Paul, Linda and the band fly to Paris to undertake more promotional work. His first assignment is a 42-minute interview with Antoine De Caunes for his French television show Rapido. Paul discusses his current songwriting with Elvis Costello, re-recordings of old rock 'n' roll standards which he wanted to "bootleg" into Russia and his annoyance at the use of The Beatles' 'Revolution' in the Nike television ads. He also remarks about the possibility of working next year with George. Paul is also asked about George's Handmade films company: "George has been the surprise I think," he replies, "because when we did the movies, probably the one least interested was George. He'd turn up, he'd play and didn't want to know. He was serious, he didn't like the movies. He thoughtit was a bit stupid, you know, all the acting... 'I just want to play my guitar'. But he's turned out to be the most successful in the movies ... they've just made Mona Lisa and really made some good films. They've made some bad ones too. Shanghai Surprise was one of them. But he's made some really good films."

During the taping session, Paul tells the crew two bad jokes, one of which is: "A man bakes a birthday cake out of baked beans ... it's the only cake that blows its own candles out!" Paul also takes time to perform a version of 'Happy Birthday' to Antoine on an acoustic guitar. From this lengthy interview, only 10-minutes worth is used as an integral part in the Rapido Beatles special, transmitted the following day.


Friday December 4

The French television station TF1-TV transmits a 70-minute Rapido Beatles special, which includes various Beatles and Paul promo films, excerpts from Ringo's films and an interview with Ray Davies of The Kinks, a neighbour of John's at the Dakota, who reveals that he "didn't like John Lennon as a person". The show, of course, also includes a 10-minute edit of Paul's interview taped yesterday.

In America, until Sunday December 6, various US radio stations broadcast the three-hour syndicated radio tribute John Lennon Remembered.


Saturday December 5

Paul, Linda and the group appears live on the Annette 2 TV charity telethon programme on which they mime a version of 'Once Upon A Long Ago'. Earlier in the day, the group mimes another version of the song for inclusion in the programme Sacree Soiree, transmitted on the French television station TFI-TV on December 23.

The 20th anniversary reissue of 'Hello Goodbye' reaches number 63 in the UK singles chart.


Monday December 7

The release of Paul's home video Once Upon A Video is issued simultaneously around the world, except for North America.


Wednesday December 9

A pre-taped three-minute interview with George is transmitted on the German ZDF TV show P.I.T.


Friday December 11 (until Sunday December 13)

Various US radio stations air the syndicated three-hour special about George, featured in the weekly series Rockwatch.


Saturday December 12

Paul makes a surprise 15-minute appearance on the BBC1 Saturday morning children's TV show Going Live. During the live transmission, from the BBC TV Centre, Wood Lane, in London, Paul is joined by his son James in taking phone calls live on air. Later Paul and his band, which includes Stan Saizman and the violinist Nigel Kennedy, mime a version of 'Once Upon A Long Ago' for the studio audience. Also today, the NME publishes an interview with Paul where he talks about his collaboration with Elvis Costello and reveals that he would like to record some songs by John. He gives as examples 'Imagine', 'Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)' and 'I'll Get You', adding "If I don't record it, I'll at least perform it live someday!"

Of all the promotional interviews given by George to promote his new album, the most fascinating is the 14-minute feature on the American television programme West 57th Street which is aired in America this evening and includes George in discussion with the British celebrity journalist Selina Scott. She is seen eavesdropping on George at a photo shoot and in attendance as George oversees the editing on Mona Lisa with the co-star of the film Bob Hoskins. Most intriguing are the questions set by Scott, which includes her tackling George about comments made by John in September 1980.

Selina: "In an interview before his death (Playboy), John said he was really hurt by you, that you never mentioned in your autobiography any of the influence that he had on you."

George: "He was annoyed 'cos I didn't say that he'd written one line of this song 'Taxman'. But I also didn't say how I wrote two lines of 'Come Together' or three lines of 'Eleanor Rigby', you know, I wasn't getting into any of that. I think, in the balance, I would have had more things to be niggled with him about than he would have had with me!"

Selina: "He said, that you idolised him as a young boy ..."

George (interrupting): "That's what he thought. I liked him very much, he was a groove. He was a good lad. But, at the same time, he misread me. He didn't realise who I was, and this was one of the main faults of John and Paul. They were so busy being John and Paul, they failed to realise who else was around at the time."

The Shout! biographer Philip Norman is also on hand to add comments about George's persona, remarking to Selina Scott in an interview, "The Beatles is not a normal story! It's a supernatural story. The pressure was supernatural ... and George has recovered from it. He's the one that we're gonna have to ask about The Beatles. There's no one else left to ask now, because McCartney won't tell you, Ringo can't tell you, and John isn't here."

Selina naturally asks: "When you say Paul won't tell you, what do you mean?"

Norman: "He re-writes history all the time."

Selina: "... And Ringo can't tell you?"

Norman: "He doesn't know! He drank the drinks, he smoked the joints, he had the girls and he drummed the drums. That was Ringo!"

Also today, still in the States, a profile on George is featured in the CNN programme Showbiz Today.


Monday December 14 (until Saturday December 19)

At George Martin's AIR Studios in London, Paul again resumes work on new Rupert the Bear songs with Martin, intended for the soundtrack of his full-length Rupert film.


Friday December 18

George, Ringo and Elton John assemble at the Greenford Studios in Greenford, London, where they shoot a promotional film for George's song "When We Was Fab'. The clip, directed by former member of 10cc, Kevin Godley, features a most elaborate collage of Beatle references.


Sunday December 20

Paul and his entourage arrive in Germany this morning for more promotional work. Their first assignment is a ten-minute appearance on the ZDF German music and game show Wetten Dass, where they perform another mimed version of 'Once Upon A Long Ago'.


Monday December 21 (until Thursday December 24)

Paul returns to his home in Sussex, where he continues with further recordings. This first session sees the start of the tracks 'Figure Of Eight', 'Ou Est Le Soleil?', 'How Many People' and 'Rough Ride', all eventually to appear on his album Flowers In The Dirt in 1989.


Tuesday December 22

In the UK, an interview with George, recorded at Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, is transmitted on BBC Radio One.


Friday December 25

A pre-recorded three-minute Christmas message, delivered by Paul and Linda, is transmitted on the Italian RAI UNO TV programme Canale Fantastico. Also today, a pre-taped three-minute interview with Paul is aired on the Italian RAI TV show Ieri Goggi Domina. While in England, a short one-minute Christmas message from Paul and Linda is played on the BBC1 show Christmas Morning With Noel, hosted by Noel Edmonds.


Sunday December 27

George returns to more Cloud Nine promotional activities by appearing again at BBC Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, this time on the BBC Radio One 60-minute special On Cloud Nine. During the show, besides being interviewed, George also plays the unreleased recording of 'Hottest Gong In Town', lifted from the 1986 Shanghai Surprise film soundtrack.

In Italy, a 33-minute re-taped overdubbed interview appearance by Paul is aired on the Italia 1 music programme Deejay TV.


Monday December 28

Further Cloud Nine promotional appearances see George and Olivia fly out from London's Heathrow Airport, en route to Los Angeles, California, where they will reside for almost two months.


Wednesday December 30

George makes a live appearance on the American radio show Rockstars, broadcast on the Los Angeles radio station KLOS-FM.

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