The Beatles: Only A Northern Song

As a Christmas treat for their loyal fans, The Beatles recorded a special message each year to thank them for their support. This time, we explore some of the earlier Christmas presents from The Beatles, with plenty of outtakes and rarities. Merry Christmas, Beatles Peoples!

Just days after recording the final track for Revolver, The Beatles flew out for a world tour of Germany, Japan and The Philippines. It was the last time they would play each of these countries, and was the beginning of the end of their touring career. From inane press conferences and concert performances to an actual typhoon - join The Beatles as they cross continents for the last time...

With much work for The Beatles' seventh album already committed to tape in April and May of 1966, there was a certain amount of hurry up needed if the band were to finish the record before flying out to Germany and Japan in June, and release the album before the start of their US tour in August. Join us again in Studio 2 for Part 3 of the Revolver sessions...

There can be no doubt that with the recording of Revolver, The Beatles were making their greatest leaps forward to date, in terms of musical influences, experimentation and recording techniques. The Beatles were finally being allowed to take their time in honing their craft – with a grateful EMI allowing them the run of the mill at Abbey Road studios. Join us in Studio 2 for part 2 of the Revolver...

With Rubber Soul on worldwide release, and another concert tour planned, The Beatles wasted no time in heading back to Abbey Road studios in early 1966 to begin work on album number seven – a collection of songs which would change not only their musical direction, but would see a revolution in recording techniques. Join us for Part 1 of the Revolver sessions...

Rubber Soul is fondly remembered by all of the Beatles as a departure from their more simplistic songwriting and recording of previous albums, and a bridge to what was to come over the next two years. Join us in Studio 2 at Abbey Road for Part 2 of the Rubber Soul sessions...

The Beatles’ return from their record-breaking August 1965 US tour marked the beginning of the band’s next project – a sixth studio LP. The Beatles would need a quick turnaround to write and record an album, if it was to be ready for the Christmas market. As well as a long-player, a single was also needed to carry the band through to 1966. Join us as The Beatles head into the studio to begin work...

1965 was a very fragmented year for The Beatles - mainly due to the demands of filming their new movie. However, they managed to squeeze in tours to Europe and the USA, which would break all previous records and see The Beatles reach the zenith of their touring career...

The Beatles' new movie – still officially untitled – was a James Bond-inspired chase movie, with evil forces from the mysterious east trying to retrieve a large ring stuck on Ringo’s finger – a quest that would see the other three Beatles trying very hard to remove it, and protect Ringo from being captured and sacrificed in the process. HELP! was needed - both on the big screen, and in the recordi...

The new year of 1965 brought another Beatle wedding, and preparations for The Beatles' second feature film - which was still untitled at this point. With songs that had been written by John and Paul – both separately and together – The Beatles wasted no time in committing an impressive 11 songs to tape in the space of a week – some of which would feature in the new movie and its soundtrack, two of...

With a full US tour and the looming Christmas 1964 market as hurdles, the race was on for The Beatles to deliver their fourth studio LP, as well as a brand new single. Listen in as the Fab Four write and record Beatles For Sale - the album which preserved exciting songs from the Beatles' stage act, as well as capturing some Lennon and McCartney classics.

The unprecedented success of their first whirlwind visit to the United States in February 1964 guaranteed The Beatles a return trip in August-September. With The Beatles for the whole tour was Miami newsman, Larry Kane - the journalist who became a reluctant Beatles fan, and dared to ask them the questions the others wouldn't...

By 1964, there could be no doubt that John Lennon and Paul McCartney had – at the ages of 24 and 22 respectively – established themselves as songwriters. Their own records were running off the shelves, and accolades were flowing thick and fast... but they still had plenty of songs to give to other artists.

The Beatles' first feature film and its soundtrack - 'A Hard Day's Night' - received a lot of public attention upon its release in early July 1964... helped along by heavy promotion in the UK and the US. At the same time, John was picking up his pen for a very different reason...  

  Despite having a huge and adoring fan-base in the Southern Hemisphere, The Beatles only made it to Australia and New Zealand once. With two drummers and two-hundred-thousand-strong public receptions, this would be a tour that The Beatles - and Australia - would never forget...

The Beatles would achieve a number of firsts in 1964 - including their first film, and their first album completely made up of original songs. In this bumper episode, we listen in on the creation of The Beatles' third studio LP - the soundtrack to their critically-acclaimed motion picture debut.

If 1963 had been a whirlwind year, 1964 would be a hurricane! By February, The Beatles were preparing for their first raid on the most lucrative market in the world – The United States of America. The world would never be the same again...  

Having completed recording for their second studio album, The Beatles packed their gear for a whirlwind tour of Sweden - their first ever outside of the UK. Days later, they would perform for royalty in a show that would cement their place in British culture...

By the summer of 1963, The Beatles had turned their attention to recording their second album. Touring and media commitments throughout the year meant that they had to snatch whatever time they could to get into the studio to record. Having achieved a number 1 album in Please Please Me, and three number one singles, the pressure was on to produce a follow-up LP which would equal or surpass their h...

The Beatles were a very busy band in 1963... with live performances, radio and television appearances and growing media attention, the band moved to London to be closer to the action. The Beatles’ also had to produce two albums and at least two singles every year – an output which would be almost unheard of by today’s standards! Featuring outtakes from recording sessions in EMI Studio 2 at Abbey R...

From Them To You - More obscurities from The Beatles' appearances on BBC Radio in 1963...

In the days before social media, bands relied heavily on radio exposure to build a national audience, and to promote record sales. The Beatles were no different - and in addition to guest spots on various BBC radio programs - the band were given their own radio show in 1963, in which they showcased their own numbers, as well as songs by their biggest influences. Part 1 of a two-part special...

With four of the fourteen songs needed for their debut album recorded, The Beatles occupied Studio 2 at EMI's Abbey Road Studios for a marathon session on 11 February 1963. Their mission: record ten songs to wrap up the LP for a March release. Tune in to hear rare outtakes from this legendary session.

After their failed audition for Decca, the only way was up for The Beatles. An artiste's test at EMI introduced the band to producer George Martin, and paved the way for one of the most enduring artistic relationships in popular music. This episode explores the very earliest EMI recordings, as well as rehearsals and performances at the legendary Cavern Club.

New Year's Day 1962 was full of promise for The Beatles, who had finally secured an audition with a major record label. This episode takes us into the West Hampstead studios where history was about to be made. How would it turn out? The answer came as a bit of a surprise...