On this day in Beatles History...October 18, 1960

The story of drummer Pete Best being asked to leave The Beatles and being replaced by Ringo Starr is probably known even by many casual Beatles fans.  Basically, Mr. Best played with the band from August of 1960 until sometime in the late Summer / early Fall of 1962.  This including their time in Hamburg, Germany.  However, what many people don't know is that John, Paul, George and RINGO (not Pete Best) recorded together backing Lou Walters of The Hurricanes on October 18, 1960 when Pete was still officially the drummer for The Beatles!  The songs were most likely Summertime, Fever and September Song, but there is some confusion about exactly which songs were recorded.  I believe there's a photograph of a vinyl pressing of Summertime, but recollections by those involved differ.  What is certain, however, it that the studio session had been arranged with Ringo on drums because at the time Ringo was the drummer with Lou in The Hurricanes.  That means that the first time The Beatles ever recorded with Ringo was all the way back on this date in October of 1960!

On this day in Beatles History...October 7, 1964

52 years ago today, The Beatles appeared on the television show Shindig!  They opened the show that night with "Kansas City / Hey Hey Hey" before six other acts performed.  The Beatles came on again at the end of the show to close the program with the songs "I'm a Loser" and "Boys."