BEATLES MAGAZINE: ON THIS DAY ... 26 APRIL

Sunday, 26 April 2026

ON THIS DAY ... 26 APRIL

April 26

1963

UK LP release: 'Please Please Me' (stereo version).
UK single release: 'Do You Want To Know A Secret'/'I'll Be On My Way', 1st record by Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas.

1964

Performance for the New Musical Express Poll Winner's Concert at the Empire Pool, Wembley. Filmed by ABC-TV.

Other acts: The Searchers, The Rolling Stones, The Dave ClarkFive, Gerry and the Pacemakers.

Gene Loving, Louise Harrison Caldwell and George's motherpresent at the concert and the Beatles dressing room before the show,Gene records interviews with the Beatles, and after the show thethree go to Liverpool.

1966

Studio 2. 2.30pm-2.45am. Recording: 'And Your Bird Can Sing' [re-make] (takes 3-13, overdub onto take 10).

The recording features an extended dual-guitar melody, played by George Harrison and Paul McCartney.

“And Your Bird Can Sing" was used as the theme song for the Beatles' cartoon series during its third season.

It was one of the 45 tracks included in the 2009 release of the music video game The Beatles: Rock Band.

Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Phil McDonald.

1967

Studio 3. 7.00pm-2.00am. Recording: 'Magical Mystery Tour' (overdub onto take 8, tape reduction take 8 into take 9). Producer: George Martin; Engineer: Geoff Emerick; 2nd Engineer: Richard Lush.

3rd performance of Donovan at the Saville Theatre.

1969

'Yellow Submarine' LP, 15th week in the Top 100 (Billboard).

'Get Back', number 1.

2.30-4.15pm. 2nd stereo mix of 'John and Yoko'. 1st work of Richard Langham back with the Beatles.

Studio 2. 4.30pm-4.15am. Recording: 'Oh! Darling' (overdub onto take 26); 'Octopus's Garden' (takes 1-32). Producer: Chris Thomas/The Beatles; Engineer: Jeff Jarratt; 2nd Engineer: Richard Langham.

Recording of 1st Paul's vocal trial for 'Oh! Darling'. 1st session of Richard Langham back as 2nd engineer, returning from Europe.

1969: Recording: Oh! Darling, Octopus’s Garden

1969: Mixing: John And Yoko by John Lennon and Yoko Ono (Track from "Wedding Album") Studio Three (control room), EMI Studios, Abbey Road Engineer: Jeff Jarratt.

1971

Travel: John Lennon – London to Arima. John and Yoko Ono remained in Arima through May 2nd. During their stay, John composed the lyrics for "Imagine" using letterhead from Hotel Hassina, located at 26 Christina Gardens. A footnote on the page—"March ’71, London, Madrid, Trinidad"—indicates that the songwriting process had actually spanned several weeks.

1971: John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr drop appeal against High Court ruling.

1978

1982: Album release: Tug Of War by Paul McCartney

2002: Paul McCartney live: Madison Square Garden, New York City