Saturday, September 14, 1968
Last updated on August 1, 2023
Previous article Sep 10, 1968 • Children programme "Magpie" featuring Paul McCartney and Mary Hopkin broadcast
Session Sep 12, 1968 • Recording "Glass Onion"
Session Sep 13, 1968 • Recording "Glass Onion"
Article Sep 14, 1968 • Paul McCartney hints at a Beatles' live TV show project
Interview Sep 14, 1968 • Paul McCartney interview for Melody Maker
Session Sep 16, 1968 • Recording "I Will", "Glass Onion"
Next article Sep 26, 1968 • Apple books the Royal Albert Hall for a potential Beatles live performance
First mentions in the press of the “Get Back / Let It Be” sessions
January - February 1969
On this day, British music magazine Melody Maker reports that the Beatles have plans for a live TV show. Paul McCartney says that a concert might be possible in the near future (there is also a longer interview of Paul about the new single “Hey Jude” and about Mary Hopkin) :
The idea of singing live is much more appealing to us now – we are beginning to miss it. We will be doing a live TV show later in the year. I don’t know about a concert, but it might lead to that. I love the idea of playing again – and I know the others feel the same way.
Paul McCartney – Interview with Melody Maker, September 14, 1968
To put things into context, at this date, The Beatles were still working on their next album – the double LP “The Beatles” – which would be completed on October 18 and released on November 22, 1968.
A follow-up article was published in September 21, with some comments from press office Tony Barrow.
The Beatles – who can be seen on Top Of The Pops tonight (Thursday) and Time For Blackburn on Saturday in some area – may do a “live” TV spectacular.
As reported in last week’s MM, the group have started to miss playing for an audience. Said press office Tony Barrow: “They have realised that they could easily do a show for TV – like the live clips of ‘Hey Jude’ and ‘Revolution’ – only featuring perhaps 10 or 12 numbers“.
The venue for the show – whether a TV studio or a theatre – still has to be decided and Tony Barrow emphasised that at this stage the project is just an idea.
But it seems likely that the group will do a TV show in this way and may follow with some form of live appearances. […]
From Melody Maker, September 21, 1968
The Beatles were very happy with the way the promotional films for ‘Hey Jude’ and ‘Revolution’ worked out, and they think that the next logical step would be to do a sort of TV concert. In fact, a 45/60 minute show is a distinct possibility.
Tony Barrow – From “The Beatles: Off the Record” by Keith Badman
Music magazines would give various updates on this “live TV show” project between September 1968 and early 1969. The project would morph a few times and would lead to the “Get Back / Let It Be” sessions in January 1969, the Beatles’ last live performance on the rooftop of the Apple building, and the release of the “Let It Be” film in 1970.
Timeline of events:
The Beatles Diary Volume 1: The Beatles Years
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