Timeline • Day by day

Album covers • Apple Corps • Award • Beatles 1968-69 live performance • Birthdays • Book • Business news • Family life • Grammy Awards • Holidays • Ivor Novello Award • Music instruments • Northern Songs • Photo session • Private life • Release announcement • Rumored projects • Social life • The Beatles' third film project • Top Of The Pops • Turned down projects • Wedding

Photo: Paul in Los Angeles in 1968 by Linda McCartney • Photo from X

1968 highlights

January

Paul McCartney attends the premiere of "Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush"
Jan 04, 1968
“Magical Mystery Tour” broadcast in color on BBC 2
Jan 05, 1968
I Still Say Beatles' 'tour' Was Entertaining (interview)
Jan 06, 1968
Look magazine publishes psychedelic photos of the Beatles
Jan 09, 1968
Recording "Lullaby"
Jan 10, 1968
Recording "The Inner Light"
Jan 12, 1968
Legal Beatles structures changed their names to Apple
Jan 12, 1968
"And The Sun Will Shine / The Dog Presides" session
Jan 14, 1968
The Beatles attend Grapefruit press launch
Jan 17, 1968
Apple reported to produce Twiggy film
Second half of January 1968
Recording session with Roger McGough & Mike McGear
January 20 or 26, 1968 ?
Rumours about a third Beatles film
First half of 1968
Apple Corps open offices in London
Jan 22, 1968
Paul McCartney attends Diana Ross & The Supremes' show
Jan 22, 1968
The Beatles film their cameo appearance for "Yellow Submarine" film
Jan 25, 1968
Paul McCartney rehearses "Step Inside Love" with Cilla Black
Jan 28, 1968
Paul McCartney and Peter Asher visit the Press Association photo archive
Jan 29, 1968
Cilla Black's television series "Cilla" launched in the UK
Jan 30, 1968

February

The Beatles consider a Lord of the Rings film adaptation
February - March 1968
Designing the Apple Records logo
February - July 1968
Ringo Starr photographs Paul and Jane
February 1968
Paul McCartney completes "Step Inside Love" for Cilla Black
Feb 02, 1968
February 1968 sessions
Feb 03-15, 1968
Recording "Lady Madonna", "Across The Universe"
Feb 03, 1968
Recording "Across The Universe"
Feb 04, 1968
Paul McCartney at the Playboy Club
Feb 05, 1968
Recording and mixing "The Inner Light", "Lady Madonna"
Feb 06, 1968
Paul McCartney joins a press conference for the Leicester Arts Festival
Feb 06, 1968
Recording and mixing "The Inner Light" and "Across The Universe"
Feb 08, 1968
"Lady Madonna" photo session
Feb 08, 1968
Paul McCartney attends a Scaffold concert
Feb 10, 1968
Lady Madonna (Version 1) (film)
1968 • For The Beatles
Filming date: Feb 11, 1968
Recording and mixing "Hey Bulldog"
Feb 11, 1968
Hey Bulldog (film)
For The Beatles
Filming date: Feb 11, 1968
Lady Madonna (Version 3) (film)
For The Beatles
Filming date: Feb 11, 1968
Lady Madonna (Version 2) (film)
1968 • For The Beatles
Filming date: Feb 11, 1968
Mixing "Lady Madonna"
Feb 15, 1968
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr travel to India
Feb 19, 1968
The Beatles in India
Feb 19 to Mar 24, 1968 (Paul)
The Daily Express publishes psychedelic photos of The Beatles
Feb 23, 1968
Five years since the start of Beatlemania - Paul McCartney talks to RAY CONNOLLY (interview)
Feb 24, 1968
The first Apple ad appears in the New Musical Express
Feb 24, 1968
Recording "Step Inside Love"
Feb 28, 1968
"Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" wins four Grammy Awards
Feb 29, 1968

March

"She's Leaving Home" and "The Family Way" win Ivor Novello awards
March 1968
The Mothers Of Invention release "We're Only in It for the Money", a parody of "Sgt. Pepper"
Mar 04, 1968
And The Sun Will Shine / The Dog Presides
By Paul Jones
Mar 08, 1968 • Released in the UK
Step Inside Love / I Couldn't Take My Eyes Off You
By Cilla Black
Mar 08, 1968 • Released in the UK
Lady Madonna (Version 2) (film)
1968 • For The Beatles
Release date: Mar 09, 1968
Lady Madonna (Version 1) (film)
1968 • For The Beatles
Release date: Mar 14, 1968
"Lady Madonna" is broadcast on Top Of The Pops
Mar 14, 1968
Lady Madonna / The Inner Light (UK - 1968)
By The Beatles
Mar 15, 1968 • Released in the UK
Lady Madonna / The Inner Light (US - 1968)
By The Beatles
Mar 18, 1968 • Released in the US
Paul and Jane leave Rishikesh
Mar 24, 1968
Paul and Jane's short visit to Tehran
Mar 25, 1968
Press Conference - Paul and Jane are back from India (interview)
Mar 26, 1968
Paul and Jane are back in London
Mar 26, 1968
Derek Taylor joins Apple
Mar 29, 1968

April

Sher-oo! (Mono)
By Cilla Black
Apr 06, 1968 • Released in the UK
Sher-oo! (Stereo)
By Cilla Black
Apr 06, 1968 • Released in the UK
Paul McCartney meets American scriptwriter Francie Schwartz
April or May 1968
Apple publishes an ad to find new talent
Apr 19, 1968

May

The Beatles acquire the property at 3 Savile Row, London
May 1968
Paul McCartney meets with duo Drew And Dy
May 1968
THERE ONCE WAS A GURU FROM RISHIKESH (Part 1) (interview)
May 04, 1968
Mary Hopkin appears on "Opportunity Knocks" TV show
May 05, 1968
Step Inside Love / I Couldn't Take My Eyes Off You
By Cilla Black
May 06, 1968 • Released in the US
Paul McCartney and John Lennon fly to New York to promote Apple
May 11, 1968
Paul and John meet Ron Kass in New York
May 12, 1968
Interview with Larry Kane (interview)
May 13, 1968
Paul and John give interviews to the US business press
May 13, 1968
Interview for The Tonight Show (interview)
May 14, 1968
Press conference announcing Apple (interview)
May 14, 1968
Interview for WNDT (interview)
May 14, 1968
The Beatles promote Apple Corps in New York
May 14, 1968
The Esher recordings
Late May 1968
Paul and John fly from New York to London
May 15, 1968
The Apple shop mural is being removed
May 15-18, 1968
Interview for The Village Voice (interview)
May 16, 1968
McGough & McGear (Stereo)
By McGough & McGear
May 17, 1968 • Released in the UK
McGough & McGear (Mono)
By McGough & McGear
May 17, 1968 • Released in the UK
"McGough & McGear" album is launched with a lunch party
May 17, 1968
THERE ONCE WAS A GURU FROM RISHIKESH (Part 2) (interview)
May 18, 1968
Paul McCartney joins the 1968 FA Cup final
May 18, 1968
The Beatles attend a housewarming party by Harold Pinter
May 19, 1968
Paul McCartney attends Andy Williams' concert
May 21, 1968
Apple Tailoring opens
May 23, 1968
Paul and Jane attend a Scaffold concert
May 24, 1968
Paul McCartney directs promo film for Grapefruit
May 26, 1968
"The Beatles" (aka the White Album) sessions
May 30 - Oct 18, 1968
Recording "Revolution 1"
May 30, 1968
Recording "Revolution 1"
May 31, 1968

June

Apple promotional film (film)
For The Beatles
Filming date: June 1968
Recording "I'm The Urban Spaceman"
June or July 1968 ?
Mary Hopkin is filmed for Apple promo film
Circa June 1968
Paul McCartney writes "Hey Jude" and visits Cynthia Lennon
June 1968
Recording "Revolution 1"
Jun 04, 1968
Recording "Don't Pass Me By"
Jun 05, 1968
Recording "Don't Pass Me By"
Jun 06, 1968
Paul McCartney attends his brother Mike's wedding as best man
Jun 07, 1968
We have a handful of songs and a band called The Beatles (interview)
Jun 08, 1968
Interview for The Kenny Everett Show (interview)
Jun 09, 1968
Recording "Revolution 9"
Jun 10, 1968
Recording "Blackbird", "Revolution 9"
Jun 11, 1968
The Big Business Beatles (interview)
Jun 12, 1968
Paul McCartney celebrates his 26th birthday
Jun 18, 1968
Interview with Bobby Dale (interview)
Jun 20, 1968
Recording "Revolution 9"
Jun 20, 1968
Paul McCartney flies to New York to promote Apple
Jun 20, 1968
Recording "Revolution 1", "Revolution 9"
Jun 21, 1968
Paul McCartney attends the Capitol Convention in Los Angeles
Jun 21, 1968
Paul McCartney spends time with Linda Eastman
Jun 22, 1968
Paul and Linda on a sailing trip to Santa Catalina Island
Jun 23, 1968
Paul McCartney begins his journey back to London
June 24-25, 1968
Recording "Sour Milk Sea"
June 25-26, 1968
Mixing "Revolution 1", "Revolution 9"
Jun 25, 1968
Recording "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey"
Jun 26, 1968
Recording "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey"
Jun 27, 1968
Recording "Good Night"
Jun 28, 1968
Recording "Thingumybob"
Jun 30, 1968

July

Recording "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey"
Jul 01, 1968
The Beatles Mod Odyssey (film)
1968 • For The Beatles
Release date: Jul 01, 1968
Interview for BBC's "Look North" (interview)
Jul 01, 1968
Recording "Carolina In My Mind"
July 1968 ?
John and Paul meet Fender co-owner Don Randall
July 1968
Recording "Good Night"
Jul 02, 1968
Paul McCartney discusses Apple at lunch with EMI chairman and banker
Jul 02, 1968
Recording "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
Jul 03, 1968
Recording "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
Jul 04, 1968
Recording "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
Jul 05, 1968
Recording "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
Jul 08, 1968
Paul, George and Ringo attend a press screening of "Yellow Submarine"
Jul 08, 1968
David Peel asks Paul McCartney to sponsor a children show
June 1968
Recording "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
Jul 09, 1968
Recording "Revolution"
Jul 10, 1968
Recording "Revolution", recording and mixing "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
Jul 11, 1968
Alexis "Magic Alex" Marda gets married
Jul 11, 1968
Recording and mixing "Don't Pass Me By", Recording and mixing "Revolution", Mixing "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
Jul 12, 1968
Andy Gray talks to the Beatles, 1968 (interview)
Jul 13, 1968
Mixing "Revolution", recording and mixing "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", recording "Cry Baby Cry"
Jul 15, 1968
Apple moves into its new headquarters at 3 Savile Row, London
Jul 15, 1968
Recording "Cry Baby Cry"
Jul 16, 1968
Yellow Submarine (Animated film) (film)
1968 • For The Beatles
Release date: Jul 17, 1968
"Yellow Submarine" world premiere
Jul 17, 1968
Recording "Cry Baby Cry", "Helter Skelter"
Jul 18, 1968
Recording "Sexy Sadie"
Jul 19, 1968
Paul on the next album (interview)
Jul 20, 1968
Jane Asher announces her separation from Paul McCartney
Jul 20, 1968
Paul McCartney comments about his break-up with Jane Asher
Jul 21, 1968
Recording "Don't Pass Me By", "Good Night"
Jul 22, 1968
Recording and mixing "Everybody's Got Something To Hide...", mixing "Good Night"
Jul 23, 1968
Recording "Sexy Sadie"
Jul 24, 1968
Pattie Harrison and Jenny Boyd opens an antique store in London
Jul 24, 1968
Recording "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Jul 25, 1968
Recording "Those Were the Days"
Late July 1968
The "Mad Day Out" photo session
Jul 28, 1968
Recording "Hey Jude"
Jul 29, 1968
Recording and mixing "Hey Jude"
Jul 30, 1968
Music! (film)
For Various Artists
Filming date: Jul 30, 1968
Recording "Hey Jude"
Jul 31, 1968
The Apple shop in Baker Street closes down
Jul 31, 1968

August

Recording "Hey Jude"
Aug 01, 1968
The Aerovons meet Paul McCartney at the Speakeasy
August 1968 ?
Mixing "Hey Jude"
Aug 02, 1968
"Thingumybob" series premieres on UK TV
Aug 02, 1968
"Yellow Submarine" general release in the UK
Aug 04, 1968
Mixing "Hey Jude"
Aug 06, 1968
Recording "Not Guilty"
Aug 07, 1968
Mixing "Hey Jude", recording "Not Guilty"
Aug 08, 1968
Paul McCartney paints "Hey Jude / Revolution" on the Apple Boutique windows
Aug 08, 1968
Paul McCartney plays "Hey Jude" at Mick Jagger's birthday party
Aug 08, 1968
Recording "Not Guilty", "Mother Nature's Son"
Aug 09, 1968
FROM DUSK TO DAWN with Paul McCartney (interview)
Aug 10, 1968
The president of Capitol Records visits The Beatles for the launch of Apple Records
August 10-11, 1968
Apple Records is officially launched
Aug 11, 1968
Session with Drew And Dy
Aug 12, 1968
Recording and mixing "Not Guilty"
Aug 12, 1968
Recording "Sexy Sadie", "Yer Blues"
Aug 13, 1968
Recording and mixing "Yer Blues", recording and mixing "What's The New Mary Jane"
Aug 14, 1968
Recording and mixing "Rocky Raccoon"
Aug 15, 1968
Paul McCartney invites Linda Eastman to London
Mid-August 1968
Recording "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Aug 16, 1968
Interview for New Musical Express (interview)
Aug 17, 1968
Recording "Yer Blues", recording and mixing "Mother Nature's Son", "Wild Honey Pie"
Aug 20, 1968
Recording and mixing "Sexy Sadie"
Aug 21, 1968
Recording "Back In The U.S.S.R."
Aug 22, 1968
Recording and mixing "Back In The U.S.S.R."
Aug 23, 1968
Sour Milk Sea / The Eagle Laughs at You
By Jackie Lomax
Aug 26, 1968 • Released in the US
Thingumybob / Yellow Submarine
By Black Dyke Mills Band
Aug 26, 1968 • Released in the US
Those Were The Days / Turn! Turn! Turn!
By Mary Hopkin
Aug 26, 1968 • Released in the US
Hey Jude / Revolution
By The Beatles
Aug 26, 1968 • Released in the US
Tape copying "Revolution 9"
Aug 26, 1968
Tape copying "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", "Blackbird", "Not Guilty", "Revolution 9"
Aug 27, 1968
Recording "Dear Prudence"
Aug 28, 1968
Recording "Dear Prudence"
Aug 29, 1968
Recording "Dear Prudence"
Aug 30, 1968
Sour Milk Sea / The Eagle Laughs at You
By Jackie Lomax
Aug 30, 1968 • Released in the UK
Those Were The Days / Turn! Turn! Turn!
By Mary Hopkin
Aug 30, 1968 • Released in the UK
Hey Jude / Revolution
By The Beatles
Aug 30, 1968 • Released in the UK
Paul McCartney attends Neil Aspinall's wedding
Aug 30, 1968
Thingumybob / Yellow Submarine
By Black Dyke Mills Band
Aug 31, 1968 • Released in the UK

September

Recording "Those Were The Days" in other languages
September 1968 ?
Designing the packaging for the White Album
September - October 1968
Paul McCartney on holiday in Sardinia
Early September 1968
Recording "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Sep 03, 1968
Revolution (Versions 1 and 2) (film)
1968 • For The Beatles
Filming date: Sep 04, 1968
Hey Jude (Versions 1 to 3) (film)
1968 • For The Beatles
Filming date: Sep 04, 1968
Filming "Hey Jude", "Revolution" promo films
Sep 04, 1968
Recording "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Sep 05, 1968
Recording "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Sep 06, 1968
Paul McCartney and Mary Hopkin filmed for "Magpie" children's TV show
Sep 06, 1968
Hey Jude (Versions 1 to 3) (film)
1968 • For The Beatles
Release date: Sep 08, 1968
"Hey Jude" promo film premieres on UK TV
Sep 08, 1968
Recording "Helter Skelter"
Sep 09, 1968
Recording "Helter Skelter"
Sep 10, 1968
Children's TV show "Magpie" featuring Paul McCartney and Mary Hopkin is broadcasted
Sep 10, 1968
Recording "Glass Onion"
Sep 11, 1968
Recording "Glass Onion"
Sep 12, 1968
Recording "Glass Onion"
Sep 13, 1968
You know what I'd love to do? Produce an album for Elvis! (interview)
Sep 14, 1968
Paul McCartney hints at a Beatles' live TV show project
Sep 14, 1968
Recording "I Will", "Glass Onion"
Sep 16, 1968
Mixing "Helter Skelter", recording "I Will", "Cry Baby Cry"
Sep 17, 1968
Recording and mixing "Birthday"
Sep 18, 1968
Revolution (Versions 1 and 2) (film)
1968 • For The Beatles
Release date: Sep 19, 1968
Recording "Piggies"
Sep 19, 1968
"Revolution" promo film is broadcast on Top Of The Pops
Sep 19, 1968
Recording "Piggies"
Sep 20, 1968
Recording "Happiness Is A Warm Gun"
Sep 23, 1968
Recording "Happiness Is A Warm Gun"
Sep 24, 1968
Linda Eastman visits Paul McCartney in London
Sept 24, 25 or 26 - Oct 20, 1968
Recording and mixing "Happiness Is A Warm Gun"
Sep 25, 1968
Mixing "Happiness Is A Warm Gun", "What's The New Mary Jane", "Glass Onion", "I Will"
Sep 26, 1968
Apple books the Royal Albert Hall for a potential Beatles live performance
Sep 26, 1968
"The Beatles" double-album is announced
Sep 28, 1968
Hunter Davies' authorized Beatles biography released in the UK
Sep 30, 1968

October

Recording and mixing "Honey Pie"
Oct 01, 1968
Apple faces business problems
Fall 1968
Recording "Honey Pie"
Oct 02, 1968
Recording "Savoy Truffle"
Oct 03, 1968
Recording "Martha My Dear", "Honey Pie"
Oct 04, 1968
Recording "Savoy Truffle", recording and mixing "Martha My Dear", "Honey Pie", mixing "Dear Prudence"
Oct 05, 1968
"Hey Jude" promo film broadcast on US TV
Oct 06, 1968
Mixing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", recording "Long Long Long"
Oct 07, 1968
Recording "Long Long Long", "I'm So Tired", "The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill"
Oct 08, 1968
Mixing "The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill", recording "Long, Long, Long", "Why Don't We Do It In The Road"
Oct 09, 1968
"Post Card" sessions
Early October 1968 to early December 1968
Recording and mixing: "Piggies", "Glass Onion", "Why Don't We Do It In The Road?", "Rocky Raccoon", "Long, Long, Long"
Oct 10, 1968
I'm The Urban Spaceman / Canyons Of Your Mind
By Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
Oct 11, 1968 • Released in the UK
Recording and mixing "Savoy Truffle", "Piggies", "Don't Pass Me By", "Good Night"
Oct 11, 1968
Mixing "Everybody's Got Something...", "Helter Skelter", "Mother Nature's Son", "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", "Long, Long, Long"
Oct 12, 1968
Paul McCartney and Tony Barrow give more details about the Beatles’ live TV show project
Oct 12, 1968
Recording and mixing "Julia", "Dear Prudence", "Wild Honey Pie", "Back In The U.S.S.R.", "Blackbird"
Oct 13, 1968
“Revolution” promo film broadcast on US TV
Oct 13, 1968
Recording and mixing "I Will", "Birthday", "Savoy Truffle", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Long Long Long", "Yer Blues
Oct 14, 1968
Mixing "Happiness Is A Warm Gun", "I'm So Tired", "Cry Baby Cry"
Oct 15, 1968
Mixing "Why Don't We Do It In The Road", "It's All Too Much" and cross-fades for the White Album
October 16-17, 1968
Tape copying "Yer Blues", "Don't Pass Me By"
Oct 18, 1968
Paul McCartney spends time with Linda Eastman in New York
October 20-31, 1968
Quelli Erano Giorni (Those Were The Days) / Turn! Turn! Turn!
By Mary Hopkin
Oct 25, 1968 • Released globally
Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman visit The Cavern Club
Oct 25, 1968
Mixing "Hey Bulldog", "All Together Now", "All You Need Is Love", "Only A Northern Song"
Oct 29, 1968

November

"Post Card" session - Improvisation with Donovan
November 1968
Michael Lindsay-Hogg is asked to direct the Beatles’ live TV show project
November 1968
Apple publishes its first internal magazine
November 1968
A TV ad project to promote "The Beatles" double-album is called off
End of October / early November 1968
All My Loving (film)
1968 • For Various Artists
Release date: Nov 03, 1968
Interview for "All My Loving" documentary (interview)
Nov 03, 1968
"All My Loving" TV documentary broadcast on UK TV
Nov 03, 1968
Paul McCartney spends time with Linda Eastman in Scotland
November 5 - Mid-November?, 1968
News reports the Beatles' live TV show would be recorded in December 1968
Nov 06, 1968
Northern Songs announces record profit
Nov 06, 1968
"The Beatles" double-album postponed by one week
Early November 1968
"Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, released in the US
Nov 11, 1968
“Yellow Submarine” premieres in the US
Nov 13, 1968
Interview with Radio Luxembourg (interview)
Nov 21, 1968
The Beatles (Stereo)
By The Beatles
Nov 22, 1968 • Released in the UK
The Beatles (Mono)
By The Beatles
Nov 22, 1968 • Released in the UK
The Beatles (Stereo)
By The Beatles
Nov 25, 1968 • Released in the US
Paul recalls inspirations of LP (interview)
Nov 30, 1968
How The Beatles Made Mary Hopkin Into A Star (interview)
Nov 30, 1968

December

More details and rumors about the Beatles’ live TV show project
December 1968
James Taylor (Mono)
By James Taylor
Dec 06, 1968 • Released in the UK
James Taylor (Stereo)
By James Taylor
Dec 06, 1968 • Released in the UK
THREE WOMEN - MARY, JANE, LINDA IN THE WORLD OF PAUL McCARTNEY (interview)
Dec 07, 1968
Paul McCartney and Linda Eastman on holiday in Portugal
December 11 - Before Christmas 1968
I'm The Urban Spaceman / Canyons Of Your Mind
By Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
Dec 18, 1968 • Released in the US
The Beatles 1968 Christmas Record
By The Beatles
Dec 20, 1968 • Released in the UK
Paul and Linda spend Christmas in Liverpool
Christmas 1968
New Year's Eve 1968 in London
Dec 31, 1968
Northern Songs acquires the Lawrence Wright catalogue
Dec 31, 1968

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