18 July in Beatles History

Everything that happened on 18 July in Beatles history — live concerts, recordings, releases and more from The Beatles, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

1962

The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime) – 18 July 1962
The Beatles performed a lunchtime session at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, one of hundreds of appearances they made at the venue between 1961 and 1963.

The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening) – 18 July 1962
The Beatles performed an evening show at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, one of two appearances at the venue on this date as they continued their residency ahead of their first EMI recording session.

1963

Recording: You Really Got A Hold On Me, Money, Devil In Her Heart, Till There Was You – 18 July 1963
The Beatles recorded four tracks at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, for their second album With The Beatles, including covers of Smokey Robinson and Barrett Strong songs alongside two album tracks.

1968

Recording: Cry Baby Cry, Helter Skelter – 18 July 1968
The Beatles recorded Cry Baby Cry and the first version of Helter Skelter at EMI Studios during the White Album sessions, with the latter running to over 27 minutes in its original take.

1969

Recording, mixing: Oh! Darling, Octopus’s Garden – 18 July 1969
The Beatles worked on Oh! Darling and Octopus’s Garden at Abbey Road during the Abbey Road sessions, with Paul McCartney continuing his series of vocal takes for the former track.

1971

Filming: Imagine by John Lennon and Yoko Ono – 18 July 1971
John Lennon and Yoko Ono filmed sequences for the Imagine documentary at Tittenhurst Park, capturing footage that would accompany the album of the same name.

1972

Wings live: Circus-Krone-Bau, Munich – 18 July 1972
Wings performed at the Circus-Krone-Bau in Munich during their 1972 European tour, one of the group’s earliest major live appearances following their formation in 1971.

1974

Travel: Paul McCartney – Nashville to New York – 18 July 1974
Wings departed Nashville after several weeks of rehearsals at Curly Putman’s farm, with Denny Laine and others flying to London while Paul and Linda McCartney drove to New York, stopping in Knoxville.

1978

Recording: Old Siam Sir by Wings – 18 July 1978
Wings began recording Old Siam, Sir at the Spirit of Ranachan Studio in Campbeltown, Scotland, a track based on a 1976 McCartney demo that would appear on the Back to the Egg album.

1990

Paul McCartney live: Cyclone Stadium, Ames – 18 July 1990
Paul McCartney performed the 97th date of his 102-show World Tour at Cyclone Stadium in Ames, Iowa, drawing 55,000 fans despite protests by local farmers over his vegetarianism.

1992

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Valby-Hallen, Copenhagen – 18 July 1992
Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band performed at Valby-Hallen in Copenhagen, the 33rd show of their 62-date 1992 tour featuring Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren, Dave Edmunds and Zak Starkey.

1995

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Garden State Arts Center, Holmdel – 18 July 1995
Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band performed at the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, the 24th show of their 50-date 1995 tour, with E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg joining for the encore.

2006

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel – 18 July 2006
Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band performed at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, the 23rd show of their 25-date 2006 North American tour featuring Edgar Winter, Rod Argent and Sheila E.

2008

Lennon childhood biopic awarded UK Film Council grant – 18 July 2008
It was announced that Nowhere Boy, a biopic of John Lennon’s early life written by Matt Greenhalgh and based on Julia Baird’s memoir, had received backing from the UK Film Council’s development fund.

Beatles Monopoly set to pass Go – 18 July 2008
Monopoly: The Beatles Collectors Edition was announced — the group’s first officially licensed board game, replacing traditional properties with Beatles albums in chronological order and featuring six Beatles-themed pewter tokens.

Limited edition Beatles iPod to be sold by Bloomingdales – 18 July 2008
US department store Bloomingdales announced a strictly limited edition Beatles iPod — just 2,500 units, each sold with The Beatles’ back catalogue pre-loaded — fuelling speculation about an imminent iTunes deal.

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Pend Oreille Pavilion, Airway Heights – 18 July 2008
Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band performed at the Pend Oreille Pavilion at Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Airway Heights, Washington, the 19th show of their 29-date 2008 North American tour.

Pete Best to release new CD Haymans Green – 18 July 2008
Pete Best announced his first album of original material, Haymans Green — an autobiographical record named after the Liverpool street where The Casbah Club, opened by his mother Mona in 1959, was located.

2009

Paul McCartney live: Citi Field, New York City – 18 July 2009
Paul McCartney performed the second of three nights at Citi Field — the successor to Shea Stadium — as part of his Summer Live ’09 Tour, with the concert filmed for release.

2010

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Beau Rivage Theatre, Biloxi – 18 July 2010
Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band performed at the Beau Rivage Theatre in Biloxi, Mississippi, the 18th show of their 31-date 2010 North American tour featuring Edgar Winter, Gary Wright and Rick Derringer.

2019

Paul McCartney co-writing It’s A Wonderful Life musical – 18 July 2019
It was announced that Paul McCartney was writing his first stage musical — an adaptation of Frank Capra’s 1946 film It’s A Wonderful Life, with book and lyrics by Lee Hall and produced by his Liverpool schoolfriend Bill Kenwright.