Radio: Top Gear

Following a four-month gap spent touring and recording, The Beatles returned to the BBC on this day to record a session for the music radio programme Top Gear.

The session took place at London’s Playhouse Theatre from 7.30-11.30pm. The Beatles performed six songs: ‘I’m A Loser’, ‘Honey Don’t’, ‘She’s A Woman’, ‘Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby’, ‘I’ll Follow The Sun’ and ‘I Feel Fine’. They also gave an interview to host Brian Matthew.

The show was first broadcast on 26 November 1964 on the BBC Light Programme service, from 10pm-midnight.

Five of the six tracks were later issued by Apple Corps. I’m A Loser, She’s A Woman, Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby and I Feel Fine were all included on 1994’s Live At The BBC, while I’ll Follow The Sun was released as part of the same year’s ‘Baby It’s You’ EP.

This session’s version of I’ll Follow The Sun was the third known recording of the song, in addition to the Beatles For Sale studio version and an early attempt believed to date from 1960.