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The Beatles live: Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey

The Beatles performed before 18,000 fans at the Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on 30 August 1964.

Ticket for The Beatles at Atlantic City Convention Hall, New Jersey, 30 August 1964

The night before they had stayed at the Lafayette Motel. At 2.15pm they left in the back of a fish truck, and a short distance from the Convention Hall they switched to their waiting tour bus.

The Beatles performed their standard 12-song set: ‘Twist And Shout’, ‘You Can’t Do That’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘She Loves You’, ‘Things We Said Today’, ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’, ‘If I Fell’, ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’, ‘Boys’, ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, and ‘Long Tall Sally’.

After the show The Beatles left the venue in a laundry truck, as their limousine was too conspicuous. That night they stayed at the Marquis De Lafayette Hotel in nearby Cape May, where they stayed for a few days prior to their 2 September concert in Philadelphia.

During their stay in Atlantic City, John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote two songs for the Beatles For Sale album. The first was ‘Every Little Thing’.

John and I got this one written in Atlantic City during our last tour of the States. John does the guitar riff for this one, and George is on acoustic. Ringo bashes some timpani drums for the big noises you’ll hear.
Paul McCartney
Disc, 14 November 1964

The other song written during the break in New Jersey was ‘What You’re Doing’.

We wrote this one in Atlantic City like ‘Every Little Thing’. It’s not that Atlantic City is particularly inspiring, it’s just that we happened to have a day off the tour there! Ringo does a nice but of drumming decoration in the introduction, and I double-track on the vocal as well as playing some piano.
Paul McCartney
Disc, 14 November 1964
Last updated: 24 January 2024
The Beatles live: Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, New York
Day off in Cape May, New Jersey
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Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.

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