Sixty years ago The Fab Four toured Australia for the first and last time. Greg Armstrong is the co-author of When We Was Fab - Inside The Beatles' Australasian Tour 1964. He takes us behind the scenes of the tour— the promoters who lucked out by signing the band up before the height of their fame, the late inclusion of the Adelaide shows, the band's unprecedented reception in the streets, and how Australia's music scene was left permanently changed when it was all over.
Our thanks to all of the listeners who got in touch with us about their memories of the 1964 Australian tour. In this episode we hear from Gillian, Maggie, Jane, Paul, Robert, Geoff, Geraldine, Dianne, Pauline and Chris.
Music heard in the show:
Title: It Won't Be LongArtist: The BeatlesComposer: Lennon-McCartneyAlbum: With The BeatlesLabel: Parlophone PMCO 1206
Title: I Want To Hold Your HandArtist: The BeatlesComposer: Lennon-McCartneyAlbum: (Single)Label: Parlophone A8103
Title: MiseryArtist: The BeatlesComposer: Lennon-McCartneyAlbum: Please Please MeLabel: Parlophone PMCO 1202
Title: Roll Over BeethovenArtist: The BeatlesComposer: Chuck BerryAlbum: With The BeatlesLabel: Parlophone PMCO 1206
Title: Can't Buy Me Love (Live in Melbourne 1964)Artist: The BeatlesComposer: Lennon-McCartneyABC Recording
Title: (Let's Have A) PartyArtist: Johnny ChesterComposer: Jessie Mae RobinsonAlbum: Rocker 1961-1966Label: ScreenSound Australia CD/SSA/3C0026
Title: Long Tall SallyArtist: The BeatlesComposer: Enotris Johnson, Robert Blackwell, Richard PennimanAlbum: (Single)Label: Parlophone GEP 8913
Title: She Loves YouArtist: The BeatlesComposer: Lennon-McCartneyAlbum: (Single)Label: Parlophone A8093
Title: LotusArtist: The TwilightsComposer: Terry BrittenAlbum: The Way They PlayedLabel: Raven Records RVCD-364
Title: Twist And Shout (Live in Melbourne 1964)Artist: The BeatlesComposer: Bert Berns, Phil MedleyABC Recording
The Music Show is made on Gadigal and Gundungurra Country.
Technical production by Simon Branthwaite