Pick a Day

Music History Events: Recordings

September 18, 1968 The Beatles pause their Abbey Road Studios recording sessions for "Birthday" so that they can run back to Paul McCartney's house and watch the British-television premiere of the 1956 American film The Girl Can't Help It, featuring Little Richard and Fats Domino. Suitably inspired, they return to the studio after the viewing and complete the song that night.

September 17, 1968 The Supremes record "Love Child."

September 11, 1968 The Beatles record most of "Glass Onion," John Lennon's song about fans who suss out hidden messages in his lyrics.

September 6, 1968 Eric Clapton records the guitar solo for The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

July 26, 1968 Jeannie C. Riley records "Harper Valley P.T.A."

June 23, 1968 Elvis Presley records "If I Can Dream" and "Memories."

May 31, 1968 While recording vocals for "Revolution," John Lennon does some improvised ranting that is later used in the head-scratching "Revolution 9."

May 30, 1968 Fresh from a retreat to India, The Beatles begin recording the White Album at Abbey Road Studios in London. The first song they work on is "Revolution."

May 16, 1968 Tony Joe White records "Polk Salad Annie."

May 14, 1968 The Rascals record "People Got To Be Free."

May 7, 1968 Aretha Franklin records a live album in Paris.

April 20, 1968 The Rolling Stones record "Jumpin' Jack Flash."

April 15, 1968 Eleven days after the assassination of her friend Martin Luther King Jr., Aretha Franklin records "Think."

March 7, 1968 Elvis Presley records "Wonderful World," "Edge Of Reality," and "A Little Less Conversation."

January 30, 1968 Bobby Goldsboro records "Honey," a song written by Bobby Russell. It becomes one of the biggest hits of 1968, spending five weeks at #1 in the US.

January 17, 1968 Elvis Presley records "U.S. Male."

November 8, 1967 Nilsson records "Everybody's Talkin'."

November 6, 1967 Bob Dylan records "All Along the Watchtower," "John Wesley Harding," "As I Went Out One Morning," "I Pity The Poor Immigrant" and "I Am A Lonesome Hobo."

October 19, 1967 Jose Feliciano records "Light My Fire."

October 17, 1967 Bob Dylan records "Drifter's Escape," "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine," and "The Ballad Of Frankie Lee And Judas Priest."

September 13, 1967 Joe Tex records "Skinny Legs And All."

September 5, 1967 The Beatles start recording "I Am The Walrus" for their Magical Mystery Tour album. Sound effects and sundry overdubs, including a bit from a BBC radio broadcast, are added later.

August 23, 1967 The Beatles record "Your Mother Should Know" at Chappell Recording Studios in London. It's their last session before the death of their manager, Brian Epstein, who passes away four days later.

August 17, 1967 Gary Puckett and the Union Gap records "Woman, Woman."

June 23, 1967 Aretha Franklin records "Chain Of Fools."

June 22, 1967 The Young Rascals records "How Can I Be Sure?"

June 20, 1967 The Buckinghams record "Susan" and "Hey Baby They're Playing Our Song."

June 14, 1967 At Olympic Sound Studios in London, The Beatles start working on "All You Need Is Love," written specifically for a global satellite broadcast. The simple, repetitive chorus makes it a great fit for the international audience.

June 14, 1967 The Monkees record "Daydream Believer."

June 10, 1967 The Monkees record "Pleasant Valley Sunday."