1965 Monday 1st February

The Beatles’ Activities on February 1, 1965

In early 1965, The Beatles were at the height of their global fame following the massive success of their 1964 North American tour, the films A Hard Day’s Night, and a string of number-one hits. The band had released their fourth UK album, Beatles for Sale, in December 1964, which topped the charts over the Christmas period. In the US, Capitol Records had issued Beatles ’65 in mid-December 1964, featuring many of the same tracks.

On February 1, 1965, Capitol Records released the EP titled 4 By The Beatles in the United States. This was the third Beatles EP released in the US and the second by Capitol. The EP compiled four tracks from Beatles for Sale / Beatles ’65:

• A Side 1: “Honey Don’t” (written by Carl Perkins, sung by Ringo Starr)
• A Side 2: “I’m A Loser” (Lennon-McCartney, sung by John Lennon)
• B Side 1: “Mr Moonlight” (Roy Lee Johnson, sung by John Lennon)
• B Side 2: “Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby” (Carl Perkins, sung by George Harrison)

These songs highlighted the rock ‘n’ roll influences on The Beatles during this period, with covers of Perkins tracks and original compositions showing their evolving songwriting. The EP was a commercial success in the US market, capitalizing on the ongoing Beatlemania wave. No live performances, recordings, or public appearances by the band are documented for this exact date, as they were in a brief hiatus following their Christmas shows in late 1964 and before resuming film work for Help! later in February and March 1965. Recording for new material, including early sessions leading to “Ticket to Ride,” would begin in mid-February.

This release underscored The Beatles’ dominance in the American market, where Capitol strategically packaged their material to maximize sales through singles, albums, and EPs amid the British Invasion.

Top 10 Songs in the UK Charts on February 1, 1965

Top 10 Songs in the USA Charts (Billboard Hot 100) on February 1, 1965

Top News Headlines and Events from Around the World on February 1, 1965

• In Selma, Alabama, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and approximately 770 demonstrators (mostly African American) were arrested during a march protesting voter registration restrictions in Dallas County. Sheriff Jim Clark charged the group with parading without a permit, marking a key escalation in the Selma Voting Rights Campaign that would lead to Bloody Sunday and the Voting Rights Act later in the year.
• Australian Championships Men’s Tennis: Roy Emerson won his third consecutive Australian title, defeating Fred Stolle 7-9, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-1.
• Australian Championships Women’s Tennis: Margaret Smith (Court) won her sixth straight home singles title, beating Maria Bueno 5-7, 6-4, 5-2 (Bueno retired injured).
• Former heavyweight boxing champion Floyd Patterson defeated George Chuvalo by unanimous decision in a 12-round non-title bout at Madison Square Garden, New York; named Fight of the Year by ‘The Ring’ magazine.
• Ongoing developments in the Vietnam War and civil rights movement dominated international headlines.

Notable People Born on February 1, 1965

• Brandon Lee, American actor (Showdown in Little Tokyo, The Crow), son of Bruce Lee (d. 1993).
• Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, member of the Monegasque royal family.
• Sherilyn Fenn, American actress (Twin Peaks, 2 Moon Junction).
• Dave Callaghan, South African cricket all-rounder (29 ODIs).

Notable People Who Died on February 1, 1965

• No major notable deaths are prominently recorded for February 1, 1965. The month saw significant losses later, such as Nat King Cole on February 15 and Malcolm X on February 21, but this specific date had no high-profile figures pass away.