Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

It was 60 years ago today that The Beatles’ second film, Help, was released in the U.S. on August 11, 1965. Categorized as a comedy adventure where the group is running from a cult trying to get their hands on a piece of jewelry stuck on Ringo’s finger, it also provided fans with an accompanying album which debuted a week earlier.

A second film for the group was no surprise as it followed their landmark career altering arrival in America in February 1964 which prompted the release of their first film, A Hard Day’s Night, on August 12, 1964.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

As successful as a new movie & album were for the band, there was an even bigger milestone on the horizon for The Fab Four that year. This Friday marks the 60th anniversary of their historic concert at Shea Stadium in Queens, New York. At that time it was home to baseball’s NY Mets & football’s NY Jets, but on Sunday, August 15, 1965 the Beatles used it to become the first band to ever play a stadium concert. The music was inaudible over the screams of the majority of young girls in the audience of 55,600 attendees, but the band played their 12 song set anyway as follows:

• “Twist & Shout”
• “She’s A Woman”
• “I Feel Fine”
• “Dizzy Miss Lizzy”
• “Ticket To Ride”
• “Everybody’s Trying To Be My Baby”
• “Can’t Buy Me Love”
• “Baby’s In Black”
• “Act Naturally”
• “A Hard Day’s Night”
• “Help”
• “I’m Down”

The BBC made a 50 minute movie of the concert which was first broadcast in 1966, the same year The Beatles returned to Shea for another show which took place on August 23, 1966 as part of their final tour. The stadium was demolished in 2009 with Bill Joel holding the last concerts there a year earlier. Dubbed “The Last Play At Shea”, he welcomed several special guests to bid farewell to the place where The Beatles made history, including Sir Paul McCartney. He & Joel closed the final show with a performance of “Let It Be”.

It was also McCartney that played the first three inaugural concerts in July 2009 at the new stadium, Citi Field, which is located a few blocks from where Shea once stood. He included a song from the 1965 concert playlist, “I’m Down” and it can be heard on the live album set, Good Evening New York City, which McCartney released in November 2009.

In April of that year, Citi Field became the new home for the NY Mets. According to ESPN, the team will pay tribute to the historic Shea concert anniversary before their scheduled home game against the Seattle Mariners this Friday night.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Last week we said goodbye to American hero James Arthur Lovell Jr. The astronaut, test pilot, naval aviator and mechanical engineer died on August 7, 2025 in Lake Forest, Illinois at age 97. In 1968, he & two other men-Frank Borman (March 14, 1928 – November 7, 2023) and William Anders (October 17, 1933 – June 7, 2024)-became the first three astronauts to orbit the moon during the Apollo 8 mission. Then in 1970, Lovell commanded Apollo 13 and brought it back to Earth safely after an oxygen tank exploded in the service module 48 hours into the flight. Ron Howard’s film based on that mission was released 30 years ago on June 30, 1995 starring Tom Hanks as Lovell.

He was born March 25, 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison before graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952. A decade later, he was selected as an astronaut by NASA which issued this statement after his passing:

“We are saddened by the passing of Jim Lovell, commander of Apollo 13 and a four-time spaceflight veteran,” the space agency said. “Lovell’s life and work inspired millions. His courage under pressure helped forge our path to the Moon and beyond—a journey that continues today.”

Lovell and his wife, Marilyn Gerlach, were married 71 years before her death two years ago on August 27, 2023. The couple had four children.

James Arthur Lovell Jr.: March 25, 1928 – August 7, 2025.

Jim Lovell in 1969 (top) and circa 2015 (bottom). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

The Beatles: “Help” (1965, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” (1965, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “I’ve Just Seen A Face” (1965, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “I Feel Fine” (1964, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “Ticket To Ride” (1965, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “I’m Down” (1965, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

Elton John: “Rocket Man” (1972, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin).

Stay safe & well.