BBC Television airs the first episode of Doctor Who
BBC Television broadcast the first episode of Doctor Who, An Unearthly Child, at 5:16 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, 1963, per Wikipedia.
Ron Grainer wrote the theme and Delia Derbyshire realised it at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop by cutting and splicing tape, per Wikipedia, and the clip below is the original 1963 titles.
1969 in 1960s music: the full year guide
The Rolling Stones make their last Ed Sullivan Show appearance
The Rolling Stones played Gimme Shelter, Love in Vain and Honky Tonk Women on The Ed Sullivan Show, broadcast on November 23, 1969, per Wikipedia.
It was their last appearance on the show, the band mimed to prerecorded tracks while Mick Jagger sang live, and the clip below is Gimme Shelter.
1968 in 1960s music: the full year guide
Hey Jude spends its ninth week at No. 1
The Beatles' Hey Jude held No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the chart dated November 23, 1968, its ninth and final week on top, per Wikipedia.
Love Child by Diana Ross and the Supremes replaced it the following week, and the clip below is Hey Jude.
Rolling Stone puts John Lennon and Yoko Ono on its cover
Rolling Stone issue 22, dated November 23, 1968, put John Lennon and Yoko Ono on its cover, per Wikipedia.
The cover showed the couple nude from behind, and the clip below is Revolution, the Lennon song the Beatles released as the B-side of Hey Jude.
1967 in 1960s music: the full year guide
The Jimi Hendrix Experience headline Cardiff
The Jimi Hendrix Experience played the Sophia Gardens Pavilion in Cardiff on November 23, 1967, on a UK package tour with Pink Floyd, The Move, The Nice and Amen Corner.
The tour ran two shows a night, and the clip below is Purple Haze.
1966 in 1960s music: the full year guide
Leonard Bernstein teaches modes with a Beatles song on CBS
CBS broadcast Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concert What Is a Mode? on November 23, 1966, per Bernstein's website.
While explaining musical modes he asked viewers whether they knew the Beatles tune Norwegian Wood, and the clip below is the song.
1965 in 1960s music: the full year guide
The Beatles film ten promotional clips at Twickenham
The Beatles filmed ten promotional films at Twickenham Film Studios on November 23, 1965, directed by Joe McGrath, per the Beatles Bible.
They covered We Can Work It Out, Day Tripper, Help!, Ticket to Ride and I Feel Fine, and the clip below is the official video for We Can Work It Out.
1964 in 1960s music: the full year guide
Capitol releases The Beatles' Story double album
Capitol Records released the documentary double album The Beatles' Story in the US on November 23, 1964, per Wikipedia.
It mixed interviews, press conferences and song excerpts with narration, reached No. 7 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and went gold on December 31, 1964, and the clip below is I Want to Hold Your Hand on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Capitol releases I Feel Fine in the US
Capitol Records released the Beatles' I Feel Fine, backed with She's a Woman, in the US on November 23, 1964, four days before the UK release, per the Beatles Bible.
The record opens with a single feedback note, it spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, and the clip below is I Feel Fine.
The Beatles record their last Ready, Steady, Go! performance
The Beatles recorded their third and final performance for the pop show Ready, Steady, Go! at Wembley on November 23, 1964, per the Beatles Bible.
The songs they played are not listed in the Beatles Bible entry, so the clip below is Can't Buy Me Love, one of their 1964 number ones.
1963 in 1960s music: the full year guide
BBC Television airs the first episode of Doctor Who
BBC Television broadcast the first episode of Doctor Who, An Unearthly Child, at 5:16 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, 1963, per Wikipedia.
Ron Grainer wrote the theme and Delia Derbyshire realised it at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop by cutting and splicing tape, per Wikipedia, and the clip below is the original 1963 titles.
The Beatles play City Hall in Newcastle
The Beatles played the City Hall in Newcastle on Saturday, November 23, 1963, the 19th date of their autumn tour and their third visit to the venue, per the Beatles Bible.
They had played Newcastle in March and June that year, and the clip below is She Loves You.
1962 in 1960s music: the full year guide
Time puts Joan Baez on its cover
Time magazine put 21-year-old folk singer Joan Baez on its cover on November 23, 1962, with a story titled Folk Singing: Sibyl with Guitar, per Time's archive.
The cover was a painting by Russell Hoban, and the clip below is Silver Dagger from her 1960 debut album.
The Beatles audition for BBC television in London
The Beatles played a 10-minute lunchtime audition for a panel of BBC television producers at St James's Church Hall in London on November 23, 1962, per the Beatles Bible.
The Beatles Bible calls it evidently not a success, they did not make their BBC television debut until April 13, 1963, and the clip below is Love Me Do.
The Beatles play the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton
The Beatles hurried back to Merseyside after the BBC audition and played the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton, Wallasey, on November 23, 1962, their 24th show there, per the Beatles Bible.
Love Me Do was a few weeks old, and the clip below is its B-side, P.S. I Love You.
1961 in 1960s music: the full year guide
The Beatles play their 57th lunchtime show at the Cavern
The Beatles played their 57th lunchtime session at the Cavern Club in Liverpool on November 23, 1961, per the Beatles Bible.
They had recorded My Bonnie in Hamburg earlier that year, and the clip below is the song.
1960 in 1960s music: the full year guide
G.I. Blues reaches US theaters nationwide
Paramount's G.I. Blues, Elvis Presley's first film after leaving the Army, went into wide US release on November 23, 1960, after opening in New York on November 4, per The Numbers and Wikipedia.
The film featured Wooden Heart, and the clip below is the song.
RCA Victor releases Elvis Presley's gospel album His Hand in Mine
RCA Victor released the mono edition of Elvis Presley's gospel album His Hand in Mine (LPM-2328) on November 23, 1960, per Elvis Records.
He recorded it at RCA Studio B in Nashville on October 30 and 31, per Wikipedia, and the clip below is the title track.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Doctor Who first air?
BBC Television broadcast the first episode of Doctor Who, An Unearthly Child, at 5:16 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, 1963, per Wikipedia.
What was No. 1 on the Hot 100 on November 23, 1968?
The Beatles' Hey Jude was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the chart dated November 23, 1968. It was the ninth and final week of its run on top.
When was I Feel Fine released in the US?
Capitol Records released the Beatles' I Feel Fine in the US on November 23, 1964, four days before the UK release, per the Beatles Bible.
Which songs did the Rolling Stones play on their last Ed Sullivan Show?
The Rolling Stones played Gimme Shelter, Love in Vain and Honky Tonk Women, in an episode broadcast on November 23, 1969, per Wikipedia.
Which Beatles song did Leonard Bernstein discuss on CBS in 1966?
In What Is a Mode?, broadcast on CBS on November 23, 1966, Leonard Bernstein asked viewers whether they knew the Beatles tune Norwegian Wood.
Who was on the cover of Time on November 23, 1962?
Time magazine put 21-year-old folk singer Joan Baez on its cover on November 23, 1962, with a story titled Folk Singing: Sibyl with Guitar.