The Beatles record I Feel Fine with its feedback intro
In a nine-hour session at Studio Two, the Beatles cut eight takes of the I Feel Fine rhythm track, with the feedback intro present from the first take, per the Beatles Bible.
The same day added Eight Days a Week edit pieces and six more Beatles for Sale tracks, and the clip below is I Feel Fine.
1969 in 1960s music: the full year guide
The Temptations top the Hot 100 with I Can't Get Next to You
The Temptations' I Can't Get Next to You reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the chart dated October 18, 1969, per Billboard.
Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, it held the top spot for two weeks, and the clip below is the record, a hit of Motown psychedelic soul.
1968 in 1960s music: the full year guide
John Lennon and Yoko Ono are arrested for cannabis possession
Police led by Sergeant Norman Pilcher raided 34 Montagu Square in London at 11:30am and arrested John Lennon and Yoko Ono, per the Beatles Bible.
The flat belonged to Ringo Starr, and Lennon took sole responsibility and pleaded guilty on November 28, and the clip below is Revolution, the 1968 Beatles single.
1965 in 1960s music: the full year guide
The Beatles finish If I Needed Someone and record In My Life
In Studio Two at EMI Studios, the Beatles added George Harrison's lead vocal, his 12-string Rickenbacker and Ringo Starr's tambourine to If I Needed Someone, per the Beatles Bible.
They then rehearsed and recorded three takes of Lennon's In My Life, which was completed on October 22, and the clip below is If I Needed Someone.
1964 in 1960s music: the full year guide
The Animals make their Ed Sullivan Show debut
The Animals performed I'm Crying and House of the Rising Sun on The Ed Sullivan Show, the first of their six appearances, per the Ed Sullivan Show site.
The episode also featured Joan Sutherland and Jackie Mason, per the CTVA episode guide, and the clip below is the Animals' House of the Rising Sun on the show.
The Beatles record I Feel Fine with its feedback intro
In a nine-hour session at Studio Two, the Beatles cut eight takes of the I Feel Fine rhythm track, with the feedback intro present from the first take, per the Beatles Bible.
The same day added Eight Days a Week edit pieces and six more Beatles for Sale tracks, and the clip below is I Feel Fine.
1961 in 1960s music: the full year guide
Wynton Marsalis is born in New Orleans
Trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis was born in New Orleans, the second of six sons of pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr., per BlackPast.
He became artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the clip below is Caravan, a Marsalis recording in the jazz tradition.
West Side Story opens at the Rivoli Theatre in New York
The film version of West Side Story began its roadshow engagement at the Rivoli Theatre in New York on October 18, 1961, per Cinema Treasures.
The Rivoli run lasted 77 weeks, and the clip below is Rita Moreno's America from the film's soundtrack, with music by Leonard Bernstein.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in 1960s music on October 18?
October 18 saw 7 verified music events across the decade, including the Beatles recording I Feel Fine and the Animals' Ed Sullivan debut in 1964, John Lennon and Yoko Ono's arrest in 1968, and the Temptations topping the Hot 100 in 1969.
When did the Beatles record I Feel Fine?
The Beatles recorded I Feel Fine in Studio Two at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, on October 18, 1964, with the feedback introduction present from the first take.
When did the Animals first appear on The Ed Sullivan Show?
The Animals made their Ed Sullivan Show debut on October 18, 1964, performing I'm Crying and House of the Rising Sun.
When did the Beatles record In My Life?
The Beatles first recorded three takes of In My Life on October 18, 1965, and completed it on October 22, 1965, when George Martin overdubbed his piano solo.
When were John Lennon and Yoko Ono arrested?
Police led by Sergeant Norman Pilcher arrested John Lennon and Yoko Ono for cannabis possession on October 18, 1968, at 34 Montagu Square in London.
When did the Temptations hit No. 1 with I Can't Get Next to You?
I Can't Get Next to You reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the chart dated October 18, 1969, and stayed on top for two weeks.
When did West Side Story open at the Rivoli Theatre?
The film version of West Side Story began its roadshow engagement at the Rivoli Theatre in New York on October 18, 1961, and the run lasted 77 weeks.