The Beatles Play Shea

The Beatles' third tour of North America was nearly a year in the planning. By late 1964, manager Brian Epstein knew that they were not only the biggest act in his stable: they had become the biggest act on earth. America worshipped them. Somewhere different for the start of this tour, in New York - somewhere appropriately massive - had to be found.

It was: a baseball stadium in Flushing, Queens. On August 15, 1965, The Beatles played the concert of their lives there. This is that story. Here also are the huge strides in writing, musicianship, and recording the group made in the 12 months or so leading up to Shea Stadium. Some of this was played at the gig but little above the screams was heard. The Beatles at Shea 50 years ago remains, nonetheless, a watershed 1960s moment: the climax in the live career of the greatest quartet the world has known.