UK single release: The Ballad Of John And Yoko

The Beatles’ second UK single of 1969, ‘The Ballad Of John And Yoko’, was released on this day. The b-side was George Harrison’s ‘Old Brown Shoe’.

The Ballad Of John And Yoko was recorded by John Lennon and Paul McCartney at Abbey Road’s studio three on 14 April 1969, without the other two Beatles being present.

It was rush-released just six weeks after it was recorded, while ‘Get Back’ was still at number one in the UK charts. The Ballad Of John And Yoko was released as Apple R 5786, and was The Beatles’ first single in Britain and Europe to be released in stereo.

The single entered the UK charts on 4 June 1969, and the following week reached the number one spot. It stayed there for three weeks, and spent a total of 14 weeks on the charts.