Beatles Albums USA

No less than six albums were released in the USA in 1964, as the American label Capitol sort to catch up with the UK releases and spread things out a little. The first album to be released was on Vee Jay records and was called - Introducing... The Beatles. It came out in two forms. Meet the Beatles!, The Beatles' Second Album, (sic, as it was on Capitol) A Hard Day's Night (which included George Martin scored instrumentals from the film)  Something New, Beatles '65 (sic, it came out in December of 1964). 

Beatles Albums UK

In the UK two Beatles albums came out in the UK, both on Parlophone. A Hard Day's Night was the third studio album, released on 10 July 1964. The first side contained songs from the soundtrack to their film of the same name. In contrast to the Beatles' first two albums, all 13 tracks on A Hard Day's Night were written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, showcasing the development of their songwriting partnership. Beatles for Sale the fourth studio album was released on 4 December 1964.

Rolling Stones

In 1964 The Rolling Stones released two albums, both on Decca in the UK and London in the USA. (The track listing in the UK and the US was slightly different for the first album.) Their debut album was self-titled and their second album was called 12 X 5. Most titles were covers but not all.

Bob Dylan Albums

In 1964, Bob Dylan released two albums, both on Columbia Records and featuring only Dylan himself. The Times They Are a-Changin' is the third studio album, released on January 13. Whereas previous albums consisted of original material among cover songs, this third album was the first to feature only original compositions.

Another Side of Bob Dylan the fourth studio album was released on August 8.

The Hollies

Stay with The Hollies (American title: Here I Go Again) is the debut album by the British rock band The Hollies. It was released in January 1964 on Parlophone Records.

The Animals

The Animals is the self-titled debut album by the British band the Animals. It was released in the UK in October 1964 on Columbia Records. That same year an American version of the album was released.

Manfred Mann

The Five Faces of Manfred Mann is the debut UK studio album by British based band Manfred Mann. It was first released in the UK in September 1964 by HMV.

The Manfred Mann Album was the debut American studio album, released the same month on Ascot Records. It contains the hit single "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", as well as covers of various R&B hits.

Kinks

The self-titled debut album by British band the Kinks was released in 1964. It was released with three tracks omitted as You Really Got Me in the United States.

Death of Edith Sitwell

Dame Edith Louisa Sitwell DBE died on December 9, 1964, having been born September 7, 1887. She was a British poet and critic and the eldest of the three literary Sitwells. She reacted badly to her eccentric, unloving parents and lived much of her life with her governess. She never married but became passionately attached to Russian painter Pavel Tchelitchew, and her home was always open to London's poetic circle, to whom she was generous and helpful

She published poetry continuously from 1913, some of it abstract and set to music. With her dramatic style and exotic costumes, she was sometimes labelled a poseur but her work was praised for its solid technique and painstaking craftsmanship. She was a recipient of the Benson Medal of the Royal Society of Literature.

General Election UK

On October 15 there was a general election in the UK and Harold Wilson (Labour) replaced Sir Alec Douglas-Home (Tory). Wilson's majority was only five seats but it ended 13 years of Conservative rule. Sir Alec had only been PM for 12 months. Among the retiring MPS was Sir Winston Churchill, who had been an MP for 63 of the previous 65 years. He had, of course, also been PM.