Most likely between October 1 & 5: Recording sessions for the LP “A Bit Of Liverpool” in Los Angeles, including the unreleased tracks “I Saw Him Standing There” and “Not Fade Away” (unreleased until the “Lost & Found” cd).
According to the booklet of “Lost & Found” the Supremes recorded the songs for the album “A Bit Of Liverpool” in Los Angeles in October 1964. The booklet states: “In October 1964 the Supremes made a well-received first visit to the United Kingdom. Upon returning to the States, they headed to Los Angeles to film The T.A.M.I. Show… While in L.A. the girls recorded with Marc Gordon and Hal Davis for the first time. The project released the following month in the U.S as A Bit Of Liverpool...”. This information does not match: the album was released on October 16 and the taping of the T.AM.I. Show was only on October 28 & 29. The meeting with Marc Gordon and Hal Davis surely happened during the Supremes previous stay in Los Angeles for the taping of the Steve Allen Show, the Lloyd Thaxton Show and “9th Street West”, so circa September 24-30 (or a few days earlier depending on their arrival in the city). If the recording sessions happened in October as stated in the booklet “Lost & Found”, then it was between October 1 & 5.
Photo session for the album "A Bit Of Liverpool", most probably in Detroit.
The Supremes embark for their first European visit. Flight from Detroit airport to New York and then to London. They meet Louis Armstrong at the Detroit airport by chance.
- Arrival of the Supremes at London’s airport at 8 a.m. for a ten days tour of radio and TV engagements.
The date of the departure from Detroit is erroneously October 7 in Mary Wilson’s “Dreamgirl” and “Supreme Glamour”, and the duration of the tour is lengthened to two weeks in J. Randy Taraborrelli "Diana Ross: The Unauthorized Biography" p.101, the DVD "Reflections" and Mark Ribowsky "The Supremes A Saga...". The Supremes were actually back in the USA on October 16.
- The Supremes record for the radio show “Pop Inn”, their first British broadcast, at 1 p.m. (on BBC 1). The show is recorded at the Paris Theatre (at 12 Regent Street in London) and during which they perform live “Where Did Our Love Go” and “Baby Love”.
- US: Broadcast of the TV show “Steve Allen Show” (taped on September 24).
- UK: Taping of the TV show “Top Of The Pops” in Manchester (broadcast on October 8).
The Supremes backstage of Top of the Pops.
- (most probably on October 7) In Manchester, taping and/or broadcast of the local UK TV show “Scene at 6.30” (local north west and Yorkshire TV).
The Supremes in Trafalgar Square.
On the picture above: with Robert Bullock (Esther Gordy'son and Berry Gordy's nephew).
- Taping of the TV show “The Five O'Clock Club” (broadcast on October 20).
- Gigs at mod clubs on Fleet and Carnaby Streets in London (exact date unknown).
- Gig at the Ricky Tick Club in Windsor, UK.
The Supremes pose for pictures in Manchester Square, near the headquarters of EMI Records in London.
And the same day: photo shoot for the following Christmas season !
- The Supremes give an interview in their London hotel to the newspaper “Disc” (probably among others).
- Private performance in the office of Sir Joseph Lockwood, chief of EMI, because he couldn’t attend the reception mentioned below. The Supremes sing (at least) “Put On A Happy Face”.
- Press reception at the EMI building in London during which the Supremes perform.
The Supremes performing on October 8 before the press at the headquarters of EMI Records in London. Note that they wore the same gowns on October 10 during the Friday Spectacular radio show (also at the EMI headquarters) but they had different hairstyles).
Florence Ballard, Barney Ales (Motown sales manager), Mary Wilson, Berry Gordy Jr. (founder of Motown), Diana Ross and Neville Marten (European director of Cash Box) at the EMI reception.
- Broadcast of the UK TV show “Top Of The Pops” (at 7:30 p.m.).
This date is according to TV.com and genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. The newspaper Melody Maker (October 3, 1964 issue) dates it on October 7 but “Top of the Pops” was broadcast on Thursdays and October 7 is a Wednesday (see also October 15)
- UK radio show “Top Gear” on BBC (show at 10 p.m.)
- UK TV show “Ready Steady, Go!”. The Supremes perform “Baby Love” and “When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes”.
The Supremes meet the Dave Clarck Five on the set of "Ready Steady Go".
- Gig at the Flamingo Club (night club on Wardour Street in Soho, London), party held for the Supremes by the Tamla-Motown Appreciation Society.
October 9 is according to Melody Maker and October 10 is according to Record Mirror (both October 3 issues). The article in Record Mirror may mix the party at the Flamingo and the one at the EMI headquarters both organized by the Tamla-Motown Appreciation Society.
- Canada: broadcast of the TV show “Saturday Date” from Ottawa. Interview of the Supremes.
- UK: Motown party at the EMI building in London where Berry Gordy and the Supremes meet the Tamla-Motown Appreciation Society. The Supremes perform “Where Did Our Love Go” and “Baby Love”.
- Taping of the UK TV show “Thank Your Lucky Star” in Birmingham (broadcast on October 17).
- The same day, the Supremes meet Paul McCartney and Ringo Star, members of the Beatles, at the Ad Lib Club in London.
Mary Wilson situates this on October 15 (Dreamgirl, p.253) but an article in Record Mirror (October 3, 1964 issue) gives the exact date for the recording date of “Thank Your Lucky Star”.
The Supremes attend Lena Horne concert at the Talk of the Town and meet her backstage (Lena Horne engagement at the Talk of the Town was from September 14 to November 7 or 8, so the exact date of the meeting remains unknown).
The Supremes meet Lena Horne after her show at the Talk of the Town.
The Supremes leaving the Talk of the Town after meeting Lena Horne.
- UK: recording of the radio show “Friday Spectacular”, recorded for Radio Luxembourg at the EMI headquarter in London. During this show, the Supremes are presented a “Disc” award for over a quarter million sales of “Where Did Our Love Go” in England by Shaw Taylor. The most probable dates of broadcast are Friday October 16 or 23.
- Flight London-Amsterdam in the afternoon for a one day only stay in the Netherlands organized by Pete Felleman.
- Press conference at the Schiphol airport.
Press conference at Schiphol airport
- Taping of the TV show “Hoe Maakt U Het ?” in Holland. The name of the show is according to the video on youtube and couldn't be verified. It's the first episode of a monthly show, broadcast on October 24, in which personnel from various industries have a say (it doesn’t sound like a program in which artists would perform).
- Taping of the radio show “Tussen 10+ en 20-” in the Netherlands (broadcast on October 27).
- The Netherlands: taping of the TV show “Kijkt u ook vanavond ?” aka “Snip & Snap Revue” at the Carré Theatre in Amsterdam (Koninklijk Theater Carré), broadcast on December 13.
- After the taping of the TV show, the Supremes go the Brussels (Belgium).
The Supremes on the plane to Brussels and posing with modern plastic art the same day.
The Supremes record a TV show in Brussels (Belgium), supposedly “Televisum”, broadcast on December 2.
- UK TV show “Top Of The Pops”. The Supremes perform “Baby Love”. This is a repeated performance of October 8 but the DVD “The Supremes – Reflections –The Definitive Performances 1964-1969” states that Jimmy Savile hosted the show, which he did on October 15 but not on October 8 (hosted by Pete Murray).
This segment was also repeated on the show on October 29, November 12 & 26 and on Christmas Eve in “Top Of the Pops ‘64”.
- The Supremes leave the UK according to articles in UK newspapers (Melody Maker and Disc, both October 17, 1964 issues) – see also October 17.
According to Billboard (October 24, 1964 issue), the Supremes flew back to the U.S. from Belgium. Note that according to Disc (October 17, 1964 issue), the Supremes “go back to America on Sunday” (Sunday, October 18) which would mean that the Supremes spent October 16 and 17 in Belgium, but in another article on the same page they write they “flew back to America on Tuesday”! These are unlikely as they were in Chicago on October 16. The Supremes actually left London on Tuesday 13th but to Amsterdam, not the USA. See above for a probable tour end.
- LP “A Bit Of Liverpool” released.
- Closing of the Music Operators of America (MOA) convention with the banquet held at the Terrace Casino of the Morrison Hotel in Chicago and a show featuring the Supremes, Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, the Headliners, Sue Charles Dancers, Li’l Wally and the Harmony Boys, Ray & Roman Dance Team, the Four Tops, the Kim Sisters, Willie Restum, Junior & the Classics, Li’l Peggy March, the Back Porch Majority and the Frank York Orchestra.
The Supremes are also presented a golden disc for “Where Did Our Love Go".
UK: broadcast of the TV show “Thank Your Lucky Star” at 5:50 p.m.
This TV show was pre-recorded, probably on October 15, otherwise it’s not compatible with the information given in the UK newspapers (see October 15), and the COA convention on October 16 in Chicago.
It is also probably erroneously announced on October 25 in Melody Maker (October 3, 1964 issue) : this show was broadcast on Saturdays and October 25 is a Sunday.
Engagement at the Uptown Theater in Philadelphia, PA.
In the lineup: Marvin Gaye, the Suprem(ads in the Philadelphia Inquirer every day from October 15 to 25, 1964)(ads in the Philadelphia Inquirer every day from October 15 to 25, 1964)es, the Marvelettes, Little Anthony & the Imperials, the Spinners, Kim Weston, Hubert Casey & his orchestra.
Note : the complete engagement at the Uptown actually began on October 16 with Little Stevie Wonder instead of the Supremes.
UK: broadcast of the TV show “The Five O'Clock Club” at 5:50 p.m.
This TV show was pre-recorded between October 6 & 13.
- UK: Airdate of the radio show “Saturday Club” (recorded between October 8 & 13) (Melody Maker, October 3, 1964 issue, gives October 17 as possible broadcast date but they are not on the program this day according to http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk).
- The Netherlands: broadcast of the TV show TV show “Hoe Maakt U Het ?” (see also 'October 13 or 14').
- Most probably an erroneous date of broadcast of “Thank Your Lucky Star” in Melody Maker (October 3, 1964 issue), see October 17.
- Last date of the engagement at the Uptown Theater in Philadelphia, PA.
- Single “Come See About Me” released.
- The Netherlands: broadcast of the radio show “Tussen 10+ en 20-”, 5:35 p.m. to 6 p.m. (recorded on October 13 or 14).
Recording of the “Teenage Awards Music International” (T.A.M.I.) (aka “Teen Age Music International” in some press articles) Show at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, CA, for theaters. The Supremes perform 4 songs (see TVgraphy).
Note: This is erroneously dated October 26 by Ribowsky in "The Supremes A saga...", October 27 and 28 in Cash Box (Oct 24 issue). October 28 and 29 is according to www.setlist.fm & the back cover of the DVD “The Supremes – Reflections – The Definitive Performances 1964-1969” and an article in the Los Angeles Times, (November 1st, 1964 issue). Mary Wilson dates it on October 24 which might be the arrival of the Supremes in LA. The producers added the second day to shoot both shows for theatrical release (see also November 14 & December 26 & 29 for release dates in the USA; also released in Europe - see April 1965).
Motortown Revue at Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, PA. The Supremes appearance is cancelled due to the illness of one member of the group. They are replaced by Stevie Wonder.
- “Baby Love” hits #1 on pop charts. The song will get a Grammy nomination for best contemporary R&B recording (see also April 13, 1965).
- Motortown Revue at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ (2 shows).