The Beatles' First Recording
On the 6th June, 1962 the Beatles made their first recording at EMI's Abbey Road Studios. Although the recording didn't result in any hit singles – their first single Love Me Do came later that year in September – the band went on to be the world's best-selling musical group of all time, selling over a billion records worldwide.

John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met at a fete in 1957 and soon after John asked Paul to join his group The Quarrymen. In February 1958 guitarist George Harrison saw The Quarrymen play and joined them a month later. It wasn't until 1962 that drummer Ringo Starr formally joined them (now called the Beatles), although he had played with them a number of times before. In this photo, The Beatles leap for joy during a rehearsal for a Royal Variety Performance on 4th November 1963.