"He say I know you, you know me"

This is the once-upon-a-time Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Mall of America now rests atop the former location of the "Old Met." This is how it looked the evening of August 21, 1965, during the only Minnesota appearance by The Beatles. The stage, you might gather, is sort of in the middle of the frame on the left side and the almost-visible, miniscule black dots on it (listed according to my preferences) are none other than John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. The photograph came from the Minnesota Historical Society.

The night the "Fab Four" came to town

Had you driven by Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota, 56 years ago this evening, you might have thought by the measure of the noise emanating from the "Old Met" that the Minnesota Twins baseball team was massacring (metaphorically) the New York Yankees.

In fact, the Twins' locker room was occupied the evening of August 21, 1965, by four individuals more familiar with "football" (soccer) and cricket than with baseball.  Although The Beatles toured the United States three times between 1964 and 1966, this was the only stop by the "Fab Four" in Minnesota. An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 fans were at the event, something less than the nearly 46,000 seating capacity by the time of the concert.

Other than the performance itself, the highlights of the appearance were a press conference by "the lads," the presentation to George Harrison of a new Rickenbacker 360-12, an electric 12-string guitar in a Fireglo red sunburst finish, and the apparent after-midnight presence of a young lady in Paul McCartney's room at the Leamington Motor Inn. The other three Beatles reportedly had gone to bed (and right to sleep) after the concert.

For those who keep score, the guitar was used on "If I Needed Someone" on 1965's Rubber Soul album.

I suppose it is noteworthy to also mention that prior to the concert, all four took saunas for the first time, according to the stadium clubhouse manager Ray Crump, and played roulette with Brian Epstein for the proceeds of the souvenir programs. Tickets for the concert were priced at $2.50, $3.50, $4.50 and $5.50, and The Beatles were paid $50,000.

The setlist that evening featured 11 songs: "She's A Woman" / "I Feel Fine" / "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" / "Ticket To Ride" / "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby" / "Can't Buy Me Love" / "Baby's In Black" / "I Wanna Be Your Man" / "A Hard Day's Night" / "Help!" / "I'm Down" ....

"Come Together" was not among the tunes performed that night, but it is here today in two renditions, one by The Beatles, acting goofy and having fun, and the other a cover by Sershen&Zaritskaya, who almost always are acting goofy and having fun.

In case you are curious, no, I was not in attendance at the concert .... but, would love to have been had it been possible .... "and it's too late, baby," as Carole King sang, to ever witness The Beatles perform any song live ....