Video: 'The Beatles - Live at the Star Club December 21st, 1962.'

(Friday, December 21, 1962, evening Central European Time) — The Beatles performed tonight during the group’s third and final residency at the Star-Club in Hamburg, West Germany, situated on Große Freiheit off the infamous Reeperbahn.

The Dec. 18-31, 1962, residency saw the rock band from Liverpool, England, perform for a total of 39 hours over 13 days with a night off on Christmas Eve (note: tonight’s performances featured lead vocals by Fred Fascher on “Be-Bop-A-Lula” and by his brother, Horst Fascher, on “Hallelujah I Love Her So.” Horst was a friend and business associate of the band).

The Beatles had previously appeared at the Star-Club in April-May and November 1962. This time around they each received a fee of 750 DM (£67) per week. They performed for three hours each night, with a night off on Christmas Eve.

The Beatles were reluctant to fulfill this contractual obligation, as their profile in Britain was rapidly ascending. Back home they were enjoying burgeoning chart success, more prestigious live shows, plus television and radio appearances.

Despite the enduring fondness they felt towards Hamburg and its residents, there was little the city could do for their careers now.

Recordings of The Beatles’ performances from this period were released in 1977 on the double album Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962.

The group was taped by the Star-Club’s manager, Adrian Barber, at the request of musician Ted “Kingsize” Taylor. Barber used a Grundig reel-to-reel home tape recorder and a single microphone.