Thanks for the suggestions guys. I've also changed the title of the thread to more accurately reflect my goal. And now, on with the timeline:
July 10, 1964 - The album A Hard Day's Night is released in the UK. This much more of a Beatles album than the one released in the US, which was more of a soundtrack album. The album becomes their third #1 album in the UK. On the same day, "A Hard Day's Night" b/w "Things We Said Today" is released in the UK as Parlophone R 5160. The song goes to #1, their sixth to do so. Also, the film A Hard Day's Night has it's Liverpool premiere. Note: "Matchbox" has been added to Side 2 ITTL to give Ringo his customary song (thanks Lafayette_!). By the way, I'm only posting the track listings from the UK albums, since Capitol in the US had a nasty habit of slightly altering the content of the albums.
"A Hard Day's Night"
Parlophone 1230
All tracks written by Lennon-McCartney except where noted.
SIDE 1
1. A Hard Day's Night
2. I Should Have Known Better
3. If I Fell
4. I'm Happy Just To Dance With You
5. And I Love Her
6. Tell Me Why
7. Can't Buy Me Love
SIDE 2
1. Any Time At All
2. I'll Cry Instead
3. Things We Said Today
4. When I Get Home
5. You Can't Do That
6. Matchbox (Perkins)
7. I'll Be Back
July 13, 1964 - "A Hard Day's Night" b/w "I Should've Known Better" is released in the US as Capitol 5222. It immediately enters the charts and goes to #1 in Billboard. The B-Side charts as well, making it to the #53 position.
July 20, 1964 - The album Something New is released in the US as Capitol 2108. The album consists of eight songs from the A Hard Day's Night soundtrack, released a month earlier, along with a few others. On the same day, Capitol releases two Beatles singles, "And I Love Her" b/w "If I Fell" with the catalog number 5235, and "I'll Cry Instead" b/w "I'm Happy Just To Dance With You" with the catalog number 5234. "And I Love Her" goes to #12 on the Hot 100, while "I'll Cry Instead" goes to #25.
August 18, 1964 - The Beatles travel to San Francisco to commence a 25-date tour of the US.
August 24, 1964 - "Matchbox" b/w "Slow Down" is released in the US as Capitol 5255. The song charts more modestly than the other songs released by Capitol to this point, peaking out at #17.
August 28, 1964 - During some down time from their tour in New York City, American folk singer Bob Dylan introduces the group to marijuana. While it makes quite an impression on George and Ringo, as well as Brian Epstein, the same can't be said for John and Paul. Paul says many years later that "... it was just nasty stuff, and [me and John] did not take to it at all. We both agreed that Julia would not want us to be involved in such things, so we simply walked away."