FEB. 4 IS ACROSS THE UNIVERSE DAY AS NASA BEAMS BEATLE SONG INTO SPACE ON ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY; ACROSS THE UNIVERSE DVD BEAMS INTO STORES FEB. 5

Big Beatle news for Feb. 4, 2008: this will be the day that the classic Beatle tune "Across the Universe" (recorded 40 years ago to the day, and mainly a John Lennon song, if you're keeping score) will be beamed toward the North Star by NASA. Anyone interested in learning more about "Across the Universe Day" can visit acrosstheuniverseday.com. According to the website, "NASA is going to transmit the Beatles tune from a satellite antenna directly into outer space! And it will do this at the exact same time as fans Across The World are playing 'Across The Universe'!" Fans can actually watch the launch of the music into space on this site.

The organizer of Across the Universe Day is the irrepressible impresario Martin Lewis (who also happens to be the force behind one of The LA Report's fave fests, the Mods and Rockers Festival). Martin told Chris Carter on "Breakfast with the Beatles" that he is encouraging Beatle fans everywhere to gather at 4pm PST on Monday and play "Across the Universe" at the same time. Mr. Lewis (who was mentored by Beatle PR legend Derek Taylor) said that Paul and Yoko are really into this event (and The LA Report assumes Ringo must be as well, although I bet he wishes NASA was beaming his new "Liverpool 8" instead).

But which of the many versions of "Across the Universe" will be beamed toward Polaris? Martin said the tune being sent into space will be the "most poignant" version, in his opinion -- originally recorded on February 4, 1968 which features the voices of 2 female fans (Lizzie and Gail) who happened to be at Abbey Road on that day, way back in the day. The legend goes like this, said Martin: the duo were standing outside Abbey Road Studios when, late that night, Paul came out and asked if any of the girls he saw standing there could hold a high note. One of the girls, 17 at the time, who was from Brazil, volunteered and took her friend in with her. In the studio, they sang on the same mike with John and Paul, doing backing vocals!

And now, courtesy of NASA and the Deep Space Network, they are all going into space: John, Paul, George, Ringo, Lizzie and Gail.

It will take a very very long time to reach Polaris, even at the speed of light. But just Imagine, all those years from now, what might be beamed back? (Related notes: the film "Across The Universe" will be released on DVD on Feb. 5, and we hear NASA will be beaming that film into space as well, at a future date. Yes, it will soon be a great day around Polaris for Beatle fans -- if you define soon as 431 years, which is how long it will take the transmission to reach the North Star. By the way, Northern Songs was the company formed to publish Lennon/McCartney songs, so sending one to the North Star seems apropos. Finally, this summer marks NASA's 50th anniversary. Happy birthday, US Space Agency!)