The British Invasion Begins

It was on this date in 1963 that one of the Beatles’ best-loved songs, “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” was released. As Wikipedia explains:

“I Want to Hold Your Hand” is a song by the English pop and rock band The Beatles. Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and recorded in October 1963, it was the first Beatles record to be made using four-track equipment. McCartney and Lennon did not have any particular inspiration for the song. Instead, they had received specific instructions from manager Brian Epstein to write a song with the American market in mind.

“I Want to Hold Your Hand” was the band’s first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, starting the British Invasion of the United States music charts. The song entered the chart on January 18, 1964, at number 45 before it became the number one single for 7 weeks and went onto last a total of 15 weeks in the chart. It also held the top spot in the United Kingdom charts. A million copies of the single had already been ordered on its release. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” became The Beatles’ best-selling single worldwide.

Hit it, boys ...



(Hat tip to Elizabeth Foxwell.)