1964 ~ Part 1

January of 1964 was a turning point in The Beatles carrier. 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' went from the 43rd spot to No.1 on the Cashbox charts January 18th. During this time The Beatles were in Paris on a three-week run at the Olympia and writing new songs for their upcoming movie. A telegram was sent from Captiol Records to announce the wonderful news, which was soon greeted with stunned silence and disbelief. This soon changed into a party, gleefully started with a pillow fight and got wilder. Brian Epstein was even allowed to be photographed with a bucket on his head. Paul McCartney, "We didn't come down for a week."

The Beatles single 'I Want To Hold Your Hand'

Pam Am flight 101 to New York carrying The Beatles, and their entrourage (including Cynthia Lennon) left Heathrow Airport on February 7th. Radio stations all over America broadcasting bulletins of the flights progress. When they emerged from the plane at JFK Airport, they were greeted by 5,000 fans, along with 200 journalists just waiting to ask questions - brave photographers dangled off a fork-lift truck to get the first pictures of this event.

 

 

The Beatles at JFK Airport on Febuary 7th, 1964

In February also started their first American concerts from the 10,000 capacity Washington Coliseum to the prestigious New York Carnrgie Hall. The only sour note of their US visit came when they attended a reception at the British Embassy in Washington and were jostled by Embassy staff for autographs. One of the woman even tried to cut off a lock of Ringo's hair.

 

The Beatles at Carnrgie Hall Feburary 13th, 1964

 

With the success of 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' selling 5 million cooked during its seven-week stay at No. 1, it provoked a feeling among the lablss that had previously released Beatles singles without success. Swan Records reissued 'She Loves You' that went to No. 1 for 2 weeks. Vee Jay re-released 'Please Please Me' that got to No. 3. Before long there was a free-for-all as almost every track The Beatles had recorded for their first album, that was itself re-packed into two different versions, was issued as a single while writs flew back and forth as Captiol frantically sought to regain control of The Beatles' catalogue.

Right after The Beatles returned from America they completed work on their next single that had been written and recorded in Paris at the start of the year, 'Can't Buy Me Love'. George Martin's suggestion of adapting the chorus to start and finish the song paid dividends. Paul McCartney: "(It was) my attempt to write in a blusey mood. The idea behind it was that all theses material possessions are all very well but they won't buy me what I really want. It was a very hooky song". Advance orders ensured that the single was instantly No. 1 in the UK and US. From now on every new Beatles single went to to No. 1 - everywhere.

Can't Buy Me Love - The Beatles Single

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