The Beatles Manage A Rare Chart Feat With More Hit Songs Than Albums
These days, like so many other legacy acts, The Beatles usually perform best on music charts around the world with albums, not singles. This is typically because the millions of people who continue to listen to the group focus on either classic full-lengths or compilations built around some of the band’s most famous tunes. The Beatles do occasionally collect a hit or two, especially in the U.K., where the act’s fame remains particularly impressive. This frame is a big one for the rockers on song rankings, as British listeners appear to be interested in both albums and singles at the moment.
The Beatles fill a trio of spaces on one songs tally in the U.K. this week thanks to a pair of holdovers and one returning smash. "From Me to You" reenters the Official Physical Singles chart at No. 93. It joins both "Now and Then" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand," which dip to Nos. 70 and 84, respectively.
Of the three, "Now and Then" is the biggest hit by the band — at least on the Official Physical Singles chart — though the other tracks are much older. "Now and Then," which was released in 2023 as the final track by The Beatles, has reached No. 1 in the past. Both "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "From Me to You" have cracked the top 10, but neither has managed to rule the tally.
"Now and Then" has spent more time on the ranking than both of those tracks combined—twice over.
Somewhat surprisingly, The Beatles claim more hit songs in the U.K. this week than albums. That’s not usually the case – though this isn’t the first time the band has managed such a showing. Just two compilations by the group appear on the charts, and both manage to find space on a pair of tallies.
1967–1970 and 1962–1966 — two greatest-hits sets that were released at the same time decades ago — both find space on the Official Albums chart and the Official Albums Streaming ranking. Plays on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and other competitors of the band's most famous smashes are largely powering these two titles.
Source: forbes.com/Hugh McIntyre
