'I Want to Hold Your Hand' hit America 60 years ago

Six decades ago sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and changed popular culture forever.

The Beatles had become megastars in Europe starting in late 1962, with the release of their first British single, “Love Me Do.” In 1963, they spent eight weeks atop the UK singles chart. Meanwhile in America, they were almost completely unknown. The Beatles’ British label, EMI, had had no luck placing the group’s records with its American affiliate, Capitol. Beatles releases had instead come out on small, regional labels like Vee-Jay and Swan, with little success.

Finally, manager Brian Epstein urged the group to write a song which would appeal to American teenagers, while simultaneously insisting that Capitol release his group’s records.

“I Want to Hold Your Hand” was the song. Once it was released, it was reportedly selling 10,000 copies an hour at one point in New York City alone. By the time the group landed in America in February, the song was in the midst of a seven-week run at the top. It would be replaced by their own “She Loves You,” which would give way to “Can’t Buy Me Love.” Three more chart-toppers followed in 1964, and the Fab Four would eventually notch 20 number-one singles.

Source: Kabir Bhatia/ideastream.org

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