44 years ago.
"Can't buy me love" was #1 on the billboard charts. McCartney would joke later that the song should have been "Can buy me love."
The song had a blues structure and theme without very much of a blues feel. I guess it's part of the Beatles' magic that they were, even as young lads, able to turn some ordinary lyrics and an ordinary theme into a song with remarkably hooky hooks.
Incidentally, it's worth mentioning that the #2 song on the billboard charts this day in 1964 was "Twist and shout" - the Beatles' version of course. Twist and Shout was originally recorded by a band called The Topnotes, and shortly later by the Isley Brothers. The Beatles' version, though, seemed to make it clear that the twisting and shouting required, wasn't referring to a dance. The explicit sexuality expressed shocked many on this side of the Atlantic.
And by the way, the #3 song on the billboard charts was "She Loves You", also by the Beatles. This song, weirdly written in third person, is another example of Beatles' magic. It's first release in the U.S. flopped. It was re-released after the release of the instant hit "I want to hold your hand", a few months later and was a smash hit. Interesting that America wasn't just quite ready yet.
I guess I should point out that the #4 song on the billboard charts that day was the aforementioned "I want to hold your hand". Today, it's hard to take the lyrics seriously, but let's remember, thousands of gorgeous young women literally fainted every time that verse was belted out. Really this song too was in code - a "secret" sexual message to very excited females.
As you might have guessed, the #5 song on the billboard charts this day in 1964 was "Please, please me."
That's the top 5 songs on one day. By April 11, the Beatles had 14 of the top 100 songs on the billboard charts.
"Can't buy me love" was #1 on the billboard charts. McCartney would joke later that the song should have been "Can buy me love."
The song had a blues structure and theme without very much of a blues feel. I guess it's part of the Beatles' magic that they were, even as young lads, able to turn some ordinary lyrics and an ordinary theme into a song with remarkably hooky hooks.
Incidentally, it's worth mentioning that the #2 song on the billboard charts this day in 1964 was "Twist and shout" - the Beatles' version of course. Twist and Shout was originally recorded by a band called The Topnotes, and shortly later by the Isley Brothers. The Beatles' version, though, seemed to make it clear that the twisting and shouting required, wasn't referring to a dance. The explicit sexuality expressed shocked many on this side of the Atlantic.
And by the way, the #3 song on the billboard charts was "She Loves You", also by the Beatles. This song, weirdly written in third person, is another example of Beatles' magic. It's first release in the U.S. flopped. It was re-released after the release of the instant hit "I want to hold your hand", a few months later and was a smash hit. Interesting that America wasn't just quite ready yet.
I guess I should point out that the #4 song on the billboard charts that day was the aforementioned "I want to hold your hand". Today, it's hard to take the lyrics seriously, but let's remember, thousands of gorgeous young women literally fainted every time that verse was belted out. Really this song too was in code - a "secret" sexual message to very excited females.
As you might have guessed, the #5 song on the billboard charts this day in 1964 was "Please, please me."
That's the top 5 songs on one day. By April 11, the Beatles had 14 of the top 100 songs on the billboard charts.
