The Beatles’ fifth UK single was an instant smash, with pre-orders of more than a million copies.
‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ and its b-side, ‘This Boy’ had both been recorded on 17 October 1963. They were mixed by producer George Martin for mono and stereo four days later.
Within a week of its release, I Want To Hold Your Hand had reached the number one spot in the singles chart, displacing ‘She Loves You’. At that point The Beatles held numbers one and two in both the album and singles chart.
More significantly, the success of I Want To Hold Your Hand proved to doubters that The Beatles were no flash in the pan. It finally made America sit up and listen, paving the way for the British invasion of 1964.
Also on this day...
- 2016: George Harrison’s What Is Life gets new video
- 2012: Paul McCartney live: Rexall Place, Edmonton, Canada
- 2001: George Harrison dies
- 1968: UK album release: Two Virgins by John Lennon and Yoko Ono
- 1967: Editing: Christmas Time (Is Here Again)
- 1966: Recording, mixing: Strawberry Fields Forever
- 1965: Radio: Saturday Club
- 1964: John Lennon appears on Not Only… But Also
- 1963: Live: ABC Cinema, Huddersfield
- 1962: Live: Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead
- 1961: Live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1961: Live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1960: Paul McCartney and Pete Best are arrested in Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
And I bought it.
and I sang it over and over and still do at times,,*peace
Parlophone R5084