 John Lennon wrote the lyrics to the song "Help" to express the pressures of fame. |
For a week in 1964, John, Paul, George, and Ringo had 12 songs on Billboard's Hot 100, including the number one, two, three, four, and five songs. Nobody before or since has accomplished that feat. The following list is a sampling of the Fab Four's music arsenal with 25 of their biggest hits.
1. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (1963)
This song, which started the "British invasion," became The Beatles' first number-one tune in the States. It did pretty well elsewhere, too -- it was their all-time best-selling single worldwide.
2. "She Loves You" (1963)
When this peppy song made its debut in America in September 1963, it didn't get much attention. But it was rereleased in
January 1964 after the success of "I Want to Hold Your Hand,"
and this time it spent 15 weeks on U.S. charts, hitting number
one on March 21.
3. "From Me to You" (1963)
The first number one for The Beatles in the U.K., this song didn't make much of a splash in the States, reaching only number 41 upon its second release in 1964. However, across the pond it would mark the first of 11 number-one singles, so they didn't have time to sulk about this tune, written by John and Paul while on a tour bus.
4. "Twist and Shout" (1964)
If you've ever rocked out to The Beatles' version of this Isley Brothers tune, you know that John's vocals are scratchy, growly, and decidedly different from other songs by the group.
During the recording session for their album Please, Please Me, John started to lose his voice. Producer Brian Epstein saved the recording for "Twist and Shout" until the very end. By then, John's voice was nearly shot and sounded strained -- in fact, he shouted most of the song.
The classic tune was recorded in one take not just because that was all John had left, but because it was pretty much perfect from the start.
5. "Can't Buy Me Love" (1964)
Pressure to create another huge hit after "I Want to Hold Your Hand" didn't phase The Beatles. This tune is one of the first songs ever to start with the chorus. The formula worked like a charm, creating another U.K. and U.S. number one.
On the next page you will find more of The Beatles' singles, such as "A Hard Day's Night" and "Eight Days a Week."
