The Beatles Overview
The Beatles greatest hits are a review of their songs and how they charted in the United States from 1964 through 1970. Many teenagers remember the invasion of the Beatles which was known as “The British Invasion” in 1964. Their first hit single released in the United States was “I Want To Hold Your Hand”, which went on to be the top single of the year and was number 1 for seven consecutive weeks on Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
They were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group’s best lineup was John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The band built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over a three-year period from 1960. They gained some popularity in the UK with their single called “Love Me Do” in late 1962. They gained their nickname called the “Fab Four”. The Beatles have had more number-one albums on the British charts and sold more singles than any other act. Lennon and McCartney wrote most of the Beatles songs.
The British Invasion
During their seven year reign on the U.S. national charts, they had 20 number 1 songs. They came to America in January, 1964. On January 18th, “I Want To Hold Your Hand” debuted at number 45 on the chart. Two weeks later, it was number 1.
The Beatles first charted single in the United States Hot 100 chart was “From Me To You” in 1963 and reached the Bubbling Under chart at #116. It was re-released in 1964, and hit #41 in March.
The Beatles also hold a record that no other act or solo artist from 1958-2011 has ever done. That is holding the first five places on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. This feat the Beatles accomplished on April 4, 1964. Here is how the chart looked for that date:
1. Can’t Buy Me Love
2. Twist And Shout
3. She Loves You
4. I Want To Hold Your Hand
5. Please Please Me
The Beatles as a group had a total of 20 singles that made it to the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart, which is the most for any artist in the rock era. Elvis Presley had eighteen. Another record they held was the #1 position for 14 consecutive weeks with three different charted singles in a row (“I Want To Hold Your Hand” (7), “She Loves You” (2), and “Can’t Buy Me Love” (5)). This was broken by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men with their song “One Sweet Day” when it was #1 for 16 weeks in 1995 and her record was broken by Goo Goo Dolls with their song “Iris” which held the #1 spot for 18 weeks in 1998 and this is still the record holder today.
Also, in 1964, the Beatles had six singles that charted at #1, the most of any artist for a given year.
Musical Achievements
For the record, the Beatles had a total of 73 singles that made Billboard’s Top 100 chart in their career from 1964 to 1970. The single of longevity was “Hey Jude” with 19 weeks on the chart. Also, “Hey Jude” was their all-time best single being at the top of the Hot 100 chart for nine weeks. This is also one of the longest singles in playing time, with 7 minutes and 11 seconds. The longest single in time is “American Pie” parts 1 & 2 totaling 8 minutes and 36 seconds.
After the recording of “The Long And Winding Road” in 1970, which topped the chart for two weeks, the group split up. This was also their last #1 song on the Hot 100 chart. Their last top ten song was “Free As A Bird” #6 in 1995. Their last song on the Hot 100 chart was “Real Love” #11 in 1996.
Billboard has ranked the Beatles as the #1 artist from 1960-1969, and #2 artist of all-time from 1955-2010. They were voted into the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame, in 1988.
All told, the Beatles had 20 #1’s, 33 top ten, 41 top 20, and 50 top 40 hits on the Hot 100 chart. They also have 30 top ten albums. The Beatles had one #1 song on the Adult Contemporary chart “Let It Be” in 1970, for 4 weeks.
All-Time Top Ten Best Selling Beatles Songs
The songs below are ranked by The Official Charts Company in the UK according to record sales.
- She Loves You
- I Want To Hold Your Hand
- Can’t Buy Me Love
- I Feel Fine
- Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out
- Hey Jude
- Help!
- From Me To You
- Hello Goodbye
- Get Back
There List of All #1 & Top Ten Songs
Below is a complete list of their top ten and number 1 songs with #1 songs in bold, in order and the date the record first appeared in the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart and the number of weeks it held the #1, #2, & #3 position ().
- I Want To Hold Your Hand – February 1, 1964 #1 (7)
- Please Please Me – February 1, 1964 #3 (2)
- She Loves You – March 21, 1964 #1 (2)
- Twist And Shout – March 14, 1964 #2 (4)
- Can’t Buy Me Love – April 4, 1964 #1 (5)
- Do You Want To Know A Secret – March 28, 1964 #2 (1)
- P.S. I Love You – May 9, 1964 #10
- Love Me Do – May 30, 1964 #1 (1)
- A Hard Day’s Night – August 1, 1964 #1 (2)
- She’s A Woman – December 5, 1964 #4
- I Feel Fine – December 26, 1964 #1 (3)
- Eight Day’s A Week – March 13, 1965 #1 (2)
- Ticket To Ride – May 22, 1965 #1 (1)
- Help! – September 4, 1965 #1 (3)
- Yesterday – October 9, 1965 #1 (4)
- Day Tripper – December 18, 1965 #5
- We Can Work It Out – January 8, 1966 #1 (3)
- Nowhere Man – March 5, 1966 #3 (1)
- Paperback Writer – June 25, 1966 #1 (2)
- Yellow Submarine – August 20, 1966 #2 (1)
- Strawberry Fields Forever – February 25, 1967 #8
- Penny Lane – March 18, 1967 #1 (1)
- All You Need Is Love – August 19, 1967 #1 (1)
- Hello Goodbye – December 30, 1967 #1 (3)
- Lady Madonna – March 23, 1968 #4
- Hey Jude – September 28, 1968 #1 (9)
- Get Back – May 24, 1969 #1 (5)
- The Ballad Of John And Yoko – June 14, 1969 #8
- Come Together/Something – November 29, 1969 #1 (1)
- Let It Be – April 11, 1970 #1 (2)
- The Long And Winding Road – June 13, 1970 (2)
- Got To Get You Into My Life – June 12, 1976 #7
- Free As A Bird – December 30, 1995 #6
The Beatles #1 songs have held the top spot for a total of 58 weeks on the Hot 100 chart.
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