How The Beatles Made Sure They Were Legends Back In The 60s

The year is 1964. Beatlemania is in full swing, and The Beatles are rewriting the rules of popular music. On a single day in April, something unthinkable happens: the band occupies the top five spots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It’s a feat that has never been achieved before, and it’s a testament to the band’s immense popularity and cultural impact.

But their dominance wasn’t limited to the top five. Seven more Beatles songs peppered the chart, showcasing their incredible range and songwriting prowess.

Even other artists were swept up in the frenzy, with two songs dedicated to the Fab Four finding their way onto the chart as well.  This wasn’t just a hit song or two – The Beatles were a full-blown musical invasion.

Multiple labels for Beatlemania

While The Beatles dominated the top five spots of the Billboard Hot 100, there’s a curious detail behind these chart-topping singles. They weren’t all released by the same record company!

“Can’t Buy Me Love” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand” came courtesy of Capitol Records, who finally signed The Beatles for a U.S. deal in late 1963. However, Capitol’s initial hesitation allowed other labels to grab rights to some early Beatles recordings.

This explains why “She Loves You” landed on Swan Records, “Twist and Shout” found a home with Tollie Records, and “Please Please Me” was released by Vee-Jay Records.  he race for Beatlemania was on, and multiple labels were eager to capitalize on the band’s surging popularity.

Unprecedented reign on the Billboard Hot 100

“Can’t Buy Me Love” cemented its legacy by holding the coveted No. 1 spot for a staggering five weeks. This reign of supremacy only ended when a true musical icon challenged them: the legendary Louis Armstrong, whose timeless classic “Hello, Dolly!” finally dethroned The Beatles on May 9th.

However, the impact goes far beyond a single song. “Can’t Buy Me Love” marked the culmination of a remarkable 14-week period where The Beatles ruled the Hot 100 like no other act before or since.  Their previous singles, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You”, had each enjoyed impressive runs at No. 1, lasting seven and two weeks respectively.

This incredible three-song sequence, totaling a staggering 14 weeks at the top, solidified The Beatles’ status as a global phenomenon and forever changed the landscape of popular music.  It wasn’t just about catchy tunes – it was about a cultural shift, a Beatlemania that gripped the world and left an indelible mark on the music industry.

A longstanding legacy eventually broken by Taylor Swift

The Beatles’ historic feat of occupying the top five slots on the Billboard Hot 100 held strong for decades. However, it was eventually matched by Canadian rapper Drake in September 2021.  His album Certified Lover Boy dominated the chart, placing five of its tracks in the coveted top five positions.

In October 2022, Taylor Swift surpassed both The Beatles and Drake with a truly historic achievement. Her album Midnights completely took over the Hot 100, claiming all ten top positions.

It’s important to consider the context of these later feats, however. The Beatles’ dominance occurred in an era where sales and chart placement were calculated differently. In today’s digital age, streaming and downloads essentially turn every song on an album into a single, making it easier for albums to occupy multiple chart positions.