Today in Beatles history

On this day in 1964, The Beatles held the top five spots on the U.S. singles chart. It was an historic feat.

Gibson:
On February 7, 1964, 4,000 screaming fans gathered at Heathrow Airport to send the The Beatles off to America. Despite selling just under 3 million copies of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” in the two weeks leading up to their arrival in America, the band were still uncertain how they would be welcomed. Their concerns were for naught as they were greeted by thousands of screaming fans at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Just two days later, they performed for 74 million television viewers on The Ed Sullivan Show. After a number of wildly successful concerts, including their first concert on American soil, at Washington Coliseum, and a very successful show at Carnegie Hall, they finished their U.S. trip with a second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Shortly after returning to the U.K. from America, on this day in 1964, The Beatles held the top five places on Billboard’s U.S. singles chart with “Can’t By Me Love” (#1), “Love Me Do” (#2), “Roll Over Beethoven” (#3), “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (#4) and “Please Please Me” (#5). They also had another nine singles in the Hot 100, bringing their grand total to 14 at one time.