“America has it all, what can we offer them?”asked a very twenty-something Paul mccartney. TO Brian Epstein, the no less young manager of The Beatleshe was worried about something else: that The Beatles’ music was no longer being released in the United States. George martin, the band’s historic producer and authentic “quinto beatle” He believed that the group was missing a song that was better in tune with American taste.
Actually, the first Beatles song released in the United States had already occurred: “Please please me”, February 25, 1963. Of course,without pain or glory. And that was what the manager was worried about.
Pudo ser “She Loves You”published in the United States in September 1963, but no one was interested. On the other hand, it was a success in Canada. So it remained a mystery why the American market ignored Beatlemania already unleashed in the United Kingdom and almost all of Europe.
But, as everyone, especially George Martin, assumed, it was going to be a matter of time before it finally happened. Of time and a song: “I Want To Hold Yoru Hand” was finally the key that opened the (North) American door to Beatlemania and began what was called the (first of many) “British Invasion.”
History of a hit
“I Want To Hold Your Hand”, con “I Saw Her Standing There en el Lado B, It was released in the United States on December 26, 1963. The song had been recorded in Studio 2 of EMI Studios, which would later become the famous Abbey Road Studios, on October 17, 1963.
In his memoir “The Sound of The Beatles,” the band’s historic recording engineer, Geoff Emerick, values the single in a very special way: “I have always found it interesting that Americans knew about The Beatles through ‘I Want To Hold Your hand’. Few of them
‘she Loves You’ or ‘Love Me Do’ wouldn’t have made as much of an impact like ‘I want To Hold Your Hand’ if they had been the first Beatles songs known in (North) America.”
In fact, “I Want to Hold your Hands” became the Beatles’ first number one single in the United states.reaching this position on February 1, 1964. Just six days later, the Liverpool band would set foot on American soil for the first time.
On February 7, 1964, the Beatles arrived in New York City and were greeted with unprecedented enthusiasm and euphoria. From the moment they landed at Kennedy Airport, where thousands of fans were waiting for them, Beatlemania swept New York and the entire country. His exciting debut on The Ed Sullivan Show attracted more than 73 million viewers, and was the most-watched television event of the time.
All this and much more is what “Beatles ’64” tells, the documentary that premieres today on the Disney+ streaming platform. The film includes previously unreleased footage that pioneering documentary filmmakers Albert and David Maysles recorded during the Beatles’ fourteen days in the United States, restored in 4K by Park Road Post in New Zealand.
The Beatles’ visit to the United States in 1964 also included concerts at Carnegie Hall, a performance at the Washington Coliseum in Washington DC, and a visit to Miami, where the band met Muhammad Ali. the documentary shows members of the band reading newspaper articles about themselves.
“Beatles ’64” is directed by David Tedeschi and produced by Martin Scorsese, margaret Bodde, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison, Sean Ono Lennon, Jonathan Clyde, Mikaela Beardsley, with Jeff Jones and Rick Yorn serving as executive producers.
“It’s a lot of fun to be the fly on the wall in those very intimate moments,” says Margaret Bodde, producer with Martin Scorsese. “It’s an incredible gift of time and technology to be able to see it now, with the decades passed, to really feel like you’re there.”
It is evident that this is not the discography that we all no of The Beatles. And it’s not him. Because, due to North American record companies, different editions were released in the United States that almost never coincided with the British editions. Only in 1966, starting with Revolver, the Beatles discography in the United States will be the same as that published in the United Kingdom.
Introducing… The Beatles was The Beatles’ first North American album, which would correspond to Please Please Me, the band’s first LP released in the united Kingdom. Originally scheduled for release in July 1963, the LP finally came out on January 10, 1964, issued by Vee-Jay Records days before Capitol Records released their album Meet The Beatles!
Vee-Jay Records was a small label that had signed, in mid-1963, a licensing agreement with Transglobal, an EMI-affiliated company responsible for searching for foreign record companies to publish the masters of musical recordings that were exported from the United Kingdom. Among them those of The Beatles, for the next five years!
Obviously, everything changed when, at the end of 1963, Beatlemania was a fact. Capitol, which had previously said no to Beatles albums in the US, now said yes, decided to break the agreement with Vee-Jay, but did not count on the fact that the small label would still enforce that agreement and release the famous and no less bizarre Introducing… The Beatles, a replica of Please Please Me, but without the song “Please Please Me” or “Ask Me Why”
Published by Capitol, the official debut? of the Beatles occurred a few days later, on January 20, with the name “Meet The Beatles” and the curious subtitle the First Album by England’s Phenomenal pop Combo.
With the same cover photo as “With the Beatles”, “Meet The Beatles” was a mix of the first two albums that the band had released in England in 1963, plus “I want to hold your hand”, of course.
BEATLES ’64, a new documentary produced by Martin scorsese and directed by David tedeschi, will be available exclusively on Disney+ starting November 29.
What role did media, like The Ed Sullivan Show, play in popularizing The Beatles and Beatlemania in the U.S.?
Title: Revisiting Beatlemania – An Interview with Music Historian Dr. Emily Carter
Time.news Editor (TNE): Welcome, Dr. Emily Carter! We’re thrilled to have you here to discuss the impact of The Beatles on American music culture, especially considering the new documentary “Beatles ’64” on Disney+. To kick things off, let’s talk about the moment that changed everything. What do you think was pivotal about the release of “I Want To Hold Your Hand”?
Dr.Emily Carter (DEC): Thank you for having me! the release of “I Want To Hold Your Hand” was indeed monumental. It wasn’t just a song; it was the key that unlocked the American market for The Beatles. Before that, songs like ”She Loves You” were overlooked in the States, despite their success overseas.this single resonated perfectly with american audiences, both musically and lyrically.
TNE: Absolutely. How did you see the differences in musical taste between the UK and the US at that time? Why do you think Americans initially ignored beatlemania?
DEC: Great question! In the early ’60s, American music was dominated by rock and roll, soul, and the burgeoning pop scene. The Beatles brought a fresh outlook—a harmony-driven, upbeat sound that was different from the more raw and powerful American rock of that time. It took the right song, “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” which was upbeat and infectious, to bridge that gap and finally capture American attention.
TNE: And “I Want To Hold Your Hand” reached number one just weeks after its release.What do you think contributed to its immediate success in the US?
DEC: Timing was key! It was released on December 26, 1963, perfectly aligning with the post-Christmas music season. Plus, the excitement around the band was palpable. Their edgy look and sound excited adolescents and their burgeoning counterculture. The song’s catchy hook created that instant connection, making it irresistible.
TNE: By February 1964, we saw The Beatles arriving in New York City, greeted by a wave of fervor. How important was their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in cementing their status?
DEC: Those moments were crucial. The Beatles didn’t just enter American culture; they took it by storm! The Ed Sullivan Show performance drew over 73 million viewers, and it became a cultural phenomenon. This event marked not just the arrival of The Beatles but the beginning of the British Invasion, influencing American artists and reshaping music genres.
TNE: In your opinion, how did the documentary “Beatles ’64” contribute to our understanding of this transformative period?
DEC: “Beatles ’64” gives us a rare glimpse into that pivotal fortnight in American music history. The previously unreleased footage captured by the Maysles brothers provides invaluable context—not just the music, but also the social dynamics at play. It helps illustrate the chaos and excitement surrounding Beatlemania and shows how they impacted youth culture during that era.
TNE: Geoff Emerick,the Beatles’ recording engineer,stated that had the first songs played in the US been different,the impact might have varied. What are your thoughts on this?
DEC: I completely agree. “I Want To Hold Your Hand” had a perfect blend of energy and melody, ideal for the American pop landscape. Other tracks like “She Loves You” could have felt too foreign or less relatable. The Beatles’ transition into the American scene was largely triumphant as they adapted their sound while retaining their unique identity.
TNE: as we look back on Beatlemania,what do you think is their lasting legacy on American and global music?
DEC: Their legacy is immense. The Beatles redefined popular music, pushing the boundaries of songwriting, instrumentation, and recording techniques. They opened the door for countless artists worldwide and inspired generations of musicians to experiment and innovate.Their impact remains evident in virtually all genres today.
TNE: Thank you,Dr. Carter, for sharing your insights today. The story of The Beatles is as captivating as their music. We appreciate your time and expertise!
DEC: Thank you for having me! Always a pleasure to discuss the incredible journey of The Beatles.
