"I want to hold your hand" charted 45 years ago this month!

Let's file this one in two sections:

1) "time really flies", and

2) "very favorite songs" category.

Forty-five years ago, The Beatles were very popular in the UK and some of Europe.

They had recorded big UK hits like "She loves you" and "Please please me". The Beatles even had a best selling album.

However, The Beatles had struck out in the US. None of their songs had charted over here.

Everything changed with "I want to hold your hand", the first song released in the US on Capitol Records:

""I Want to Hold Your Hand" was the band's first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, starting the British Invasion of the United States music charts.

The song entered the chart on January 18 1964 at number 45 before it became the number one single for 7 weeks and went onto last a total of 15 weeks in the chart.

It also held the top spot in the United Kingdom charts. A million copies of the single had already been ordered on its release.

"I Want to Hold Your Hand" became The Beatles' best-selling single worldwide."

It was so popular that it was even recorded in German!

The single had advanced order of one million copies!

In early February, The Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, the most popular Sunday night show. They toured the US before sold out crowds. They dominated the charts for months.

John and George are not around anymore. Paul still records. Ringo does appearances from time to time.

Lennon-McCartney turned into the most popular songwriting duo of our generation.

It all started with "I want to hold your hand", the first Lennon-McCartney song to hit the US charts!

It started 45 years ago this week!

Words and Music by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

"Oh yeah I tell you somethin'

I think you'll understand

When I say that somethin'

I want to hold your hand

I want to hold your hand

I want to hold your hand

Oh please say to me

You'll let me be your man

And please say to me

You'll let me hold your hand

Now, let me hold your hand

I want to hold your hand

And when I touch youI feel happy inside

It's such a feelin' that my love

I can't hide I can't hide

I can't hide

Yeah, you got that somethin'

I think you'll understand

When I say that somethin'

I want to hold your hand

I want to hold your hand

I want to hold your hand

And when I touch you

I feel happy inside

It's such a feelin' that my love

I can't hide I can't hide

I can't hide

Yeah, you got that somethin'

I think you'll understand

When I feel that somethin'

I want to hold your hand

I want to hold your hand

I want to hold your hand

I want to hold your hand"

P.S. A few weeks later, Capitol Records released "Meet the Beatles", the first US album. It is still one of the best pop albums ever.

It featured 12 songs, including "All my loving". This is one of my all time Beatles' songs and a great lead vocal by Paul McCartney:

"Close your eyes and I'll kiss you

Tomorrow I'll miss you

Remember I'll always be true

And then while I'm away

I'll write home every day

And I'll send all my loving to you

I'll pretend that I'm kissing

The lips I am missing

And hope that my dreams will come true

And then while I'm away I'll write home every day

And I'll send all my loving to you

All my loving I will send to you

All my loving, darling I'll be true

Close your eyes and I'll kiss you...."