The Beatles Are Coming-- Part 8: Taking Britain First

From Dave McAleer's "The Book of Hit Singles." //// U.K. JANUARY-MARCH 1963-- The Beatles' second single "Please Please Me" topped the charts and put the Merseybeat Sound on the musical map. In America, it was rush-released, but failed to click. //// In Australia, The Bee Gees, origianlly from Manchester, England, signed with Festival Rceords and started making a name for themselves Down Under. (I remember when I first heard them I thought they were really the Beatles assuming a fake name. Sure sounded like them.) //// U.K. APRIL-JUNE 1963: The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein also managed Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas who eventually had two successibe #1s. Another of his groups, Gerry & the Pacemakers had three #1s. //// U.K. JULY-SEPTEMBER 1963: The Beatles' debut LP, Please Please Me, topped the chart for 30 weeks and the single "She Loves You" had a record for advance orders, sold over a million copies in the U,K. and cemented them as Britain's top group. //// U.K. OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1963: As the year ended, the Beatles had five records in the Top 20 singles (including two EPs and an album). The LP With the Beatles entered the chart at #1 as did the single "I Want to Hold Your Hand," which smashed all U.K. sales records, selling a million copies in just three days. A big U.S, launch was planned for early 1964. //// Gaining Momentum. --RoadDog