Month: February 2021

RECORD BUSTERS: AND HERE COMES THE BEATLES ONE MORE TIME . . . FEBRUARY 8, 1964

British Chart-Toppers’ Fame and Popularity Spurs Rapid-Climb in U.S. Record Sales

 

 

 

LONDON — The Beatles are certain to establish Britain’s biggest ever selling single in the world with “I Want To Hold Your Hand.”

Home sales of 1,550,000 make it the biggest-ever seller in Britain (sales of “She Loves You” are less than 50,000 behind it here) and with American sales added to totals increasing rapidly in other parts, the record must top the Tornados’ three-million seller, “Telstar.”

Under the direction of their producer, George Martin, the Beatles waxed the follow-up to “I Want To Hold Your Hand” at the Pathe Marconi Studios in Paris last week — there was not sufficient time for the group to record in London between the completion of their Paris stint and their departure for New York.

The new song is virtually certain to be one of those written by Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney (they write all the group’s material) for inclusion in the United Artists film which goes into production at the end of this month starring the Liverpool foursome.

During their Parisian sessions the Beatles also waxed “I Want To Hold Your Hand” in German.

Next week the Beatles make their U. S.concert debuts at Washington’s Uline Arena (Feb. 11) and New York’s Carnegie Hall (Feb. 12). George Martin, who will be in New York to record Shirley Bassey at the Carnegie Hall (Feb. 15) is still considering waxing an album with the Beatles there.

His decision will be literally last-minute for it is dependent on John and Paul having written sufficient new material for their act to make up an original LP — and they write their songs overnight.

Their staggering success in Britain continues — a paperback titled “Meet The Beatles” has become the hottest thing on the bookstalls and at lightning speed has become only the eighth paperback to notch up one million sales in this country. A leading manufacturer is having difficulty in keeping up with the demand for his latest line — Beatles wallpaper! END

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Information and news source: Billboard; February 8, 1964

 

Note: It bears noting this article was published by Billboard, Saturday, February 8. The eve of The Beatles first U.S. television appearance on CBS’ Ed Sullivan Show, Sunday night, February 9, 1964. Fifty-seven years ago.

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MOTOWN MONDAYS! A 1964 MARY WELLS MOTOWN RECORDS AD

A CLASSIC BILLBOARD MOTOWN /TAMLA RECORDS AD PAGE RIP February 8, 1964

— MARY WELLS —

MOTOWN RECORDS 1962-1963

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“What’s Easy for Two Is Hard for One” (also known as “What’s Easy for Two Is So Hard for One“) is a song written and produced by Smokey Robinson and released as a single by singer Mary Wells for the Motown label.

Wells’s teaming with Robinson led to a succession of hit singles over the following two years. Their first collaboration, 1962’s “The One Who Really Loves You”, was Wells’s first hit, peaking at number 2 on the R&B chart and number 8 on the Hot 100. The song featured a calypso-styled soul production that defined Wells’s early hits. Motown released the similar-sounding “You Beat Me To The Punch” a few months later. The song became her first R&B number 1 single and peaked at number 9 on the pop chart.

The success of “You Beat Me to the Punch” helped to make Wells the first Motown star to be nominated for a Grammy Award when the song was nominated for Best Rock & Roll Recording in 1963.

Motor Town Revue newspaper ad, featuring Mary Wells November 10, 1963 (click image 2x for largest view)

In late 1962, “Two Lovers” became Wells’s third consecutive single to hit the Top 10 of Billboard‘s Hot 100, peaking at number 7 and becoming her second number 1 hit on the R&B chart. This helped to make Wells the first female solo artist to have three consecutive Top 10 singles on the pop chart. The track sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.

Wells’s second album, also titled ‘The One Who Really Loves You’, was released in 1962 and peaked at number 8 on the pop albums chart, making the teenage singer a breakthrough star and giving her clout at Motown. Wells’s success at the label was recognized when she became a headliner during the first string of Motortown Revue concerts, starting in the fall of 1962. The singer showcased a rawer stage presence that contrasted with her softer R&B recordings.

The ‘First Lady of Motown’ 1962

Wells’s success continued in 1963 when she hit the Top 20 with the doo-wop ballad “Laughing Boy” and scored three additional Top 40 singles, “Your Old Standby”, “You Lost the Sweetest Boy”, and its A-side, “What’s Easy for Two Is So Hard for One”. “You Lost the Sweetest Boy” was one of the first hit singles composed by the successful Motown songwriting and producing trio of Holland–Dozier–Holland, though Robinson remained Wells’s primary producer.

Also in 1963, Wells recorded a session of successful B-sides that arguably became as well known as her hits, including “Operator”, “What Love Has Joined Together”, “Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right” and “Old Love (Let’s Try It Again)”. Wells and Robinson also recorded a duet titled “I Want You ‘Round”, which would be re-recorded by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston.

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Source: Mary Wells; Wikipedia

 

Above featured Billboard Motown ad digitally restored by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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DETROIT MOTOWN MONDAY: RECORD FLASHBACK! 1963

—MARY WELLS—

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Released October 26, “What’s Easy For Two Is So Hard For One” peaked at #8 (charted 21 total weeks R&B overall) on the Billboard R&B chart in 1963 into 1964. B-side: “You Lost The Sweetest Boy”

MOTOWN 1048 (Source: Billboard Top R&B Singles)

 

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