From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1964
‘NEW YORK CITY CRAWLING WITH BEATLEMANIA’
NEW YORK — In the New York City and Jersey areas record dealers and one-stops are reporting sales in large numbers on the Beatles.
New York’s Colony Records store reports that the Beatles sales are “real big” on the Capitol, Swan and Vee-Jay versions. The store also noted increasing sales on these records throughout the weeks.
Stedman 1-Stop, Mount Vernon, New Jersey, said that sales on the Beatles’ started out as an explosion, then settled down to consistent and steady sales.” The outlet is expecting “another big blast” this week as a result of the group’s New York visit and appearance on CBS-TV “The Ed Sullivan Show” Sunday night (February 9).
The Capitol and Swan diskings have been selling “almost in equal volume” at the Mount Vernon outlet, with little or no sales on the Vee-Jay or M-G-M disks.
E. J. Korvette in downtown Manhattan completely sold out all of its Beatles’ product by the end of last week. The large discount store is gearing for a rush on Monday as a result of activities over the weekend (in New York City).
The Al Levin Record store in New York City reports the Beatles’ offering on Swan as the leading seller with the Capitol version trailing not far behind. The store reports no sales for the group on Vee-Jay or MGM.
A somewhat different picture is painted by the Record Shack here, which describes the sales of Beatles’ records steady here throughout the weeks with the Capitol Record “far in the lead” and followed by the Swan release. The outlet also reported no sales response to the Vee-Jay and MGM waxings. The store is also preparing for an onslaught of Beatles record buyers this week as a direct result of the Beatles’ appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”
WWDC radio has proclaimed February 11 as “Beatles Day” in the nation’s capitol, and in honor of the special occasion deejay Carroll James will do his afternoon show from the site of the Beatles first “live” appearance in the United States — The Washington Coliseum.
When the now-famous Beatles arrive in Washington, an unusual “art” exhibit demonstrating a facet of U.S. culture will greet the British vocal group. The station, believing the Beatles have had a profound influence on our culture, has asked its listeners to send any pictures from magazines, newspapers or whatever, with a Beatle haircut drawn on the subject.
The grand winner, the entrant judged to be the most “original,” will receive $100.00, with all others judged unusual enough to display, will be awarded $12.60 each. WWDC will display the “winners” art at the Coliseum tomorrow night, (February 11), the night of the concert.
New York’s WNIS is pulsating with Beatlemania. The station reports that for the first time Beatles’ recording occupy first, second, and third place on their musical playlist. In first place is their Capitol recording of “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” followed closely by “She Loves You” on Swan, and finally, the Vee-Jay waxing, “Please, Please Me.”
The Group W station has upstaged CBS-TV by taping exclusive Beatles which were aired once an hour Thursday (February 6) and Friday (February 7). On Sunday, at 7 p.m., one hour before their scheduled debut on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” the Beatles were heard on WINS in a 30-minute special.
The in-person interviews were obtained for WINS through the actions of their European correspondents Rod MacLeish and Jim Anderson in London and Bernard Redmont in Paris. The bureau also provided its it’s New York outlet with Beatles wigs which have been awarded to listeners via an on-air contest. Also awarded were tickets to the Beatles February 12 Carnegie Hall concert.
Brad Philips revived his old 1956 “Battle Of The Baritones,” Sunday (February 9) from 8 a.m. to p.m. on WINS. This time, however, Philips is labeling the action “Battle Of The Groups.” The winners, to be determined by votes sent in by listeners, will battle it out again next Sunday and in ensuing weeks.
WMCA, New York, has been running a Beatles wig contest. The “Good Guys” are seeking listeners to take photos of their friends or from newspapers and paint Beatles wigs on them. The station is awarding $57 to the first two most original entries, with another 998 winners receiving a 45 r.p.m. disk featuring photos of the group and the “Good Guys” on specially made record jackets. END
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(Information and news source: Billboard; February 15, 1964)
“A TASTE OF BEATLEMANIA ’64” * WCBS Radio NYC * February, 1964
