Anniversary of the Beatles controlling the top 5
Apr 6, 2013 15:53:10 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2013 15:53:10 GMT -5
April 4, 1964: The Beatles Control Entire Top Five On Billboard Hot 100
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By Gary Trust | April 04, 2013 12:05 AM EDT
On this date in 1964, the Fab Four monopolized the top five on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the only act ever to lock up the region in a week.
On the Billboard Hot 100 dated April 4, 1964, 49 years ago today, the Beatles made history as the only act ever to occupy the chart's top five positions in a week.
With a 27-1 second-week blast to the top for "Can't Buy Me Love," the Fab Four locked up the chart's entire top five:
No. 1, "Can't Buy Me Love"
No. 2, "Twist and Shout"
No. 3, "She Loves You"
No. 4, "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
No. 5, "Please Please Me"
The closest any artist has come to the Beatles' airtight top five mark is 50 Cent, who placed three titles simultaneously – "Candy Shop" (No. 1), the Game's "How We Do," on which he's featured (No. 4), and "Disco Inferno" (No. 5) – in the top five on the charts dated March 12 and 19, 2005.
Beginning a five-week reign, "Buy" marked the Beatles' third No. 1, directly following "I Want to Hold Your Hand" "She Loves You." No other act has linked three consecutive No. 1s in the Hot 100's 52-year history.
The 26-position jump to the summit for "Buy" additionally stood as a record for greatest jump to No. 1 until Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This" rocketed 52-1 in 2002. (Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You" currently holds the mark, courtesy of a 97-1 vault in February 2009).
With 20 career leaders, the Beatles lead all acts for most No. 1s in the Hot 100's archives.
"It truly gives perspective to how powerful the Beatles were as Beatlemania was in full force," says Joe Cortese, longtime Boston-based oldies radio programmer.
"That chart reinforces just how top-of-mind the Beatles were this week in 1964."
