“I Want to Hold Your Hand”

John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote it side by side at the piano in the basement music room of the Asher family’s London home; Paul was dating actress Jane Asher. The Beatles recorded it on October 17, 1963, their first record made on four-track equipment, and Britain placed more than a million advance orders. In America, a Washington DJ got hold of a copy, and a 14-year-old fan, Marsha Albert, introduced it on the air. Capitol rushed it out on December 26. By February 1, 1964, it was No. 1, the Beatles’ first American chart-topper, and on February 9 they ended their first Ed Sullivan Show with it as about 73 million people watched.