What's the REAL Story of The BEATLES 1st Single? 

I got in trouble in (Catholic) school for talking in class. When the nun inquired "What was SO important" ? I replied I was talking about the Beatles. I had to write a 100 word report over the weekend, to be turned in Monday. THAT was the Ed Sullivan weekend !! On Monday I was about the Most Popular 5th grader to ever attend that school. 😅 [Oh, I got an 'A' on the report].

I remember events pretty well. I was 11. John Kennedy had been shot in Dallas on November 22, 1963. The nation had been in mourning for two months, when on February 9, 1964, the Beatles came to the US and were on the Ed Sullivan show. There were only three major television channels back then (ABC, NBC, and CBS), and almost everyone watched Ed Sullivan on Sunday nights. 70 million people were tuned in and saw them live. It was electric ... the beginning of the modern era. Everything changed after that. The world was never the same.

I was 7 years old when the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. I have four older brothers and they were talking about the Beatles were going to be on TV on Sunday. When they did appeared on the show, l thought they were showing the actual beelte bugs. Turned out after that l became a Beatles fan for life.

My late pops said he saw the original Ed Sullivan broadcast. He was 25 back in 1964. It was my father who raised me to love classic Rick/Pop. ...and I will always be grateful he did. ❤❤❤

My dad met the Beatles on a train and thats when they were the Classic Beatles in suits. They were really pleasant and spoke to everyone who came up to them. Legends

I was seven. They changed the world overnight. I made my parents buy me a guitar the next day. I had zero interest in music until then& then I became obsessed with it& I’m still playing, songwriting & recording to this day. If you weren’t there, you’ll never understand the impact the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show had.

Not only did I see the Beatles on Sullivan, I also saw their final performance at Candlestick Park !

Born in 1965. Became a Beatles fan when I found Ma's 45 of I Want to Hold Your Hand/I Saw Her Standing There, about 1972 or 73. Had never heard this story about the first single. Thanks for sharing with us!

I remember that Sunday night back in February of 1964. I had just had my 7th birthday a few months earlier. We were watching The Ed Sullivan Show on our little black and white television. Then Ed introduced The Beatles. I loved their music, hair style and watching the young teenager girls screaming for them. That's what caught my attention. That's when I decided I want to be a rock-n-roll musician. The closest I got was playing drums in a praise band at church.

I was sitting on my Mom's lap while she was smoking a True cigarette when Ed Sullivan introduced The Beatles... Good Times....!

Hey Dan ! You and I are about the same age. Grew up with a great appreciation for the Beatles. Used to jam some songs back in my rock band days.

Yep saw it on our RCA maple finish console TV in Manhattan Kansas. Superman PJs included since I had to go to bed after they played 😊

I'm jumping outta' my skin watching your channel! The month before they played on Sullivan, my friend and I passed the window of the local record shop on 82nd st. in Queens and they had the "Meet The Beatles" albums filling the windows.The album cover had these four, _ridiculous_ looking guys on it and we got hysterical after seeing it. It seemed like a joke to us. AM radio was also heavily playing the Beatles in anticipation of their arrival in NY and hearing them on my Mom's kitchen AM radio was equally unimpressive. I simply didn't see what all the fuss was about. Believe me, I was _not_ hotly anticipating the Beatles' first Ed Sullivan performance- but my folks were strangely interested. So our black and white TV was tuned to CBS-NY. Channel 2 that Sunday night. The Beatles came on. They played. And it was like sticking my fingers into a 120 volt outlet!!! Dan, I swear to God, I was levitating on the living room floor by the end of the show. I never heard ANYTHING like it in my life! The Beatles opened up a musical excitement that I didn't think was even possible! I asked (let's call it what it was- begging!) my parents for an electric guitar that night and two weeks later they presented me with a cherry red, Harmony Rocket guitar with a Fender "Champ", amp- along with a super guitar instructor (Dan Mosca ) who used to play for both Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey and Harry James. Our family friend and neighbor (Eddy Gunning) was a band leader and he hooked me up with Dan for the weekly lessons. Two months later I was in Eddy's son's rock band. My secret vision of trying to replicate the incredible rock and roll rock feeling that the Beatles zapped me with that fateful Sunday night was actually becoming _real_. I was totally hooked on music because of the Beatles and I played in the same band for the next 30 years. Thank you, Mom and Dad! (I was a damn lucky kid!!!) Just a quick note about their old Zenith TV... I watched 20th century history on it- live!!! I watched Cronkite's coverage of the Kennedy assassination and funeral. I watched Jack Ruby shoot Lee Harvey Oswald to death that Sunday morning. This was first and only live murder ever aired on live T.V. I watched Kennedy face down Castro and Kruschev during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I watched the live coverage of the trial of the Nazi monster- Adolph Eichmann. Hypnotized and breathless, I watched Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the Moon! I watched every Twilight Zone, Outer Limits and Star Trek episode weekly when they first went on the air. Walter Cronkite delivered the entire Vietnam War on CBS. The whole, mid-20th century on my Mom and Dad's TV.

The Beatles version of How Do You Do It was eventually released on Anthology 1 in 1995.

I saw the show when I was 6 and asked dad, why are they shaking their heads. He said, I don't know son. He also said the following day that his band students saw them and told him the drummer got mixed up.

During the early 70"s my favourite band was Wings......I only found out later that Paul McCartny was in another band I liked.....The Beatles....

Great Job! Dan, Did see it live just before my teen years. I recognized then what a great sound. I remember the subtitles of " Sorry girls he's married" as the camera scanned over John. Saw Hard Days Night on the big screen when it came out three times in the same sitting at the cinema. Your channel is fantastic so informative and entertaining. Thank You!

The first Beatles single ("Love Me Do' / "PS I Love You") wasn't issued in Australia. The first Beatles single issued in Australia (on February 21, 1963) was "Please Please Me" / "Ask Me Why". When The Beatles hit #1 in Australia (January 10, 1964) with "I Want To Hold Your Hand", EMI Australia issued "Love Me Do" / "I Saw Her Standing There" (on January 16, 1964). That single went to #1 on February 14, 1964 and stayed at the top for 7 weeks.

Brian Epstein's family owned some recrd shops. In those days, the company that collacted sales numbers for singles used to base them off the sles of a few, selected shops, and then extrapolate likely figures from there. So the record producers knew which shops provided sales figures and would make sure to buy plenty of copies of their own bands' single, in order to artificially inflate the sles figures. Used to happen all the time.

I was only 8 years old, but it was a family gathering to see the fab five on Ed Sullivan. What a show!

Dan, great voice - great content - great presentation. Could not be better.

Morlocks scared the crap out of me when I was a kid.

The Beatles first concert in the US was in my hometown of Washington, DC, 25 days before I was born there!

I was -7 when the Beatles played. And Mitch Murray looks like a young Dustin Hoffman from ‘The Graduate’. 😮

Oh yes I do vaguely remember watching them on our black and white Motorola TV I was10 or 11 years old 🎸📺

I was 12, and on that historic evening, we went to visit our great aunt's family. My second cousin was there and she said "the Beatles are on Ed Sullivan tonight !!!!" I probably said "who are the Beatles?". Well, we watched the show, and it is deeply imbedded in my memory, like it was, well ... "Yesterday". Even now, when I drive by that house I remember that night. Dang, was that really 60 years ago. Glad to see Paul got his base back.

Oh yeah, I was 12 and my grandparents had a new color television/stereo and they watched Ed Sullivan. It was cool to watch the Beatles, but I was really into the stereo effects test record, sitting with my back against the console, dead center between the speakers listening to trains go by.

I remember one of my classmates brought a copy of 'I want to hold your hand' to class for show- and- tell. The teacher played it...but we all had to FOLD OUR ARMS ON THE DESK AND PUT OUR HEADS DOWN while it was played!!! (Honest to God true)

I was 5 yrs old when the Ed Sullivan show aired, my older sisters were all going ga-ga over them and thus started the flow of single 45 rps's of the Beatles coming into our house 😆

No I was only 5 at the time. I can say my first song heard by the Beatles and was forever hooked was 'I want to hold your hand'. Thanks Dan

Remember sitting on the floor in front of the round screen tv in my “onesie” listening to my dad complain about their “long hair”!

Was 8. Ed and Beatles were great. Then off to bed because it was late.

I found a Beatle album (Hard Day's Night) in my dad's collection when I was about 5 or 6 years old... great stuff. Listened to it hundreds of times.

I remember watching them on Ed Sullivan when it was live. I was 5. I remember our family went out for a Sunday drive and listening to the local rock AM station (WOKY Milwaukee) all they kept talking about was the Beatles performance that night. When it was about an hour before the broadcast we drove home. The roads were noticeably thin of traffic. Once the show started there was almost nobody out on the roads, we lived on a semi busy road. Only thing better was hearing the music on the radio when it was all brand new. I also remember listening to that very same AM radio station and hearing the Beatles were breaking up.

I was only 6years old but I remember laying on the floor at my aunts house and watching the show😊

I remember when I was 11 years young the owner of the K. C. A's. baseball team, Charlie O. Finlay went to N Y during The Beatles second visit to the CONUS. For his grand-kids he offered them $20,000 to perform in Kansas City. Sept. 17th 1964. A cousin of mind went and afterwards she let me see her $4 ticket stub.

I saw them on TV, live.

I was born in 1964. What a great year for everything. I was born on the 20th of July, which is even more great.

I was only four when they were on US TV. But. When we moved here to the US from Canada 1966 it was the Beatles songs that I learned English. All my albums were lost in a storage unit when went broke handicapped and homeless.

Great topic as usual!!!

DUDE! You have one of the greatest voices I've ever heard! I used to work with voice guys years ago, my favorite being Mason Adams. Yours comes across as very natural, which is what makes it so great. Anyway, I was ten years old when The Beatles did the first Sullivan show, so I remember it well. Plus, I could HEAR them a lot better than I could a year later at Shea Stadium. Great video, Dan! I'm checking out your "Time Machine" thing next!

I actually remember Elvis 1st. Appearance on Ed Sullivan

I was eight years old in 1964 checking out this phenomenon everyone was talking about called The Beatles. I was outraged. Why were all the girls screaming?? I can't hear them!!

I saw the second appearance of the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, but I was a little kid and just barely remember it.

Jim Santiago U.S. Navy-Retiree/DAV Tinton Falls NJ - I watched the Beatles l I’ve on the Ed Sullivan Show 😁 I was 9 yo… what do I remember most? ALL THE SCREAMING GIRLS!!! 🤣

I watched when they got off the plane, all the girls screaming, and yes layed on the floor in front of the Black and White TV and watched the guys on Ed's show....

The Beatles still rule!

Oh yes I do remember. I was only 5 and when mom called me out of my room to see "the beatles" I literally thought it was some weird thing like actual bugs, like a flea circus or some such thing. Ed Sullivan did strange stuff like that from time to time. Really wasn't into guys on stage singing so went back to my room to play. (Fell in love with the beatles later.) now.... I have one hell of a story about this day, too much to put the full thing in comments but if there is a way to send it to you without publishing it here please let me know. in short, the same night they were on Ed Sullivan I had a dream which involved a tune I could not get out of my head. Even plunked it out on my grandmothers piano (to the point of driving everyone nuts.) It would of course be years later, even after the break up when at a friends house someone put Abby Road on. OH MY GOD my tune is on ABBY ROAD. now HOW is that possible?????? A cosmic mystery I am sure I will never know the answer to. Would have loved to write to John Lennon about this but sadly he was taken from us way too soon. Besides, long before internet, I had no clue how I could possibly even reach any of them. So oh well.

i remember it. i was 7 years old and loved them

I’m really enjoying your content! You have a great voice for this and very interesting topics

It was before my birth, but I got my hands on a DVD box with both E.S. shows, including commercials. One of the acts on the first show was Dutch magician Fred Kaps with his saltshaker routine.

Love the channel Dan - nice and diverse - have you seen the Parlophone guy on here - amazing Beatles knowledge and great delivery too

I was a year old when they were on the Ed Sullivan show. I've seen the video though. Love your channel , Dan!

I missed it by decades.

Really enjoy your videos. Great insight and love the variations in content. Look forward to more music and hope you cover The Invaders in your sci fi material. Thanks again 😊🙏

Another great show Dan!!!

Dan, you never cease to amaze me. I didn't know the whole story about not having How Do You Do It on the first single. I did know that Paul and John wanted only originals on each side I personally think How Do You Do It definitely would have been the hit song, regardless of if it was on side A or B. At least 3 other songs to mention that The Beatles could have released and become top 10 songs, such as Bad To Me, World Without Love, which became #1 in England by Peter and Gordon, and Come And Get It which was given away to Bad Finger.

I'm pretty much here for the movies and the monsters (can't wait for The Time Machine!)... but I have to admit, this was quite fascinating. :-) Well done, as always!

The first single I ever bought was actually a Beatles EP. I was only 5 at the time in 1963 and the Beatles were emerging. I love music and I can't fully describe how exciting I found them, even at such a young age. Ps My Mum was in love with Paul McCartney, and used to rush to our tiny 16 inch black and white TV whenever he was on.

Hey, your a breath of fresh air doing this sort of stuff. A shining light on the hill for RU-vid 😊

I saw the show live. I was at my older sister's apartment. I didn't like them at the time, but I couldn't hear the music for the screaming girls. I didn't understand the fuss, but I got it pretty soon after.

THANKS FOR MAKING ME FEEL OLD, I AM 60 YEARS OLD THIS MONTH AS WELL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was 4...I remember the Beatles then...great video

I remember seeing them on the Ed Sullivan show, but I'm not certain if it was their 1st appearance or a later appearance, but it was incredibly exciting! I hope you will follow up on, "That my friends is the topic of another video." Because those ideas are great too. I also would like to see you do a video on the Thunderbirds (TV series) from the sixties. I loved the series as kid, and as adult! 🚀

I did! I was 17, a senior in high school.

I saw it live sitting on the floor 3 feet from the TV. I was in awe but my dad was disgusted by those "long haired punks" and threw his bowl of ice cream at the set. I can still feel the breeze of the bowl whizzing past my head.

I would love to see some information about the Beatles 2 movies. Hard Days Night and Help! I really liked them as a preteen.

I was a sparkle in my parents eyes...

I saw it live. I was in 4th grade. Ricky from IBM

Great Video, but can't wait for the Time Machine!

I was 9 years old when this came out. my 2 older brothers and my older sister was watching it on the black and white TV. i cannot remember if i watched the whole thing or not.

Great story and as one who watched them on that fateful night, loved them. You tell some fascinating stories about the movies and props but I noticed one thing about the props for this show. Next to Ringo’s drum kit. A hint of things to come. Maybe an episode on Paul’s missing RIGHT HANDED Hofner bass? Lol. Thanks.

I remember watching it. I was 5 years old and we always watched Ed. I didn't have much of an opinion, but my folks thought they were ridiculous. - Dave (PS Love you Chanel)

First of your music videos that I have seen. You got me into it! I love this channel, at the new age of 66! Danger! Danger!😂

Thanks, Dan!

Interesting. Never heard this particular story before.

Hey Dan, love your channel, man! But I have to disagree in fact and principle here: "Please Please Me / P.S. I Love You" was not The Beatles' first single. They released "My Bonnie" with Tony Sheridan in October of 1961 as Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers in Germany, and not too long after in the UK as Tony Sheridan and The Beatles. Not to be argumentative, but I consider this to be The Beatles' first single... It's story though, my friend, may be the subject of another video?

Nope, wasn't born yet but got tickets to see David Letterman by guessing correctly at a trivia question in the middle of Times Square and... got to go to the Ed Sullivan Theater. Where the Beatles first played in America. I was checking out the theater more than the TV show I was in the audience in. Sorry Dave. And thanks Dan!

I was 10 and my three siblings and I were so excited. I remember the screaming and Ed Sullivan trying to calm the girls down before the Beatles started. BTW, I love this channel.

I might have seen it live, I was a newborn.

I was 6 when they played on Sullivan, and of course we always watched, but I don't remember this specifically or it making any impact on me. Cool story I know lol

I’m so glad I subscribed to this channel 🎼🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

I really like watching older content creators make videos. It educates and helps fill in the cultural gaps. Plus, it provides a road map for everyone as we get older.

When is Lewisohns next book? He had all of Covid to crank out Volume 2~ !

There’s even more to it as it appears the Beatles required a lot of help to get the best first recording done and within budget. A touring Quincy Jones witnessed the helping hands required and thus his infamous comments a few years ago.

Phil Collins was in the audience, I think.

Yes, I saw it and was mesmerized as was everyone- but I also remember that next day at school. Something was different. We kids were all talking to eachother.

I'm from Liverpool and just about everyone my folks age saw them. My dad used to go to gigs a lot and saw them all the time. He was a driver for another Liverpool band who used to be on the same bill most of the time. One time a fella came in the bar and said to me dad 'Tommy, The Beatles van has broken down, can you give them a lift?' 'Sorry' me dad said, 'not in me van tonight' That haunted him for years.

My sister and I saw it…I was seven and my sister 14. But Love Me Do isn’t the Beatles isn’t there first single. Beatle Bop (Cry for a Shadow) and Ain’t She Sweet cover was there first single, but not released by Polydor, But That is another Story…

I also was -4 years old when they performed on the Ed Sullivan show

I'm sure I saw it, my folks always watched Sullivan. But Topo Gigio wasn't on that episode, so I remember nothing about it. LOL

My mother watched them on the Ed Sullivan show and said "I give them 6 months..

Sunday night meant The Ed Sullivan Show at our house. So I was front and center in front of our Admiral black and white TV.

I was 10 years old and we all watched it live...

Nice voice!

The real story of Mitch Murray was that he thought cutting his demo was actually making a single release himself and when he realized he wasn't he hated everyone's recordings of his song.

My folks watched it on Ed Sullivan. I was 7. They let me watch because they "Loved Me Do". I didn't really care.

Can you make a video about the 'lost' original soundtrack for the film 2001 A Space Odyssey, please? The music that was composed for the film before Stanley Kubrick settled on the Ligeti and Strauss compositions that are in the film that we all know? Please? Thank you! 👏

I did not know that.

I saw all the Ed Sullivan shows with the Beatles and was totally gobsmacked…😮