Beatles chart positions!

[alanultron5]

And now Beatles 1968!

LADY MADONNA.

`Lady Madonna` was something of a surprise to fans and reviewers back in early 1968. Some people didn’t even recognise it as the Beatles!

With a keen eye for current trends, the group swung towards the “Back to Basics” trend following psychedelia. For a short period a full-blown “Rock N’ Roll” revival was mooted as the sound of 68’; it soon died down.

`Lady Madonna` was the lowest selling Beatles single since `Please Please Me`. It gained the group yet another silver disc for more than 250,000 copies sold; but it did not go much further than that figure, just about reaching 300,000.

It became the first `official Beatles single release not to head the Melody Maker chart, ending a run of 15 consecutive number 1s in that chart (16 if `Magical Mystery Tour` is counted, even though it is not a single). It still topped both the New Musical Expressd, Record Retailer and Pick Of The Pops charts for two weeks.

It was another record that John Lennon in later interviews did not hold in high esteem. The record was the first since `Yellow Submarine` not to hit number 1 on any of the American charts.


“Lady Madonna” Chart Progress.

It entered the New Musical Express chart at 6 on 23 March 1968, rising to number 1 for two weeks on 30 March 1968. It fell to number 4 on 13 April 1968. Following positions were, 6, 12 and 23, before leaving the chart on 11 May 1968.

It entered the Melody Maker chart at 3 on 23 March 1968. It then rose to number 2 for two weeks on 30 March; falling to number 5 on 13 April 1968. Following positions were, 6, 17 and 25, before leaving the chart on 11 May 1968.

`Lady Madonna` entered Record Retailer chart on 23 March 1968 at position 11. It rose to the number 1 spot for two weeks on 30 March 1968. It fell to number 4 on 13 April 1968. Following positions were, 6, 9, 26 and 35, before leaving the chart on 18 May 1968.

On the Pick Of The Pops chart it entered at 6 on 23 March 1968. It made number 1 the following week of 30 March for two weeks before falling to number 4 on 13 April 1968. Following positions were 6, 16 and 24, before departing the chart on 11 May 1968.


LADY MADONNA(1968)

(1968)
23/2. 30/2. 6/4. 13/4. 20/4. 27/4. 4/5. 11/5. N.M.E -6 1 1 4 6 12 23*

M.M -3 2 2 5 6 17 25*

R.R -11 1 1 4 6 9 26 35*

P.O.T.P -6 1 1 4 6 16 24*



* * *



HEY JUDE.

`Hey Jude`; is often rated as one of the all time classic singles, gave the Beatles Apple label a tremendous debut. Helped by an 8 September 1968 airing by the group on The David Frost Show the single entered both the Melody Maker and the new Top Pops charts, straight at number 1. It entered the New Musical Express chart at number 3, but incredibly only entered the Record Retailer chart at number 21. Many have speculated why such a difference in the Record Retailer chart.

The reason is the August Bank Holiday, which disrupted the Record Retailer postal returns (Melody Maker switched to phoning shops when the post was delayed by holidays. New Musical Express always conducted phoned surveys).

The Record Retailer first compiled a `temporary` chart; which Record Mirror published. In this `Hey Jude` only entered at number 27. Clearly the Record Retailer chart was struggling to keep mistakes at a minimum.

`Hey Jude` regained for the group the best selling single of the year achievement. It sold over 800,000 that year, followed by the labels `Those Were The Days by Mary Hopkin as second best seller of the year at over 750,000.

In one of his last interviews to the Radio One Disc Jockey, Andy Peebles, John Lennon was angrily commenting on his songs ending up as `B` sides to Paul’s. He remarked that `Revolution` was put on the flip side of some s**t like `Hello Goodbye!` He stopped; realising the actual song, which `Revolution` was paired with; apologising and making it very clear that `Hey Jude` was “Worth It”.

Along with `Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane`; it is rated as the very best of the groups output on a single.


“Hey Jude” Chart Progress.

In the New Musical Express chart it entered at 3 on 7 September 1968; rising to number 1 for three weeks on 14 September. It fell to number 2 on 5 October 1968. Following positions were, 3, 4, 4, 13, 15, 24 and 28, before departing the chart on 30 November 1968.

In the Melody Maker chart it entered straight at 1 for four weeks on 7 September 1968. It fell to number 2 on 5 October 1968. Following positions were 3, 3, 2, 6, 11, 13, 21 and 28, before dropping from the chart on 7 December 1968.

`Hey Jude` entered the Record Retailer chart at 21 on 7 September 1968. It rose to number 1 the following week of 14 September for two weeks. It fell to number 2 on 28 September. Following positions were 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 7, 10, 11, 24, 25, 30, 45 and 50, before departing the chart on 28 December 1968.

In the Pick Of The Pops chart it entered at 8 on 7 September 1968. It reached number 1 the following week of 14 September 1968 for three weeks. It fell to number 2 on 5 October 1968. Following positions were joint 3, joint 3, 2, 8, joint 11, 16, 24 and 30, before leaving the chart on 7 December 1968.

In the Top Pops chart it entered straight at 1 for four weeks on 7 September 1968. It fell to number 2 on 5 October 1968. Following positions were 3, 3, 2, 6, 15, 12, 21 and 28, before departing the chart on 7 December 1968.


HEY JUDE(1968)

(1968)
7/9. 14/9 .21.9. 28/9. 5/10. 12/10. 19/10. 26/10. 2/11. 9/11. 16/11. 23/11. 7/12. 14/12.

N.M.E -3 1 1 1 2 3 4 4 13 15 24 28*

M.M -1 1 1 1 2 3 3 2 6 11 13 21 28*

R.R -21 1 1 2 2 4 3 2 7 10 11 24 25 30

P.O.T.P -8 1 1 1 2 j3 j3 2 8 j11 16 24 30*

T.P/M.N -1 1 1 1 2 3 3 2 6 15 12 21 28*


HEY JUDE Cont-

21/12. 28/12.
R.R 45 50*



* * *






THE BEATLES LP

The eponymous Beatles LP again, only entered the New Musical Express singles chart for a three week run in November / December 1968. It holds two `singles` chart records.

It was the final LP to enter a singles chart due to New Musical Express finally discontinuing the practise of allowing LPs into its charts. It was also the only double LP to enter a singles chart. Two records that stand for all time.




The Beatles Chart Progress.


The Beatles double LP set entered the New Musical Express singles chart at 20 on 30 November 1968. It fell to number 24 the following week of 7 December. It fell again the following week of 14 December 1968 to position 29. It fell from the chart the next week of 21 December 1968.


THE BEATLES LP (1968)

(1968)
30/11. 7/12. 14/12.

N.M.E -20 24 29*




* * *

[alanultron5]

Now Beatles in 1969.

GET BACK.

`Get Back` is the single that is `officially` classified as the group’s only entry straight at number 1. This ludicrous fact is only due to Guinness Hit Singles using the Record Retailer charts for the bulk of its 1960s data.

The newly established British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) chart was able to sample far more shops than the old Record Retailer chart, and `Get Back` profited by this. The single enjoyed over a month at the top in each chart, faring best in the BMRB lists with six weeks at number 1.

When the new BMRB chart commenced on 13 February 1969, Pick Of The Pops ceased its averaged compiling method and began using the new chart.

The record sold close to 550,000 copies, which made it the year’s second biggest seller, behind The Archies `Sugar Sugar.`




“Get Back” Chart Progress.


In the New Musical Express chart it entered at 3 on 26 April 1969, reaching number 1 for five weeks on 3 May 1969. It fell to number 2 on 7 June. Following positions were 4, 6, 10 and 21, before leaving the chart on 12 July 1969.

It Entered the Melody Maker chart at 2 on 26 April 1969, reaching number 1 for five weeks on 3 May 1969. It fell to number 2 on 7 June. Following positions were 4, 5, 12, 19, 27 and 30, before departing the chart on 26 July 1969.

`Get Back` entered the BMRB chart straight at 1 on 26 April 1969 for six weeks. It fell to number 2 on 7 June 1969. Further positions were 5, 6, 18, 21, 26, 27, 33, 36, 47 and 45, before leaving the chart on 23 August 1969.

In the Top Pops chart it entered straight at 7 on 26 April 1969, reaching number 1 on 3 May for three weeks. It fell to number 2 on 24 May 1969, then following positions were 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 22, 26 and final week of 26 July at No 30.



GET BACK(1969)

(1969)
26/4. 3/5. 10/5. 17/5. 24/5. 31/5. 7/6. 14/6. 21/6. 28/6. 5/7. 12/7. 19/7. 26/7. 2/8. 9/8.

N.M.E -3 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 6 10 21*

M.M -2 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 5 12 19 27 30*

B.M.R.B -1 1 1 1 1 1 2 5 6 18 21 26 27 33 36 47

T.P/M.N -7 1 1 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 18 22 26 30*


GET BACK Cont-

(1969)
16/8.

B.M.R.B 45*


* * *






THE BALLAD OF JOHN AND YOKO.

`The Ballad Of John And Yoko` which, was the groups last British number 1, was, as we now know a true Lennon and McCartney collaboration; John wrote it, Paul helped with drums, bass and vocals.

It was a surprise release for fans back in mid-1969, following `Get Back` by only a few weeks into the charts. Not as huge a seller as its predecessor, but still managing to clear the 300,000 mark quite easily. This is perhaps one of the lesser known of the groups hits, in many quizzes, when the question “What was the Beatles final number 1?” gets asked, only devout fans get it correct!


“The Ballad of John and Yoko” Chart Progress.



In the New Musical Express chart it entered at joint number 11 on 7 June 1969. It rose to number 2 the following week and then to number 1 for two weeks from 21 June. It fell to number 3 on 5 July 1969. Following positions were, 5, 8, 13, 16 and 25, before leaving the chart on 16 August 1969.

In the Melody Maker chart it entered at 15 on 7 June 1969. It rose to number 2 the following week and to number 1 for three weeks on 21 June. It fell to number 3 on 12 July 1969. Following positions were, 6, 13, 17 and 22, before leaving the chart on 16 August 1969.

`The Ballad Of John And Yoko” Entered the BMRB chart at 4 on 7 June 1969, rising to number 1 the next week of 14 June for three weeks. It fell to number 3 on 5 July 1969. Following positions were, 3, 11, 15, 22, 27, 37, 38, 47 and 50, before departing the chart on 13 September 1969.

In the Top Pops chart it entered at 15 on 7 June 1969. It rose to number 5 the following week and then to number 1 for two weeks from 21 June. It fell to number 2 on 5 July 1969. Following positions were 8, 22, 22, 17 and 30, before leaving the chart on 2 August 1969.


THE BALLAD OF JOHN AND YOKO(1969)

(1969)
7/6. 14/6. 21/6. 28/6. 5/7. 12/7. 19/7. 26/7. 2/8. 9/8. 16/8. 23/8. 30/8. 6/9.

N.M.E -j11 2 1 1 3 5 8 13 16 25*

M.M -15 2 1 1 1 3 6 13 17 22*

B.M.R.B -4 1 1 1 3 3 11 15 22 27 37 38 47 50*

TP -15 5 1 1 2 8 22 22 17 30*



* * *








SOMETHING / COME TOGETHER.


For the first time a George Harrison composition gained the honour of an `A` side on a Beatles single, though this was shared with John’s `Come Together` as part of the groups fourth `double A` release.

Unfortunately, for the first time since `Love Me Do` the group failed to earn silver disc for over 250,000 sales. The reason mainly given is that the Abbey Road LP, from which the two tracks were taken from, was already on sale. Alan Klein, who was managing the group’s affairs at that time, had little knowledge of British sales patterns then, and the group themselves had little concern then over release schedules.

The American method of releasing prime tracks as `marketing tools` to promote the parent LP they originated from, was a procedure not common to British record companies, or consumers (not for many years did Britain start to follow this trend) record buyers back in 1969 were reluctant to buy singles they already owned on an album.

Another factor is the collapsing single’s market of the late 1960s. By late 1969 sales of the seven inch disc were at their lowest since 1958, and even the mighty Beatles were not selling singles in the same numbers as 1963 to 1965. There was no audited million selling single between 1967s `The Last Waltz` (Englebert Humperdink) up to 1973s `Eye Level` (Simon Park Orchestra) a very barren period! The best that `Something / Come Together` could achieve was third position in the Top Pops / Music Now charts.


“Something / Come Together” Chart Progress.


In the New Musical Express chart it entered at 17 on 8 November 1969, rising to number 10 the next week. The week after of 22 November 1969 it peaked at number 5 for three weeks, falling to number 9 on 13 December. Following positions were, 14, 21, 20 and 27, before departing the chart on 17 January 1970.

It entered the Melody Maker chart (now a Top 50) at 26 on 8 November 1969, rising to number 12 the next week. The week following, of 22 November it rose to number 5, and then peaked at number 4 on 29 November 1969. It fell to number 6 the next week. Following positions were, 8 and 11. There was no chart published 27 December 1969. Positions resumed at 3 January 1970 at number 14; thereafter were 19, 27 and 43, before leaving the chart on 31 January 1970.

The double `A` `Something / Come Together` entered the BMRB chart at 15 on 8 November 1969, rising to number 6 the following week. The next week of 22 November it peaked at number 4 then fell to number 6 the week after. Following Positions were, 8, 11, 18 and 21. There was no chart on 3 January 1970, so the next position was number 18 on 10 January 1970. Following positions were, 40 and 45, before leaving the chart on 31 January 1970.

In the Top Pops / Music Now chart it entered at 26 on 8 November 1969. Following positions were 10, 9, a peak of number 3 on 29 November, then on 6 December 1969, position 4. Amazingly that was its last week in the chart! From 13 December 1969 it dropped from the chart altogether.


SOMETHING / COME TOGETHER(1969-70)


(1969) (1970)
8/11. 15/11. 22/11. 29/11. 6/12. 13/12. 20/12. 27/12. 3/1. 10/1. 17/1. 24/1*

N.M.E -17 10 5 5 5 9 14 21 20 27*

M.M -26 12 5 4 6 8 11 NC 14 19 27 43*

B.M.R.B -15 6 4 6 8 11 18 21 NC 18 40 45*

T.P/M.N -26 10 9 3 4*


* * *

[alanultron5]

And finally in the singles category, 1970!

LET IT BE.

The final `official` group release in the UK, `Let It Be` was, lessons being learned, this time released ahead of the eponymous parent LP. It entered the BMRB charts at number 2, but sadly progress after that was downward. It did manage to sell over the 250,000 mark; earning the group, outside of EPs, their 20th Silver disc (five of those 20 were also gold discs).

“Let It Be” Chart Progress.


It entered the New Musical Express chart at joint number 9 on 14 March 1970, peaking the next week at number 3 for two weeks. It fell to number 7 on 4 April 1970. Following positions were, 10, 13 and 26, before departing the top chart on 2 May 1970.

It entered the Melody Maker Top 50 chart at 15 on 14 March 1970, rising to number 3 for two weeks on 21 March. It fell to number 6 on 4 April 1970. Following positions were, 10, 13, 20, 28, 37, 48, 45 and 43, before departing the chart on 6 June 1970.

`Let It Be` entered the BMRB chart at 2 on 14 March 1970. Following positions were 3, 4, 7, 11, 16, 26, 34 and 34 again, before leaving the chart on 16 May 1970. The record made a re-entry for just the week dated 24 October 1970 at number 43, before finally departing the chart on 31 October 1970.

It entered the Top Pop / Music Now chart at 3 on 14 March 1970; rising the following week, in the now `solely` Music Now chart to number 2 for two weeks. It fell to number 7 on 4 April 1970. Following positions were, 14 and 28, before leaving the chart on 2 May 1970.



LET IT BE(1970)


(1970)
14/3. 21/3. 28/3. 4/4. 11/4. 18/4. 25/4. 2/5. 9/5. 16/5. 23/5. 30/5. 24/10.

N.M.E -j9 3 3 7 10 13 26*

M.M -15 3 3 6 10 13 20 28 37 48 45 43*

B.M.R.B -2 3 4 7 11 16 26 34 34 # 43*

M.N -3 2 2 7 14 28*

[Niblet]

MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR EP.


The `Magical Mystery Tour` Double EP set, became the first EP to be allowed into the Record Retailer chart in many years, due to the fact of that chart ceasing barely a week later (16 December 1967) to `MMTs` release on 8 December 1967.

The EP (at 19 shillings & 6 pence) though more expensive than singles, still sold well.

I was 11 years old when MMT was released. I had only ever bought Beatles' singles before, and the prospect of a double EP seemed very exotic. I saved up my pocket money, and as soon as I'd accumulated sufficient funds I headed for my local record shop. I asked the girl behind the counter for a copy, and she said 'do you want the mono or stereo version?' I'd never been offered this option before, so it took me a bit by surprise. However, as my mum and dad had recently purchased a stereo radiogram, I didn't hesitate in replying 'stereo, please'.

Then I was suddenly hit by the possible cost implications of my choice, and asked 'is the stereo version more expensive?' The girl replied 'yes, it's a pound more'. My face must have fallen, as she then said 'only kidding, it's the same price'.

I still have that copy, but maybe the mono version is more valuable now.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

Regarding Hey, Jude, has anyone noticed how that you can ---if you concentrate, and strain your ears-------hear someone definately mutter 'f**in' h*ll![/i in the background at about the half-way point during this song?

It was probably LLennon being anti-Establishment and subversive. During the original release, of course, radio was in mono and most folks never had hi-fi gear sophisticated enough to pick out this 'refinement'.

[Niblet]

Comments on this page attribute the comment to both Lennon and McCartney, and give a variety of reasons for it http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=141

Do a 'find' on the word 'hell' to track down the relevant posts.

Wikipedia has even more ideas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey_Jude

[alanultron5]

Niblet! Regarding the price of original Mono/Stereo MMT, Maybe the stereo can fetch a little more- but there is little difference on average! It's the same with Mono/Stero "Sgt Pepper"

Re `F` "Hey Jude" You can hear something on the stereo version on the US import "Hey Jude" LP. The song comes across superb on that LP as the stereo mix is very good!

If anyone listens carefully in the `White Noise` fade out on "I Want You-She's So Heavy" on `Abbey Road` there sounds like someone muttering "Turn it Down! Wow!!

[stevezodiac]

I was just putting some more stuff on ebay and came across two copies of Valentine. In the comic there is a Beatles answer your questions page. It comes across as authentic answers from the fab four but given that it was the height of Beatlemania would they have had time to do this? They were no longer touring so it could be - perhaps Alan can help. I was fascinated that they allowed so many questions mentioning that Magical Mystery Tour was a flop. Comics normally tended to steer away from negatives and criticism.

[alanultron5]

Lovely stuff Steve! I do recall that issue as my sister had lots of those mags! The replies would be genuine as the Beatles did sometimes help out the lesser known magazines with interviews etc!

When they were actually filming `MMT` all the top pop papers wanted interviews but they only gave to the new `Top Pops` music paper via Miranda Ward. Main interview was with George though Paul gave a short interview too! No interviews given to NME, M.Maker, R.Mirror or Disc, but as `Top Pops` was just starting out-they complied!