The Beatles were everywhere – radio, television, print – as legions of adoring fans pushed up sales on their first single “She Loves You” into the mind-boggling hundreds of thousands. At least in the UK they were. In America, the big untapped market, early Beatles musical attempts were met with profound indifference. So Beatles manager Brian Epstein ordered the recording of a new song, made specifically to cross over to the American audiences. Ironically it would first reach the top of the charts at home.

On this day, December 12, in 1963 the Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand” reached #1 on the UK music charts, replacing the previous title holder, their own “She Loves You.” It would stay at the top spot for five solid week, and on the charts for ten more after.

In America, after the Beatles made their debut appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, a 14 year-old fan, Marsha Albert who saw their performances wrote to a local radio station asking them to play it. The station DJ agreed, and allowed Albert to introduce the song. The song became a phenomenon, and the DJ began spreading it to other stations. Capitol Records, the Beatles’ label, threatened to sue, but then decided instead to take advantage of the free promotion, releasing the single two weeks ahead of schedule.