History 3
Naturally, word about this amazing new act soon spread to America. Yet, ignoring the British success of the Fab Four, EMI's U.S. partner, Capitol, declined to issue the first few Beatles singles, which were instead picked up by the Chicago-based indie label Vee Jay Records. Vee Jay packaged the early singles as Introducing the Beatles, their first U.S. LP.
During the second half of 1963 it was the only Beatles material available in America, and sold incredibly well; by 1964 a court awarded the rights to all Beatles recordings to EMI/Capitol, and the record went out of print, only to become one of the most counterfeited albums in music history.
In January of 1964 Capitol released their first U.S. Beatles LP, Meet the Beatles, containing remixed material from their two British albums. Following a landmark three- weekend stint on the Ed Sullivan show in February of 1964 (viewed by over 73 million people), the Beatles were the biggest band in America -- "Beatlemania" had taken hold of the U.S., also paving the way for other "British Invasion" groups.
To capitalize on their incredible popularity, the Fab Four were made the stars of a comedy film, A Hard Days Night, which, surprisingly, earned good reviews and, not surprisingly, spawned a hit soundtrack album. Following the release of the movie in July, the band embarked on their first North American tour, performing 25 stadium dates in the U.S. and Canada.
By the end of the year Beatles For Sale was in British stores, part of EMI's plan to have a new Beatles album out every six months, while their previous albums and singles still clogged the U.S. and U.K Top 10. In 1965 the band appeared in a second movie, the James Bond spoof Help!,which also spawned a soundtrack album. Another huge U.S. tour followed.
During the second half of 1963 it was the only Beatles material available in America, and sold incredibly well; by 1964 a court awarded the rights to all Beatles recordings to EMI/Capitol, and the record went out of print, only to become one of the most counterfeited albums in music history.
In January of 1964 Capitol released their first U.S. Beatles LP, Meet the Beatles, containing remixed material from their two British albums. Following a landmark three- weekend stint on the Ed Sullivan show in February of 1964 (viewed by over 73 million people), the Beatles were the biggest band in America -- "Beatlemania" had taken hold of the U.S., also paving the way for other "British Invasion" groups.
To capitalize on their incredible popularity, the Fab Four were made the stars of a comedy film, A Hard Days Night, which, surprisingly, earned good reviews and, not surprisingly, spawned a hit soundtrack album. Following the release of the movie in July, the band embarked on their first North American tour, performing 25 stadium dates in the U.S. and Canada.
By the end of the year Beatles For Sale was in British stores, part of EMI's plan to have a new Beatles album out every six months, while their previous albums and singles still clogged the U.S. and U.K Top 10. In 1965 the band appeared in a second movie, the James Bond spoof Help!,which also spawned a soundtrack album. Another huge U.S. tour followed.
