The Beatles Canada story - Invading Canada radio in 1963 before the USA

Article written and compiled by hoknes@hotmail.com

http://www.las-solanas.com/arsa/surveys.php?srt0=chartweek&lttl=1357&lcnt=20&srt1=tsc_psv DESC&vqry=chum  

Thanks to  http://craig.sowny.ca/www/www3.sympatico.ca/craig.smith/chum.htm

The Beatles came to America in February 1964 and had their first #1 hit a few weeks earlier.  But the invasion of North America begins a bit earlier in Canada.  This early success in Canada is probably the real reason Capitol Records decided to push The Beatles in america.

The Beatles first entered the weekly top 50 song chart on Canada's largest and #1 radio station CHUM radio on December 2nd 1963.   Only one week after the assassination of JFK. 

A few theories as to why The Beatles caught on in Canada.  In the summer of 1963 britain's Cliff Richard was one of the biggest stars in Canada including a #1 album.  The Beach Boys were leading the wave of surf-rock/guitar inspired songs which would lead the wave for a market for guitar based bands such as The Surfaris,  The Kingsmen, and maybe The Beatles!

7/22/1963 - From Me To You by Del Shannon falls from #43 to #34.   This is the first time some covered a Lennon/McCartney song and released it as a single.  His version is a hit in Canada however the original recording by The Beatles which went #1 in England is a complete bomb in Canada.  

8/26/1963 - From Me To You by Del Shannon falls from #19 to #32.  #19 may have been its peak position.  The Beatles version would make the top 10 only 7 months later. 

12/2/1963 - She Loves You enters at #42.  The only rock/guitar oriented acts on the radio at that time included Del Shannon, The Beach Boys and The Kingsmen.

12/9/1963 - She Loves You makes big waves as the biggest jumper of the week rising to #20.

12/16/1963 - She Loves You rises to #15 in its 3rd week but waves are definitely happening because The Beatles also have the #5 album with Beatlemania: With The Beatles. 

12/23/1963 - This was a very important week to show big things to come.  She Loves You leaps to #5.  Roll Over Beethoven enters the chart at #38 a cover of Chuck Berry sung by George Harrison. 

The album Beatlemania moves up to #3 (which also makes it the #1 rock album).

1/6/1964 - 1964 starts off by showing guitar/rock bands are going to dominate as The Kingsmen and Louie Louie jumps over The Beatles into the #1 spot.  However She Loves You continues to climb moving up to #3.   Roll Over Beethoven takes a giant leap up to #16 sung by George Harrison.    The album Beatlemania moves up to #2 (which also makes it the #1 rock album).

1/20/1964 - The Beatles are the group in Canada.  For the first time ever in Canadian chart history guitar groups dominate the top 4 songs on the hit parade.   The Beatles have the two biggest songs in the country.  As Louie Louie falls to #3 it is surpassed by two different Beatles songs.  She Loves You moves to #1 and Roll Over Beethoven moves to #2.  Their brand new single I Want To Hold Your Hand also debuts at #40.  The album Beatlemania moves up to #1 in the country for the first time.  The Beatles dominate both radio and singles and albums sales.

2/17/1964 - Beatlemania has dominated all of North America.  In Canada I Want To Hold Your  Hand holds at #1.  She Loves You holds at #2.  Roll Over Beethoven falls from #4 to #5.   From Me To You jumps from #36 to #23.  The influence of the british invasion is first felt as The Dave Clark Five become the 2nd new British group to enter the Canadian singles charts with Glad All Over at #37.    Beatles dominate the album charts as Twist And Shout is #1 and Beatlemania is now at #2.

1. I Want To Hold Your Hand/I Saw Her Standing There - The Beatles  1
    2. She Loves You - The Beatles                                 2
    5. Roll Over Beethoven - The Beatles                           4
    22. Louis, Louie - Kingsmen                                    18
   23. From Me To You - The Beatles                               36
   37. Glad All Over - Dave Clark Five                            --


 

3/2/1964 The top 5 is dominated by guitar/rock bands.  I Want To Hold Your Hand continues to hold at #1 and She Loves You once again at #2.  The Rivieras hold at #3.  Roll Over Beethoven moves back up from #5 to #4.  From Me To You climbs #14 to #7.   Please Please Me has a super high entry debuting at #10.  Love Me Do also makes a huge leap from #35 to #12.  The Beach Boys, The Trashmen and The Rip Chords also do well with surf/rock related songs.   Glad All Over by Dave Clark Five jumps from #34 to #20. British female singer Dusty Springfield benefits from the british invasion leaping to #25.  England's legend Cliff Richard continues to have hits in Canada.  This might also have some influence on Canada being more open to playing British acts as America mostly ignored Cliff Richard as well.  The Beatles have 6 songs and 2 albums charting

1. Hold Your Hand/Her Standing There - The Beatles             1
    2. She Loves You - The Beatles                                 2
    3. California Sun - The Rivieras                               3
    4. Roll Over Beethoven - The Beatles                           5
    5. Surfin' Bird - The Trashmen                                 4
    7. From Me To You - The Beatles                               14
   10. Please Please Me - The Beatles                             --
   12. Love Me Do - The Beatles                                   35
   13. Fun, Fun, Fun - The Beach Boys                             22
   20. Glad All Over - Dave Clark 5                               34
   22. Hey Little Cobra - Rip Chords                              12
   25. I Only Want To Be With You - Dusty Springfield             43
   28. Don't Talk To Him - Cliff Richard                          19
   50. Bird Dance Beat - The Trashmen                             --

4/27/1964 The British Invasion has conquered Canada as new groups from across the ocean dominate the airwaves.   Dave Clark Five shows their strong competition against The Beatles as they are stronger on radio with 2 of the top 3 songs.   The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Bachelors, The Searchers, Billy J Kramer, Gerry & The Pacemakers all have hits now in Canada.  The Beatles continue to have 6 hits and 2 albums charting.    Can't Buy Me Love falls from #2 to #4.  All My Loving/This Boy falls from #1 to #5.  Twist And Shout falls #5 to #10.   I Want To Hold Your Hand falls #9 to #14.  She Loves you falls #19 to #39.  Love Me Do falls #15 to #48.  Elvis reclaims his spot as the biggest album selling artist but The Beatles are at #2 with Twist And Shout and #4 with Beatlemania.

CHUM HIT PARADE 
                    WEEK OF APRIL 27, 1964        

    1. Bits And Pieces - Dave Clark 5                              7
    2. Hippy Hippy Shake - Swinging Blue Jeans                     4
    3. Glad All Over - Dave Clark 5                                3
    4. Can't But Me Love - The Beatles                             2
    5. All My Lovin'/This Boy - The Beatles                        1
    6. Suspicion - Terry Stafford                                  8
    7. Rain Come Down - Serendipity Singers                       12
    8. Diane - The Bachelors                                      10
    9. Hello Dolly - Louis Armstrong                               6
   10. Shoop Shoop Song - Betty Everett                           16
   11. Twist And Shout - The Beatles                               5
   12. Stay - The 4 Seasons                                       14
   13. Dawn - The 4 Seasons                                       11
   14. I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles                      9
   15. Kiss Me Sailor - Diane Renay                               30
   16. Nadine - Chuck Berry                                       20
   17. Needles And Pins - The Searchers                           26
   18. Private Property - Shirley Matthew                         23
   19. Ebb Tide - Lenny Welch                                     31
   20. Young And In Love - Chris Crosby                           18
   21. My Guy - Mary Wells                                        39
   22. Winkin', Blinkin & Nod - The Simon Sisters                 40
   23. I'm The Lonely One - Cliff Richards                        35
   24. Money - The Kingsmen                                       38
   25. Forever - Peter Drake                                      17
   26. That's The Way Boys Are - Lesley Gore                      33
   27. Book Of Love - The Raindrops                               25
   28. Make Me Forget - Bobby Rydell                              44
   29. Don't Want To Be Hurt Anymore - Nat King Cole              43
   30. Whenever He Holds You - Bobby Goldsboro                    47
   31. Bird Dance Beat - The Trashmen                             21
   32. Kiss Me Quick - Elvis Presley                              --
   33. You're A Wonderful One - Marvin Gaye                       45
   34. You're Not A Goody Goody - Bobby Curtola                   37
   35. Look Homeward Angel - The Monarchs                         32
   36. Charade - Sammy Kaye                                       41
   37. Little Children - Billy J. Kramer                          34
   38. Romeo And Juliet - The Reflections                         49
   39. She Loves You - The Beatles                                19
   40. Ain't Gonna Tell Anybody - Jimmy Gilmer                    42
   41. Fun Fun Fun - The Beach Boys                               13
   42. Dead Man's Curve/New Girl In School - Jan & Dean           --
   43. Donnie - The Bermudas                                      50
   44. Ronnie - The 4 Seasons                                     --
   45. Shangri-La - Robert Maxwell                                34
   46. I'm The One - Gerry & Pacemakers                           --
   47. It's Over - Roy Orbison                                    --
   48. Love Me Do - The Beatles                                   15
   49. The Very Thought Of You - Rick Nelson                      --
   50. Wrong For Each Other - Andy Williams                       --

       CHUM'S ALBUM INDEX
    1. Kissin' Cousins - Elvis Presley
    2. Twist & Shout - The Beatles
    3. Honey In The Horn - Al Hirt 
    4. Beatlemania - The Beatles           
    5. Fun In Acapulco - Elvis Presley

 

 

CHUM HIT PARADE 
                     WEEK OF MAY 18, 1964  

    1. Bits And Pieces - Dave Clark 5                              1
    2. Hippy Hippy Shake - Swing. Blue Jeans                       2
    3. I'm The One - Gerry & Pacemakers                           13
    4. Hello Dolly - Louis Armstrong                               3
    5. Shoop Shoop Song - Betty Everett                            5
    6. Kiss Me Quick - Elvis Presley                               8
    7. Suspicion - Terry Stafford                                  4
    8. Rain Come Down - Serendipity Singers                        7
    9. World Without Love - Peter & Gordon/Bobby Rydell           31
   10. Glad All Over - Dave Clark 5                                6
   11. My Guy - Mary Wells                                        11
   12. Can't Buy Me Love - The Beatles                             9
   13. Good Golly Miss Molly - Swing. Blue Jeans                  21
   14. All My Lovin'/This Boy - The Beatles                       10
   15. Twist And Shout - The Beatles                              18
   16. Little Children - Billy J. Kramer                          12
   17. Do You Love Me - Dave Clark Five                           32
   18. Ronnie - The 4 Seasons                                     24
   19. The French Song - Lucille Starr                            44
   20. Winkin', Blinkin & Nod - The Simon Sisters                 20
   21. Bad To Me - Billy J. Kramer                                36
   22. Needles And Pins - The Searchers                           23
   23. Ebb Tide - Lenny Welch                                     14
   24. Tall Cool One - The Wailers                                33
   25. The Very Thought Of You - Rick Nelson                      29
   26. Romeo And Juliet - The Reflections                         27
   27. Love Me With All Your Heart - Ray Charles Singers          35
   28. Chapel Of Love - Dixie Cups                                47
   29. Ain't That Just Like Me - The Searchers                    39
   30. Diane - The Bachelors                                      16
   31. Cotton Candy - Al Hirt                                     32
   32. Whenever He Holds You - Bobby Goldsboro                    28
   33. Private Property - Shirley Matthews                        25
   34. Gonna Get Along Without You Now - Tracey Dey/Skeeter Davis 45
   35. Viva Las Vegas/What'd I Say - Elvis Presley                --
   36. Yesterday's Hero - Gene Pitney                             43
   37. It's Over - Roy Orbison                                    30
   38. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying - Gerry & Pacemakers    --
   39. Dead Man's Curve/New Girl In School - Jan & Dean           41
   40. Three Window Couple - The Rip Chords                       49
   41. Kiss Me Sailor - Diane Renay                               17
   42. Walk On By - Dionne Warwick                                --
   43. Today - Christy Minstrels                                  50
   44. My Boy Lollipop - Millie Small                             --
   45. Nadine - Chuck Berry                                       15
   46. World Of Lonely People - Anita Bryant                      --
   47. To Be Hurt Anymore - Nat King Cole                         22
   48. I'm The Lonely One - Cliff Richard                         19
   49. World I Used To Know - Jimmie Rodgers                      --
   50. Be Anything (But Be Mine) - Connie Francis                 --

       CHUM'S ALBUM INDEX
    1. Long Tall Salle - The Beatles
    2. Kissin' Cousins - Elvis Presley
    3. Session - Dave Clark 5
    4. Twist & Shout - The Beatles
    5. Beatlemania - The Beatles

5/14/1964 - The Beatles have a new album released in Canada. This is the last of 3 albums exclusively released in Canada only and all 3 are in the top 5.  Long Tall Sally is now #1 and Twist And Shout is #4 and Beatlemania is #5.  Dave Clark Five continues to threaten for domination of the british groups as Session is the #3 album.   Airplay finally softens after a crazy spring with only 3 songs left in the top 50 chart.  Can't Buy Me Love falls #9 to #12.  All My Loving/This Boy falls #10 to #14.   Twist And Shout moves back up from #18 to #15.   The Dave Clark Five also have 3 songs high on the charts.  Bits And Pieces continues its hold at #1.  Glad All Over falls from #6 to #10 and Do You Love Me jumps #32 to #17.   Gerry & The Pacemakers, Swinging Blue Jeans and Peter and Gordon all british acts in the top 10.