‘Free As A Bird’ Puts Beatles On Hot Singles List

The Beatles are back in the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart for the first time since the summer of ‘76, when “Got To Get You Into My Life,” first featured on “Revolver” and later included on the compilation “Rock ‘n’ Roll Music,” peaked at No. 7.

“Free As A Bird” debuted last week at No. 10, making it the third Beatles single to debut in that position.

Both “Hey Jude” (in 1968) and “Get Back” (in 1969) entered at No. 10.

They were the highest debuts in the history of the Hot 100 at that time, besting the No. 12 entry of “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter” by Herman”s Hermits in 1965.

No single entered higher than No. 10 until 1970, when the Beatles’ “Let It Be” made its first appearance at No. 6.

The three Beatles titles remained the highest new entries until 1995, when “Scream”/”Childhood” by Michael Jackson debuted at No. 5.

That was followed by several top 10 debuts, including four titles that entered at No. 1.

“Free As A Bird” moves up to No. 6 this week. That means the Beatles’ chart span is extended to 31 years and 11 months.

“I Want To Hold Your Hand,” the Capitol single that marked the Fab Four’s U.S. debut, entered the chart on Jan. 18, 1964, so we’re just two weeks away from the Beatles’ 32nd anniversary on the Hot 100.

That’s not the all-time record - the Four Seasons, the Tokens, and Paul Simon are among those with longer chart spans - but it’s still worth writing home about.