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The phenomenon known as ''']''' originated in the '''United Kingdom''', birthplace of ], when the band first realised enormous popularity there in 1963. Returning from a highly formative ] in 1962, The Beatles achieved a commercial breakthrough with their second UK single release, "]" early in 1963, but gained "Superstar" status with the release of "]" later that year. There followed an almost non-stop series of concerts and tours, attended with feverish enthusiasm across the UK, for the whole of the following year.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|pp=117-185}}<ref name="DaveDermonIIITheBeatlesonTour">{{cite web |first=Dave |last=Dermon III |url=http://www.dermon.com/Beatles/details/tours.htm |title=The Beatles on Tour 1963 to 1966 |publisher=Dave Dermon III |accessdate=25 May 2009}}</ref> The Beatles' popularity in the UK came to exceed even that of the notable US artists ], ] and ], whose UK chart success at the time did not keep them from being overshadowed by The Beatles during their 1963 nationwide tours with the lower-billed band — an achievement hitherto unknown for a UK act.

With intense media interest in The Beatles during 1963, the year was also taken up with TV shows, press interviews and a weekly radio show. Despite these demands the band found time for many sessions in the recording studio, releasing two albums and four singles during the year. 1963 was also the year when Lennon's son ] was born.

By the end of 1963, ] would begin to spread internationally. The single "]" entered the US charts on 18 January 1964, selling one-and-a-half million copies in under three weeks,{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|p=175}} and the following month The Beatles made their ]. The great interest in The Beatles brought about a major change in US attitudes to popular music<ref name=BeatlesArrive>{{cite news |title=When the Beatles hit America|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/05/beatles.40/|publisher=CNN|date=10 February 2004|accessdate=30 May 2009}}</ref> and marked the start of the phenomenon known as The ].

==Background==
===Return from Hamburg, and the Cavern Club===

Following ], the band had returned from Germany to the UK and were ]. Their new manager, ], had made efforts to smarten the band up, encouraging them to wear suits instead of jeans and leather jackets, and to refrain from swearing, smoking, drinking or eating onstage, or stopping and starting songs when they felt like it: Epstein had seen the band's potential and was attempting to transform the Beatles into a serious commercial proposition.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|pp=279-280}}{{sfn|Anthology|2000|p=66}} He had started to approach record companies, but this had not led to any interest in the band.{{sfn|Coleman|1987|pp=88-89}}
(V) (0,,,0) (V) ~ Zoidburg

===Record contract===
After failing to impress a number of record companies, most recently at the ], Epstein went to the ] store on ] in London to transfer the Decca tapes to discs. There, recording engineer Jim Foy referred him to Sid Coleman, who ran EMI's publishing arm. Epstein eventually met with EMI's ], who signed the group to the ] label on a one-year renewable contract.{{sfn|Miles|1997|p=90}} The Beatles' first recording session was scheduled for 6 June 1962 at EMI's ] in north London.<ref name="Daviesp178">Davies (1985) p178</ref> Martin had not been particularly impressed by the band's demo recordings, but he liked The Beatles' personalities when he met them.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=318}} He concluded that they had raw musical talent, but stated in later interviews that what made the difference for him was their wit and humour.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|pp=318-319}}
The Beatles recording contract paid the band a ] for each single sold, which was split amongst the four Beatles—one ] per group member.<ref name="History62">{{cite web |first= |last= |url=http://plzdontshoot.us/beatles-discography-1962.html |title=Beatles History - 1962 |publisher=plzdontshoot |accessdate=25 May 2009}}</ref> This royalty rate was reduced for sales outside the UK, for which they received a ] per single (again split between the whole band). Martin said later that it was a "pretty awful" contract.<ref name="History62" />

===A change of drummer===
Martin was critical of Pete Best, who, according to Martin, was not able to keep time.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=318}} Martin privately suggested to Epstein that the band use another drummer in the studio. There was speculation by some that Best's popularity with fans was another source of friction.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=322}} In addition, Epstein became exasperated that Best would not adopt the distinctive ] as part of the band's unified look (although according to ], who was instrumental in originally creating the hairstyle, he had "really curly hair and it wouldn't work"). Best had also missed a number of engagements because of illness. The three founding members of the band asked Epstein to dismiss Best, which he did on 16 August 1962.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=330}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockontour.net/gv84.html |title=The Beatles' Best Kept Secret * Haymans Green |publisher=Rockontour.net |date=1959-08-29 |accessdate=2011-08-28}}</ref> They asked ], known as Ringo Starr, to join the band; Starr was the drummer for one of the top ] groups, ], and had performed occasionally with The Beatles in Hamburg.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=328}}

The first recordings of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr together had been made as early as 15 October 1960, in a series of demonstration records privately recorded in Hamburg while the four were acting as the backing group for singer Lu Walters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beatlesource.com/bs/ao-smrtime.html|title=Lu Walters' recording session|accessdate=29 January 2007}}</ref> Starr played on The Beatles' second EMI recording session on 4 September 1962, but Martin hired session drummer ] for their next session on 11 September.{{sfn|Spitz|2005|p=353}} White's only released performances were recordings of "]" and "]", found on The Beatles' ].

===Minor commercial success, and the first TV appearance===
The Beatles' first EMI session on 6 June 1962 did not yield any recordings considered worthy of release, but "Love Me Do" from the September sessions produced a minor UK hit which peaked on the charts at number seventeen.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oldies.about.com/od/britishinvasion/a/lovemedo.htm|title=Love Me Do: The history of this classic Beatles song|publisher=About.com|author=Robert Fontenot|accessdate=30 May 2009}}</ref> "Love Me Do" would reach the top of the US singles chart over eighteen months later in May 1964. The band's first televised performance was on the ''People and Places'' programme, transmitted live from ] by ] on 17 October 1962.{{sfn|Harry|2000|p=516}}

==''Please Please Me'': the breakthrough==
On 26 November 1962, The Beatles recorded their second single, "]". At the start of the recording session, ] attempted to persuade them to record a different song instead (], subsequently a hit for ]). Martin liked the song and felt The Beatles could have big hit with it. The Beatles, however, did not like it, and furthermore they wanted to record their own compositions. They became uncooperative, as they had done at an earlier session when Martin had tried to use the song, so Martin finally abandoned the idea and "Please Please Me" was recorded instead.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|pp=82-91}} The record reached number two on the official UK charts,{{sfn|Roberts|2001|p=103}} and number one on both the ] and ] charts.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|pp=119-122}} Three months after "Please Please Me", The Beatles would record their first album, also titled '']''.

==1963: a year of touring==
With the runaway success of the single "Please Please Me", The Beatles found themselves in huge demand for the whole of 1963. They appeared on ]'s ] show on 11 January (televised 19 January) and recorded for the BBCs ''Here We Go'' on 16 January and the BBC's ] and the Talent Spot on 22 January.<ref name="Beatleshistory1963year">{{cite web |first=Dmitry |last=Murashev |url=http://www.dmbeatles.com/history.php?year=1963 |title=Beatles history - 1963 year |publisher=dmbeatles |accessdate=27 May 2009}}</ref> As well as completing four nationwide tours in 1963, they performed at a great many one-off shows across the UK throughout the year, often finishing one show only to travel straight to the next show in another location—sometimes even to perform again the same day.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|pp=117-185}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dermon.com/Beatles/details/tours.htm|title=The Beatles on Tour 1963 to 1966|accessdate=30 May 2009}}</ref> Two of the nationwide tours were led by popular American stars, but at every show during both tours, the crowds would not stop screaming for The Beatles, who proved even more popular than the American stars. Souvenir programs were hastily reprinted in response, to show The Beatles as the tour leaders. While pleased with the positive reception, The Beatles were also embarrassed for the American performers, as it had never before happened that a UK act had topped an American act at a UK concert.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|pp=125-132}}

In addition to the four nationwide tours and all the other concerts, what little time remained was taken up with TV shows, press interviews, and recording sessions for the singles and albums released that year. The Beatles also had a weekly radio show. The music papers were full of stories about The Beatles, and magazines for teenage girls regularly contained interviews with the band members, colour posters and other Beatle-related articles.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|pp=136-137}} The intense public interest in The Beatles, coupled with Epstein's demanding schedule, ensured that they had no time for family matters. Lennon's marriage to ] was kept from public view as a closely guarded secret, and when Lennon's son ] was born on 6 April 1963, Lennon, visiting the hospital to see his wife and meet his new son for the first time, attempted to disguise himself to prevent people in the hospital from recognising him. Lennon's attempt to keep the secret was not successful, as other patients could see it was him. After the hospital visit, Epstein's schedule prevailed once more.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|pp=128-129}}

On 13 October 1963, The Beatles starred on "]'s ]", the UK's top variety show.<ref name="BeatlesBrowserThreep4">{{cite web|url= http://triumphpc.com/mersey-beat/beatles/beatlesbrowser-three4.shtml |title=Beatles Browser Three (p4) |first= |last= |publisher=Bill Harry/Mersey Beat Ltd. |accessdate=4 July 2009}}</ref> The show was televised live, watched by 15&nbsp;million viewers, and in one national paper's headlines the following morning, the phenomenal nationwide interest in The Beatles was finally given a name, and one which from that day on would be adopted universally: "]".{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|p=146}} On 7 December 1963, The Beatles appeared on the BBC’s pop show, ], where new pop records were played and commented on by a selected panel of guests. It was filmed on stage at the ], and hosted by DJ ].<ref name="BeatlesBrowserOnep3">{{cite web|url=http://triumphpc.com/mersey-beat/beatles/beatlesbrowser3.shtml |title=Beatles’ Browser One (p3) |first= |last= |publisher=Bill Harry/Mersey Beat Ltd. |accessdate=4 July 2009}}</ref>

===February 1963: first nationwide tour===
On 2 February 1963, The Beatles opened their first nationwide tour at a show in Bradford, featuring ], Danny Williams, Kenny Lynch, Kestrels, and the Red Price Orchestra.<ref name="Beatleshistory1963year"/> Heading the tour bill was the 16-year-old Shapiro, followed by the other five acts, the last of which was The Beatles. The band used the nationwide tour as an opportunity to generate further interest in "Please Please Me", and the song was regularly included in their performances throughout the tour. The Beatles, though lowest on the bill, were immensely popular during the tour, as Gordon Sampson, a journalist with the tour, observed. His report did not include the word "Beatlemania"; the term would not be coined until some months later, but the phenomenon was evident, with Sampson writing that "a great reception went to the colourfully-dressed Beatles, who almost stole the show, for the audience repeatedly called for them while other artists were performing!".{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|p=124}} The first tour had a duration of four weeks, and ended on 3 March 1963.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|p=124}}

===March 1963: second nationwide tour===
For The Beatles' second nationwide tour, which began on 9 March 1963 at the Granada Cinema in London, the group appeared on a bill headed by the American stars ] and ]. Both US artists had already firmly established themselves in the UK singles charts: Montez's "Let's Dance" had reached #2 four months earlier in October 1962, and another top 10 hit, "Some Kinda Fun", had recently followed;{{sfn|Roberts|2001|p=324}} likewise Roe's "Sheila" had reached #3 five months previously in September 1962, and his new single, "The Folk Singer", would enter the charts during the tour, going on to reach #4.{{sfn|Roberts|2001|p=382}} Throughout the tour, however, the crowds screamed and screamed for The Beatles, and for the first time in UK history, the American stars were less popular than a UK act. While enjoying the overwhelming display of enthusiasm for them, The Beatles also felt embarrassment for the American performers at this unexpected turn of events, which persisted at every show from the first day to the last.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|pp=125-132}} The second tour had a duration of three weeks, and ended on 31 March 1963.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|p=126}}

===May 1963: third nationwide tour===
The Beatles began their third nationwide tour on 18 May 1963, the bill this time headed by ]. Orbison had established even greater UK chart success than either Montez or Roe, with eight previous chart entries of his own—four of them entering the top 10, including the #2 "Dream Baby" and the #1 ]—and was about to achieve his next top 10 entry with "Falling", which entered the charts during the tour.{{sfn|Roberts|2001|p=344}} However, at the tour's opening show, staged at the Adelphi Cinema, Slough, the American star proved less popular than The Beatles, just as had happened with Roe and Montez throughout the previous nationwide tour. As events unfolded it became obvious this was not going to change, and a week into the tour the covers of the souvenir programs were reprinted to place The Beatles above Roy Orbison. Despite The Beatles' ascent to the top of the bill, Starr was impressed with the response Orbison still commanded. Starr recalled, "We would be backstage, listening to the tremendous applause he was getting. He was just doing it by his voice. Just standing there singing, not moving or anything."{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|pp=132-133}} The third tour had a duration of three weeks, and ended on 9 June 1963.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|p=132}}

===November 1963: fourth nationwide tour===
On 1 November 1963, The Beatles began their fourth and final nationwide tour of 1963. Tour stops this time included ] and ].{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|p=151}} Three days before the tour started, the band, returning from a five-day Swedish tour, were greeted at ] in heavy rain by thousands of screaming fans, 50 journalists and photographers, and a BBC TV camera crew. The wild scenes at the airport caused the British Prime Minister, being ]ed in the vicinity, to be delayed, his car obstructed by the crowds. Meanwhile, the current ], passing through the airport herself, was completely ignored by journalists and public alike,{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|p=150}} and when the American TV presenter ], numbered among those held up at Heathrow, was told the reason for the delay, he asked, "Who the hell are The Beatles?". Not long after, there would be similar scenes at an airport in Sullivan's own country, when The Beatles' arrived there for the first time, and he would himself introduce the band to the American nation on ], watched by 73&nbsp;million viewers.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|pp=175-176}}

On the tour's opening night at the Odeon in ], the volume of sound created by the screaming crowds was so great that The Beatles' amplification equipment proved unequal to it, so much so that the band members were unable to hear any sounds they were making themselves, whether speaking, singing, or playing their instruments. As a result, they were unable to count songs in or perform in unison.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|p=150}}

The tour produced much the same reaction from those attending as the previous three had done, with a fervent, riotous response from fans everywhere the band went. Police attempting to control the crowds employed high-pressure water hoses, and the safety of the police became a matter of national concern, provoking controversial discussions in ] over the thousands of police officers putting themselves at risk to protect The Beatles.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|p=153}}
During a break in the tour, The Beatles sang before Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother at the ] on 4 November, sharing the bill with ] and ]. Harrison said at the time: "I don't want to sound ungrateful, but why are The Beatles on the same stage as a mass of show business greats?... We're just four normal folk who have had a couple of hit records."<ref name="GoogleNov41963">{{cite web |url=http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=1963+Beatles&hl=en&rlz=1R2GGIT_en&tbs=tl:1&tbo=1&ei=EW8dStKFMtG4-QbQnsTNBQ&sa=X&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=11 |title=4 Nov 1963 |publisher=Google |accessdate=25 May 2009}}</ref> The fourth and final nationwide tour of 1963 had a duration of six weeks, and ended on 13 December 1963.{{sfn|Pawlowski|1990|p=159}}

==Reputation and image==

In 1963 The Beatles were prominent in the public eye with the sweeping phenomenon of Beatlemania but, in addition, The Beatles' music was beginning to attract the attention of serious critics. On 23 December 1963, '']'' music critic William Mann published an essay extolling The Beatles' compositions, including their "fresh and euphonious" guitars in "]", their "submediant switches from C major into A flat major", and the "octave ascent" in "]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jolomo.net/music/william_mann.html |title=William Mann essay |publisher=Jolomo.net |date= |accessdate=2 October 2008}}</ref> The Beatles themselves were perplexed by one analysis by Mann: "...one gets the impression that they think simultaneously of harmony and melody, so firmly are the major tonic sevenths and ninths built into their tunes, and the flat-submediant key-switches, so natural is the ] ] at the end of ']' (the chord progression which ends ] ']')."{{sfn|Pedler|2001|p=123}}

That year, The Beatles' iconic logo (referred to as the "drop-T" logo) made its debut. Epstein and Starr visited Drum City, one of Ivor Arbiter's stores in ], to purchase a new drum kit. Epstein asked for the band name to appear on the bass drum. Arbiter designed a logo with an extended "T" emphasising the word "Beat". Drum City was paid £5 for the design, which Arbiter sketched on a scrap of paper to be painted on the drum by a local sign-writer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ivor-arbiter-508146.html |title=Ivor Arbiter, Captain of the music industry and designer of The Beatles' 'drop-T' logo (obituary)|work=The Independent |location=UK |date=24 September 2005 |accessdate=15 October 2008}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|20em}}

== References ==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |first=Ray |last=Coleman |authorlink=Ray Coleman |title=Lennon|publisher=] |year=1987 |isbn=978-0070117860|ref={{SfnRef|Coleman|1987}}}}
* {{cite book |first=Bill |last=Harry |authorlink=Bill Harry |title=The John Lennon Encyclopedia |publisher=] |year=2000 |isbn=978-0753504048 |ref={{SfnRef|Harry|2000}}}}
* {{cite book |last=Miles |first=Barry |authorlink=Barry Miles |title=] |publisher=]-] |year=1997 |isbn=978-0749386580|ref={{SfnRef|Miles|1997}}}}
* {{cite book | author=Pawlowski, Gareth L. | title=How They Became The Beatles | publisher=McDonald & Co (Publishers) Ltd | year=1990 | isbn=978-0356190525|ref={{SfnRef|Pawlowski|1990}}}}
* {{cite book |first=Dominic|last=Pedler |authorlink= |title=The Songwriting Secrets of the "Beatles"|publisher=] |year=2001 |isbn=978-0711981676|ref={{SfnRef|Pedler|2001}}}}
* {{cite book|author=Roberts, David (ed.)|title=The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles|publisher=Guinness World Records Ltd.|year=2001|isbn=978-0851121567|ref={{SfnRef|Roberts|2001}}}}
* {{cite book |last=Spitz |first=Bob |authorlink=Bob Spitz |title=The Beatles – The Biography |publisher=] |year=2005 |isbn=978-0316803526|ref={{SfnRef|Spitz|2005}}}}
* {{cite book|author=The Beatles et al.|title=]|publisher=]|year=2000|isbn=978-0304356058|ref={{SfnRef|Anthology|2000}}}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*
{{The Beatles}}
{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beatlemania In The United Kingdom}}
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