The Beatles: the top 10 best performing singles of all time - from ‘Hey Jude’ to ‘Let it Be’
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
The Beatles are often regarded as the most influential band of all time and currently hold the record for the most number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe band, formed in Liverpool, racked up a number of chart-topping hits - but which ones were the most popular among listeners?
Here we look at the Fab Four’s best-performing singles of all time.
1 - Twist And Shout
Twist And Shout, written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell, was recorded by the Top Notes in 1961. The Beatles went on to work their magic and turned the song into a hit to close their Please Please Me album. The song spent 26 weeks on the chart and peaked at number two.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIt became the only million-selling Beatles single in the US that was a cover song.
2 - Hey Jude
Hey Jude is not only one of the most famous Beatles songs, but it is also considered by many as one of the greatest songs of all time. The song, originally titled “Hey Jules,” after John Lennon’s son Julian, was written by Paul McCartney to comfort him during John and Cynthia’s divorce. The song spent nine weeks at number one, making it the best-performing Beatles single.
3 - Got To Get You Into My Life
Got to Get You Into My Life, first released in 1966 on their album Revolver, was written after McCartney’s first experiments with marijuana. It features brass instruments in homage to the Motown Sound. The song was on the charts for 19 weeks.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad4 - Come Together/Something
Come Together, which was written by John Lennon, is the opening track to Abbey Road and was composed for Timothy Leary’s campaign to run for Governor of California. It has since become one of the most familiar songs by the band. Come Together peaked at number one and spent 16 weeks in the charts.
5 - I Want To Hold Your Hand
I Want to Hold Your Hand by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, was released in 1963 and stayed at number one for five weeks and remained in the UK top 50 for 21 weeks. In America, it topped the Hot 100 and stayed there for seven weeks. It remained on the charts for 15 weeks.
In 2018, it was named the 48th biggest hit of all time on the Billboard Hot 100.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad6 - She Loves You
Released in 1963, this song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney had six non-consecutive weeks at number one and was the best-selling single of the 1960s in the UK.
7 - Let It Be
Let it Be, written and sung by Paul McCartney, was the last Beatles single to be unveiled before he announced his departure from the band.
Mccartney explained how his late mother, who died from cancer when he was 14, inspired him to write the track.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIt had a 15-week run on the charts and peaked at number one.
8 - Love Me Do
This track was The Beatles’ first single and track one, side two of Please Please Me.
When the single was released in the United Kingdom on 5 October 1962, it peaked in the number 17 spot. Upon its release in the United States, it became a number one hit. When it was re-released in 1982 as part of EMI’s Beatles 20th anniversary, it peaked at number four in the UK charts.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad9 - Help!
Help! was released as a single in July 1965 and was number one for three weeks in the United States and the United Kingdom.
It is claimed that Lennon wrote the lyrics to express his stress after the Beatles’ quick rise to success.
10 - A Hard Day’s Night
A Hard Day’s Night, written by John Lennon, with some creative input from Paul McCartney, was released on the film soundtrack of the same name in 1964.
The song topped the charts in the United Kingdom and the United States when it was released as a single.
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.