Beatles No.1

[JoustGod]

"Something" never reached #1 on the Billboard charts. It peaked at #3 as the b-side to "Come Together". However (and this is where I thought the trick in the question was), "For You Blue" which was the b-side to "The Long And Winding Road" was deemed a #1 record in accordance to Billboard's new ruling on how b-sides are charted. It and "Let It Be" were the only Beatles 45 rpm records to fall under the short-lived rule change. The flipside to "Let It Be" received relatively no airplay and thusly wasn't given #1 status. So, in short, "For You Blue" seems to be the answer.

[Ken Jennings]

"Something" never reached #1 on the Billboard charts. It peaked at #3 as the b-side to "Come Together".

I'm not sure I agree with you a hundred percent on your police work, there, Lou. First, "Come Together/Something" was a double A-side (unlike "TLaWR/For You Blue"). Second, it actually peaked at #1...just for a week, November 29, 1969.

But, while double-checking that, I did discover something interesting. I don't have the original charts lying around, but Wikipedia says, "'For You Blue' was listed with 'The Long and Winding Road' as a double-sided hit when the single hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1970," even though "Road" was clearly the chart-topping A-side.

I'm not sure why Billboard listed it that way, but apparently they did. Still, it doesn't make "For You Blue" the only Harrison-written Beatles #1, as per the question. If there's only one, it's got to be "Something," the double A-side. But I wish I'd known about "For You Blue" in advance so I could have written the question more carefully. Thanks for pointing it out.

[Ken Jennings]

JoustGod PM'd me a reference for "Something" peaking at #3 all on its lonesome, which I couldn't figure out at first. I finally found the answer in The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits...Billboard made its decision to combine A and B sides of singles while "Come Together" and "Something" were on the charts (and probably because of them). They charted separately until Nov 29, 1969, peaking at #2 and #3 respectively, when Billboard unified their listing into one, "Come Together/Something," and the resulting combined chart entry hit #1.

[Ken Jennings]

I should also note that, according to the same book, Billboard still officially considers the Beatles' last #1 to be "The Long and Winding Road/For You Blue," which is kind of bogus but there it is. Harrison (sorta) had 2 Beatle Billboard #1s, not just one, as is often said. If anybody answered "For Your Blue" and lost a point, shoot a note to the graders and hopefully we can get it changed.

[braggtastic]

I thought this was such an easy question - Twist & Shout obviously, so no need to think further. Turns out it only got to #2. It also turns out I forgot to submit my answers this week until Tuesday morning, so I didn't get credit for any answers.

[melissa]

As an aside, Frank Sinatra was once asked what his favorite Lennon-McCartney song was. His response was Something.

[gsplit]

As an aside, Frank Sinatra was once asked what his favorite Lennon-McCartney song was. His response was Something.

But, George Harrison did take it as a complement that Frank liked the song. In fact, when he performed it whilst touring, George eventually kept in a lyric that Frank had changed: "You stick around, Jack, she might show . . ."