Pick a Day

Music History Events: Releases

April 28, 1964 Elvis Presley releases "Viva Las Vegas," the title song to his movie, which opens six weeks later.

April 16, 1964 The Rolling Stones release their self-titled debut album in the UK.

April 2, 1964 Elvis Presley releases the soundtrack album Kissin' Cousins for his movie of the same name. The album will peak at #6 on the Billboard albums chart.

March 2, 1964 Vee-Jay Records in Chicago creates the Tollie label and releases "Twist And Shout" by The Beatles.

February 21, 1964 The Rolling Stones release their first single in America, a cover of the Buddy Holly song "Not Fade Away."

February 14, 1964 The Dave Clark Five release "Bits And Pieces."

February 3, 1964 The Beach Boys release "Fun, Fun, Fun," which stalls at #5 in the US, thanks to Beatlemania.

January 23, 1964 The Temptations release "The Way You Do The Things You Do."

January 20, 1964 The Beatles' first American album is released: Meet the Beatles! The first two tracks are the hits "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "I Saw Her Standing There."

November 22, 1963 Phil Spector (who is Jewish) releases A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector, which he worked on all summer with his best musicians. US president John F. Kennedy is killed the same day, and the album suffers dismal sales, although some of the songs, including The Ronettes' version of "Frosty The Snowman," later become holiday favorites.

November 22, 1963 The Beatles release their second studio album, With The Beatles.

October 28, 1963 The Beach Boys release "Be True To Your School," featuring part of the Hawthorne High fight song, where the Wilson brothers went to school.

September 16, 1963 Currently the #1 song in the UK, The Beatles' "She Loves You" is released by the tiny Swan label in America, but the Stateside public has no idea who the group is, and the single fails to chart. When Capitol releases "I Want To Hold Your Hand," Beatlemania ensues and the song hits #1. A re-released "She Loves You" single follows it to the top.

July 26, 1963 Smokey Robinson & the Miracles release "Mickey's Monkey."

July 20, 1963 Lesley Gore releases "Judy's Turn To Cry."

July 10, 1963 Martha and the Vandellas release "(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave."

June 29, 1963 A Bob Dylan song charts for the first time when Peter, Paul and Mary's cover of "Blowin' In The Wind" enters the Hot 100 at #86. In August, it climbs to #2, introducing many listeners to Dylan's music.

June 22, 1963 The Surfaris release "Wipe Out."

June 7, 1963 The Rolling Stones release their first single, a cover of "Come On" by Chuck Berry.

June 4, 1963 The Searchers release "Sweets For My Sweet."

May 27, 1963 Bob Dylan releases The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.

March 22, 1963 In the UK, The Beatles release their debut studio album, Please Please Me. It goes to #1 a few months later; in early 1964, they conquer America.

March 14, 1963 Gerry & the Pacemakers release the single "How Do You Do It" in the UK.

March 4, 1963 The Beach Boys release "Surfin' U.S.A.," a reworking of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen."

November 9, 1962 The Miracles release "You've Really Got A Hold On Me."

October 2, 1962 The Cookies release "Chains."

September 17, 1962 Arthur Alexander releases "Anna (Go to Him)," which is later covered by The Beatles.

August 16, 1962 Peter, Paul, and Mary release "If I Had A Hammer."

August 11, 1962 Tony Bennett releases "Once Upon A Time" b/w "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." When DJs begin flipping over the record and playing the b-side, "San Francisco" climbs to #19 on the charts and eventually wins Bennett Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Male Solo Vocal Performance.

August 11, 1962 Mary Wells releases "You Beat Me To The Punch."