They came, they conquered

Good morning, it's Saturday, February 7. Oh, yeah, I'll tell you something. I think you'll understand.

That's right, on this date in 1964 The Beatles arrived in New York for their first American visit, and the world shook forever. "I Want to Hold Your Hand'' -- considered one of the most significant singles in music history -- was riding high atop the charts, and two days later the group would make its first live appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Quivering mothers and fathers turned to each other and uttered these now-famous words: "Uh oh...''

(Little known fact: The mopheads' arrival in the U.S. stole the thunder from Garth Brooks, who was celebrating his second birthday back home in Oklahoma and already toiling over early drafts to "Friends in Low Places'' with his No. 2 pencil.) Just kidding, it was his birthday but everyone knows that song was written by Dewayne Blackwell and Bud Lee.

The Beatles transformed ... well ... EVERYTHING. It's hard to imagine, especially after 45 years, how they were able to make such a profound and lasting impact in such a relatively short span of time. The Stones are still touring, for crying out loud. The Beatles ended their touring career in 1966 and moved into the studio, where things really got interesting. They were done as a group by 1970.

Contrarian music fans continue to start fights by asking "Stones or Beatles?'' but I'm not going there. Not today, on the anniversary of it all.

BILLBOARD TOP 5
1. I Want to Hold Your Hand, Beatles
2. You Don't Own Me, Lesley Gore
3. Out of Limits, Marketts
4. Surfin' Bird, Trashmen
5. Hey Little Cobra, Rip Chords