“With a Little Help From My Friends”
Last week, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” found its way back on to the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time since 1978 when Capitol Records issued a commemorative single that peaked at No. 71 on the chart. Paul McCartney & U2’s recording of Sgt. Pepper from the Live 8 concert in London debuted at No. 48, giving the song its highest-charting position thus far. The Beatles’ “Across the Universe,” which was performed by Bono and a collection of all-star artists during the Grammy telecast this year also had a brief chart run.
2005 is the first year that two songs written by Lennon and McCartney have debuted on the Billboard chart since 1978. It’s also worth noting that Bono, a self confessed Beatles’ fan, contributed to both singles. Finally, the McCartney & U2 recording makes further history by becoming the first Beatles song to chart by an individual Beatle. McCartney has re-recorded Beatles’ songs on his solo albums, but none of those remakes have ever charted on the Billboard Hot 100 until now.
m2 said,
July 18, 2005 @ 9:16 pm
And it all makes Michael Jackson wealthier, doesn’t it?
Tassoula said,
July 18, 2005 @ 9:33 pm
In this case no - Sgt. Pepper is a download to benefit Live 8! It’s a good thing.
But for the record (say if Ob-la-di, Ob-La-Da suddenly jumps back into the charts), the division of the Beatles catalog goes like this:
Sony
Michael Jackson
Paul McCartney
Yoko Ono
in that order, based on the percentage they own (though Paul and Yoko are probably just about equal at this point).
We can pray that Jackson will surrender some or all of his share to the other three in the near future to bail himself out of debt.
Fingers crossed.
bono19 said,
March 16, 2008 @ 5:16 pm
man
i wish paul and ringo would do somrthing with u2.
paul did sgt pepper with u2, but it would be cool if paul, ringo and u2 did a song togther