On This Day in 2023: The Beatles Made Chart History Six Decades After Their First No. 1 with a New Song
Photo by Dezo Hoffmann, Distributed by Capitol Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
A Historic Return to the Top
On November 10, 2023, The Beatles returned to No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart with their single “Now and Then.” This marked an unprecedented gap between their first and last chart-topper — the band’s earliest No. 1 hit, From Me to You, arrived in 1963, meaning around 60 years had passed.
The new track became their 18th UK No. 1 single and pushed the group ahead in the record books for longevity. Sir Paul McCartney described the moment aptly: “It’s mind boggling. It’s blown my socks off. It’s also a very emotional moment for me. I love it!”
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The Story Behind the Song
“Now and Then” draws on a demo recorded by the late John Lennon in the late 1970s, and that foundation was completed by McCartney and Ringo Starr in recent years. The result offered fans a new chapter from the band more than half a century after their original era.
The track didn’t just top the charts — it became the fastest-selling vinyl single of the century so far in the UK, helped by 19,400 vinyl copies sold and more than 5 million streams in its first week. This commercial flush underlined how much the band’s legacy still resonates with the world.
Records and Rare Moments
With this achievement, The Beatles also set the longest span of No. 1 singles by any act in UK history – more than 60 years from their first to their last chart-topper. The previous record for the longest gap between No. 1 singles was 44 years, held by Kate Bush.
The release of “Now and Then” also made the band the oldest group ever to top the UK Singles Chart. At the time, McCartney was 81 and Starr 83 — still reaching the summit of UK music.
What It Means for the Band
The success of “Now and Then” confirms that The Beatles’ influence spans generations. Their music continues to find new audiences and fresh success more than six decades after they first broke onto the scene.
As McCartney said, it was “a very emotional moment.” The track didn’t just top the charts — it rewrote history.
