The Beatles make a fab return to the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, as “Now and Then” debuts at No. 7. The song starts on the chart dated Nov. 18, 2023, as their landmark 35th top 10 – extending their record for the most among groups – and their first since 1996.
“Now and Then” is billed as the final Beatles song, first recorded as a demo in 1977 by John Lennon and initially intended for the band’s three-edition Anthology series in the mid-‘90s before being shelved. The song was completed at last by surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, among others, after new technology helped extract Lennon’s vocals from the original demo, while George Harrison guitar parts from the initial attempt to finish the track were also incorporated into the song.
The song was made available for purchase as a download, on cassette and via six vinyl versions: 7” and 12” black vinyl; 7” clear vinyl; 7” blue/white marble vinyl; 7” light blue vinyl; and a Target-exclusive 12” red vinyl (as well as for pre-order on CD).
“Now and Then” enters the Hot 100 with 11 million streams, 2.1 million in radio reach and 73,000 physical and digital singles sold combined in the United Stats Nov. 3-9, following its Nov. 2 release, according to data provider Luminate.
As “Now and Then” enters in the Hot 100 top tier, browse the latest history that The Beatles make below.
Most Hot 100 top 10s among groups
“Now and Then” becomes The Beatles’ 35th Hot 100 top 10, extending their record for the most among groups. The Rolling Stones rank second among groups with 23 top 10s, followed by Chicago and The Supremes, each with 20.
Most Billboard Hot 100 Top 10s:
76, Drake
49, Taylor Swift
38, Madonna
35, The Beatles
32, Rihanna
30, Michael Jackson
29, Elton John
28, Mariah Carey
28, Stevie Wonder
27, Janet Jackson
26, Justin Bieber
25, Lil Wayne
25, Elvis Presley (whose career start predated the Hot 100’s inception)
Longest span of Hot 100 top 10s, excluding holiday songs
The Beatles first hit the Hot 100’s top 10 on the chart dated Jan. 25, 1964, with their iconic U.S. breakthrough single “I Want To Hold Your Hand” – which became the first of their record 20 No. 1s. They now claim a span of top 10s of 59 years, nine months and three weeks, the longest excluding holiday fare. They surpass Elton John, who has logged a top 10 span of 51 years, seven months and three weeks, dating to his first frame in the bracket with “Your Song” (Jan. 23, 1971) and running through “Hold Me Closer,” with Britney Spears (Sept. 10, 2022).
Including holiday songs, the late Andy Williams holds the record for the longest span of an act appearing in the Hot 100’s top 10: 63 years, two months and three weeks, from his first week in the tier with “Lonely Street” in October 1959 through “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” during last year’s holiday season.
Beatles get back to top 10 after 27 years
The Beatles achieve their first Hot 100 top 10 since “Free as a Bird,” from the Anthology series, hit No. 6 on the Jan. 6, 1996-dated chart. They end a break of 27 years, 10 months and two weeks between top 10s – the longest for an act, excluding holiday music, with sole billing on bookending top 10s. Among all waits between top 10s (again, not including holiday hits), The Beatles end the fifth-longest break; as a soloist, McCartney ranks third.
Longest Breaks Between Hot 100 Top 10s, excluding holiday songs:
Ozzy Osbourne: 30 years and three months, between “Close My Eyes Forever,” with Lita Ford, in 1989 and Post Malone’s “Take What You Want,” featuring Osbourne and Travis Scott, in 2019
Dobie Gray: 30 years, two months and one week, between “Drift Away” in 1973 and Uncle Kracker’s cover, featuring Gray, in 2003
Paul McCartney: 29 years and two weeks, between “Spies Like Us” in 1986 and “FourFiveSeconds,” with Rihanna and Kanye West, in 2015
Santana: 28 years, seven months and two weeks, between “Black Magic Woman” in 1971 and “Smooth,” featuring Rob Thomas, in 1999
The Beatles: 27 years, 10 months and two weeks, between “Free as a Bird” in 1996 and “Now and Then” in 2023
Billy Ray Cyrus: 26 years and eight months, between “Achy Breaky Heart” in 1992 and Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Cyrus, in 2019
Aqua: 25 years, nine months and three weeks, between “Barbie Girl” in 1997 and “Barbie World,” with Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice, in 2023
Top 10 in a fourth decade
The Beatles become the lucky 13th act with Hot 100 top 10s in four or more decades, having now ranked in the region in the 1960s, ‘70s, ‘90s and 2020s. Michael Jackson and Andy Williams lead with top 10 placements in five decades each. The Beatles join Aerosmith as the only groups in the elite club.
Click here for a look at all 13 acts with Hot 100 top 10s in four or more decades.
Most Hot 100 hits among bands
“Now and Then” also marks The Beatles’ 72nd Hot 100 hit overall (and their first since Anthology single “Real Love,” which reached No. 11 in 1996 as the follow-up to “Free as a Bird”). They extend their mark for the most entries among bands that play their own instruments (and rank second among all multi-member acts only to TV troupe the Glee Cast’s 207).
Among all bands, The Beatles lead over The Rolling Stones (57 Hot 100 hits), The Beach Boys (55) and The Temptations (53).
