"Meet the Beatles!" is the second studio album by The Beatles, released in the United States on 20th January 1964 on the Capitol Records label. The album is the Beatles' first American release under the Capitol Record label, featuring eight original songs, including the number one hit "I Want to Hold Your Hand," and five covers. The original Beatles compositions on "Meet the Beatles!" are credited to the Lennon-McCartney partnership, and covers include songs from The Isley Brothers, Chuck Berry, and Perrett.
Although it was the second Beatles' album released in America, it's considered their first by Capitol given their debut album "Introducing... The Beatles" was issued on the Vee-Jay Records label. Furthermore, the album marked the first time that the Beatles had used four-track tape in the recording process which contributed to their emerging sound.
"Meet the Beatles!" received overwhelming acclaim and range of honors, including a place on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The album's success bolstered the Beatles' international status, signifying a critical moment in the British Invasion of the U.S music market. It was a commercial success, topping the Billboard Top LPs chart for 11 weeks. It was later certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA for selling over five million copies. The energetic melodies, catchy lyrics, and innovative production techniques left a lasting impact on the evolution of pop music.
