On November 29, 1963, the Beatles released “I Want to Hold Your Hand” in the U.K. This was their first song recorded with four-track technology. It quickly knocked their own hit “She Loves You” off the top of the U.K. charts, making history as the first act to replace itself at No. 1. The song also climbed to the top of Billboard’s Hot 100, marking the band’s first No. 1 hit in the U.S. Interestingly, “She Loves You” later reclaimed the top spot on that chart.
November 29 has seen some major music moments over the years. In 1988, Guns N’ Roses released their second album, G N’ R Lies, featuring the hit “Patience,” which reached No. 4 on the Hot 100. Critics praised the ballad for its emotional depth. In 1994, Mary J. Blige dropped her second album, My Life, known for its raw honesty and hits like “Be Happy.” Then in 2005, Chris Brown launched his self-titled debut album, with the lead single “Run It” dominating the Hot 100 for five weeks. The album also included hits like “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)” and “Say Goodbye,” reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
Notable birthdays on this date include Jonathan Knight of New Kids on the Block, born in 1968, and The Game, born in 1979. Both have made significant contributions to the music scene.
However, November 29 has also seen its share of challenges. In 1997, Whitney Houston canceled a performance at a mass wedding event in Washington, D.C. In 2001, George Harrison, the youngest member of The Beatles, passed away from cancer at 58.
