Before Beatlemania took over the United States, Philadelphia record label Swan Records acquired the American rights to She Loves You in 1963, and failed to make it a hit, writes Kristin Hunt for the PhillyVoice.

One of the founders of Swan Records was local music scene legend, Dick Clark, who formed the company in 1957 with producer Tony Mammarella and Bernie Binnick, a former salesman.

The label focused on recruiting local talent, such as Bobby Baker, a teen from Allentown, and Mary Swan, a West Catholic High School student. One of their biggest stars was Freddy Cannon, whose Palisades Park rose to No. 3 in 1962.

When She Loves You fell into Swan Records’ lap, the Beatles were already fleeing armies of fans in London. But while other record labels were reluctant to bring the Beatles’ music stateside, Swan Records jumped at the opportunity.

However, once it was released, the single was a flop.

It was a year later, once the British Invasion had been televised, that the single exploded. However, it was a bittersweet feeling for Swan Records, as it had the option on future songs from the now mega-popular band only if it sold 50,000 copies of She Loves You in the first four months of its release.

Read more about Swan Records and its less-than-ideal history with The Beatles in Phillyvoice.

_____