With all the great hubbub over the Beach Boys not only ascending to the top of Billboard charts, but eclipsing The Beatles Billboard chart record for the greatest difference between first and last Top 10 chart appearances…

With That’s Why God Made the Radio landing in the Billboard 200?s top 10, the time between The Beach Boys’ first top 10 appearance on the chart — Surfin’ U.S.A. in June 1963 — and their most recent stands at 49 years and one week, the longest period by any band. The Fab Four’s stretch between first and last top 10 albums is 47 years, seven months and three weeks, from Meet The Beatles in February 1964 to the 1 compilation in October 2011.

The artist who holds the overall record to span of top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 is Frank Sinatra with 52 years, two months and one week. The late crooner’s first release to land in the upper reaches of the chart was Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! in April 1956 and his latest was the Nothing but the Best Songs hits collection in June 2008.

…one can’t overlook that Paul McCartney turns 70 today. He was never my favorite Beatle – for a long time it was John, but towards the end and after it was George – but without a doubt he’s one of, if not the, greatest tunesmiths in rock history.

I’ve already noted my favorite post-Beatles Paul songs, but I’d have to say that during his Beatles career it’s hard to argue with “Yesterday”, “All My Loving”, “We Can Work It Out”, Penny Lane”, “Good Day, Sunshine”, “Let It Be”, and “The Long And Winding Road”. All classics, and I’m sure I’m missing a couple-two-three or more.

In celebration of Paul’s birthday, there’s only one Beatles song I can think of.

Happy birthday, Paul!