Our Hearts Went Boom: The Beatles' Invasion of Canada

Jack S. Broumpton is an assistant professor of music at Huntington
College, Laurentian University.

Much has been written about the Beatles’ legendary visit to the United
States in 1964—a visit highlighted by appearances on The Ed Sullivan
Show and at New York’s Shea Stadium. This book provides a rare and
refreshing look at how the four boys from Liverpool inspired pandemonium
at their Canadian concerts in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. It also
introduces the reader to a number of colorful figures from the Canadian
radio and television history while allowing a glimpse into the workings
of a very young Canadian music industry.

The story of the Canadian visit is told in six short chapters that
feature reproduced newspaper articles and Beatles memorabilia with a
definite Canadian flavor. The visit is placed in a historical
perspective context with other notable events of the day. It is
surprising to learn that the first Canadian release of “Love Me Do”
sold a meagre 170 copies.

Our Hearts Went Boom will give young readers a Canadian perspective on
the Beatles “invasion” and older readers the opportunity to
reminisce about where they were in 1964.