The Beatles, "I'm Happy Just to Dance With You"

I've never been a great dancer. I flail around, and generally have a fun time doing so, but I just don't have that "cool," that sexy fluidity that emanates from the pelvis in a real dancer. You either have it or you don't. So the only dancing I've done in recent years has been at weddings.

Which perhaps makes "I'm Happy Just to Dance With You" an odd choice to mark this first week of February, roughly the 45th anniversary of the Beatles' magnificent assault on America. (Music geeks are probably the only community for whom year no. 45 is a big deal.) Why a song that didn't even make the Top 40? And why on earth would George prefer dancing over the prospect of being able "to kiss or hold your hand"?

Well, you can hear "She Loves You" or "I Want to Hold Your Hand" or "Please Please Me" just about anywhere. I wanted to showcase something slightly less familiar. And this innocent little George-sung ditty - on which Paul and John do some of my very favorite backing harmonies; those fuzzy ohhh-OH! fill-ins kill me every time - well, what can I say: I understand now.