Sha-La-La-La-La-La-La-a

A favourite phrase and another of the series of "Doo-Wop" type sorta like covers, the next song on the Beatles debut LP was a cover of the Shirelles' "Baby It's You". This was the second Shirelles song covered by the Beatles on their first LP ( the first one being Ringo's feature: "Boys" ) and it has a someone girl group slow, sensual feel to it. I've discovered over the last few weeks how much the Beatles were influenced by Doo-Wop and yet it's not mentioned often in books and it's also not much of a subject covered by Beatles intelligensia. But...it's definitely there on the debut. Not so much on the second LP which has a more "motown" feel, but I think I'm kinda getting ahead of myself here.

"Baby It's You" was written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach and is sang by John with backup from the other two main singers (Paul and George, of course). It's a great lead vocal and shows how much "feel" John Lennon had in his ability to be passionate vocally. It still blows me away knowing that the guy had a serious cold and this session was completed in the evening so John had been basically singing all day yet the nice, smooth and soft vocal comes through clear as a bell. As well as a soft side, when John gets harsher near the end of the verses, it sends chills down the spine. The instrumental side of the song is very sparse. Nice.

The song was completed in three takes.

This song was only performed twice on BBC radio. The first time was on "Side by Side" and the second time was on "Pop Go The Beatles" program 2. I highly recommend you to go out and pick up the Apple CD/45 EP single of "Baby It's You" which has the "Pop Go The Beatles" version on it. The live version was originally recorded for the BBC on June 01 1963 and aired over British radio on June 11 1963. It's an outstanding live performance. Very rich sounding. Mono, of course as all BBC material has only been available in this format. Also recommended from the same CD/45 EP is the BBC live version of "I'll Follow The Sun" but this will be discussed when we get to the material from the fourth LP.

As well as being available on the "Please Please Me" LP/CD, this song is also featured on the US Vee Jay "Introducing the Beatles" LP, the Canadian 6000 series "Twist and Shout" LP and the Capitol US "The Early Beatles" LP/CD.

Post Script

Yeah, "Post Script" as opposed to "Post Card", the Apple LP by Mary Hopkin ( I had to throw that in..hahaha).

The next song on the debut LP is also the B side to the first single: "P.S. I Love You" written mainly by Paul. The song was recorded September 11 1962 in Abbey Road at the same time as the Andy White version of "Love Me Do". Therefore, Andy White once again plays the drums on this while Ringo is given the task of shaking the maracas. It definitely has a bit of a latin feel to it. Nice harmonies and the vocal improvisations are super cool on this one. It's a very catchy song and guaranteed to be playing inside your head one of these days when you listen to it often enough. It took 10 takes until perfection was achieved. There are no outtakes that I have ever heard of this song. Pity, really.

During Paul McCartney's 1989-90 tour, he combined "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You" into a groove-rap type song: "P.S. Love Me Do" which is not very good and more of a novelty more than anything else. Also, McCartney owns the publishing rights to the two songs through his MPL organization.

The song was performed live on BBC radio three times: Once on "Here We go", the second time on "The Talent Spot" and the final time on "Pop Go the Beatles" program 4.

Besides the "Please Please Me" debut LP/CD, the song also appeared on the US Vee Jay "Introducing the Beatles" LP (first version), the Canadian Capitol 6000 series "Twist and Shout"LP, the US Capitol "The Early Beatles" LP/CD and the EMI "Love Songs" 2-LP set.

Someone to Love

The next song that opens up side two of the debut disc was the A side of the Beatles' very first single, "Love Me Do". The song was originally played at the Beatles' EMI audition/ recording test which took place on June 06 1962 - Pete Best being the drummer at the time. This first recorded version was never offcially released until 1995 when it was included on the "Anthology 1" LP/CD. Unfortunately, this version showed Pete Best in a bad light as the tempo and style of his drumming is of absolute horrendous quality. I mean, if Pete Best was playing like that in my band, I would have fired him immediately. Now, having said that - I've also heard Pete play on other tracks such as the German Tony Sheridan sessions as well as the Decca audition sessions and he's really not any better or worse than other drummers from the era. So...based on that, I've always wondered why this particular track came out sounding so poorly when I know that Pete Best could have done a much, much better job. Was he nervous? Was he just "farting around" and trying different things for the benefit of a later, proper take? Who knows. Anyway, the Beatles had supposedly planned to get rid of Pete and this was the oppurtunity to do so.

The second time the song was attempted was on September 04 1962. Ringo Starr had joined the Beatles only two weeks previous and was thrown into EMI studios to record the debut single. It seems that over 15 takes of the song was recorded and that there was a lot of editing done to this version. George Martin was not very impressed with drumming on this version. This version was released on the original Parlophone single, as well as the Canadian Capitol single. It also surfaced on the "Past Masters" LP/CD as well as the "Mono Masters" from the mono remasters box set and the "Past Masters" version on the stereo remasters box set.

Lastly, the most common version (and the version we all know and love) contained on the debut disc was recorded (again) on September 11 1962. This time there was a third attempt with a different drummer. I suppose the Beatles had a lot of drummer problems during the last half of 1962, I dunno. :-)

The drummer in this case is Andy White who performed on both "Love Me Do" and it's B side "P.S. I Love You". Poor Ringo was assigned to play maracas on the latter and tambourine on the former. This is basically how you can tell the two officially released versions apart. The September 4 "Ringo on Drums" version has no tambourine. The September 11 "Andy White on Drums" version has tambourine played by Ringo. At least Ringo ended up playing a role on both versions. Apart from the debut single, the Beatles never used a session drummer again for the rest of their career.

I like "Love Me Do". It's a nice Blusey number with a harmonica intro by John, lead vocal mainly by Paul. McCartney has recounted many times how he sounds nervous on the recording due to the fact that all instrumentation stops before he had a small vocal solo "love me....do" leading into the chorus. A respectable beginning for the Beatles, it was certainly different than everything else that was being played at the time, and it made it into the top twenty stalling at number 17. It has been said that maybe Brian Epstein had over ordered stock for the single in his NEMS stores and playing with the numbers, but who knows and who cares? Obviously, a lot of sales were probably in the Liverpool district and surrounding areas as it only made sense to buy the music from a local group "done good" so to speak.

The song is available on only on the debut disc "Please Please Me" (second song version), but also the Vee Jay "Introducing the Beatles" (version one of the LP, second song version ), Capitol's "The Early Beatles"( second song version ), Capitol of Canada 6000 series "Twist and Shout" (secong song version ), Apple's "The Beatles 1962-1966" (second song version), the US Capitol "The Beatles Rarities" (first song version) and a 12 inch single re-issue which contained both the first and second song versions.

"Love Me Do" was played live on BBC radio 9 times: "Here We go" program, the "Talent Spot" program, "Saturday Club" program, "Parade Pops" (live in front of an audience), "Side by Side" program, "Pop Go the Beatles" programs, 2, 6 and 13. Finally, a version was also recorded live for the program "Easy Beat".

Please, Listen to My Pleas...

The last song on the debut LP is also the title song and LP was named after this hit single by the Beatles. It has been disputed if "Please Please Me" actually made it to the top of the charts, but it all depends on which chart you were reading about back in the day. I remember a mini controversy in 2000 when the "1" LP/CD was released and "Please Please Me" was not in the track listing. I think it should have been included. I don't really care if one chart said number two and another said number one. It's a great, classic, energetic tune that is appreciated as a huge hit for the Beatles everywhere the music is played. Shame on Apple for that one !!

Anyhoo, the recording of "Please Please Me" was first attempted on September 11 1962 with both Ringo and Andy White present. This early version can be heard on the "Anthology 1" CD/LP. Andy White plays drums on this take and he's very busy all the way through it. Also, it has been said that the original version of "Please Please Me" was a slower, more Roy Orbison type song that had to be changed, speeded up and re-worked. Hearing the early September version, there is not that much difference in tempo between this early version and the recorded version. Anyway, it makes for interesting listening none the less.

The re-make of the song was recorded on the same day as the previous number - November 26 1962. It took 18 takes to perfect and sounds great. The harmonica was overdubbed. George Martin had told the Beatles over the talkback: "You've just made your first number one !!".

A great song, a great single. The harmonica intro and the intricate vocal harmonies make it so refreshing and instant. A true Beatles classic. Written mainly by John, by the way.

The mono and stereo version are different for this song. I prefer the mono version as it sounds so much better, tighter and perfect. There are imperfections and timing problems - mainly sync problems - on the stereo mix. That's because the mono mix was done from the proper take whereas the stereo mix was done from combined takes. In the stereo mix, there is a vocal mistake in the last verse and you can hear Lennon chuckle just before the first "Come On" section of the chorus. Also, the ending on the stereo mix is imperfect as the vocals and instruments sorta get off time near the end of the song.

"Please Please Me" (the song) is available on the debut LP/CD "Please Please Me" of course, but also the Canadian 6000 series LP "Twist and Shout", the Vee Jay LP "Introducing the Beatles" and "Jolly What ! The Beatles and Frank Ifield Live on Stage!", the Capitol LP "The Early Beatles" and the Apple LP/CD "The Beatles 1962-1966".

"Please Please Me" was performed 12 times live on the BBC radio. The song was also performed live on the 1964 Ed Sullivan show, Live for the Washington DC show and lipsynced to a pre-recorded live track for "Around the Beatles".

Happy Anniversary

Happy anniversary to the best rock album ever produced. It was forty years to the day that Apple PCS 7088/ Apple SO 383 was unleashed to the world today. Cheers !!

I Love You- Woo-Woo-Woo-Woo

The next four songs on the debut LP are basically the second and first side B and A of the second single and first and second side A and B of the first single. So now we start with the B side of the second single entitled "Ask Me Why". This is one of four released Beatles songs that were recorded the year before (1962) and both singles were successful enough to warrant the LP. Confused yet?

It's quite simple. The B side of the second single was recorded in six takes on Monday November 26 1962. There were two contenders for the B side of the single at that particular session. The recording notes show that it was a toss up between "Ask Me Why" and "Tip of My Tongue". Both original Lennon/McCartney songs. Or rather, McCartney/ Lennon songs until August 1963 when the switch was made. "Ask Me Why" was obviously chosen and "Tip of My Tongue" was never officially released by the Beatles. The song was "given away" to an artist called Tommy Quickly and it's gotta be one of the worse Lennon/McCartney songs ever recorded as a cover. The song (done by Quickly) is absolutely horrible. I have never, ever heard the version recorded by the Beatles on this session. A shame. I'd love to hear what it sounded like. If you've heard it , let me know. The song "Ask Me Why" was mixed for mono four days later. It was mixed for "stereo" on February 25 1963. The Lewisohn recording session book states that "Ask Me Why" was mixed for mono on February 25 1963 but since it had already been mixed for mono on November 30 1962, I dunno why it would be mixed twice. Something does'nt jive.

"Ask Me Why" was also recorded earlier in the year (June 06) during the very first EMI session including John, Paul George and Pete Best. This is another version that I have not heard....yet.

Anyway, "Ask Me Why" was chosen and included on the debut. It's a fine song. I like it. Once again, it has the most "Doo-wop" influence of any recorded Beatles song that I can think of.

"Ask Me Why" was performed four times live for the BBC, twice on "Here We Go", once on "Talent Spot" and once for "Pop Go the Beatles" program 15.

As well as appearing on the "Please Please Me" UK debut LP/CD, the song "Ask Me Why" also appears on the US Vee Jay "Introducing the Beatles" LP, the Canadian Capitol 6000 series "Twist and Shout" LP, the Vee Jay "Jolly What! Frank Ifield On Stage" LP, Capitol's "The Early Beatles" LP/CD and the semi-legal Lingasong live version on "The Beatles Live at the Star Club Hambug, Germany 1962".

Bop-Shoo-Wop, mm Bop-Bop-Shoo Wop

It's Ringo Starrtime !!

This next song was the first recorded lead vocal by the drummer of the group. Richard Starkey ( known to most as Ringo Starr). He had played with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes until he was pulled away by the offer of playing with the Beatles. Ringo accepted. Wise choice !!

"Boys" was another cover song, this one originally written by Luther Dixon and Wes Farrell, sung by the Shirelles ( an American girl group) and is the second song to have a "doo-wop" influence. I've noticed that several songs on this album have that unique sort of "doo-wop" feel that was hastily abandoned by the Beatles with a couple of exceptions. "Happiness is a Warm Gun" comes to mind. But, I digress.

Believe it or not, the song was recorded in one take on the fateful day of the debut disc, and the subject matter at the time was not at all even thought of as anything more than a good tune and a good time. Nor should it be looked upon as anything than a great tune. Nuff said.

A nice tight song, no overdubs that I can detect although I understand that the fade out was done in the mixing stage later in the month of February 63 ( according to Lewisohn.)

The song became a staple in the sets of the live shows, mainly to feature Ringo - along with "I Wanna Be Your Man" and "Act Naturally".

The BBC live performances include: Twice on "Side by Side", a performance on "Saturday Club", twice on "Pop Go the Beatles": program 4 and 14 and twice on "From Us to You".

Aside from the debut "Please Please Me' LP/CD, the song can be found on Vee Jay's "Introducing the Beatles", the Canadian 6000 series "Twist and Shout", Capitol's "The Early Beatles" and a live performance can be found on "The Beatles At the Hollywood Bowl" LP.

This song was also performed live on the 1964 Summer American tour as well as on the "Shindig" television show in 1965.