Please Please Me / From Me To YouVee Jay 581, January 30, 1964
Please Please Me
Written by John and Paul
Sung by John and Paul
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
From Me To You
Written by John and Paul
Sung by John and Paul
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Second Engineer: Richard Langham
Written by John and Paul
Sung by John and Paul
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
From Me To You
Written by John and Paul
Sung by John and Paul
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Second Engineer: Richard Langham
1) Please Please Me History
John wrote Please Please Me and claimed that he thought of the idea when he remembered hearing a Bing Crosby song which included the line 'Please lend a little ear to my pleas'. The group had originally hoped to use the number as the 'B' side of 'Love Me Do', but George Martin was unhappy about the arrangement and suggested they put it aside after the original versions were recorded on September 11, 1962 at EMI Studios. These were slow, Roy Orbison influenced, recordings.
The new arrangement owed something to Martin, as Paul commented: 'George Martin's contribution was a big one, actually. The first time he really ever showed that he could see beyond what we were offering him was "Please Please Me". It was originally conceived as a Roy Orbison type thing, you know. George Martin said, "Well, we'll put the tempo up." He lifted the tempo and we all thought that was much better and that was a hit.'
Takes 1 to 18 of Please Please Me were recorded on November 26, 1962, after which George Martin said 'You’ve just made your first No. 1!' He was right of course. John's harmonica was overdubbed that same day, since he could not sing, and play both harmonica and guitar at the same time. After final mixing on the 30th, the song was ready for release.
First Release
January 11, 1963: Parlophone R4983, England, b/w Ask Me Why
#1 on the English Record Charts
US Releases
February 25, 1963 Vee Jay 498, b/w Ask Me Why
January 30, 1964 Vee Jay 581, b/w From Me To You
January 27, 1964 Introducing The Beatles, Vee Jay 1062
February 26, 1964 The Beatles and Frank Ifield, Vee Jay 1085
October 1, 1964 The Beatles vs. The Four Seasons, Vee Jay DX30
October 12, 1964 Songs, Pictures, and Stories of the Fabulous Beatles, Vee Jay 1092
March 22, 1965 The Early Beatles, Capitol 2309
March 22, 1965 The Early Beatles, Capitol 2309
October 11, 1965 Capitol 6063 b/w From Me To You
April 2, 1973 e Beatles 1962-1966, Apple SKBO 3403
November 25, 1995 The Anthology I, Apple 34445
April 2, 1973 e Beatles 1962-1966, Apple SKBO 3403
November 25, 1995 The Anthology I, Apple 34445
Highest US Chart Position
February 1, 1964 at #3
BBC Performances
Here We Go January 25, 1963
Saturday Club January 26, 1963
The Talent Spot January 29, 1963
Parade Of The Pops February 20, 1963
Here We Go March 12, 1963
Saturday Club March 16, 1963
On The Scene March 28, 1963
Easy Beat April 7, 1963
Side By Side April 23, 1963
Steppin' Out June 3, 1963
Pop Go The Beatles August 13, 1963
Easy Beat October 20, 1963
Live Performances
1963
UK Dates, January 1963
The Helen Shapiro Tour
UK Dates, March 1963
Tommy Roe/Chris Montez Tour
UK Dates, Spring 1963
Tour With Roy Orbison
UK Dates, Summer 1963
Mini-Tour of Scotland
Tour of Sweden
1964
Visit to the USA
2) From Me To You History
From Me To You was written on the Beatles' coach while travelling from York to Shrewsbury on February 28, 1963. This was during the Helen Shapiro Tour. Takes 1 to 13 were recorded on March 5. The first 7 takes were 'live' in the studio performances. Takes 8 to 13 featured the additional edit pieces, including the harmonica, guitar solo, and the introduction. George Martin performed the final Mono and Stereo mixes on March 14.
In Britain, EMI issued a press release to go with the single, which read:
'Vocally and instrumentally this new deck matches the high spirits of PLEASE PLEASE ME with John, Paul and George chanting and harmonizing expertly. BUT don't get the idea that this is a carbon copy of their last single - in fact it is the most unusual number THE BEATLES have recorded to date.
'In defiance of the tiresome trend towards weepie lost-love wailers, FROM ME TO YOU is a rip-rockin’ up tempo ballad which has a happy-go-lucky romantic story-line.
'EAR-CATCHING HIGH SPOT: Those unexpected falsetto-voice high-kicks on the line "If there's anything I can do".
'OFF-BEAT FINALE: Sudden switch of speed and rhythm for that end-of-the-track instrumental climax.
'UNANIMOUS VERDICT: The sturdy beat plus the unique Beatle-blending of harmonica, guitars and voices plus the thoroughly infectious tune make FROM ME TO YOU another dead-cert Number One chart-smasher!'
On December 18, 1963, the Beatles recorded a special version entitled "From Us To You" to be used on the BBC. Four "From Us To You" programs were eventually broadcast using this recording as the title song. The first was on
December 26, 1963.
2) From Me To You History
From Me To You was written on the Beatles' coach while travelling from York to Shrewsbury on February 28, 1963. This was during the Helen Shapiro Tour. Takes 1 to 13 were recorded on March 5. The first 7 takes were 'live' in the studio performances. Takes 8 to 13 featured the additional edit pieces, including the harmonica, guitar solo, and the introduction. George Martin performed the final Mono and Stereo mixes on March 14.
In Britain, EMI issued a press release to go with the single, which read:
'Vocally and instrumentally this new deck matches the high spirits of PLEASE PLEASE ME with John, Paul and George chanting and harmonizing expertly. BUT don't get the idea that this is a carbon copy of their last single - in fact it is the most unusual number THE BEATLES have recorded to date.
'In defiance of the tiresome trend towards weepie lost-love wailers, FROM ME TO YOU is a rip-rockin’ up tempo ballad which has a happy-go-lucky romantic story-line.
'EAR-CATCHING HIGH SPOT: Those unexpected falsetto-voice high-kicks on the line "If there's anything I can do".
'OFF-BEAT FINALE: Sudden switch of speed and rhythm for that end-of-the-track instrumental climax.
'UNANIMOUS VERDICT: The sturdy beat plus the unique Beatle-blending of harmonica, guitars and voices plus the thoroughly infectious tune make FROM ME TO YOU another dead-cert Number One chart-smasher!'
On December 18, 1963, the Beatles recorded a special version entitled "From Us To You" to be used on the BBC. Four "From Us To You" programs were eventually broadcast using this recording as the title song. The first was on
December 26, 1963.
First Release
April 11, 1963: Parlophone R5015, England, b/w Thank You Girl
#1 on the English Record Charts
US Releases
May 27, 1963 Vee Jay 522, b/w Thank You Girl
January 30, 1964 Vee Jay 581, b-side of Please Please Me
February 26, 1964 The Beatles and Frank Ifield, Vee Jay 1085
October 11, 1965 Capitol 6063, b-side of Please Please Me
April 2, 1973 The Beatles 1962-1966, Apple SKBO 3403
August 9, 1988 Past Masters Volume I, Capitol 90043
November 1994 Live At The BBC (From Us To You), Apple 31796
November 25, 1995 Anthology I, Apple 34445
Highest US Chart Position
February 22, 1964 at #41
BBC Performances
Easy Beat April 7, 1963
Swinging Sound '63 April 18, 1963
Side By Side April 23, 1963
Side By Side May 13, 1963
Saturday Club May 25, 1963
Steppin' Out June 3, 1963
Pop Go The Beatles June 4, 1963
Pop Go The Beatles June 18, 1963
Easy Beat June 23, 1963
Side By Side June 24, 1963
Saturday Club June 29, 1963
The Beat Show July 4, 1963
Pop Go The Beatles September 3, 1963
Pop Go The Beatles September 17, 1963
Easy Beat October 20, 1963
From Us To You December 26, 1963
From Us To You March 30, 1964
From Us To You May 18, 1964
From Us To You August 3, 1964
Live Performances
1963
UK Dates, January 1963
Tour With Roy Orbison
UK Dates, Spring 1963
Mini-Tour of Scotland
Tour of Sweden
The Beatles Autumn Tour
1964
Visit to France
Visit to the USA
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