The Beatles Bible

Written by: Medley-Russell
Recorded: 11 February 1963
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 22 March 1963 (UK), 22 July 1963 (US)

John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: backing vocals, bass
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums

Available on:
Please Please Me
Anthology 1

The thrilling closer to the Please Please Me album, Twist And Shout showcased The Beatles at their primal, glorious, rock 'n' roll best. Read more »

Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 11 February 1963
Released: 22 March 1963 (UK), 22 July 1963 (US)

John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums

Available on:
Please Please Me

The first song to be recorded at the 11 February 1963 session for the Please Please Me album, There's A Place was completed in 10 takes, apart from a harmonica overdub later that afternoon. Read more »

Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 6 June, 11 September 1962
Producer: Ron Richards
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 5 October 1962 (UK), 27 April 1964 (US)

Paul McCartney: lead vocals, bass
John Lennon: backing vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
George Harrison: backing vocals, acoustic guitar
Ringo Starr: maracas
Andy White: percussion

Available on:
Please Please Me

PS I Love You was written primarily by Paul McCartney around the time of The Beatles' 1962 trip to Hamburg. It was first released as the b-side to their debut single Love Me Do, and later appeared on the Please Please Me album. Read more »

Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 11 September, 26 November 1962
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 11 January 1963 (UK), 25 February 1963 (US)

John Lennon: lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
Paul McCartney: harmony vocals, bass
George Harrison: harmony vocals, lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums

Available on:
Please Please Me
Anthology 1

The follow-up to The Beatles' début single Love Me Do, Please Please Me was originally written as a slow, bluesy song in the style of Roy Orbison. Producer George Martin persuaded The Beatles to rearrange the song, which duly became their first number one single. Read more »

Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 11, 20 February 1963
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 22 March 1963 (UK), 22 July 1963 (US)

John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass
George Harrison: lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
George Martin: piano

Available on:
Please Please Me

The second song on the Please Please Me album, Misery was written by Lennon and McCartney during The Beatles' tour with Helen Shapiro in late January 1963. Read more »

Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 6 June, 4 and 11 September 1962
Producers: Ron Richards, George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: (UK), 27 April 1964 (US)

Paul McCartney: vocals, bass
John Lennon: vocals, harmonica, acoustic rhythm guitar
George Harrison: acoustic rhythm guitar
Ringo Starr: drums, tambourine
Pete Best: drums
Andy White: drums

Available on:
Please Please Me
Past Masters
1
Anthology 1
Live At The BBC

Love Me Do, The Beatles' debut single, was released in the UK on 5 October 1962. Read more »

Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 11 February 1963
Released: 22 March 1963 (UK), 22 July 1963 (US)

Paul McCartney: vocals, bass, handclaps
John Lennon: backing vocals, rhythm guitar, handclaps
George Harrison: lead guitar, handclaps
Ringo Starr: drums, handclaps

Available on:
Please Please Me
Live At The BBC
Anthology 1

Written with John Lennon in Paul McCartney's front room in Liverpool, I Saw Her Standing There was the opening track on The Beatles' debut album Please Please Me. Read more »

Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 11 February 1963
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 22 March 1963 (UK), 22 July 1963 (US)

George Harrison: vocals, lead guitar
John Lennon: backing vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: backing vocals, bass
Ringo Starr: drums, percussion

Available on:
Please Please Me

Recorded for the Please Please Me album, Do You Want To Know A Secret was written by John Lennon and sung by George Harrison. Read more »

Written by: Gerry Goffin/Carole King
Recorded: 11 February 1963
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 22 March 1963 (UK), 22 July 1963 (US)

George Harrison: vocals, lead guitar
John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass
Ringo Starr: drums

Available on:
Please Please Me

Written by the Brill Building songwriting team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, Chains was recorded during the 13-hour session of 11 February 1963 in which The Beatles recorded the bulk of the Please Please Me album. Read more »

Written by: Luther Dixon/Wes Farrell
Recorded: 11 February 1963
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 22 March 1963 (UK), 22 July 1963 (US)

Ringo Starr: vocals, drums
John Lennon: backing vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: backing vocals, bass
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar

Available on:
Please Please Me
Anthology 1

Boys was Ringo Starr's vocal spotlight on the Please Please Me album. It was recorded in a single take on 11 February 1963, and marked the drummer's first recorded lead vocal. Read more »

Written by: David-Williams-Bacharach
Recorded: 11 February 1963
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 22 March 1963 (UK), 22 July 1963 (US)

John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: backing vocals, bass
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
George Martin: celesta

Available on:
Please Please Me
Live At The BBC

Baby It's You was the 10th song recorded during The Beatles' marathon 11 February 1963 session, in which they recorded the bulk of their debut album Please Please Me. Read more »

Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 6 June, 26 November 1962
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 11 January 1963 (UK), 25 February 1963 (US)

John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: backing vocals, bass
George Harrison: lead guitar, backing vocals
Ringo Starr: drums

Available on:
Please Please Me

Ask Me Why was first released as the b-side of The Beatles' second single Please Please Me in 1963. Later that year it appeared on the album of the same name. Read more »

Written by: Arthur Alexander
Recorded: 11 February 1963
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 22 March 1963 (UK), 22 July 1963 (US)

John Lennon: vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: backing vocals, bass
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums

Available on:
Please Please Me

A cover version of Arthur Alexander's 1962 soul single, Anna (Go To Him) was recorded by The Beatles during the 11 February 1963 session that yielded the majority of songs on the Please Please Me album. Read more »

Written by: Scott-Marlow
Recorded: 11 February 1963
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith

Released: 22 March 1963 (UK), 22 July 1963 (US)

Paul McCartney: vocals, bass
John Lennon: backing vocals, rhythm guitar
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums

Available on:
Please Please Me
Live At The BBC

A favourite of Paul McCartney's, A Taste Of Honey was originally the theme tune for the 1961 film version of Shelagh Delaney's play of the same name, starring Rita Tushingham. Read more »

Recorded: 1958-1994
Released: 21 November 1995

Tracklisting:
Free As A Bird
Speech: John Lennon
That'll Be The Day
In Spite Of All The Danger
Speech: Paul McCartney
Hallelujah, I Love Her So
You'll Be Mine
Cayenne
Speech: Paul
My Bonnie
Ain't She Sweet
Cry For A Shadow
Speech: John
Speech: Brian Epstein
Searchin'
Three Cool Cats
The Sheik Of Araby
Like Dreamers Do
Hello Little Girl
Speech: Brian Epstein
Besame Mucho
Love Me Do
How Do You Do It
Please Please Me
One After 909 (Sequence)
One After 909
Lend Me Your Comb
I'll Get You
Speech: John
I Saw Her Standing There
From Me To You
Money (That's What I Want)
You Really Got A Hold On Me
Roll Over Beethoven
She Loves You
Till There Was You
Twist And Shout
This Boy
I Want To Hold Your Hand
Speech: Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise
Moonlight Bay
Can't Buy Me Love
All My Loving
You Can't Do That
And I Love Her
A Hard Day's Night
I Wanna Be Your Man
Long Tall Sally
Boys
Shout
I'll Be Back (Take 2)
I'll Be Back (Take 3)
You Know What To Do
No Reply (Demo)
Mr Moonlight
Leave My Kitten Alone
No Reply
Eight Days A Week (Sequence)
Eight Days A Week (Complete)
Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!

Recorded: 11 September 1962-20 February 1963
Producers: George Martin, Ron Richards
Engineers: Norman Smith, Stuart Eltham

Released: 22 March 1963

John Lennon: vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica, handclaps
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass, handclaps
George Harrison: vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, handclaps
Ringo Starr: vocals, drums, tambourine, maracas, handclaps
George Martin: piano, celesta
Andy White: drums

Please Please Me (Remastered)

The Beatles. EMI 2009, Audio CD, $9.76

Tracklisting:
I Saw Her Standing There
Misery
Anna (Go To Him)
Chains
Boys
Ask Me Why
Please Please Me
Love Me Do
PS I Love You
Baby It's You
Do You Want To Know A Secret
A Taste Of Honey
There's A Place
Twist And Shout

The Beatles' first UK album was released on 22 March 1963, following the success of the singles Please Please Me and Love Me Do. Read more »

Please Please Me had first been released as a single in America on 25 February 1963 but failed to make an impact. To cash in on the success of I Want To Hold Your Hand and in anticipation of The Beatles' first US visit, Vee-Jay re-released the single. Read more »

The Beatles' second UK EP was released on this day. It contained three previous a-sides and one b-side. Read more »

On this day The Beatles were awarded their first silver disc, for sales of more than 250,000 copies of their single Please Please Me. Read more »

The Beatles' debut album was rush-released on this day to capitalise on the success of their singles Love Me Do and Please Please Me. Read more »