UK single release: Please Please Me

The Beatles’ second single was their first to reach number one. That is, according to some charts.

Back in the day there was no single official source for chart placings. On some, including New Musical Express and Melody Maker, ‘Please Please Me’ made the top spot; in others it only managed number two.

Regardless of the true chart placing, the release of ‘Please Please Me’ had a key effect on The Beatles’ career. It put them firmly in the big league. Although Beatlemania was some way away, it established them as a household name and ensured they would record a long player for EMI.

The b-side of ‘Please Please Me’ was ‘Ask Me Why’. The single was released in mono as Parlophone 45-R 4983.