Songs > Please Please Me

Please Please Me

(Lennon/McCartney)

Song background
John wrote "Please Please Me" specificly in Roy Orbison's song style, and reportedly George Martin wouldn't use the song as the Beatles' first single because it sounded too much like Orbison. After "Love Me Do" hit UK #17, the band worked with Martin on speeding it up and adding more pep to it. It was the Beatles' first #1 single.

Recording dates ...

Release dates

• January 11, 1963 (UK) ("Please Please Me/Ask Me Why" single)
• March 22, 1963 (UK) (on Please Please Me)
• July 22, 1963 (US) (on Introducing The Beatles)
• September 6, 1963 (UK) (on "The Beatles Hits" EP)
• January 30, 1964 (US) ("Please Please Me/From Me To You" single)
• March 22, 1965 (US) (on The Early Beatles)
• April 2, 1973 (US) (on 1962-66)
• April 19, 1973 (UK) (on 1962-66)

Recording notes ...

Chart performance ...

Quotes

• "Gentlemen, you have just made your first number one record." - George Martin, upon completion of recording for "Please Please Me"

Awards ...

Other notes ...

Notable covers ...