I've never had a copy myself to confirm, but my understanding is that the black label UK pressings from the 1960s were not re-cut and therefore still contain the 4th September version of Love Me Do. It wasn't until it was first re-issued in 1976 that it was replaced with the Andy White version.
Absolutely right. George Martin junked/destroyed the tape of the Ringo version (which was a 1 track recording with vocals then superimposed as the tape was copied over) in September 1963 when compiling The Beatles Hits EP. Therefore any subsequent releases of that song used the White version that, of course, still exists on tape (also a 1 track recording but recorded live, vocals and all. This is also why no real stereo mix could be made of LMD or PS I Love You for the LP as they are both live 1 track mono recordings).
The story of why the songs got swapped around was new to me, thank you for that! We all know that Ringo became a good drummer, but I don't think it's really fair to say that Pete's drumming wasn't very good, but make excuses for Ringo for having an off day. From other accounts they were all pretty nervous on the first session, so Pete quite possibly has an off day. Both he and Ringo were raw young self-taught drummers, and probably not what a producer would really want to use. Ringo certainly leant fast; whether Pete would have done so we will never know. But if I've understood it correctly, on 4th September George Martin expected Pete Best, had not hired a session drummer, and was going to try and make a record! So it looks like he was happy enough with Pete after all. Then Ringo turns up and doesn't do a good job, so Martin decides he has to have a session drummer. I'm not surprised Ringo was upset! There seems to be the view that releasing Ringo's version was a mistake. Although I think it's great that it was released from a historical perspective and not completely lost, I think there is reason to think that was the case, certainly that the tapes weren't kept. Is there any proof that this was or wasn't the case?
I often watch the youtube channel "parlogram auctions" and what i know from them is: Ringos version is also on black uk Parlophon single, its on the indian 78rpm shellac record and on the singles box set from a few years ago. Also you forgot the most important part of the ringo version: all tapes are lost (multitrack and mono-mix). Thats the reason why following single realeses got the andy white version. All realeses after the originals (uk&canadian singles and Indian shellac) were not cut from the original tape but from a dub of an Original uk single.
I confess that the subject of this video didn't really interest me...UNTIL I watched it and became completely fascinated by the history of this song. Excellent research, Andrew.
You have an excellent knowledge of the subject. The first recording session for George Martin was kind of an audition, because Martin had signed the Beatles to a contract which committed him to almost nothing.
Never really thought much of Love Me Do until fairly recently when I picked up an original red label Parlophone single, and wow! What a difference to other versions that I have heard! The energy and warmth of the recording really shines, and I can now appreciate why the song had such an impact back then. I'd go as far as to say it's one of the best sounding Beatles records out there, well worth picking up if you can find it for a decent price.
Another fun fact: the Apple Music version of 1 uses the Andy White version on the regular mix but switches to the Ringo version on the Dolby Atmos mix. Loved the video Mr. Dixon!
My mom brought home a Beatles 45 from London in 63. It had 4 songs Twist and Shout, Taste of Honey, There's a Place and one more. I played the hell out of that record.
On The Beatles first album The Beatles ,the writing credits for the self penned songs are credited to McCartney -Lennon .I could never understand why many years later when Paul changed the order , Yoko was saying that John would never have agreed to that ,when he already had on the first album.
Yes and even when Paul switched the credits on Wings Over America in 1976, John never complained (assuming he was even aware of it given his break from music at the time)
Peter - The many people who made a big stink about Paul wanting to list the writing credit on the songs that were written mainly by him to "McCartney-Lennon"... never knew or understood - that 12 of the first 14 times a song written by John & Paul appeared on record - they were listed as "McCartney-Lennon". Only that first single ("Love Me Do"/"P.S. I Love You") was listed as "Lennon-McCartney". Then the next 12 times a song written by them came out on a record - it was listed as "McCartney-Lennon". It was listed as "McCartney-Lennon" on 86% of their early releases.
Thanks Andrew! I never knew that the Please, please me album had Andy Whites version of the first single and not Ringo’s. Another well done video! Cheers! Stay well, my friend!✌🏼
The usual custom of the era was to credit joint songwriters' names alphabetically. John and Paul's idea to list the major contributor first should have seen 'Love Me Do' and 'P.S. I Love You' credited as McCartney-Lennon, but the printers prepared the labels alphabetically, just as they had been used to doing. Following the release of the single, a memo was sent to the printers notifying them that the songwriting credits should have read McCartney-Lennon. The printers misunderstood this directive, thinking they should use that name order on all future songs from the songwriting duo. So, the McCartney-Lennon credit appeared on the 'Please Please Me' single, the 'Please Please Me' album (even on 'Love Me Do' and 'P.S. I Love You'), and the 'From Me To You' single. John and Paul realized that the idea of listing the major contributor first was going to be too complicated to implement, so they just reverted to the alphabetic Lennon-McCartney from 'She Loves You' onwards.
It was made with a cheap mono microphone, anywhere from 5 to 10 meters from the stage, so not really sure how much remixing can be done on it. But maybe the technology is advancing better than I thought.
Just to clarify for those who don’t know, the Black label version released in 1963 without “Sold in the U.K.” and the third pressing from 1964, is also the Ringo version. The Andy white version was used from 1976 with the odd exception. The Beatles Love Me Do 60th Anniversary Collection, Parlophone R4949! ua-cam.com/video/uQozT6WI8d4/v-deo.html
Hi Andrew, sorry by my english, I'm from Uruguay, always checking your incredible videos. The first ever Uruguay release was "Please Please Me" on A side, and "Love me do" as B side, but I think you'll find interesting the credits for both songs were "McCartney-Lennon". I can send you pics in case you may want them. Congratulations for the 60th. anniversary to you and all Beatles fans in the world, by the way I'm 67, a long time Beatles fan.
Brilliant, total breath control. Thanks you sorted it all out. Great I've got the RED LABEL Single. Would love to hear the first take of Please Please Me
You didn't mention that, when Anthology 1 was being prepped, to cover the tracks recorded during the 6 June session, EMI had to find an acetate of the recordings...unbeknownst to the world that Geoff Emerick had the original magnetic tape of this session. Originally deemed 'trash', and being directed to throw it away, Emerick kept the tape. After his death (in 2018), it was discovered that Geoff had that tape. Sony sued for ownership, Emerick's family cited a lame (and non-existant) 'finders-keepers' law to maintain ownership of the tape.
I too love the story of how the fabs were signed and given to George martin to produce, but surely Ringo must know now ( i think I'm right ) that it was his version that was released as the first single. I think Ringo has either forgot that, or he plays on that story a bit like Paul plays the we won't go to America until we are number one (when the Ed Sullivan deal was struck in November (ish) time, but i enjoyed the video anyway Andrew. As with writing credits onwards the next 2 singles and first album were McCartney/Lennon and was Lennon/McCartney from she loves you onwards for the rest of their career.
Some great information in there that I was unaware of well done again. The harmonica riff is powerful and really makes an otherwise potentially ordinary song a good one. More anniversaries!
Hey Andrew, thanks for this video. You've uncovered some new information for me, though I do own "Tune In" but not finished it as yet. The whole "Love Me Do" recording saga became surprisingly complex. I can confirm that the Andy White version of "Love Me Do" appeared on the Australian single released here as a double A-side with "I Saw Her Standing There" in 1964. It was actually the 5th Beatles Parlophone single issued in Australia. I think it was the same case with the NZ pressing of the same pairing. (Sorry I can't currently access my 45's to confirm that. 🙄) I find that the easiest way to tell the 2 versions (Starr/White) of LMD apart is the Ringo version sounds slower and Paul's voice shakes nervously on his "Love Me Do" solo line. The Andy version is more spritely and sounds more confident overall. Cheers mate. 👍
...I've always wondered why the original red label release says either 'Made in Gt. Britain' under the R4949 on the right....or is blank ! ? 've also often wondered about the correct paper sleeve for it too ....coloured stripes - or the triangles / hexagons !?
Thank you! As always great research and very clearly presented! I'm very curious about your other 60th anniversary videos and as always have fun and yes, I have to finally get Tune In and read it! Take care!
5th of October, 1962...I was a whippersnapper about knee-high to a hobbit. If my elder sister Penny didn't see Dr. No on that day, she was damn close to it, as she was an avid reader of James Bond and couldn't wait to see the first film. Can't recall the date, but one day I walked into her bedroom and up on the wall was a poster of the fab four. I had heard Please Please Me, but Penny proudly reeled off the names in the band. Now they were known to me as individuals and not just four mop-tops on the stage! 🎸 🎸 🎸 🛢 Great info, Andrew. Thanks.
@@AndrewDixonMusic I'll let her know. When the Please Please Me album was first released, we were having a party and her boyfriend brought it along... On pre-recorded reel-to-reel tape! He felt that vinyl LPs were a bit vulnerable at parties on other people's record players. I wonder if that tape would be worth much today????
This is a baffling video. The June 6 recordings were absolutely an audition according to George Martin himself. I will believe George Martin over Lewisohn. Pete Best's recording may seem erratic, but that's because George Martin changed the arrangement of the song right there in the studio and literally asked Pete to try something different, so what you hear is Best playing a new arrangement AND trying something different without the benefit of a single rehearsal. Best was replaced because Martin told Brian Epstein that if, yes IF, The Beatles were offered a recording contract he was going to use a session drummer. Epstein mistakenly took that to mean Best wasn't good enough because he didn't know using session drummers was in fact a common practice back then. Ringo's version of Love Me Do was rejected by Martin which is why Andy White was brought in. When Parlophone erroneously released Ringo's version as the 45 in the UK George Martin had the master tapes destroyed to make sure it couldn't happen again. That's why all subsequent releases are the Andy White version. The more recent reissue of Ringo's version was made by recording a copy of the original 45 that was in pristine condition. They couldn't remaster Ringo's version because the tapes no longer exist.
Thank you for a very good summary of a very complicated story! BTW, you can add the German single as a source for the Ringo version: Odeon O 22 396 Love Me Do / Please Please Me. The Parlophone master is given as 7XCE 17 144 on the label (like on the first UK release) with an added dash 1 in the dead wax. There's a rumour that that issue was a needle drop (there seems to be reliable information that the Canadian issue was) and that a tape source was used for later pressings. There are no other cuts of that record, however (a later reissue combines LMD with PS I Love You and has the Andy White version). The original tape was scrapped later -- therefore we can't check the tape box, but I'm convinced that the German single was cut from a tape copy sent by Parlophone. Another curiosity is that LMD is credited to Lennon/McCartney, while Please Please Me is credited to McCartney/Lennon. Many early releases in several countries hat the credits in inconsistent form. Regards!
Ive got this original UK red parlophone R4949 LOVE ME DO /P.S. I LOVE YOU and no other version compares to that original red label copy it sounds fantastic compared to other presssings where its showed up like represses and past masters mono masters and the beatles box from liverpool which i do think has the closest version
Thanks for a wonderfully enjoyable and informative video Andrew, well done 👏 👍😉 I can add a couple of other releases Ringo's version appears on. Record 1, of the 1980 release on World Records/Readers Digest 'The Beatles Box' has Ringo. And also the 1982 20th Anniversary 12" single, which actually features Ringo AND Andy White. Cheers, Jase 👋 😉
Andrew - Nice job covering the different versions of "Love Me Do". But at 11:39 into the video you say: "So during the middle of 1962 John and Paul put legally into writing their arrangement that they'd already had for a few years where any song that either of them wrote would be credited as Lennon and McCartney. That was put into a legal document. There was also another sort of informal arrangement made at that time that didn't make it into the legal document - that whoever was the main writer of the song would have their name first. So if John wrote it - it would be Lennon and McCartney. If Paul was the main writer - it would be McCartney and Lennon. That information was given to the record company - but they didn't heed it. And the single came out credited to "Lennon and McCartney" - and that's how it always stayed." But THAT... is NOT how the John & Paul writing credit - always stayed. On the first single (released October 5th, 1982) both sides ("Love Me Do"/"P.S. I Love You") were listed as "Lennon-McCartney". But... on the second single - both sides ("Please Please Me"/"Ask Me Why" released January 11th, 1963) were listed as "McCartney-Lennon". And every one of their original songs on their first album (the "Please Please Me" LP released March 22, 1963) was listed as "McCartney-Lennon". And on the third single... both sides ("From Me To You"/"Thank You Girl" released April 11th, 1963) were listed as "McCartney-Lennon". It was not until their fourth single ("She Loves You"/"I'll Get You" released August 23. 1963) that it went back to "Lennon-McCartney". So through the first 3 singles (a total of 6 songs) and the first LP (a total of 8 originals)... ONLY TWO were listed as "Lennon-McCartney" while TWELVE were listed as "McCartney-Lennon". So up to that point in time... 86% (12 of 14) of the songs released on records that had been written by John & Paul - had been listed as "McCartney-Lennon".
After I heard the version of love me deal with Andy White on drums and Ringo on tambourine from the please please me on the Beatles red and blue albums then I heard for the first time the Ringo version which was on the past masters volume one and then when I bought the anthology series I heard the very first recorded version of it. i’m hoping that when please please make us released we get here and I’ll take a lovely day where you can actually hear John Lennon and Paul McCartney shaking with nerves because that’s what makes great music all of the mistakes and stuff like that I love the harmonica which is fantastic.
Good research, I love these insights into the recording history of their songs. I keep hoping that a discovery will be made of the complete 4th September recordings that an engineer held on to 'just in case'. You never know! By far the best version of Love Me Do is on the Live at the BBC CD. Far superior than both single versions in my opinion 😃
Also, to clarify one thing about the Capitol Rarities album: the notes on the back cover state that the version used was a very clean Canadian 45 RPM single for Love Me Do, as the original master for the single was long wiped.
You should do a 'Beatles @ 60' series, where you comment on every major release (or Beatle event) in 'real time'. This would be the first episode (and it was great).
My twitter account was originally called BeatlesAt50, started just over 10 years ago, and it was "live tweeting" events as though the Beatles had Twitter back in the day.
So did we ever get a definitive answer why Ringo’s version was tossed in the bin? All the later versions with Ringo were sourced from a mint first pressing of a Canadian single
I’m being one of the biggest Beatles fans ever love me do you have to be one of my favorite songs I love the harmonica part. it’s too bad that we probably don’t have the stereo versions of love me do PS I love you and she loves it would’ve been great to actually hear those versions in stereo. Love me do is a great version I first heard that song with the Version that features Ringo Starr playing the tambourine and PS I love you watch Ringo place maracas on absolutely love the three versions that were released it is fantastic. I don’t know if please please meet us somewhere version but record it if it did I would love to hear it along with Carnival of light.
Never tire of these anniversaries - great video. Weren't the next two singles - PPM and FMTY credited to McCartney-Lennon? Also I never understood the fuss made with Yoko re the Back in the world writing credits - her saying that John wouldn't approve of any changes had he been alive - but the writing credits on Wings over America were McCartney-Lennon and that was 1976 but don't recall any fuss then!
Yes, that's correct. 'Love Me Do' and 'P.S. I Love You' were originally published by EMI's own publishing company Ardmore & Beechwood Ltd. Paul McCartney's company MPL Communications acquired the rights to those two songs in the early 1980s and the 20th anniversary reissue of 'Love Me Do' / 'P.S. I Love You' in 1982 and all subsequent issues of those two songs list MPL Communications as the publishers.
Andrew. Where did you get the info for 4th Sept about Tip of my tongue, as the first time I read about it in books about that song being rehearsed or possibly recorded but (doubt it) is the Please please me recording session on 26th November 62.
@@AndrewDixonMusic. Cheers. I have read Tune in 3 times twice was the deluxe and niece the standard in the past. My memory must be going. I was looking at Lewisohns recording sessions and a book called Way Beyond Compare by J Winn. I will reread the deluxe again as it’s so good. Are you going to see Mark Lewisohn this week? I’m going Friday. P.S I just looked at Tune In. Why I never went to this book first instead of the other books and the Beatles Bible site amazes me. lol. Thanks for putting me in the right direction.
I don't know if How Do You Do It would have been the hit that it was had The Beatles version been the one released. You can tell that their hearts just went in it on their recording, whereas Gerry And The Pacemakers seemed to really throw themselves into it.
Good job in going through all of the details...I am (as a collector) not looking forward to getting my wallet emptied by "60th Anniversary" issues...I know Paul is salivating over making a killing on those!
I expect the passage of time and just that he has so many memories from that era it can't be easy to be on top of all the trivia and facts and figures.
Not quite the whole story. I have their first three singles on Parlophone (black label and bought at the time). On both sides of all three singles the song-writing credit is McCartney/Lennon.
I am confused Andrew 😕re Please Please Me??????????I saw an interview before he died, he suggested that he, Andy White played on Please Please me¿????????
Ringo was the best drummer in The Beatles.When Jimmie Nicol filled in for Ringo in 1964 when Ringo was ill with tonsillitis,his drumming style was completely different,which didn't fit.
This was completely unknown to me! I’m outraged that Ringo would be treated that way. But, to be honest, for me The Beatles before Rubber Soul, was a band of 4 men touched by the divine universal spirit but were too young and inexperienced to exert the power and confidence of who they really were, and wound up being pushed around a bit. I find it outrageous that these divinely touched men were told to “cover” other people’s songs as well. The Beatles are infinite. Otherworldly. And although my father walked me through their history it wasn’t until Rubber Soul that I heard them for who they truly were. And Rubber Soul is the last Beatles album I’ll buy as a super deluxe boxset in 2023. I just don’t have that special feeling for the early mop top PR made band. Great video, I learned a lot. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
The Pete Best version of _Love Me Do_ was unfinished business. Pete had a superior skip beat to liven up the boring song. Martin wanted it out. Martin's experience with rock music was limited. He had flopped all the attempts he had at rock/pop recordings - some were bad. Pete's skip beat was better. Martin changed the lead singer to Paul from John. Paul never knew the words being clearly struggling in the recording. This was all on the fly in the studio, with it to be honed in the next session. Pete's drumming was an attempt to do what they wanted, which they did not fully put across to Pete.
I remember that short film. It's called Snodgrass with Ian Hart playing John Lennon for the third time. Interesting little film. ua-cam.com/video/Ek89aSrwMN0/v-deo.html
Yeah I think the film is called "Snodgrass" and depicts John as a very unlikeable, narky character with a big chip on his shoulder. He is living the life of a no-hoper bouncing from job to job behind on the rent. There's mention of The Beatles reduced to doing an 'Oldies circuit reunion'.
@@peterx1957 I watched it again once I'd been reminded of it. If it hadn't been for strength of character Pete Best could have gone down the route portrayed in the film, of resentment and bitterness. Fortunately, Pete wasn't and isn't that kinda fella. As for The Beatles doing 60's oldies tours. Isn't that what Paul McCartney has done for the last 25 in all honesty? I know he releases new material, but don't we all just wanna hear a Beatle sing Beatle songs? He's is own tribute act. I'm sure Mr Dixon will differ in opinion. Lol 😆
@@scally1969 hmm there's a difference between playing large 25,000+ seat venues and performing in small RSL/social club auditoriums as the 'Oldies circuit' tends to do. Besides a lot of those 'oldies' bands barely have one or two original members. You could say the same with Deep Purple...drummer Ian Paice is the only original member left! Yeah Sir Paul has been playing his Beatles hits and it's great to hear them performed. I've seen him twice in concert and both times were amazing experiences.
@@peterx1957 I've seen McCartney a couple of times myself and throughly enjoyed the gigs. However, I wanted to hear Hey Jude, Get Back etc, so much more than I wanted to hear Jenny Wren, My Valentine or C'Moon etc. I suppose when; like The Beatles, The Who, Fleetwood Mac, Iron Maiden or as you mentioned Deep Purple. You lead your field in the peak of your career and have such a prolific back catalogue. When you hit the road later in your career you can pull the big audiences in large venues still. I would argue though, that it's all based on nostalgia. Don't we all want to step in a time machine for a couple of hours? Interesting debate Peter 🤔. Thanks so much
Ron Richards was initially in charge of the session on 6th June - George Martin was only brought in when balance engineer Norman Smith was struck by the quality of ‘Love Me Do’. Then on the 4th Sept Prior to the recording session The Beatles undertook a three-hour rehearsal in Studio Three, overseen by EMI’s Ron Richards, during which they repeatedly ran through six songs. Two of these - ‘Love Me Do’ and ‘How Do You Do It’ - were chosen to be recorded by the group. The others were likely to have been ‘Tip Of My Tongue’, ‘Ask Me Why’, ‘PS I Love You’, and ‘Please Please Me’. Then in 11th September The session, which lasted from 5pm to 6.45pm, was produced by Ron Richards, although George Martin arrived halfway through.
Ringo wasn't necessarily a better drummer than Pete Best but was a good Beatle?Pete didn't fit in with the other Beatles in the same way as Ringo did. After rehearsing,for instance,he wouldn't hang out with the other Beatles but would go off and do his own thing. When Ringo was still with Rory Storm and The Hurricanes he was friendly with the other Beatles and with members of other Liverpudlian groups.
Another Beatles anniversary(kind of)has just passed,Julian's 60th birthday.Many happy returns to him.
I've never had a copy myself to confirm, but my understanding is that the black label UK pressings from the 1960s were not re-cut and therefore still contain the 4th September version of Love Me Do. It wasn't until it was first re-issued in 1976 that it was replaced with the Andy White version.
Absolutely right. George Martin junked/destroyed the tape of the Ringo version (which was a 1 track recording with vocals then superimposed as the tape was copied over) in September 1963 when compiling The Beatles Hits EP. Therefore any subsequent releases of that song used the White version that, of course, still exists on tape (also a 1 track recording but recorded live, vocals and all. This is also why no real stereo mix could be made of LMD or PS I Love You for the LP as they are both live 1 track mono recordings).
The story of why the songs got swapped around was new to me, thank you for that!
We all know that Ringo became a good drummer, but I don't think it's really fair to say that Pete's drumming wasn't very good, but make excuses for Ringo for having an off day. From other accounts they were all pretty nervous on the first session, so Pete quite possibly has an off day. Both he and Ringo were raw young self-taught drummers, and probably not what a producer would really want to use. Ringo certainly leant fast; whether Pete would have done so we will never know.
But if I've understood it correctly, on 4th September George Martin expected Pete Best, had not hired a session drummer, and was going to try and make a record! So it looks like he was happy enough with Pete after all. Then Ringo turns up and doesn't do a good job, so Martin decides he has to have a session drummer. I'm not surprised Ringo was upset!
There seems to be the view that releasing Ringo's version was a mistake. Although I think it's great that it was released from a historical perspective and not completely lost, I think there is reason to think that was the case, certainly that the tapes weren't kept. Is there any proof that this was or wasn't the case?
I often watch the youtube channel "parlogram auctions" and what i know from them is: Ringos version is also on black uk Parlophon single, its on the indian 78rpm shellac record and on the singles box set from a few years ago. Also you forgot the most important part of the ringo version: all tapes are lost (multitrack and mono-mix). Thats the reason why following single realeses got the andy white version. All realeses after the originals (uk&canadian singles and Indian shellac) were not cut from the original tape but from a dub of an Original uk single.
Great info here! This inspired me to have Live at the BBC as the afternoon playlist. 🙂
00:55 That's still a great movie poster!
Great video as always. Thanks!
Great Video Andrew so informative and so well explained many thanks
I confess that the subject of this video didn't really interest me...UNTIL I watched it and became completely fascinated by the history of this song. Excellent research, Andrew.
Same here! I can see what's coming in the next 60th Beatles anniversaries....
You have an excellent knowledge of the subject.
The first recording session for George Martin was kind of an audition, because Martin had signed the Beatles to a contract which committed him to almost nothing.
Very interesting video Andrew. I had no idea that the Andy White version was on the Please Please Me album. Every day is a school day...😊
I have the parlophone first pressing and the sound is powerful and amazing
Never really thought much of Love Me Do until fairly recently when I picked up an original red label Parlophone single, and wow! What a difference to other versions that I have heard! The energy and warmth of the recording really shines, and I can now appreciate why the song had such an impact back then. I'd go as far as to say it's one of the best sounding Beatles records out there, well worth picking up if you can find it for a decent price.
Their reluctance to record "How Do You Do It" showed on Anthology 1,it was like,"Do we really have to do this?"
Another fun fact: the Apple Music version of 1 uses the Andy White version on the regular mix but switches to the Ringo version on the Dolby Atmos mix. Loved the video Mr. Dixon!
My mom brought home a Beatles 45 from London in 63. It had 4 songs Twist and Shout, Taste of Honey, There's a Place and one more. I played the hell out of that record.
On The Beatles first album The Beatles ,the writing credits for the self penned songs are credited to McCartney -Lennon .I could never understand why many years later when Paul changed the order , Yoko was saying that John would never have agreed to that ,when he already had on the first album.
Yes and even when Paul switched the credits on Wings Over America in 1976, John never complained (assuming he was even aware of it given his break from music at the time)
Peter - The many people who made a big stink about Paul wanting to list the writing credit on the songs that were written mainly by him to "McCartney-Lennon"... never knew or understood - that 12 of the first 14 times a song written by John & Paul appeared on record - they were listed as "McCartney-Lennon". Only that first single ("Love Me Do"/"P.S. I Love You") was listed as "Lennon-McCartney". Then the next 12 times a song written by them came out on a record - it was listed as "McCartney-Lennon". It was listed as "McCartney-Lennon" on 86% of their early releases.
Nice spread sheet!
Thanks Andrew! I never knew that the Please, please me album had Andy Whites version of the first single and not Ringo’s. Another well done video! Cheers!
Stay well, my friend!✌🏼
The usual custom of the era was to credit joint songwriters' names alphabetically. John and Paul's idea to list the major contributor first should have seen 'Love Me Do' and 'P.S. I Love You' credited as McCartney-Lennon, but the printers prepared the labels alphabetically, just as they had been used to doing.
Following the release of the single, a memo was sent to the printers notifying them that the songwriting credits should have read McCartney-Lennon. The printers misunderstood this directive, thinking they should use that name order on all future songs from the songwriting duo.
So, the McCartney-Lennon credit appeared on the 'Please Please Me' single, the 'Please Please Me' album (even on 'Love Me Do' and 'P.S. I Love You'), and the 'From Me To You' single.
John and Paul realized that the idea of listing the major contributor first was going to be too complicated to implement, so they just reverted to the alphabetic Lennon-McCartney from 'She Loves You' onwards.
The Norwegian 1964 pressing of Love Me Do also contains the Ringo version.
Perhaps we will have a 60th Anniversary remix of the Star Club tapings!
Don't count on that.
It was made with a cheap mono microphone, anywhere from 5 to 10 meters from the stage, so not really sure how much remixing can be done on it. But maybe the technology is advancing better than I thought.
Paul also flipped the writing credits for Lennon and McCartney songs on the Wings Over America CD at one stage.
Just to clarify for those who don’t know, the Black label version released in 1963 without “Sold in the U.K.” and the third pressing from 1964, is also the Ringo version.
The Andy white version was used from 1976 with the odd exception.
The Beatles Love Me Do 60th Anniversary Collection, Parlophone R4949!
ua-cam.com/video/uQozT6WI8d4/v-deo.html
Love the What did Ringo Do? column on your spreadsheet! 😂 Great video as ever mate.
Fascinating history!
Hi Andrew, sorry by my english, I'm from Uruguay, always checking your incredible videos. The first ever Uruguay release was "Please Please Me" on A side, and "Love me do" as B side, but I think you'll find interesting the credits for both songs were "McCartney-Lennon". I can send you pics in case you may want them. Congratulations for the 60th. anniversary to you and all Beatles fans in the world, by the way I'm 67, a long time Beatles fan.
Greetings from the US. 🥂
Brilliant, total breath control. Thanks you sorted it all out. Great I've got the RED LABEL Single. Would love to hear the first take of Please Please Me
You didn't mention that, when Anthology 1 was being prepped, to cover the tracks recorded during the 6 June session, EMI had to find an acetate of the recordings...unbeknownst to the world that Geoff Emerick had the original magnetic tape of this session. Originally deemed 'trash', and being directed to throw it away, Emerick kept the tape. After his death (in 2018), it was discovered that Geoff had that tape. Sony sued for ownership, Emerick's family cited a lame (and non-existant) 'finders-keepers' law to maintain ownership of the tape.
I too love the story of how the fabs were signed and given to George martin to produce, but surely Ringo must know now ( i think I'm right ) that it was his version that was released as the first single. I think Ringo has either forgot that, or he plays on that story a bit like Paul plays the we won't go to America until we are number one (when the Ed Sullivan deal was struck in November (ish) time, but i enjoyed the video anyway Andrew. As with writing credits onwards the next 2 singles and first album were McCartney/Lennon and was Lennon/McCartney from she loves you onwards for the rest of their career.
Fascinating stuff - thank you!
Great storytelling Andrew.
I really like Love Me Do as a song, too.
Well I Never, Stone The Crows, Splutter Splutter, The Misis Will Never Believe That Un! Joking apart, thanks for a very interesting blog.
Some great information in there that I was unaware of well done again. The harmonica riff is powerful and really makes an otherwise potentially ordinary song a good one. More anniversaries!
Hey Andrew, thanks for this video. You've uncovered some new information for me, though I do own "Tune In" but not finished it as yet. The whole "Love Me Do" recording saga became surprisingly complex. I can confirm that the Andy White version of "Love Me Do" appeared on the Australian single released here as a double A-side with "I Saw Her Standing There" in 1964. It was actually the 5th Beatles Parlophone single issued in Australia. I think it was the same case with the NZ pressing of the same pairing. (Sorry I can't currently access my 45's to confirm that. 🙄)
I find that the easiest way to tell the 2 versions (Starr/White) of LMD apart is the Ringo version sounds slower and Paul's voice shakes nervously on his "Love Me Do" solo line. The Andy version is
more spritely and sounds more confident overall. Cheers mate. 👍
...I've always wondered why the original red label release says either 'Made in Gt. Britain' under the R4949 on the right....or is blank ! ? 've also often wondered about the correct paper sleeve for it too ....coloured stripes - or the triangles / hexagons !?
Love Me Do has always been one of my fav's!! I don't care who's drumming or playing guitar, or bass. It's all about the harminica‼️👍🎵🎶
Thank you! As always great research and very clearly presented! I'm very curious about your other 60th anniversary videos and as always have fun and yes, I have to finally get Tune In and read it! Take care!
LOVE THE JEWS by APOLOGETIX a great Beatles parody of LOVE ME DO .its on UA-cam
5th of October, 1962...I was a whippersnapper about knee-high to a hobbit. If my elder sister Penny didn't see Dr. No on that day, she was damn close to it, as she was an avid reader of James Bond and couldn't wait to see the first film. Can't recall the date, but one day I walked into her bedroom and up on the wall was a poster of the fab four. I had heard Please Please Me, but Penny proudly reeled off the names in the band. Now they were known to me as individuals and not just four mop-tops on the stage! 🎸 🎸 🎸 🛢 Great info, Andrew. Thanks.
Your sister wins so far!
@@AndrewDixonMusic I'll let her know. When the Please Please Me album was first released, we were having a party and her boyfriend brought it along... On pre-recorded reel-to-reel tape! He felt that vinyl LPs were a bit vulnerable at parties on other people's record players. I wonder if that tape would be worth much today????
Mahalo Andrew.
This is a baffling video. The June 6 recordings were absolutely an audition according to George Martin himself. I will believe George Martin over Lewisohn.
Pete Best's recording may seem erratic, but that's because George Martin changed the arrangement of the song right there in the studio and literally asked Pete to try something different, so what you hear is Best playing a new arrangement AND trying something different without the benefit of a single rehearsal.
Best was replaced because Martin told Brian Epstein that if, yes IF, The Beatles were offered a recording contract he was going to use a session drummer. Epstein mistakenly took that to mean Best wasn't good enough because he didn't know using session drummers was in fact a common practice back then.
Ringo's version of Love Me Do was rejected by Martin which is why Andy White was brought in. When Parlophone erroneously released Ringo's version as the 45 in the UK George Martin had the master tapes destroyed to make sure it couldn't happen again. That's why all subsequent releases are the Andy White version.
The more recent reissue of Ringo's version was made by recording a copy of the original 45 that was in pristine condition. They couldn't remaster Ringo's version because the tapes no longer exist.
Thank you for a very good summary of a very complicated story! BTW, you can add the German single as a source for the Ringo version: Odeon O 22 396 Love Me Do / Please Please Me. The Parlophone master is given as 7XCE 17 144 on the label (like on the first UK release) with an added dash 1 in the dead wax. There's a rumour that that issue was a needle drop (there seems to be reliable information that the Canadian issue was) and that a tape source was used for later pressings. There are no other cuts of that record, however (a later reissue combines LMD with PS I Love You and has the Andy White version). The original tape was scrapped later -- therefore we can't check the tape box, but I'm convinced that the German single was cut from a tape copy sent by Parlophone. Another curiosity is that LMD is credited to Lennon/McCartney, while Please Please Me is credited to McCartney/Lennon. Many early releases in several countries hat the credits in inconsistent form. Regards!
Thanks, good info! 🙂👍
I enjoyed that very much thankyou
Ive got this original UK red parlophone R4949 LOVE ME DO /P.S. I LOVE YOU and no other version compares to that original red label copy it sounds fantastic compared to other presssings where its showed up like represses and past masters mono masters and the beatles box from liverpool which i do think has the closest version
Thanks for a wonderfully enjoyable and informative video Andrew, well done 👏 👍😉
I can add a couple of other releases Ringo's version appears on. Record 1, of the 1980 release on World Records/Readers Digest 'The Beatles Box' has Ringo. And also the 1982 20th Anniversary 12" single, which actually features Ringo AND Andy White.
Cheers,
Jase 👋 😉
Cheers Jason. I'm glad I didn't go down the path of trying to find all these variants myself, I'd have a nervous breakdown! 🤯
Keep up these 60th anniversary videos and I’ll see you in 2030 as you begin your ramp up for the 70th anniversaries!
You will also find Ringos version of Love Me Do on From Liverpool The Beatles Box 8 LP set from 1980
Andrew - Nice job covering the different versions of "Love Me Do".
But at 11:39 into the video you say: "So during the middle of 1962 John and Paul put legally into writing their arrangement that they'd already had for a few years where any song that either of them wrote would be credited as Lennon and McCartney. That was put into a legal document. There was also another sort of informal arrangement made at that time that didn't make it into the legal document - that whoever was the main writer of the song would have their name first. So if John wrote it - it would be Lennon and McCartney. If Paul was the main writer - it would be McCartney and Lennon. That information was given to the record company - but they didn't heed it. And the single came out credited to "Lennon and McCartney" - and that's how it always stayed."
But THAT... is NOT how the John & Paul writing credit - always stayed.
On the first single (released October 5th, 1982) both sides ("Love Me Do"/"P.S. I Love You") were listed as "Lennon-McCartney".
But... on the second single - both sides ("Please Please Me"/"Ask Me Why" released January 11th, 1963) were listed as "McCartney-Lennon".
And every one of their original songs on their first album (the "Please Please Me" LP released March 22, 1963) was listed as "McCartney-Lennon".
And on the third single... both sides ("From Me To You"/"Thank You Girl" released April 11th, 1963) were listed as "McCartney-Lennon".
It was not until their fourth single ("She Loves You"/"I'll Get You" released August 23. 1963) that it went back to "Lennon-McCartney".
So through the first 3 singles (a total of 6 songs) and the first LP (a total of 8 originals)... ONLY TWO were listed as "Lennon-McCartney" while TWELVE were listed as "McCartney-Lennon". So up to that point in time... 86% (12 of 14) of the songs released on records that had been written by John & Paul - had been listed as "McCartney-Lennon".
When they did record "How Do You Do It",they dutifully did it but their reluctance showed.
After I heard the version of love me deal with Andy White on drums and Ringo on tambourine from the please please me on the Beatles red and blue albums then I heard for the first time the Ringo version which was on the past masters volume one and then when I bought the anthology series I heard the very first recorded version of it. i’m hoping that when please please make us released we get here and I’ll take a lovely day where you can actually hear John Lennon and Paul McCartney shaking with nerves because that’s what makes great music all of the mistakes and stuff like that I love the harmonica which is fantastic.
Nice work! So confusing. It has been said that Ringo's rocking of the tambourine on Love Me Do makes for a more exciting version.
Stellar job on that harp, Andrew! 😊
I can play any song in the world on it, as long it's Love Me Do or Billy Joel's Piano Man! 😉
@@AndrewDixonMusic I used to play I should Have known better on the harp.
Good research, I love these insights into the recording history of their songs. I keep hoping that a discovery will be made of the complete 4th September recordings that an engineer held on to 'just in case'. You never know!
By far the best version of Love Me Do is on the Live at the BBC CD. Far superior than both single versions in my opinion 😃
Hi Andrew, I found a recording of tip of my tongue on Secret Sons of Lennon and McCartney (youtube)
Tommy Quickly version.
On first hearing Love Me Do, I remarked to my brother, “Sounds like they’re copying the Everly Brothers! Can’t see them getting anywhere.”
60th anniversary of Ground Zero of Beatlemania starting.
Also, to clarify one thing about the Capitol Rarities album: the notes on the back cover state that the version used was a very clean Canadian 45 RPM single for Love Me Do, as the original master for the single was long wiped.
Well played on your harmonica.
You should do a 'Beatles @ 60' series, where you comment on every major release (or Beatle event) in 'real time'. This would be the first episode (and it was great).
I'm contemplating a possible monthly round up of major events, but also some specific events covered on their own like I've done here.
My twitter account was originally called BeatlesAt50, started just over 10 years ago, and it was "live tweeting" events as though the Beatles had Twitter back in the day.
@@AndrewDixonMusic Oh nice!
BTW... i made this years ago and i think it'll be right up your street.
ua-cam.com/video/sk4eA5oHReA/v-deo.html
So did we ever get a definitive answer why Ringo’s version was tossed in the bin? All the later versions with Ringo were sourced from a mint first pressing of a Canadian single
The Please Please Me and From Me To You singles were credited to (McCartney/Lennon)
Wow, hat off.
The Australian release of "The Beatles Hits" EP listed all 4 songs as "McCartney-Lennon".
I’m being one of the biggest Beatles fans ever love me do you have to be one of my favorite songs I love the harmonica part. it’s too bad that we probably don’t have the stereo versions of love me do PS I love you and she loves it would’ve been great to actually hear those versions in stereo.
Love me do is a great version I first heard that song with the Version that features Ringo Starr playing the tambourine and PS I love you watch Ringo place maracas on absolutely love the three versions that were released it is fantastic. I don’t know if please please meet us somewhere version but record it if it did I would love to hear it along with Carnival of light.
Never tire of these anniversaries - great video. Weren't the next two singles - PPM and FMTY credited to McCartney-Lennon? Also I never understood the fuss made with Yoko re the Back in the world writing credits - her saying that John wouldn't approve of any changes had he been alive - but the writing credits on Wings over America were McCartney-Lennon and that was 1976 but don't recall any fuss then!
Bloody Yoko!
There was a 12" which had both the Ringo and Andy versions.
I thought that Love Me Do/Ps Love You were the first Beatles songs of which Paul owns the rights as they were not part of the Northern Song catalogue.
Yes, that's correct. 'Love Me Do' and 'P.S. I Love You' were originally published by EMI's own publishing company Ardmore & Beechwood Ltd. Paul McCartney's company MPL Communications acquired the rights to those two songs in the early 1980s and the 20th anniversary reissue of 'Love Me Do' / 'P.S. I Love You' in 1982 and all subsequent issues of those two songs list MPL Communications as the publishers.
Ringo looks thrilled about having to play the tambourine.Not.
5:37 Could be next year!
As far as I know no recording exists, but wouldn't be the first time they've found something previously thought lost.
Andrew. Where did you get the info for 4th Sept about Tip of my tongue, as the first time I read about it in books about that song being rehearsed or possibly recorded but (doubt it) is the Please please me recording session on 26th November 62.
From Mark Lewisohn"s Tune In Volume 1.
@@AndrewDixonMusic. Cheers. I have read Tune in 3 times twice was the deluxe and niece the standard in the past. My memory must be going. I was looking at Lewisohns recording sessions and a book called Way Beyond Compare by J Winn. I will reread the deluxe again as it’s so good. Are you going to see Mark Lewisohn this week? I’m going Friday. P.S I just looked at Tune In. Why I never went to this book first instead of the other books and the Beatles Bible site amazes me. lol. Thanks for putting me in the right direction.
I don't know if How Do You Do It would have been the hit that it was had The Beatles version been the one released. You can tell that their hearts just went in it on their recording, whereas Gerry And The Pacemakers seemed to really throw themselves into it.
Good job in going through all of the details...I am (as a collector) not looking forward to getting my wallet emptied by "60th Anniversary" issues...I know Paul is salivating over making a killing on those!
Ringo claims to be on the Please Please Me LP version. He's obviously wrong but why?
I expect the passage of time and just that he has so many memories from that era it can't be easy to be on top of all the trivia and facts and figures.
Not quite the whole story. I have their first three singles on Parlophone (black label and bought at the time). On both sides of all three singles the song-writing credit is McCartney/Lennon.
I am confused Andrew 😕re Please Please Me??????????I saw an interview before he died, he suggested that he, Andy White played on Please Please me¿????????
Andy White did drum along to a rendition of Please Please Me in the studio but not the version that was released as the single or on the album.
Ringo was the best drummer in The Beatles.When Jimmie Nicol filled in for Ringo in 1964 when Ringo was ill with tonsillitis,his drumming style was completely different,which didn't fit.
I wonder if "Love Me Do" will re-enter the chart?
Only if it's released again, and the amount of fans knowing about it, Then buy it
This was completely unknown to me! I’m outraged that Ringo would be treated that way.
But, to be honest, for me The Beatles before Rubber Soul, was a band of 4 men touched by the divine universal spirit but were too young and inexperienced to exert the power and confidence of who they really were, and wound up being pushed around a bit.
I find it outrageous that these divinely touched men were told to “cover” other people’s songs as well.
The Beatles are infinite. Otherworldly. And although my father walked me through their history it wasn’t until Rubber Soul that I heard them for who they truly were. And Rubber Soul is the last Beatles album I’ll buy as a super deluxe boxset in 2023. I just don’t have that special feeling for the early mop top PR made band. Great video, I learned a lot. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
The original Ringo version Of Love me do is superior to the re-recorded version with Andy White!
I prefer the Andy White version. It sounds more musically cohesive.
The Pete Best version of _Love Me Do_ was unfinished business. Pete had a superior skip beat to liven up the boring song. Martin wanted it out. Martin's experience with rock music was limited. He had flopped all the attempts he had at rock/pop recordings - some were bad. Pete's skip beat was better. Martin changed the lead singer to Paul from John. Paul never knew the words being clearly struggling in the recording. This was all on the fly in the studio, with it to be honed in the next session. Pete's drumming was an attempt to do what they wanted, which they did not fully put across to Pete.
I prefer the opening track of "With The Beatles"-"I Saw Her Standing There" over "Love Me Do" to be honest
You mean Please Please Me and not With The Beatles.
@@BigSky1 yes sorry for my mistake.With The Beatles was their second album.Doing a Ringo there..
There is a short film based on had "How Do You Do It" been the Beatle's first single. In the film, the single bombs and John Lennon quits the band.
I remember that short film. It's called Snodgrass with Ian Hart playing John Lennon for the third time. Interesting little film.
ua-cam.com/video/Ek89aSrwMN0/v-deo.html
Yeah I think the film is called "Snodgrass" and depicts John as a very unlikeable, narky character with a big chip on his shoulder. He is living the life of a no-hoper bouncing from job to job behind on the rent. There's mention of The Beatles reduced to doing an 'Oldies circuit reunion'.
@@peterx1957 I watched it again once I'd been reminded of it. If it hadn't been for strength of character Pete Best could have gone down the route portrayed in the film, of resentment and bitterness. Fortunately, Pete wasn't and isn't that kinda fella.
As for The Beatles doing 60's oldies tours. Isn't that what Paul McCartney has done for the last 25 in all honesty? I know he releases new material, but don't we all just wanna hear a Beatle sing Beatle songs? He's is own tribute act.
I'm sure Mr Dixon will differ in opinion. Lol 😆
@@scally1969 hmm there's a difference between playing large 25,000+ seat venues and performing in small RSL/social club auditoriums as the 'Oldies circuit' tends to do. Besides a lot of those 'oldies' bands barely have one or two original members. You could say the same with Deep Purple...drummer Ian Paice is the only original member left!
Yeah Sir Paul has been playing his Beatles hits and it's great to hear them performed. I've seen him twice in concert and both times were amazing experiences.
@@peterx1957 I've seen McCartney a couple of times myself and throughly enjoyed the gigs. However, I wanted to hear Hey Jude, Get Back etc, so much more than I wanted to hear Jenny Wren, My Valentine or C'Moon etc.
I suppose when; like The Beatles, The Who, Fleetwood Mac, Iron Maiden or as you mentioned Deep Purple. You lead your field in the peak of your career and have such a prolific back catalogue. When you hit the road later in your career you can pull the big audiences in large venues still. I would argue though, that it's all based on nostalgia. Don't we all want to step in a time machine for a couple of hours?
Interesting debate Peter 🤔. Thanks so much
You’ve never mentioned Ron Richards, is it true he actually produced Love Me Do.
Certainly seems he was present for more of the Andy White session than George was
Ron Richards was initially in charge of the session on 6th June - George Martin was only brought in when balance engineer Norman Smith was struck by the quality of ‘Love Me Do’.
Then on the 4th Sept Prior to the recording session The Beatles undertook a three-hour rehearsal in Studio Three, overseen by EMI’s Ron Richards, during which they repeatedly ran through six songs. Two of these - ‘Love Me Do’ and ‘How Do You Do It’ - were chosen to be recorded by the group. The others were likely to have been ‘Tip Of My Tongue’, ‘Ask Me Why’, ‘PS I Love You’, and ‘Please Please Me’.
Then in 11th September The session, which lasted from 5pm to 6.45pm, was produced by Ron Richards, although George Martin arrived halfway through.
The Andy White version sounds better in my opinion but I think they should have probably given Ringo another chance.
I always thought it was Lennon-McCartney because it's alphabetical.
Ringo wasn't necessarily a better drummer than Pete Best but was a good Beatle?Pete didn't fit in with the other Beatles in the same way as Ringo did.
After rehearsing,for instance,he wouldn't hang out with the other Beatles but would go off and do his own thing.
When Ringo was still with Rory Storm and The Hurricanes he was friendly with the other Beatles and with members of other Liverpudlian groups.
The Beatles track which my local radio station happened to play today was "Love Me Do".Speak of the devil.
Hopefully it might plenty of plays this week for the anniversary.
Lennon/McCartney has a better ring to it than McCartney/Lennon for some reason.
I prefer the Andy White version myself. The first version sounds muffled and the bass is too boomy
Pete forever Ringo never
Yes. That was 60 years ago too.
Lennon/McCartney sounds better than McCartney/Lennon,it's no reflection on Paul.
The 1962 single version with Ringo McCartney was Shit.
Well done Alf. Thanks for your wonderful contribution.
@@scottandrewbrass1931 it's a fact,just listen to the mother. McCartney apparently had a terrible cold,and he's contribution is SHIT