The Beatles

Please Please Me

Side 1

1-I Saw Her Standing There (McCartney-Lennon) 2:52

11th February 1963 in 12 takes
Final mix - takes 9 and 12.

2-Misery(McCartney-Lennon)1:47

11th February 1963 in 11 takes

Overdubs 20th February 1963 creating takes 12-16
Final mix - take 16.

3-Anna (Go To Him) (Alexander)2:54

11th February 1963 in 3 takes
Final mix - take 3.

4-Chains (Goffin-King)2:23

11th February 1963 in 4 takes
Final mix - take 1.

5-Boys (Dixon-Farrell)2:24

11th February 1963 in just 1 take
Final mix - take 1.

6-Ask Me Why(McCartney-Lennon)2:24

26th November 1962 in 6 takes
Final mix - take 6.

7-Please Please Me (McCartney-Lennon)2:00

26th November 1962 in 18 takes
(A slower version was recorded 11th September 1962, but erased)
Final mix - mono was one single take, whereas stereo was takes 16/17/18 edited.

Side 2

8-Love Me Do(McCartney-Lennon)2:19

11th September 1962 in 18 takes, with Andy White on drums
(The version with Ringo was 1 week earlier on the 4th)
Final mix - take 18.

9-P.S. I Love You(McCartney-Lennon)2:02

11th September 1962 in 10 takes, with Andy White on drums, and Ringo on Maracas
Final mix - take 10.

10-Baby It's You (David-Williams-Bacharach )2:35

11th February 1963 in 3 takes
Overdubs 20th February 1963 creating takes 4-6
Final mix - take 5.

11-Do You Want To Know A Secret (McCartney-Lennon)1:56

11th February 1963 in 8 takes
Final mix - take 8.

12-A Taste Of Honey(Scott-Marlow)2:01

11th February 1963 in 7 takes
Final mix - take 7.

13-There's A Place(McCartney-Lennon)1:49

11th February 1963 in 13 takes
Final mix - take 13.

14-Twist And Shout(Medley-Russell)2:33

11th February 1963 in 2 takes
(A second take was attempted, but it is Take 1, raw and complete, on record)
Final mix - take 1.

The Beatles FIRST official L.P. release
For the ONLY time, the mono version was issued 6 weeks BEFORE the stereo version.
This album contained the "A" and "B" sides of their first two singles, plus 10 new songs ALL recorded in one incredible session at Abbey Road. The session cost just £400 and lasted 16 hours.
 

Just imagine being there.

The album took exactly 6 months to pass the sales figure of 250,000, and went on to sell over half-a-million in the U.K. with world sales of almost two million.
It still holds the record for the longest continuous stay at number 1

The cover photo was taken at EMI's Manchester Sq. headquarters by Angus McBean, and the sleeve notes are by Tony Barrow.
Whilst trying to think of catchy names for their first album release, George Martin offered the title, "Off The Beatle Track", but this was bypassed. Mr. Martin clearly liked the name, and used it himself in 1964.

In America this album was released under the title, "Introducing The Beatles" on 22nd July 1963, but had two tracks missing. "Please Please Me" and "Ask Me Why" were omitted ... BUT ... when the album was re-released on 27th January 1964 those tracks were included ... BUT ... "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You" were left off !

The album was also part of "The Beatles Collection" 13 album box set (see Beatles Collection).

On 26th February 1987 this album had it's first release on C.D. which was published in Mono(!) with a catalogue number of CDP 7 46435 2
And on the same day, the record shop H.M.V. produced a special 12" numbered 4 CD Box Set Comprising:
Please Please Me
With The Beatles
A Hard Days Night
Beatles For Sale

This set had a catalogue number of BEA CD 25, and was in a limited edition of just 2,500 copies.

The C.D. was also part of "The Beatles Box" 15 C.D. box set (see Beatles C.D. Box).
 

The album was released on cassette tape (mono only) in November 1987 - Catalogue number - TCPMC 1202.

The album was also available on 4" reel-to-reel tape,
1963 - Catalogue number TA-PMC 1202 (mono only) - first edition in a cardboard box.
1968 - Catalogue number TA-PMC 1202 (mono)
                                        TD-PCS 3042 (stereo) this edition in a "jewel" box.