The Beatles | How Did the British Press React to Their First Single "Love Me Do"?

[@mikewilson3581]

I actually prefer 'Please Please Me'. As a kid I would go to the local theatre to see a movie and while waiting for the film to start, the owners would play the same Beatles album on a turntable. At the time I wasn't a Beatles fan, but every time 'Please Please Me' blasted through the theatre I loved it. I can still see the darkened theater and hear that song, scratched vinyl and all, in my distant memory. I'd better stop. I'm rambling now.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

That's pretty cool!

[@bobtaylor170]

You're right. Love Me Do is boring.

[@deirdre108]

Please Please Me is my preference too. The chorus is amazing--one of John's best early numbers.

[@pcno2832]

I was always wondering who would try to censor it; seems that a lot of radio stations and reviewers just glossed over the provocative lyrics.

[@DesertScorpionKSA]

@@deirdre108 Actually, John wrote "Please, Please Me" not Paul.

[@chromebaby]

Fascinating that contemporary reviews recognised their freshness and originality. Mind bending how utterly transformed pop culture was just eight years later. And it started with the mournful and unprepossessing ‘Love Me Do’.

[@markallen2984]

1st! It's my 1st "first comment" ever and it is so appropriate that is about the Beatle's first single! *Long Live the Lads from Liverpool!*

[@karolk7711]

Their early era has so much authenticity and energy, its so amazing, love listening to their 1st LP

[@willieluncheonette5843]

"Their early era has so much authenticity and raw energy." Exactly how I feel about the early days of punk and hardcore

[@sopwithmod2598]

youthful optimism, a bold attitude, raw tunes…pure rnr at its finest

[@stevend.bennett427]

As Raymond Chandler said, "A critic never recognizes a movement when it's happening. They acknowledge it after it has become respectable."

[@64north20west]

John Lennon said it best. It was hard work. That never ending hard work made them consistently improve at the speed of light. This is magical to examine what was going on just before Beatlemania.

[@psychedelicprawncrumpets9479]

It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll.. Bon Scott AC-DC

[@jamesdrynan]

As they say, the longest journey starts with the first record. Nobody knew " Love me Do " would begin a trip by four young men that would change the world. Simply astounding!

[@SophieLovesSunsets]

It's endearing how unassuming The Beatles were, especially George, I think if someone had told them back then that 50+ years later they would go down in history as one of the greatest bands of all time they would never have believed it. I've always loved the Harmonica on "Love Me Do" it epitomizes that early 60s sound, along with songs like "Not Fade Away" by the Stones. Great video as always YP. Thank you 😊

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Glad you liked it, Sophie! They surely would have never believed it. I think most bands from that era thought they'd be lucky if they managed to have a couple of successful years. It's amazing that most of the popular artists from 1962 were pretty much forgotten by 1963/64. And many of the Merseybeat bands who were succesful in 1963 and 1964 pretty much disappeared from the charts in 1965. Only the bands who managed to evolve survived in the 60s.

[@SophieLovesSunsets]

@@YesterdaysPapers I 100% agree with everything you said YP, when so many bands faded into the background, The Beatles just kept it moving, true innovators of music. I think they deserve all the adulation they receive. Bands/singers/musicians will come and go but what The Beatles and The Stones did in the 60s will outlive all of it 💖

[@steveshattah]

@@SophieLovesSunsets a few months before they recorded Love me do, Lennon got a little harmonica lesson from Delbert McClinton of Bruce Channel's band. Their big hit at the time was called Hey Baby. Listen to the harmonica intro on that song and see if it sounds familiar.

[@stephenriggs8177]

"It's a good flip." I like that phrase.

[@skaf9587]

Also an absolute understatement!!

[@NewFalconerRecords]

And good on the Beatles for refusing to do a cover version for their follow-up (well... doing such a lackluster version of 'How Do You Do It?" that it would've been embarrassing to release it.) The fact that they wrote their own material was hugely important at this time, and would really open the doors for other great British groups.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

True. Releasing "How Do You Do It" as a follow-up would have been a terrible mistake. That song is so corny.

[@peterchecksfield9958]

@@YesterdaysPapers Agreed, though Gerry and The Pacemakers' version of 'How Do You Do It' made a far more impressive (and far more successful!) debut single than The Beatles' 'Love Me Do'. Somehow Gerry Marsden could make corny songs like 'How Do You Do It' and 'I Like It' sound fun and exciting.

[@Chris-rp9df]

I think if they'd have HAD to have released a cover as the follow up single Long Tall Sally would have been ok.

[@josephcostello695]

60 years later we are still talking about them. Just shows you why they are the greatest band of them all. Nuff said

[@zebunker]

Beach Boys. Have a seat.

[@josephcostello695]

@@zebunker no sorry great band but not in the same league or breath even the rolling stones can't even be in the same league. Beatles forever.

[@victorformosa2825]

@@josephcostello695 That's not everyone's opinion.

[@kabiam]

Of course there is still money to be made and The Beatles still have a publicity machine that keeps them in the news and relevant.

[@deanpd3402]

80 years later and we are still talking Hitler. Nuff said. (I'm being a cheeky beggar).

[@michaelrochester48]

The Tornadoes actually were the first British group to reach number one in the United States, a full year before I wanna hold your hand

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

for good reason.. some freaky stuff - very original.

[@goplad1]

@@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777 Thanks to whacky Joe Meek! He was ahead of his time as a music producer.

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

@@docsavage8640 yes the Beatles were quite a gimmick. Some people think they were good.

[@soulfoodie1]

Nice to hear mention of Joe Brown - he would remain life long friends with George (they would actually act as best man at each others second marriages ) and Joe sings 'I'll see you in my dreams ' in concert in tribute to George

[@Sp33gan]

What a wonderful look into what the group was like moments before the fame! Thank you! I especially loved the remark at the restaurant as to whether the group was really The Tornadoes. If only they knew where this band was going to be in mere weeks. ♥

[@willieluncheonette5843]

Thank you for this look back at the dawn of the Beatles. Listened again to the four songs on those first two singles. Quite an auspicious beginning! First thing that stood out was the incredibly beautiful harmony singing. Go to youtube and listen to the isolated vocal tracks on these songs. WOW! Don't miss Ask Me Why--what harmony! IMO PS I love You is as good as Love Me Do which is very good but a bit simplistic. Then we come to Please Please Me and it's a whole new ballgame. Those mounting " Come on" choruses are just superb and it's sublime when we reach the top. By far I prefer the mono versions, not the stereo. The mono has all the focus and power. And of course the playing by all the Fab 4 is beyond reproach.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

I like "Love Me Do" but it's my least favourite of those four songs. I agree, their harmonies were already great and they were probably at their best as a live band in 1962/63. The mono versions are definitely the best. Ringo's drums sound so great on the mono versions. I love that early 60s drum sound.

[@alansmith1989]

@@YesterdaysPapers Even on Stereo copies of the `Please, Please Me` album, "Love Me Do" and "P.S I Love You" are still in Mono!

[@GeraldM_inNC]

The Beatles' legacy is unmatched by any other band. I've heard lots of recordings from the last 20 years by Indie bands who, one can tell, have gorged themselves on the Beatles. In 2019 Charlotte North Carolina (hardly a hotbed of music) started an annual Beatles festival, that unfortunately didn't continue because of Covid. It was very well attended. The biggest attraction was Peter Asher, but there were all sorts of lectures, exhibits and singalongs.

[@SEGAClownboss]

"Please Please Me" being played at "Thank Your Lucky Stars" was to me the moment the new era begun. I calculate history based on that. For me the three major historic eras are Before the Beatles, During the Beatles, and After the Beatles

[@donniemoder1466]

Yeah...It's not the greatest debut. But, nevertheless, it was a start. It was their own composition and it was just them performing on the recording. A solid start.

[@Chris-rp9df]

Didnt Andy White play the drums on the 1st record?

[@KebabMusicLtd]

'Love Me Do' was performed at the EMI artist test on 06th June. (This version featured Pete Best on drums which can be heard on Beatles- Past Masters). At their first recording session on 04th Septmber, Ringo had replaced Pete but George Martin had recruited Andy White for the session. The Beatles recorded six songs including an early version of 'Please Please Me.' George Martin came very close to issuing 'How Do You Do It' as their first singalong, but in the end he chose 'Love Me Do.' The song was written by Paul as far back as 1958-59, which shows how far Paul's writing ability had reached by the time of the PPM album.

[@anthonysmyth1239]

@@KebabMusicLtd George Martin wanted them to release 'How do you do it', but the boys insisted on using their own compositions. That song was then given to 'Gerry and the Pacemakers'.

[@keithrh7599]

Thanks for a very thorough covereage of reaction to the early Beatles releases.

[@jfrorn]

This is such a wonderful channel, always look forward to the latest! Love the music you do for it as well...

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks!

[@barrymurphy1337]

That Tornados line at the end is priceless! 😀Excellent video, as always.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thank you! I love "Telstar" by The Tornados. Such a weird-sounding song but so great. Only Joe Meek could have written and produced something like that.

[@barrymurphy1337]

@@YesterdaysPapers Agreed, totally unique, works of art even. I wonder how the chaps at Cherry Red are getting on with their epic 'Tea Chest tapes' restoration project. I think Meek is the very definition of a genius.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

@@barrymurphy1337 Yes, he was great. Love the sound on all those records he produced.

[@chasjohn57]

P.S. I Love You was da bomb

[@76-UVB]

Superb once again, really enjoyed the obscure footage,thanks for the effort you take in putting these stories together.

[@deadlyoneable]

I love this channel. It’s like magic transporting myself to another time. And I wasn’t even alive for the Beatles.

[@moondogaudiojones1146]

Brilliant piece! For me it’s great to see the print about the early releases and how it all lead up to…well…Beatlemania! Great job! Always a blast!

[@chrisbacos]

And music changed forever. The 50s were fading and the 60s were taking shape.

[@ustheserfs]

remarkable to think most didn't feel rock and roll was going to last for any more than 5 years. even more jolting to think the Beatles collectively thought they had a two year shelf life at best. By the time Beatles for Sale came out they had surpassed those expectations in grand style.

[@wyliesmith4244]

Ye)P, just another fabulous video. You always seem to find great footage to accompany the dialogue. And in this case the shots are definitely pre 'Carnabetian army.' I particularly like that your videos are firmly in the actual past, not the past interpolated through years of evaluation. It is a pleasure to see the Beatles (and the reactions to them) as it was when they lived in this period. I still think of Ringo saying in an interview a couple of years later that he dreamed of owning a ladies hairdresser salon - or a string of them. Pop stars/groups were disposable, and given the shelf life of music today, that is hard for some people to wrap their heads around. There are enough writings loaded with hindsight, but your posts give me a sense of what people thoght at a given moment in the past. Did I say bravo?

[@mariam5991]

I really enjoyed listening to this. Thank you.

[@ewanmee8622]

We bought it on release. Hard to imagine it’s almost sixty years ago.

[@simonrussell4986]

I always thought it was pronounced "Shanelle", for Bruce Channel (could easily be wrong though). IIRC, Delbert McClinton played harmonica on his "Hey Baby", and there's folklore that says he met and taught John a few things in England before Love Me Do was recorded.

[@bobtaylor170]

It is produced "Shanelle."

[@grokeffer6226]

Love Me Do and Please Please Me are still two of my favorite Beatles songs.

[@francisheperi4180]

''Beatle Cool'' is how I'd categorise these songs. Still remember hearing them on radio and liking them - nostalgic. NZ fan.

[@floridaruttles3984]

Please Please Me has it all,......Love Me Do like a wet fart.

[@grokeffer6226]

@@floridaruttles3984 I was three the first time I heard Love Me Do. Wet Farts weren't all that bad at that point in my life. Although it might not be as good as some other Beatles songs, it was just another in a long line of Number 1 hits that Americans were bombarded with back then. It still has a lot of sentimental value to this day. Paul was a teen when he came up with the idea for the song.

[@alansmith1989]

"Please Please Me" also topped "Disc" chart (For Two weeks) and the BBC `Pick of the Pops` chart for Three weeks!

[@eargasm1072]

John & Paul's harmonies throughout and Lennon's melodic harmonica line is what makes "Love Me Do" stand out, enough for the world to take notice.

[@that_thing_I_do]

This is why I'd like to time travel and meet them after a set. I'd tell them to forget all the media BS and stay true to their music.

[@ChubbyChecker182]

Awesome video once again. Love this stuff.

[@mikegould4039]

Great vid..loved it..thanks ..

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

First reactions to the Beatles in my hometown newspaper, the Louisville, Kentucky, USA, Courier-Journal (be ready to laugh): Feb. 11, 1964, by Bill Ladd: "My own reaction ... is that they are a very ordinary rock 'n' roll outfit. Not as good as the Chad Mitchell Trio, better than some others." December 29, 1963, Q &A column: "The four young, guitar-plucking pop singers, self-styled The Beatles, play and sing their own compositions while looking wildly demented." Along with several condescending articles about local teens with Beatles "long hair," of course.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Hahaha! I always knew the Chad Mitchell Trio were better than the Beatles.

[@MarceloRomero360]

This is a great channel!

[@ericcrawford3453]

Coolll, it's a trip looking back at how people didn't know what to make of them has they first started rolling. Good stuff keep them coming very enjoyable this yesterdays papers. T.C.B.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks.

[@joycecrawford1084]

It is very cool Eric thanks for telling me about it.

[@spockboy]

Awesome! More Beatles. Thanks for posting. : )

[@MB-tg7cd]

Around the 7:00 mark two girls are in a record listening booth .. one looks like Freda Kelly … good ol’Freda!

[@robroper8878]

@7.07, ah the old days of the plywood listening booths!! When you could hear four songs all at once.

[@lthompson7625]

Might be wrong, but that looks like Freda Kelly standing to the right with the boy in one of the booths? She ended up working for The Beatles, particularly with their fan club in Liverpool..

[@alansmith1989]

Only `Record Mirror` and `Disc` of the major Music Papers actually reviewed "Love Me Do" on its release. NME only mentioned the group once they entered their chart (For just one week at 27) Melody Maker ignored it. Melody Maker even ignored "Please Please Me" on its release and only mentioned the group and record once they started climbing the MM chart.

[@GeraldM_inNC]

Thanks, fantastic video. Most Americans don't realize that "Please please me" was released in the U.S. in 1963 and tanked. Not until after"I wanna hold you hand" and "She loves you" was the American public ready for "Please please me." For my money it's easily the best song of the three.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

I agree.

[@L1V2P9]

In the autumn of 1963 I had just started high school in Toronto. After school I went to a friend's house to play records and he casually mentioned that his older brother had returned from England and a group called the Beatles was all the rage over there. He then said his brother taped a song by them and he pulled out a reel of tape, threaded onto his reel-to-reel machine and proceeded to play "Misery." Nonplussed, I shrugged my shoulders and told him that it wasn't that great, and I couldn't understand how they were so big over there. Three months later the Beatles stormed onto the North American charts. I asked my friend why he played such an uninspiring Beatles song. He replied. "My brother taped the flip side!"

[@martakrupinska674]

Thanks for this great video.

[@brucedillinger9448]

Gotta love those Tornados!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Love them!

[@chriscampanozzi6516]

Great information as always. Very interesting 👌.

[@lthompson7625]

Great stuff from you as usual. I think you have got that rare colour footage of The Beatles at The Casanova Club, Liverpool 1962 in your piece? For any Beatles fans who haven’t listened to it , The Star Club Christmas , 1962 that has been transcribed is worth a listen . It’s on KZbin .They sound tired and give the impression that they don’t really want to be there at all. Some dedicated fan has taken the trouble to transcribe what the band are actually saying to the audience in between songs. This is just before Brian Epstein took a strong hold on them and got them to cut out the swearing and banter .At one point John tells someone in the audience that he will come down and sort him out if he doesn’t shut up! Quite soon after this , they were destined to never be the same again..

[@anthonysmyth1239]

There's also a great audio recording of one of their concerts in Hamburg during that visit in December '62 on KZbin; really raw and exciting.

[@lthompson7625]

@@anthonysmyth1239 l think l’ve heard it. John does a great version of the Chuck Berry song ‘ lm Talking About You’ . That track could have easily fitted on their first two LPs . Paul then borrowed the bass line (note for note ) for one of the first great Lennon/ McCartney songs . I’m not saying which one, but when you listen to it , it’s obvious😀

[@heinrichvon]

Fascinating! I'm very glad Brian didn't talk them into changing the title of "Please Please Me." By the way, the worst-ever photo of George, bar none, is at 3:08.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Hahaha! It's definitely not the best photo of George Harrison.

[@lamper2]

2:33 The article says Brian isn't keen on the title Please, Please me so "we must change it"?

[@katbela3971]

😱😱😱¡¡¡The Beatles!!! 😱😱😱 What a great video! Every time The Beatles show up, I turn into a 60s groupie, hysterical and screamer. 😱😅😂 How I love the sincerity of these boys! - GEORGE HARRISON: ''Our sound? Sure, that's typical of a hundred groups from our area. We were lucky, we got away with it first.'' 3:08 Tom Petty once said that the merit of The Beatles was to have given us an identity, and their music is only an added value. Minute 7:23 was epic: ''my fiancée wants to know if you're really The Tornados''. 😅 Thanks Yesterday's Papers, you made my night. 🤗🌹

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Glad you enjoyed it, Kat.

[@MichaelTaylor-rz4wm]

Fascinating!!

[@Chris-rp9df]

At what point in time will the Beatles move from the pop section to the classical section in the music stores? When the musics 100 years old? Or when musical tastes have drifted far away from guitars? Motzart was pop music back in the day.

[@markgraham2312]

That was a really nice piece.

[@KebabMusicLtd]

This was possibly the only period in history where The Beatles were regarded as just another 'pop group.'

[@thewkovacs316]

honestly, i prefer ask me why over please please me the harmonies on ask me why are sublime

[@YesterdaysPapers]

"Ask Me Why" is a great song, indeed. I agree, the harmonies are brilliant.

[@tomitstube]

interesting, i thought the reactions would be worse but pretty much nailed it, new group, new sound, new look, and very personable musicians. the first two singles were pretty safe choices, once they got their foot in the door is when they unleashed the beast.

[@rossgregor4817]

Fantastic like all your stuff!

[@JustineLaLoba]

John put an end to the McCartney-Lennon credits in short order lol............

[@psychedelicprawncrumpets9479]

That's probably worth a lot of money having the credits with McCartney first

[@mullet53]

This is fascinating. The Big Bang in real time. Mentions of the Star Club. Please Please Me and Twist and Shout before they recorded them. Wow!

[@GeraldM_inNC]

You would assume that it makes sense to release your catchiest song first, but I've seen lots of examples on American charts where a really good song was wasted this way. Sometimes it takes several releases just to get some name recognition with the public and airplay from the radio stations, and a great song released too early in the process tanks. Off the top of my head I can think of "Go where you wanna go", "Solitary man" and "Nights in white satin" as fabulous songs that tanked when they were first released as debut singles (and all 3 artists later became superstars), but I'm sure I could come up with hundreds if I did some research.

[@roybennett4445]

My mum was born in 1941.. Blackburn..even now she goes,on and on and on, about the two occasions she saw them live...mum stop it now!

[@gregwheless5171]

Wow ! Thought my eyes were deceiving me . Please Please Me , McCartney Lennon on the 45 .

[@DesertScorpionKSA]

"Please, Please Me" is a much better song than "Love Me Do."

[@Sandwich13455]

Very interesting video! 📰🎶🎶👍

[@stanlibuda5786]

"Love me do" is a simple song and catchy and you get an "ear worm" from it. You don't forget this song once you have heard it. Well, at least I didn't. I forgot about "Please please me" until this very day.

[@robertsettle2590]

You're very simple!

[@stephendavis5530]

Love Me Do was not really that great as their debut single, but it had some interesting ideas that no-one had come up with at the time.The folk style acoustic guitar and the harmonica had been obviously used before but the way it was used, along with the harmonies and the backbeat, was fairly original and got them noticed. Incidentally, it was amazing that they used to record singles in a day back then. Recording their debut album Please Please me, was completed pretty much in one day. A fantastic achievement.

[@donl9571]

I wonder how it would have sounded if Ringo had been part of the band when they first wrote and recorded it. Afterwards he had to play the studio drummer's version. I bet he would have pepped it up a little.

[@itinerantpatriot1196]

I like Love Me Do but I don't love it. In one of her books, Cynthia Lennon mentioned that she told John the band had stronger numbers they could have gone with and John replied that George Martin liked the harmonica so they chose that song. I don't know if I saw Her Standing There was considered at that time but if it was I think that would have been a much better selection. It all worked out in the end though and it is interesting hearing how Love Me Do and Please Please Me were received by the press. They seemed to have been generally accepted right off the bat but I'm sure there were some write-ups that were not so favorable. That British guy who came back home after he realized the Brits were onto something was spot on in his assessment. The American sound had become pretty homogenized by the 1962-64 timeframe and the British Invasion pumped a badly needed jolt of adrenaline back into the U.S. rock and roll veins. Of course, in an ironic twist, the Brits were the ones who put the final dagger into rock and roll after reintroducing it to the American audience. Rock music was never the same after 1964 and The Beatles were the catalysts for that shift. Other bands may have been more flamboyant and edgy, but as one of the reviewer's of Please Please Me pointed out, no one could capture or replicate what The Beatles were doing. They had an energy nobody else had, an energy that can't be bought or taught. You either have it or you don't. For me anyway, popular music can be divided into era's surrounding the big four: Bing, Frank, Elvis, and The Beatles. It was a natural progression that climaxed with the lads from Liverpool. Nobody has been able to top them. There may be artists who sell more records, but no one will be able to recreate Beatlemania and 100 years from now, I highly doubt anyone will remember ABBA, hip-hop, or any of the studio generated pabulum being pumped out to an audience who really doesn't seem invested in any of it. But they will remember the big four, especially The Beatles. There will never be another like em and if you missed it and can't figure out why crusty old guys like me still play their music and sing their praises, well, I guess ya just had to be there.

[@FiveLiver]

The only groups in that 50 biggest artists of 1962 were The Shadows, The Crickets, The Tornados, and maybe The Everly Brothers. How that would change.

[@chips1889]

The PPM second record says "McCartney - Lennon".....never noticed before.

[@psychedelicprawncrumpets9479]

Be worth a few dollars that one. Very rare I'd say

[@marguskiis7711]

Please Please Me (McCartney -- Lennon)

[@RadicalCaveman]

The Fab Five -- the Tornados!

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

I enjoyed how self effacing they are in the early interviews. Especially George saying they were one of many of the same sounding groups which is very true. They were lucky sure. but that huge advantage of writing original songs.

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

@@docsavage8640 not according to them. R&B was very trendy at that time in terms of 'hipster' it was not a rare scene. True no one sounds like them ..but you missed my point.

[@gunnarkarlgunnarsson2775]

@@docsavage8640 There were 100's of Merseybeat bands playing in Liverpool

[@anthonysmyth1239]

They worked incredibly hard, had great talent and created their own luck.

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

cool Joe Meek tie in LOL

[@davidellis5141]

I always thought the harmonica was the best bit on the track.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Yes, it gives the song a lot of character.

[@RAFchurchlawford4469]

It'a shocking how many negative comments there are regarding the fabulous and charming Love Me Do. Do these people just follow the crowd?

[@grahammccready2647]

they did ok despite the bad press

[@emmgeevideo]

I think those boys have a future...

[@johnnada6855]

As always JOHN LENNON was the one making the Beatles to break through., Please Please me was the first Beatles number 1., Lennon was again with Twist and Shout, I want to Hold your hand, A Hard Days Night and Help., even when Mc Cartney came out with great songs like Yesterday, all my Loving or And i love her., Lennon was the one making the real hits., people forgets the importance of Lennon not only in being the leader of the Beatles but also in making their biggest hits on the mainstream of POP music, he leaded the songs that put them in the mind of everybody

[@hiataki7]

Thank you for that JOHN NADA, people have absolutely forgot about JOHN LENNON and how talented he was.

[@alm5693]

And it would be another full year after Please Please Me before the US found out about them .

[@bobwallace9814]

@ 0:37 is a virtual who's who list of the soon to become unemployed and irrelevant.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Yep, it's amazing that things changed so much in such a short period of time.

[@peterchecksfield9958]

Haha, yes! Though Cliff, The Shadows and Elvis would have huge hits beyond the 60s of course, and even Adam Faith, Del Shannon and The Everly Brothers did OK up until circa 1965 (incidentally, I'll be seeing 83 year old Marty Wilde and 82 year old Eden Kane in concert next month, so they didn't entirely fade away!).

[@YesterdaysPapers]

@@peterchecksfield9958 Wow, I didn't know they were still touring. That's pretty cool. I think Eden Kane toured with the Pretty Things on that disastrous australian tour from 1965. What an odd bill!

[@Kieop]

I counted 20 artists I had never heard of out of that top 50.

[@alansmith1989]

Some chart data. `Record Mirror` from March 1962 was running the `Record Retailer` Top 50, in which "Love Me Do" reached No 17, was actually compiled using only 30 record shop returns! Only Thirty! These were phoned in on each Monday by R.R Editor Roy Parker and his secretary Anne Smith. The figures were not pure sales but top 30 best selling titles from each shop which were then awarded 30pts (best seller) to 1pt (30th). The chart positions were compiled by R,R staffer Jeremy Wilder who used a form of `Countback` system to eliminate many tied positions. The chart was then audited by accountancy firm `Chantry, Button & Co`. If `Yesterdays Papers` would like similar data for "Disc" "NME" and "M. Maker" charts, I can oblige. I did years of research into how the Music & Trade music paper charts were compiled (About 20 years ago) With great help from surviving staff from each paper. Alan.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Great information, Alan. Thank you very much!

[@alansmith1989]

@@YesterdaysPapers Some more! With "Disc" by the 1962-63 period it was sampling between 50 to 80 shops; also by phone, with its main chart compiler, Fred Zebedee. `Disc` later ran the `Melody Maker` listings from 19 August 1967. Also in this period, New Musical Express had a team of between Four to Six phoning for best seller lists, and could contact up to 150 record stores. Its leading compilers were Fiona Foulger and Percy Dickins. Its chart was audited by Ted Hull. Melody Maker, had vastly expanded it chart sample in July 1960 from only about 25 to 40 stores to over 100. By early 1963 it was relying on postal returns and phoning for data to compile its top m50 charts. MM stated in a 9th February 1963 issue it was sampling some 245 stores (From a larger rotated `pool`) . Its charts were compiled by Roy Burchill, Alf Martin, Mike Benson and Jeff stars, with assistance from Editorial staff, Jack Hutton and Ray Coleman. Secretaries Linda Leighton and Sandra Coleman used hand operated calculating machines to tot up the figures. The chart was audited by Middlesex County Council. All papers used a larger pool of shops in able that they could `rotate` the sample and not always use exactly the same stores each week. By 1964, Record Retailer` did expand its sample to between 80 to 100 stores, which were from the list by `Selecta` the distribution arm of Decca Records! Hope this was of interest!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

@@alansmith1989 Definitely very interesting! Thank you so much, Alan. Brilliant info.

[@f.w.2054]

Pretty much agree with the critical reception given Love Me Do. I always thought it was rather bland and no.17 sounds about right. On the other hand Please Please Me must have sounded like it was exploding out of English radio speakers at the time due to its joyous energy! Their first album released here on Veejay records is good, but probably my least favorite. It probably seemed at the time that they had potential, but I don't know if anybody guessed what was coming! Maybe Martin and Epstein!

[@markfcoble]

They worked very hard, don't forget. Not a fluke.... discipline!

[@Gardosunron]

The charm about Love Me Do is it's actually kinda clunkey and plodding. The only great thing about it is the high harmony by Paul and Lennon's harmonica. Please Please Me is when the real deal starts to happen." Please" keep these early Beatles ones coming they're great. I especially loved the people in the sound booths listening and grooving.

[@hifijohn]

This is very tame, the American press tore them apart.

[@stickshiftdriver1832]

Catch it everyone. They had taken an audience with them. That is to build up the Beatlemania hype

[@paulbrookes413]

They would go on to be more popular than ...

[@YesterdaysPapers]

...The Tornados.

[@paulbrookes413]

@@YesterdaysPapers 👍

[@willieluncheonette5843]

lol...uh...yeah.

[@moorlock2003]

A US #1

[@areamusicale]

MAKE A VIDEO ABOUT "PAUL IS DEAD"

[@Kieop]

My first reaction to this post was "Shut up", but then I thought, well actually it would be very interesting to hear the original contemporary reporting on this rumour that led to Paul being tracked down at his farm.

[@renatatarnawski5974]

Back then Artists had a chance to go Make a few albums B4 they were Released from their contracts. NOW Bands has 1 maybe 2 chances 2 do well Otherwise They R dropped Back then Artists made 1 cent a record Take away Video's, Travel etc That's how most artists Starve They R Ripped off and Studio Time is Super Expensive! E.G THE ZOMBIES

[@spacemanrob96]

Can you do one about how the press reacted to The Beach Boys early singles?

[@HTJB60]

Well, looking back, one can see WHY the Beatles and every other group of that period TOOK OFF. I remember well, how awful and 'old fashioned' the music was before they came along. Even, Cliff, The Shadow's, Tornadoes and dare I say it ??? Elvis etc. were 'dated'. All of a sudden, MOD'S came on the scene and the music changed forever.... I'm no Beatle's fan BUT I do remember how refreshing the Mersey Sound was. Then the Stone's & the London sound came and I've been with that ever since. (The harsher, Rock music. Pop got the ball rolling, so I thank the Beatle's for that.) A most enjoyable 'read' of Yesterday's Paper's.... I was too young then to have read them, NOT that I think I would have found them interesting....

[@jeannesandner1918]

la prochaine fois qu'un tel phénomène arrivera sur terre , ce seront des aliens qui viendront se produire sur notre planète!

[@Neil-Aspinall]

It is so strange that, Love Me Do which is basically a dirge of a song, belied their soon to be genius. I never liked it.

[@bobtaylor170]

"Dirge" is the perfect word.

[@maurice8607]

Not the greatest debut, it must be said but reaching number 17 is a good effort. Please please me is much better.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

I agree, "Please Please Me" is definitely a better song than "Love Me Do".

[@chasjohn57]

P.S. I Love You was da bomb

[@cojaysea]

Are you guys the tornadoes ! 😝

[@wraithby]

I wasn't a big fan of Please Please Me, From Me to You and Love Me Do.