Record #0812: Please Please Me / From Me To You – THE BEATLES

 

Vee-Jay VJ 581 (original / re-release) USA, 30. January 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – John Lennon, Paul McCartney; Side B - Paul McCartney, John Lennon
Musicians: John Lennon (lead vocals, harmonica and rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (harmony vocals and bass), George Harrison (lead guitar; backing vocals on side A), Ringo Starr (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by George Martin at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London, UK; Side A – 26. November 1962; Side B – 5. March 1963
Highest chart positions:  Side A – US #3, Canada #5, UK #1, Ireland #10, Australia #36, New Zealand #2, Sweden #7, Finland #32; Side B – US #41, Canada #6, Australia #9, New Zealand #1, UK #1, Ireland #1, Norway #9, Sweden #5

The Beatlemania was just about to start, when Vee-Jay decided to release this single. It was the first US label to release the Beatles records in the States. “Please Please Me” with “Ask Me Why” (VJ 498, 7. February 1963) was the first one, and “From Me To You” with “Thank You Girl” (VJ 522, 6. May 1963) followed. So, the label took both A-sides and put them here. That was a good move as the record did much better than the other two (VJ 498 didn’t chart and VJ 522 got US #116). The timing of the release was perfect as the band performed live on the Ed Sullivan Show just 10 days later. This single sold 1,1 million copies in the States in 1964.

Though credited for both John and Paul (as usual), “Please Please Me” was written by John alone. “From Me To You” was co-written by the two. Weirdly, the label put McCartney’s name first in the credits.

Before the Beatlemania, Del Shannon did a cover version of “From Me To You” US #77, Canada #13) in 1963.

Should you own a picture sleeve for this one, you may be quite lucky as some of those are really valuable.

List price:  There are 10 different label variants of this record. The one I have is the black rainbow label with brackets logo. VG+ is $30, NM $60. The rarest variant is the purple label, which is $125 for a VG+ and $250 for a Near Mint. Picture sleeve is VG+ $250, NM $500. Promotional copies are listed up to $2500 for a Near Mint.