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.

Record #0811: Can’t Buy Me Love / You Can’t Do That – THE BEATLES

 

Odeon O 22 697 (original, 1^st pressing) Germany, March 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – John Lennon, Paul McCartney; Side B - John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Musicians: John Lennon (lead vocals on side B, lead guitar on side B, rhythm guitar), Paul McCartney (double lead vocals on side A, backing vocals on side B , bass, cowbell on side B), George Harrison (lead guitar on side A, 12-string guitar, backing vocals on side B), Ringo Starr (drums, bongos on side B)
Recording sessions: Produced by George Martin at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London, UK; Side A – 29. January (at Pathe Marconi Studios, Paris, France) and 25. February 1964; Side B - 25. February 1964
Highest chart positions:  Side A – Germany #24, US #1, Canada #1, UK #1, Ireland #2, Australia #1, New Zealand #1, Netherlands #1, Denmark #1, Sweden #1, Norway #3, Finland #3; Side B – US #122, Canada #10

I’ve already posted the US release of this single here.

The first pressings have both “BIEM” and “GEMA” on the label whereas the 2^nd pressing have only “GEMA”.

List price:  I don’t have a price catalogue for German releases. 45cat.com lists this at 8 EUR. An excellent copy with sleeve was sold for 23 EUR in eBay in 2016.

Record #0810: A Hard Day’s Night / I Should Have Known Better – THE BEATLES

Capitol 5222 (original, 1^st pressing) USA, 13. July 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – John Lennon, Paul McCartney; Side B - John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Musicians: John Lennon (double-tracked vocals and rhythm guitar on both sides; harmonica on side B), Paul McCartney (double-tracked vocals on side A; bass on both sides ), George Harrison (lead 12-string guitar) Ringo Starr (drums; bongos & cowbell on side A), George Martin (piano on side A)
Recording sessions: Produced by George Martin at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London, UK; Side A – 16. April 1964; Side B – 25.-26. February 1964
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #1, Canada #1, UK #1, Netherlands #1, Norway #1, Australia #1, New Zealand #1, Finland #2; Side B – US #53, Australia #1, Chile #1, Germany #6, Netherlands #1, Norway #1, Finland #1

Both songs featured in the Beatles’ first movie, “A Hard Day’s Night” in 1964. The title song is famous for its opening chord, which has been analyzed and debated quite a bit. Harrison’s guitar chord played with a 12-string Rickenbacker is an Fadd9.

The UK release (and most European releases) had “Things We Said Today” as the B-side (Parlophone R 5160).

The title song (Parlophone 45-DPY 668) hit #2 in Finland in October 1964, and the B-side (Parlophone 45-DPY 672) topped the chart in November.

The first pressing published by Unart Music and Maclen Music. Later pressings were by Maclen only.

List price:  First pressing Very Good+ is $15, Near Mint is $30 (same prices for subsequent pressings); Picture sleeve VG+ $50, NM $100.

 

Record #0809: And I Love Her / If I Fell – THE BEATLES

Capitol 5235 (original, 1^st pressing) USA, 20. July 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – John Lennon, Paul McCartney; Side B - John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Musicians: John Lennon (rhythm guitar, double lead vocals on side B), Paul McCartney (lead vocals on side A, double lead vocals on side B , bass), George Harrison (classical lead guitar on side A, 12-string guitar on side B), Ringo Starr (bongos and claves on side A, drums on side B)
Recording sessions: Produced by George Martin at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London, UK; Side A – 25.-27. February 1964; Side B - 27. February 1964
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #12, Canada #15; Side B – US #53, Canada #15, Australia #1, Germany #25, Norway #1, Finland #32

This release has two very fine ballads for the US market. As such it is unique as the Beatles' singles tended to have an up- or mid-tempo song on at least one side.
“And I Love Her” is a delicate, acoustic ballad driven by George’s classical nylon-string guitar riffs and Ringo’s subtle bongos. “If I Fell” is a tender, quite complex, and emotionally vulnerable acoustic ballad with great harmonies by John and Paul.

Side A was never released as a single in the UK. Side B was released there for export only (hence it didn’t chart there) and it had “Tell Me Why” as the flipside (Parlophone DP 562).

In Finland “If I Fell” was released as an A-side with “I’m Happy Just To Dance With You” on the flip (Parlophone 45-DPY 671). “And I Love Her” was the flipside of “I Should Have Known Better” (Parlophone 45-DPY 672).

The first pressing published by Unart Music and Maclen Music. Later pressings were by Maclen only.

List price:  First pressing Very Good+ is $15, Near Mint is $30 (same prices for subsequent pressings); Picture sleeve VG+ $60, NM $120.