Ask Me Why

Pete Best

A Beatles original, Ask Me Why was originally released in the UK as the B-Side of Please Please Me single. The Beatles has themselves admitted that the song is a formula song and is notable for one aspect: it's the first appearance on record of a song truly written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney at the same time. The first time it was recorded was on the 6 June 1962, which featured Pete Best as the group's drummer. Unfortunately that recording has been lost to history as EMI has destroyed it. This song is also one of the few Beatles original that can be found on the infamous LP: The Beatles live at the Star Club in Hamburg.

Lennon and McCartney

Though written together, McCartney has this to say about the song:

"It was John's original idea and we both sat down and wrote it together, just did a job on it. It was mostly John's"

Lennon

Ask Me Why was greatly influenced by the style of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, an American rhythm and blues group and the first successful group for Motown. The song also draws its opening guitar phrase from the Miracles "What's So Good About Goodbye".

Ask Me Why is usually confused for There's A Place, another Beatles composition. Most die-hard Beatles fan says that this song is underrated and overlooked by new fans. Whatever their opinion is, I believe that Ask Me Why is a great composition and shows The Beatles creativity in song writing early in their career.

Hope you enjoy the song as much as I have.