Please Please Me (Album)

Please Please Me is The Beatles debut album. It features 14 songs, of which 8 were credited to Lennon/McCartney or McCartney/Lennon. Rolling Stone (magazine) calls this "their invention of the idea of the self-contained rock band, writing their own hits and playing their own instruments".


Please Please Me was a rush release by Parlaphone Studio to capitalise on the success of singles "Please Please Me" which was released earlier and was number one on most charts. The Beatles started recording on the 11th February 1963 at 10.00 am and completed their recording on the same day. The album was completed in 9 hours and 45 minutes. With Please Please Me, The Beatles managed to produce an authentic representation of the band's sound during their Cavern Club playing days. There were very few overdubs and edits done on the album. George Martin, the album's producer later said "It was a straightforward performance of their stage repertoire - a broadcast, more or less"

L-R:Martin (Sitting), McCartney, Harrison, Lennon and Starr

The last song on the album, "Twist and Shout" had to be recorded last as Lennon had a particularly bad cold and it was feared that the throat shredding vocal would ruin Lennon's voice for the day. The decision to do so was a blessing in disguise as "Twist and Shout", captured first take, is now generally captured as a classic. Lennon produced a memorable vocal performance with his throaty voice. Just proves that Lennon is a dynamic rocker.

L-R:McCartney, Harrison, Starr, Martin and Lennon

Please Please Me was a huge success as it hit the top of the UK album charts in May 1963 and remained there for thirty weeks only to be replaced by The Beatles next album, With The Beatles. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the album #39 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Please Please Me has remained on UK catalogue continuosly from the day it was released on 22 March 1963 till today, and chances are it will remain there for years to come. 


Below are the list of songs in The Beatles début album, Please Please Me:

L-R: Harrison, McCartney, Lennon and Starr

Side One
1. I Saw Her Standing There
2. Misery
3. Anna (Go to Him)
4. Chains
5. Boys
6. Ask Me Why
7. Please Please Me


Side Two
1. Love Me Do
2. P.S. I Love You
3. Baby It's You
4. Do You Want to Know a Secret
5. A Taste of Honey
6. There's a Place
7. Twist and Shout




The articles that follows will briefly elaborate the songs in this album.