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"Love Me Do"
Love Me Do.jpg
US picture sleeve
Single by the Beatles
from the album Please Please Me
B-side"P.S. I Love You"
Released
  • 5 October 1962 (1962-10-05) (UK)
  • 27 April 1964 (US)
Recorded
  • 4 September 1962 (1962-09-04) (UK single version)
  • 11 September 1962 (1962-09-11) (album/US single version)
StudioEMI, London
Genre
Length2:22
Label
SongwriterLennon–McCartney
ProducerGeorge Martin
The Beatles UK singles chronology
"My Bonnie"
(1962) 		"Love Me Do"
(1962) 		"Please Please Me"
(1963)
The Beatles US singles chronology
"Do You Want to Know a Secret"
(1964) 		"Love Me Do"
(1964) 		"Sie liebt dich"
(1964)

"Love Me Do" is the debut single by the English rock band the Beatles, backed by "P.S. I Love You". When the single was originally released in the United Kingdom on 5 October 1962, it peaked at number 17. It was released in the United States in 1964 and topped the nation's song chart. Re-released in 1982 as part of EMI's Beatles 20th anniversary, it re-entered the UK charts and peaked at number 4.[5] "Love Me Do" also topped the charts in Australia and New Zealand.

The song was written several years before being recorded, and prior to the existence of the Beatles. It features John Lennon's prominent harmonica playing and duet vocals by him and Paul McCartney. Three recorded versions of the song by the Beatles have been released, each with a different drummer. The first attempted recording from June 1962 featured Pete Best on drums, but was not officially released until the Anthology 1 compilation in 1995. A second version was recorded three months later with Best's replacement Ringo Starr, and this was used for the original Parlophone single first pressing. A third version, featuring session drummer Andy White in place of Starr, was used for the second pressing and also included on the band's Please Please Me album and on the 1964 Tollie single in the US. It was also included on the American LPs Introducing... The Beatles and The Early Beatles.

Composition

[edit]

"Love Me Do" was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, with McCartney writing the verse and chorus and Lennon contributing the middle eight (or "bridge").[6][7][8] Lennon said: "'Love Me Do' is Paul's song – ... I do know he had the song around, in Hamburg, even, way, way before we were songwriters."

McCartney said:

"Love Me Do" was completely co-written ... It was just Lennon and McCartney sitting down without either of us having a particularly original idea. We loved doing it, it was a very interesting thing to try and learn to do, to become songwriters. I think why we eventually got so strong was we wrote so much through our formative period. "Love Me Do" was our first hit, which ironically is one of the two songs that we control, because when we first signed to EMI they had a music publishing company called Ardmore and Beechwood which took the two songs, "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You", and in doing a deal somewhere along the way we were able to get them back.[7]

Their practice at the time was to scribble songs in a school notebook, dreaming of stardom, always writing "Another Lennon–McCartney Original" at the top of the page.[9] "Love Me Do" is a song based around three simple chords: G7 and C, before moving to D for its middle eight. It begins with Lennon playing a bluesy dry "dockside harmonica" riff,[10] then features Lennon and McCartney on joint lead vocals, including Everly Brothers-style harmonising during the beseeching "please" before McCartney sings the unaccompanied vocal line on the song's title phrase.

Lennon had previously sung the title sections, but this change in arrangement was made in the studio under the direction of producer George Martin when he realised that the harmonica part encroached on the vocal. Lennon needed to begin playing the harmonica again on the same beat as the "do" of "love me do".[11] However, when a similar situation later occurred on the "Please Please Me" single session the harmonica was superimposed afterwards using tape-to-tape overdubbing.[12]

Described by Ian MacDonald as "standing out like a bare brick wall in a suburban sitting-room, 'Love Me Do', [with its] blunt working class northerness, rang the first faint chime of a revolutionary bell" compared to the standard Tin Pan Alley productions occupying the charts at the time.[13]

Recordings and releases

[edit]

"Love Me Do" was recorded by the Beatles on three occasions with three drummers at EMI Studios at 3 Abbey Road in London:

  • The Beatles' first recording session, on 6 June 1962, with Pete Best on drums.[14] This version (previously thought to be lost) is available on Anthology 1.
  • Second recording session, 4 September 1962. In August, Best had been replaced with Ringo Starr, after producer George Martin did not approve of Best's drumming for studio work. The Beatles with Starr recorded a version[15] in 15 takes.[citation needed] This version with Starr is available on Past Masters, as well as on the 2023 expanded edition of the compilation album 1962–1966 and the flip side of the "Now and Then" single.
  • Third recording session, 11 September 1962. A week later, The Beatles recorded "Love Me Do" with session drummer Andy White on drums. Starr was relegated to playing tambourine. As tambourine is not present on the 4 September recording, this is the easiest way to distinguish between the Starr and White recordings. The Andy White version is available on Please Please Me.[16]

First issues of the single, released on Parlophone in the UK on 5 October 1962, featured the Ringo Starr version, prompting Mark Lewisohn to later write: "Clearly, the 11 September version was not regarded as having been a significant improvement after all".[17]

The Andy White version of the track was included on The Beatles' debut UK album, Please Please Me, The Beatles' Hits EP, and subsequent album releases on which "Love Me Do" was included (except as noted below), as well as on the first US single release in April 1964. For the 1976 single re-issue and the 1982 "20th Anniversary" re-issue, as well as various compilation albums including the original release of 1962–1966 and 1, the Andy White version was again used. The Ringo Starr version was included on the albums Rarities (US version), Past Masters and Mono Masters. It was also included on Record 1 of The Beatles Box. The CD single issued on 2 October 1992 contains both versions.[18] The Pete Best version remained unreleased until 1995, when it was included on the Anthology 1 album.

Capitol Records Canada pressed 170 singles which were released on 4 February 1963 with catalogue number 72076.[19] This pressing was dubbed from the original UK single and featured Starr on drums.[20]

"Love Me Do", featuring Starr drumming, was also recorded eight times at the BBC and played on the BBC Radio programmes Here We Go, Talent Spot, Saturday Club, Side by Side, Pop Go the Beatles and Easy Beat between October 1962 and October 1963. The version of "Love Me Do" recorded on 10 July 1963 at the BBC and broadcast on the 23 July 1963 Pop Go the Beatles programme can be heard on the group's Live at the BBC compilation. The Beatles also performed the song live on the 20 February 1963 Parade of the Pops BBC Radio broadcast.[citation needed]

In 1969, during the Get Back sessions, The Beatles played the song in a slower, more bluesy form than they had in earlier recordings. This version of "Love Me Do" is one of many recordings made during these sessions and subsequently appeared on some bootlegs. The song featured no harmonica by Lennon, and McCartney sang the majority of the song in the same vocal style he used for "Lady Madonna".[citation needed]

In 1989, McCartney blended the two songs from the Beatles' first single into a medley called "P.S. Love Me Do" for some dates of his 1989/90 World Tour. A little-known studio version of the medley first became available on a Special Package (1990 Japanese tour edition) of his solo album Flowers in the Dirt. The song became more widely known when a live version was released as a bonus track on the 12-inch single and CD single of "Birthday" from the double live album Tripping the Live Fantastic. Music videos for both "Birthday" and "P.S. Love Me Do" were released.

The original 1962 single version of the song, with Ringo Starr on drums, received a new stereo mix by Giles Martin with the help of de-mixing technology developed by Peter Jackson's WingNut Films and was released on 2 November 2023 as the flip side on the double A-side single of "Now and Then", finally making number one in the UK. It was also included in the expanded edition of the 1962–1966 compilation released on 10 November 2023.[21]

Background

[edit]

First recording session and use of harmonica

[edit]

The Beatles' first recording session under contract to EMI was on 6 June 1962.[14] They first attempted "Love Me Do", as well as three other songs, at this session.[14] George Martin, originally absent from the session, arrived during the recording of "Love Me Do" and altered the arrangement so that McCartney sang the words "love me do" instead of Lennon, enabling Lennon to play the harmonica starting on the word "do". McCartney recalled:

George Martin said, "Wait a minute, there's a crossover there. Someone else has got to sing 'love me do' because you're going to have a song called Love Me Waahhh. So, Paul, will you sing 'love me do'?" God, I got the screaming heebie-jeebies. ... I can still hear the shake in my voice when I listen to it.[22]

This version of "Love Me Do" also featured a change in drum rhythm during the middle-eight, moving to a skip beat that Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn deemed "disastrous". Both Martin and Ron Richards agreed that Pete Best's drumming was unsuitable for future recording.[23]

On 4 September 1962, Brian Epstein paid for the Beatles—along with their new drummer, Ringo Starr—to fly down from Liverpool to London for their next session.[24] After first checking into their Chelsea hotel, they arrived at EMI Studios early in the afternoon where they set up their equipment in Studio 3 and began rehearsing six songs including: "Please Please Me", "Love Me Do" and a song originally composed for Adam Faith by Mitch Murray called "How Do You Do It?" which George Martin "was insisting, in the apparent absence of any stronger original material, would be the group's first single".[25][26] Lennon and McCartney had yet to impress Martin with their songwriting ability, and the Beatles had been signed as recording artists on the basis of their charismatic appeal: "It wasn't a question of what they could do [as] they hadn't written anything great at that time."[27] "But what impressed me most was their personalities. Sparks flew off them when you talked to them."[28] During the course of an evening session that then followed (7:00 pm to 10:00 pm in Studio 2) they recorded "How Do You Do It" and "Love Me Do". An attempt at "Please Please Me" was made, but at this stage it was quite different from its eventual treatment and it was dropped by Martin. This was a disappointment for the group as they had hoped it would be the B-side to "Love Me Do".[29]

The Beatles were keen to record their own material, something which was almost unheard of at that time, and it is generally accepted that it is to Martin's credit that they were allowed to float their own ideas. But Martin insisted that unless they could write something as commercial as "How Do You Do It?" then the Tin Pan Alley practice of having the group record songs by professional songwriters (which was standard procedure then, and is still common today) would be followed.[25] MacDonald points out, however: "It's almost certainly true that there was no other producer on either side of the Atlantic then capable of handling the Beatles without damaging them—let alone of cultivating and catering to them with the gracious, open-minded adeptness for which George Martin is universally respected in the British pop industry." Martin rejects however the view that he was the "genius" behind the group: "I was purely an interpreter. The genius was theirs: no doubt about that."[30]

It was on the 4 September session that, according to McCartney, Martin suggested using a harmonica.[7] However, Lennon's harmonica part was present on the Anthology 1 version of the song recorded during the 6 June audition with Pete Best on drums.[31] Also, Martin's own recollection of this is different, saying: "I picked up on 'Love Me Do' because of the harmonica sound", adding: "I loved wailing harmonica—it reminded me of the records I used to issue of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. I felt it had a definite appeal."[32]

Lennon had learned to play a chromatic harmonica that his uncle George (late husband of his Aunt Mimi) had given to him as a child. But the instrument being used at this time was one stolen by Lennon from a music shop in Arnhem, the Netherlands, in 1960, as the Beatles first journeyed to Hamburg by road.[33][32][34] Lennon would have had this with him at the EMI audition on 6 June as Bruce Channel's "Hey! Baby", with its harmonica intro, and a hit in the UK in March 1962, was one of the thirty-three songs the Beatles had prepared (although only four were recorded: "Bésame Mucho"; "Love Me Do"; "P.S. I Love You" and "Ask Me Why", of which only "Bésame Mucho" and "Love Me Do" survive and appear on Anthology 1). Brian Epstein had also booked the American Bruce Channel to top a NEMS Enterprises promotion at New Brighton's Tower Ballroom, in Wallasey on 21 June 1962, just a few weeks after "Hey! Baby" had charted, and placed the Beatles a prestigious second on the bill. Lennon was so impressed that night with Channel's harmonica player, Delbert McClinton,[35] that he later approached him for advice on how to play the instrument.[36] Lennon makes reference also to Frank Ifield's "I Remember You" and its harmonica intro, a huge number one hit in the UK July 1962, saying: "The gimmick was the harmonica. There was a terrible thing called "I Remember You", and we did those numbers; and we started using it on "Love Me Do" just for arrangements".[37] The harmonica was to become a feature of the Beatles' early hits such as "Love Me Do", "Please Please Me" and "From Me to You" as well as various album tracks. Paul McCartney recalled, "John expected to be in jail one day and he'd be the guy who played the harmonica."[9]

Martin came very close to issuing "How Do You Do It?" as the Beatles' first single (it would also re-appear as a contender for their second single)[38] before settling instead on "Love Me Do", as a mastered version of it was made ready for release and which still exists in EMI's archives.[25] Martin commented later: "I looked very hard at 'How Do You Do It?', but in the end I went with 'Love Me Do', it was quite a good record."[25] McCartney would remark: "We knew that the peer pressure back in Liverpool would not allow us to do 'How Do You Do It'."[39] Martin nearly issued the record, but was stymied by pressure from EMI's publishing arm, Ardmore & Beechwood, who requested that a Lennon–McCartney song be the Beatles' first A-side single. Additionally, "How Do You Do It" songwriter Mitch Murray disliked the Beatles' version of the song.[40]

Remake and Andy White

[edit]

Martin then decided that as "Love Me Do" was going to be the group's debut release it needed to be re-recorded with a different drummer as he was unhappy with the 4 September drum sound[41] (Abbey Road's Ken Townsend also recalls McCartney being dissatisfied with Starr's timing, due probably to his being under-rehearsed; Starr had joined the group only two weeks before the 4 September session).[42] Record producers at that time were used to hearing the bass drum "lock in" with the bass guitar as opposed to the much looser R&B feel that was just beginning to emerge, and so professional show band drummers were often used for recordings.

Ron Richards, placed in charge of the 11 September re-recording session in George Martin's absence, booked Andy White whom he had used in the past. Starr was expecting to play, and was very disappointed to be dropped for only his second Beatles recording session: Richards remembers "He just sat there quietly in the control box next to me. Then I asked him to play maracas on 'P.S. I Love You'. Ringo is lovely—always easy going".[41] Starr recalled:

On my first visit in September we just ran through some tracks for George Martin. We even did "Please Please Me". I remember that, because while we were recording it I was playing the bass drum with a maraca in one hand and a tambourine in the other. I think it's because of that that George Martin used Andy White, the "professional", when we went down a week later to record "Love Me Do". The guy was previously booked, anyway, because of Pete Best. George didn't want to take any more chances and I was caught in the middle. I was devastated that George Martin had his doubts about me. I came down ready to roll and heard, "We've got a professional drummer." He has apologised several times since, has old George, but it was devastating—I hated the bugger for years; I still don't let him off the hook![43]

Paul McCartney: "George got his way and Ringo didn't drum on the first single. He only played tambourine. I don't think Ringo ever got over that. He had to go back up to Liverpool and everyone asked, 'How did it go in the Smoke?' We'd say, 'B-side's good,' but Ringo couldn't admit to liking the A-side, not being on it" (from Anthology). "Love Me Do" was recorded with White playing drums and Starr on tambourine, but whether using a session drummer solved the problem is unclear, as session engineer Norman Smith was to comment: "It was a real headache trying to get a [good] drum sound, and when you listen to the record now you can hardly hear the drums at all."[44] Ringo Starr's version was mixed "bottom-light" to hide Starr's bass drum.[45]

Early pressings of the single (issued with a red Parlophone label) are the 4 September version—minus tambourine—with Starr playing drums. But later pressings of the single (on a black Parlophone label), and the version used for the Please Please Me album, are the 11 September re-record with Andy White on drums and Starr on tambourine. This difference has become fundamental in telling the two recordings of "Love Me Do" apart. Regarding the editing sessions that then followed all these various takes, Ron Richards remembers the whole thing being a bit fraught, saying: "Quite honestly, by the time it came out I was pretty sick of it. I didn't think it would do anything."[46]

Ron Richards

[edit]

There are major discrepancies regarding the White session, and who produced it. In his book Summer of Love, Martin concedes that his version of events differs from some accounts, saying: "On the 6 June Beatles session (audition) I decided that Pete Best had to go [and said to Epstein] I don't care what you do with Pete Best; but he's not playing on any more recording sessions: I'm getting a session drummer in."[47] When Starr turned up with the group for their first proper recording session on 4 September, Martin says that he was totally unaware that the Beatles had fired Best; and, not knowing "how good, bad or indifferent" Starr was, was not prepared to "waste precious studio time finding out."[47] Martin, therefore, appears to have this as the Andy White session in which Martin was present, and not 11 September. This contradicts Mark Lewisohn's account, as in his book The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, he has Starr on drums on 4 September[25] and White for the 11 September re-make.[41] Lewisohn also says that Richards was in charge on 11 September, which means, if accurate, that Richards was sole producer of the White version of "Love Me Do". Martin says, "My diary shows that I did not oversee any Beatles recording sessions on 11 September—only the one on 4 September."[47] But, if Lewisohn's account is correct and "the 4 September session really hadn't proved good enough to satisfy George Martin",[41] it might seem odd that Martin was not then present to oversee the 11 September remake.

In his memoirs, assistant engineer Geoff Emerick supports the Lewisohn version, recounting that Starr played drums at the 4 September session (Emerick's second day at EMI) and that Martin, Smith, and McCartney were all dissatisfied with (the underrehearsed) Starr's timekeeping.[48] Emerick places White firmly at the second session, and describes the reactions of Mal Evans and Starr to the substitution.[49] Emerick also noted that Martin only came in very late for the 11 September session, after work on "Love Me Do" was complete.[49]

Andy White confirms that he was booked by Ron Richards for the 11 September session, not by George Martin, who he says "could not make the session, could not get there till the end, so he had Ron Richards handle it". White also says that he recognises his own drumming on the released version of "Please Please Me", recorded that same session with him on drums.[50]

Chart performance

[edit]

"Love Me Do" was released on 5 October 1962, and reached no. 17 in the UK charts in November, to the surprise of Martin, who doubted the song's commercial appeal.[51] After the Beatles became famous, it was released in other countries. In Australia, it was released in 1964, and reached no. 1 on 14 February that year.[52] It reached no. 1 in New Zealand on 4 June 1964. At first, US copies of "Love Me Do" were imported from Canada, which included Starr on drums.[53] On 27 April 1964, Vee-Jay Records released the single on the Tollie label[54] with White on drums.

The song was the fourth of six songs by the Beatles to hit the US number one spot in a one-year period; an all-time record for the US charts.[citation needed] In order, these were "I Want to Hold Your Hand", "She Loves You", "Can't Buy Me Love", "Love Me Do", "A Hard Day's Night", and "I Feel Fine". It was also the fourth of seven songs written by Lennon–McCartney to hit number one in 1964 (the other being "A World Without Love", recorded by Peter and Gordon). That remains an all-time record on the US charts for writing the most songs to hit number one in the same calendar year.[citation needed]

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1962–64) Peak
position
Australian (Kent Music Report)[55] 1
Canada CHUM Chart[56] 8
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[57] 1
UK Singles Chart[58] 17
US Billboard Hot 100[59] 1
US Cash Box Top 100[60] 1
Chart (1982) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[61] 37
Ireland (IRMA)[62] 4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[63] 32
UK Singles Chart[64] 4
Chart (2012) Peak
position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[65] 48

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[66] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[67] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[68] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

50th anniversary mix-up and release

[edit]

EMI released a 50th anniversary limited-edition replica of the original single, featuring "Love Me Do" backed with "P.S. I Love You", in October 2012. The 7-inch disc was originally scheduled to hit stores on 5 October but was recalled when it was discovered that the pressings contained the Andy White version instead of the Ringo Starr version as intended. The White version was recalled, and the correct version with Ringo Starr on drums was issued on 22 October 2012.[69]

Personnel

[edit]

According to Ian MacDonald,[70] except where noted:

The Beatles

Additional musician

Recording and mixing details

[edit]
  • 6 June 1962: an unknown number of takes recorded for what was most likely an artist test.[72]
  • 4 September 1962: an unknown number of takes recorded. Mono mixing of the song from an unknown take number.[15]
  • 11 September 1962: 18 takes recorded with Andy White on drums. Take 18 used as master.[73]

Cover versions

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Sources

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Love Me Do

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
"Love Me Do" is the debut single by the English rock band , written primarily by as a teenager in 1958 and credited to the songwriting partnership. Released on 5 October 1962 in the with "P.S. I Love You" as the B-side, it marked the band's first commercial release under Records and peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, the single was issued in April 1964 by and topped the for one week. The song's recording history reflects the band's early , with an initial demo taped on 6 June 1962 during an EMI audition featuring drummer , followed by a session on 4 September 1962 with newly installed as the band's permanent drummer. , concerned about Starr's experience, brought in Andy White for a on 11 September 1962, where Starr played tambourine; the UK single used the Ringo version, while the Andy White take appeared on the band's debut album Please Please Me and the single. Featuring John Lennon's prominent harmonica riff—his first on a Beatles recording—"Love Me Do" exemplifies the group's raw, skiffle-influenced sound and simple lyrics about devotion, helping launch their career amid the emerging .

Songwriting and Composition

Origins and Influences

"Love Me Do" originated as an early composition by , who wrote the bulk of the song in 1958 at the age of 16 while skipping school in . McCartney crafted the tune as a schoolboy effort to showcase his songwriting skills and impress , the skiffle group led by that he had recently joined. The song drew heavily from the genre that dominated British youth culture in the late 1950s, characterized by its straightforward chord progressions and rhythmic simplicity, much like the works of , who inspired countless young musicians including the future . American folk and traditions further shaped its sound, evident in the basic verse-chorus structure. By 1960, "Love Me Do" had evolved into a core part of ' repertoire and received its first public performance during their residency at the Indra Club in , , where the band honed their live act through extended sets. This early rendition marked the song's transition from a novice effort to a live staple, performed alongside covers of and rock 'n' roll standards that defined their initial sound.

Lyrics and Musical Elements

"Love Me Do" features simple, repetitive lyrics centered on themes of devotion and a plea for reciprocal love, with lines such as "Love, love me do / You know I love you / I'll always be true / So please, love me do" emphasizing straightforward emotional urgency. The song is credited to the Lennon-McCartney partnership but was principally written by Paul McCartney in 1958 during his teenage years, with John Lennon contributing the middle eight section. This unadorned lyrical approach reflects early rock 'n' roll influences, prioritizing catchiness and directness over complexity. Musically, "Love Me Do" adopts a verse-bridge form with repetitive sections, ostensibly in G major but infused with Mixolydian modal elements through prominent F-naturals in the melody and harmony. The structure draws from 12-bar blues progressions, adapted into a jaunty, bluesy framework using primary chords G, C, and D major, played in 4/4 time at approximately 148 beats per minute. Key instrumental elements include John Lennon's distinctive harmonica riff, which opens the track and punctuates verses, alongside duet vocal harmonies between Lennon and McCartney that add a layer of intimacy and group cohesion. This combination underscores the song's debut style, blending rock 'n' roll simplicity with emerging pop sensibilities.

Recording Sessions

Early Demo and June 1962 Take

The origins of "Love Me Do" trace back to the late 1950s, when composed the song's basic structure at age 16 while living at his family's home on Forthlin Road in . McCartney recorded a rudimentary home demo of the track using only his guitar, reflecting the simple, blues-influenced melody he had developed independently before sharing it with . In early June 1962, following manager Brian Epstein's efforts to secure a record deal after rejections from other labels, the Beatles auditioned for EMI's Parlophone label under producer George Martin. Following the agreement of their with Parlophone earlier in the week on June 4, the band—consisting of , , , and drummer —recorded during an artist test session at EMI Studios (now ) in , from 7 to 10 p.m. During the session in Studio Two, the Beatles recorded a raw, unpolished take of "Love Me Do" without a harmonica part, alongside versions of "Bésame Mucho," "P.S. I Love You," and "Ask Me Why." This audition version, featuring Best's drumming, lasted about 2:32 and captured the band's energetic but unrefined sound at the time. This version, featuring Pete Best on drums, was later released on the 1995 album Anthology 1. Impressed by the audition despite initial reservations about their material and drummer, George Martin approved the Beatles for further sessions and selected "Love Me Do" as the lead track for their debut single, recognizing its potential as a hit. This decision paved the way for additional recordings, shortly after which replaced Best as the band's permanent drummer.

September 1962 Sessions with Ringo Starr

The September 4, 1962, recording session for "Love Me Do" took place at EMI Studios (now ) in , marking the first time the Beatles recorded with their classic lineup including drummer , who had recently joined the band after Pete Best's departure. Produced by and engineered by Norman Smith, the session began with a three-hour from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., during which the group worked on several songs, including a bluesy version of "." The actual recording commenced at 7:00 p.m. in Studio Two and lasted until 10:00 p.m., totaling three hours of focused work on new material. During the evening session, the Beatles laid down tracks for three songs: "How Do You Do It" (with on lead vocals, completed in two takes), "Love Me Do" (15 takes for the rhythm track), and an initial attempt at "P.S. I Love You" (one take only, to be finished later). For "Love Me Do," prominently featured harmonica on the A-side, playing it live during the rhythm track recordings to capture the song's bluesy , while Starr provided the drumming throughout. The group overdubbed vocals onto the best take of "Love Me Do" that night, and supervised a mono mix of the track immediately after, selecting it as a potential single candidate. This version, with Starr's distinctive drum fills, became the master used for the band's debut single release. Starr later recalled the nerves of his debut, noting in interviews that Martin had expressed reservations about his drumming but allowed him to play regardless, a decision that preserved the authentic band energy in the recording. The session highlighted the Beatles' raw enthusiasm and quick adaptation under Martin's guidance, setting the stage for their , though a subsequent remake with Andy White was later attempted for added polish.

Remake Session and Session Musician

Following the initial September 4 session, The Beatles returned to EMI Studios on September 11, 1962, for a remake of "Love Me Do" intended for their debut album. Session musician Andy White, a veteran drummer with prior experience at the studio, handled the drum kit, while Ringo Starr, newly integrated into the band, played tambourine throughout the track. The session was overseen by producer Ron Richards, deputizing for , who was absent that day; Richards, an EMI staff producer familiar with White's work, had specifically booked the session drummer to ensure a polished performance. The group completed 18 takes of the song, with take 18 edited and selected as the master for the album released in March 1963. George Martin initiated the remake out of caution over Ringo Starr's drumming reliability, given Starr's recent addition to the lineup just weeks earlier following Pete Best's dismissal; Martin, having been unimpressed by Starr's timekeeping in the prior session, sought a more professional and consistent rendition to anchor the album version. Key differences from the September 4 take include White's steadier, more refined drumming—lacking the raw intensity of Starr's contribution—and the addition of tambourine for subtle percussion; the session emphasized a cleaner arrangement, and the recording was captured with twin-track technology, though the initial album release was mono.

Releases and Versions

United Kingdom and Initial Singles

"Love Me Do" was released as the Beatles' debut single in the on 5 October 1962 by Records, with the catalogue number 45-R 4949. The A-side featured the band's original composition "Love Me Do," backed by another song, "P.S. I Love You." This marked the group's first official release on a major label after signing with earlier that year. The single utilized the mono mix of "Love Me Do" produced from the 4 September recording session at EMI Studios, where played drums for the first time with the band. This version captured 15 takes, with the best selected for mixing that day by engineer Norman Smith. Unlike the subsequent remake on 11 September featuring session percussionist Andy White on drums and Starr on —which appeared on the band's debut —the single's take highlighted Starr's raw contribution, providing a distinctive, energetic feel. Initial sales were modest, peaking at number 17 on the charts, largely driven by regional support in and surrounding areas. Manager spearheaded the early promotion, personally buying hundreds of copies through his NEMS Enterprises record shops to inflate chart positions and securing limited radio airplay on stations like . Despite minimal support from and , these efforts helped generate buzz. The band supported the release with their first televised performance of the song on Granada Television's People and Places on 17 , a live slot broadcast regionally that introduced their look and sound to a broader audience. To commemorate the 20th anniversary, Parlophone reissued "Love Me Do" in October 1982 as part of The Beatles Singles Collection, a boxed set compiling the group's original UK 7-inch singles with picture sleeves. This edition reproduced the original R 4949 pressing, maintaining the September 4 mono mix, and was also available as a limited picture disc (RP 4949). The reissue briefly re-entered the charts, underscoring the enduring appeal of the track.

International Releases and Album Inclusion

In the United States, "Love Me Do" was released as a single on April 27, 1964, by on its Tollie subsidiary label (Tollie 9008), featuring the Andy White drum version backed with "P.S. I Love You." This release capitalized on the surging following the band's appearance on , marking one of the earliest American distributions of their debut single originally issued in the in October 1962. Packaging variations included standard picture sleeves in some pressings, while the B-side remained consistent across Vee-Jay's output. The song saw its first European release outside the UK in West Germany in March 1963 via Odeon Records (O 22 396), backed by "Please Please Me" and using the Ringo Starr drum version from the UK single. German pressings featured localized artwork and labels under EMI's Electrola division, with subsequent reissues in 1964 aligning with broader continental distribution. In Canada, Capitol Records issued the single on February 4, 1963 (Capitol 72076), predating major U.S. success and employing the Ringo version; later 1964 repressings incorporated updated packaging to match the American market surge. These international singles often retained the original UK coupling but adapted sleeves for regional appeal, such as bilingual credits in non-English markets. For album inclusion, the Andy White version of "Love Me Do" appeared as the opening track on ' debut UK LP , released March 22, 1963, by (PMC 1202 in mono and PCS 3042 in stereo). This placement integrated the single into the album's tracklist alongside other early recordings, with the mono mix emphasizing the tambourine overdub by . Internationally, the song featured on various compilations, including the Ringo version on the 1988 collection Volume One, which consolidated non-album singles for global reissues. Subsequent editions, such as 2009 remasters, preserved these variants to highlight recording differences across markets.

50th Anniversary Reissue and Mix Dispute

To mark the 50th anniversary of ' debut single release on October 5, 1962, and issued a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl replica of "Love Me Do" backed with "P.S. I Love You" on October 8, 2012, utilizing the 2009 mono remaster and limited to 10,000 copies worldwide. The initial pressing inadvertently featured the version of "Love Me Do" from the Please Please Me album, with session drummer Andy White on drums and on , rather than the intended original single take with Starr on drums recorded on September 4, 1962. This manufacturing error prompted to recall and withdraw all distributed copies before the official sale date, with instructing the destruction of the faulty stock to ensure historical fidelity to the 1962 single. The corrected edition, featuring the authentic drum mix, was reissued on October 22, 2012, restoring the intended mono single configuration. The mishap generated significant fan interest and criticism, as collectors sought the rare withdrawn pressings, which became instant rarities due to their scarcity and the emphasis on version accuracy in reissues. In 2025, a previously unreleased studio rehearsal version of "Love Me Do" was included in The Beatles Anthology Collection (2025 Edition) box set, released on November 21. Digitally, the mono remaster of the Ringo version was made available on as part of the anniversary promotions, accessible via compilations like .

Commercial Success

Chart Performance

Upon its initial release in the on 5 October 1962, "Love Me Do" peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart, marking ' debut entry. A reissue, part of EMI's 20th anniversary promotion of the band's catalog, re-entered the chart and reached number 4, spending seven weeks in total. In the United States, the single entered the at number 81 on 11 April 1964 before climbing to number 1 on 30 May 1964, where it held the top position for one week and remained on the chart for 14 weeks overall. This success followed initial imports from and aligned with the surge of . Internationally, "Love Me Do" performed strongly upon its 1964 releases, topping the charts in the and reaching number 1 in according to the . It peaked at number 8 in on the CHUM Chart that year. In the digital era, the track has seen periodic re-entries on various national charts, including streaming-driven placements in and following the 2009 iTunes availability of ' catalog and subsequent anniversaries.
Country/ChartPeak PositionYearWeeks on Chart
UK Singles Chart17196210
UK Singles Chart (reissue)419827
US 1196414
(CHUM)81964N/A
(Kent Music Report)1196428
Netherlands (Single Top 100)11964N/A

Sales Certifications

In the United Kingdom, the (BPI) certified "Love Me Do" Gold for 400,000 units. In the United States, the (RIAA) certified the single Platinum on July 24, 2014, for 1,000,000 units including streaming equivalents. Globally, "Love Me Do" has sold approximately 2.5 million physical copies, bolstered by reissues, compilations, and streaming.
CountryCertifying BodyCertificationCertified UnitsAward Date
BPIGold400,000Post-2013
RIAAPlatinum1,000,0002014

Production and Personnel

Key Personnel Involved

The core musicians for "Love Me Do" were the Beatles' , who provided co-lead vocals, harmonica (on the single version), and rhythm guitar; , handling co-lead vocals and bass guitar; and , on acoustic rhythm guitar. contributed drums on the September 4, 1962 session take used for the UK single release, as well as on the September 11 remake. Session drummer Andy White played drums on the album version included on , while original Beatles drummer performed on the unaired June 6, 1962 audition tape. The album take notably lacks Lennon's harmonica, differing from the harmonica-featured single. George Martin served as the primary across all recording sessions for the song. Ron Richards acted as assistant producer specifically for the September 11, 1962 remake session, during which he booked Andy White. Norman Smith handled engineering duties for the early sessions, including the audition and both September dates.

Technical Recording Details

"Love Me Do" was recorded at EMI Studios' Studio Two in on two-track tape using BTR2 machines and the REDD.37 mixing console, which featured eight input channels and provided basic equalization options for the . The initial recording session on 4 September 1962 captured 15 takes of the rhythm track with on drums, followed by overdubs of vocals by and , and Lennon's harmonica part bounced onto the second track. A mono mix was produced immediately after the session for the UK single release, with the tape subsequently erased to recycle stock. A occurred on 11 1962, yielding 18 takes of the with session Andy White and by Starr; no harmonica overdub was recorded. Mono mixing for the and US single versions took place the same day, incorporating compression via the RS114 on the vocal channels to tame dynamics and ensure consistent presence, alongside console EQ emphasizing frequencies around 3 kHz for vocal intelligibility. Additional mono remixing occurred on 26 September 1962 to refine the single master, while stereo mixes for the album were created on 25 1963 by assigning the two tracks to the left and right channels. The final masters involved minimal editing, primarily selecting complete takes rather than splicing, to preserve the spontaneous feel of the performances. In 2023, created the first stereo mix of the song using the September 4, 1962 take, released as the B-side to "Now and Then."

Legacy and Covers

Notable Cover Versions

"Love Me Do" has been covered by 153 artists across a wide range of genres, as documented by the cover song database SecondHandSongs. An early notable rendition came from The Chipmunks in 1964, featured on their tribute album The Chipmunks Sing the Beatles Hits, which infused the song with a high-pitched, novelty twist while retaining its simple, rhythmic structure. In 1969, British pop singer Sandie Shaw recorded a smooth, vocal-driven version for her album Reviewing The Situation, adding a layer of orchestral strings to the track for a more sophisticated sound. Ringo Starr, who played tambourine on the Beatles' original single version, offered a personal take in 1998 on his album Vertical Man, delivering a upbeat rock arrangement that highlighted his connection to the song. The song's versatility is evident in later adaptations, such as the jazz interpretation by Juan Carlos Noroña in 2015, which emphasized improvisational elements over the original's harmonica riff. Reggae and country variations have also emerged in tribute collections, while pop punk group Smash Mouth released a high-energy digital cover in 2024, bringing a modern edge to the classic. These covers demonstrate the song's adaptability, from playful novelty to genre-spanning reinterpretations.

Cultural and Historical Impact

"Love Me Do," released on October 5, 1962, as the Beatles' debut single with Records, represented a breakthrough that propelled from obscurity to national prominence, igniting the early sparks of in the . The track's modest chart success belied its role in establishing the Beatles as a fresh voice in British pop, drawing crowds to their live performances and setting the stage for their explosive rise. Musicians and critics have since reflected on its raw appeal, with figures like noting its initial confusion amid polished contemporaries, yet its enduring simplicity captured the youthful energy of the era. As a of the early , "Love Me Do" symbolized the transatlantic shift where British acts began dominating American airwaves, influencing the structure of pop songs by emphasizing straightforward lyrics, catchy hooks, and minimalistic arrangements over orchestral complexity. This approach contrasted with the era's prevailing styles, paving the way for a generation of self-contained rock bands that prioritized group performance over session musicians. The song's blues-inspired roots, adapted into accessible pop, helped redefine rock's accessibility, encouraging simpler songwriting that resonated globally. Historically, "Love Me Do" marked Ringo Starr's debut as the ' drummer on an official release, with the September 4, 1962, session version featuring his playing selected for the single, solidifying the quartet's lineup amid earlier lineup changes. Its iconic harmonica introduction, played by , played a key role in reviving the instrument's prominence in , shifting it from folk and blues traditions into mainstream pop-rock soundscapes. The track has appeared in documentaries chronicling the ' origins, such as the 2012 production Love Me Do: The Beatles '62, which contextualizes its creation against the cultural and political backdrop of 1962. In contemporary culture, "Love Me Do" maintains relevance through its sampling in hip-hop, as seen in tracks by parody group The Beastles, bridging generations of musical innovation. The have brought further discussions around AI-assisted remastering, with a 2023 stereo mix derived from the original mono recording using de-mixing technology to isolate instruments and enhance clarity, sparking debates on preservation and technological intervention in classic recordings.

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