The Album
The Beatles mid-period three of Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sergeant Pepper are more often said to be the key works in the Beatles catalogue, at least if one had to choose. However, it could also be argued that Please Please Me was the album that had the most impact and the most influence on the course of popular music. One notable fact about the Beatles is that many of their album tracks are better known that most artists' singles. Please Please Me supports this with tracks such as Twist & Shout and I Saw Her Standing There proving the point. The former is an Isley Brothers original that is probably more renown for its version by the Beatles.
The reason that Please Please Me broke the mould was that it turned around the way in which albums were approached. The traditional way of working when an artist had a hit single was to rush out an album with the single and the remainder being filler. However, even at this early stage John Lennon and Paul McCartney were writing songs and being recognised as talented in this area. The second single, album title track and, sometimes, the first number one was Please Please Me. George Martin had wanted the Beatles to record How Do You Do It? but the Beatles had insisted on doing one of their own. While Gerry & The Pacemakers scored a number one with the track, Please Please Me launched to the Beatles at the top of the charts with a very powerful track that has endured.
I Saw Her Standing There is one of McCartney's oldest songs and a powerful opener in anybody's book. At this time Lennon and McCartney were not as strong lyrically as they later would become but the combination of vocals and powerful beat rhythms make the track incredibly strong and exciting even 40 years later.
Around half of the titles are Lennon/McCartney originals. The two singles from the album are the title track and the Beatles' debut Love Me Do. Both b-sides are also included and these are the Lennon/McCartney songs PS I Love You and Ask Me Why. George makes his recording vocal debut with another Lennon/McCartney song Do You Want to Know a Secret. This was picked up by Billy J Kramer who was also managed by Brian Epstein and it became his first hit single.
A Taste of Honey shows the start of experimenting in the studio with Paul McCartney's lead vocal double-tracked to give a chorus effect.
To be completed
Release Date: 1963
Essential Tracks:
Please Please Me
Twist & Shout
I Saw Her Standing There
Track Listing:
I Saw Her Standing There
Misery
Anna (Go To Him)
Chains
Boys
Ask Me Why
Please Please Me
Love Me Do
PS I Love You
Do You Want To Know A Secret
A Taste of Honey
There's a Place
Twist & Shout