PLEASE PLEASE ME - LP, 1963
Please Please Me is the debut album by English rock band The Beatles. Parlophone released this album on March 22nd, 1963 in Great Britain after the great success of the two singles "Please Please Me" (No.1 on most lists but only No. 2 on Record Retailer) and "Love Me Do" (No.17). That same year four pressings of this record were released and the LP remained at the top of the charts for 30 weeks. Of the album's fourteen songs, eight were written by Lennon–McCartney (originally credited "McCartney–Lennon"), early evidence of what Rolling Stone later called "[their invention of] the idea of the self-contained rock band, writing their own hits and playing their own instruments". In 2012, Please Please Me was voted 39th on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time".
Recordings
"I don't know how they do it. We've been recording all day but the longer we go on the better they get."
This record was ment to be their first LP., but the group had so far recorded only four songs and the norm for British 12’’ vinyl pop albums at that time was to have seven tracks on each side. Ten more tracks were needed and therefore, at 10:00 am on Monday, 11 February 1963, The Beatles and George Martin started recording. The recording was a rush that lasted 9 hours and 45 minutes. In only three sessions on that same day they succeeded in producing an authentic representation of the band's early-time sound, as well as one of the best records ever, as there were very few overdubs and edits. Optimistically, only two sessions were originally booked. The evening session was added later. George Martin initially contemplated recording the album live at the Cavern in front of the group's home audience and visited the Liverpool club on 9 December 1962 to consider the technicalities. However, when time constraints intervened, he decided to book them at EMI Studios in Abbey Road instead and record them virtually live. Martin admitted: "It was a straightforward performance of their stage repertoire — a broadcast, more or less."
The day ended with a cover of Twist and Shout, which had to be recorded last because John Lennon had a particularly bad cold and Martin feared the throat-shredding vocal would ruin Lennon's voice for the day. This performance, captured on the first take, prompted Martin to say: "I don't know how they do it. We've been recording all day but the longer we go on the better they get." Also the song Hold Me Tight was recorded during these sessions, but was "surplus to requirements" and not included on the album and it was recorded again on 12 September 1963 for With The Beatles.
Martin considered calling the album Off the Beatle Track before Please Please Me was released on Parlophone with record number PCS 3042 for the stereo version and PCS 1202 for the mono.
The album was recorded on a two-track BTR tape recording machine, with most of the instrumentation on one track and the vocals on the other, allowing for a better balance between the two on the final quarter-inch tape mix-down in mono.[16] A stereo mix was made at the same time as the mono mix, with one track on the left channel and the other on the right, as well as an added layer of reverb to better blend the two tracks together. This was common practice for playback on stereo consoles.
This record was ment to be their first LP., but the group had so far recorded only four songs and the norm for British 12’’ vinyl pop albums at that time was to have seven tracks on each side. Ten more tracks were needed and therefore, at 10:00 am on Monday, 11 February 1963, The Beatles and George Martin started recording. The recording was a rush that lasted 9 hours and 45 minutes. In only three sessions on that same day they succeeded in producing an authentic representation of the band's early-time sound, as well as one of the best records ever, as there were very few overdubs and edits. Optimistically, only two sessions were originally booked. The evening session was added later. George Martin initially contemplated recording the album live at the Cavern in front of the group's home audience and visited the Liverpool club on 9 December 1962 to consider the technicalities. However, when time constraints intervened, he decided to book them at EMI Studios in Abbey Road instead and record them virtually live. Martin admitted: "It was a straightforward performance of their stage repertoire — a broadcast, more or less."
The day ended with a cover of Twist and Shout, which had to be recorded last because John Lennon had a particularly bad cold and Martin feared the throat-shredding vocal would ruin Lennon's voice for the day. This performance, captured on the first take, prompted Martin to say: "I don't know how they do it. We've been recording all day but the longer we go on the better they get." Also the song Hold Me Tight was recorded during these sessions, but was "surplus to requirements" and not included on the album and it was recorded again on 12 September 1963 for With The Beatles.
Martin considered calling the album Off the Beatle Track before Please Please Me was released on Parlophone with record number PCS 3042 for the stereo version and PCS 1202 for the mono.
The album was recorded on a two-track BTR tape recording machine, with most of the instrumentation on one track and the vocals on the other, allowing for a better balance between the two on the final quarter-inch tape mix-down in mono.[16] A stereo mix was made at the same time as the mono mix, with one track on the left channel and the other on the right, as well as an added layer of reverb to better blend the two tracks together. This was common practice for playback on stereo consoles.
Tracks
Side one
1. I Saw Her Standing There (McCartney)
2. Misery (Lennon and McCartney)
3. Anna (Go to Him) (Arthur Alexander, Lennon)
4. Chains (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, George Harrison)
5. Boys (Luther Dixon, Wes Farrell, Ringo Starr)
6. Ask Me Why (Lennon)
7. Please Please Me (Lennon and McCartney)
Side two
1. Love Me Do (McCartney and Lennon)
2. P.S. I Love You (McCartney)
3. Baby It's You (Mack David, Barney Williams, Burt Bacharach, Lennon)
4. Do You Want to Know a Secret (Harrison)
5. A Taste of Honey (Bobby Scott, Ric Marlow, McCartney)
6. There's a Place (Lennon and McCartney)
7. Twist and Shout (Phil Medley, Bert Russell, Lennon)
1. I Saw Her Standing There (McCartney)
2. Misery (Lennon and McCartney)
3. Anna (Go to Him) (Arthur Alexander, Lennon)
4. Chains (Gerry Goffin, Carole King, George Harrison)
5. Boys (Luther Dixon, Wes Farrell, Ringo Starr)
6. Ask Me Why (Lennon)
7. Please Please Me (Lennon and McCartney)
Side two
1. Love Me Do (McCartney and Lennon)
2. P.S. I Love You (McCartney)
3. Baby It's You (Mack David, Barney Williams, Burt Bacharach, Lennon)
4. Do You Want to Know a Secret (Harrison)
5. A Taste of Honey (Bobby Scott, Ric Marlow, McCartney)
6. There's a Place (Lennon and McCartney)
7. Twist and Shout (Phil Medley, Bert Russell, Lennon)
Released pressings
To any Beatles collector, of critical importance is the label. Before you buy any Beatles record, you must examine the label to ensure it's authenticity. It has to have the right credentials. And of course, the condition is also all important.
In general, the 1st and 2nd pressings have the Black & Gold Parlophone label. The 3rd, 4th, 5th (1964), 6th (1965) and 7th (1968) pressings have the Yellow & Black Parlophone label. The later re-pressings from 1969 have Black & Silver labels with the EMI boxed logo. So, if you are being presented with a Yellow & Black Parlophone label, and the seller is telling you it's a 1st pressing, you can politely correct them. It could indeed be a very "early" 3rd or 4th pressing, for example, as denoted by the stamper matrix numbers, but it certainly won't be a first pressing.
The best place to start is with what is generally considered to be the Holy Grail of Beatles vinyl: The first album Please Please Me with the Black & Gold Parlophone label in Stereo. In mint condition, this item (in STEREO) will range in value from around £3,000, depending on condition and rarity. The MONO version follows closely behind at around £750 upwards. There are several various versions of Please Please Me which I will get to, but this will hopefully serve as an introduction. Now if it's your lucky day and you happen to see a 'Black & Gold' label Please Please Me (in any condition) at a car boot sale or in a second hand shop (unlikely), my advice would be to buy it immediately and without hesitation. They are scarce and becoming harder to find every day which makes them an appreciating investment set to rise year on year into the future. Pretty obvious really, as one thing is certain: they definitely won't increase in quantity.
In general, the 1st and 2nd pressings have the Black & Gold Parlophone label. The 3rd, 4th, 5th (1964), 6th (1965) and 7th (1968) pressings have the Yellow & Black Parlophone label. The later re-pressings from 1969 have Black & Silver labels with the EMI boxed logo. So, if you are being presented with a Yellow & Black Parlophone label, and the seller is telling you it's a 1st pressing, you can politely correct them. It could indeed be a very "early" 3rd or 4th pressing, for example, as denoted by the stamper matrix numbers, but it certainly won't be a first pressing.
The best place to start is with what is generally considered to be the Holy Grail of Beatles vinyl: The first album Please Please Me with the Black & Gold Parlophone label in Stereo. In mint condition, this item (in STEREO) will range in value from around £3,000, depending on condition and rarity. The MONO version follows closely behind at around £750 upwards. There are several various versions of Please Please Me which I will get to, but this will hopefully serve as an introduction. Now if it's your lucky day and you happen to see a 'Black & Gold' label Please Please Me (in any condition) at a car boot sale or in a second hand shop (unlikely), my advice would be to buy it immediately and without hesitation. They are scarce and becoming harder to find every day which makes them an appreciating investment set to rise year on year into the future. Pretty obvious really, as one thing is certain: they definitely won't increase in quantity.
First pressings (1963)
The soon to be replaced gold lettering on black "Parlophone" label is by far the rarest, with the Mono version worth about £ 750 and the stereo version four times that! These first pressings had the six new McCartney/Lennon songs with a publishing credit of "Dick James Music Co.", and the cover was a laminated sleeve with a polythene lined inner sleeve with an advert for "Emitex" cleaning cloths upon them.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 750 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 3000 £
* data from the Rare Record Price Guide 2006
The soon to be replaced gold lettering on black "Parlophone" label is by far the rarest, with the Mono version worth about £ 750 and the stereo version four times that! These first pressings had the six new McCartney/Lennon songs with a publishing credit of "Dick James Music Co.", and the cover was a laminated sleeve with a polythene lined inner sleeve with an advert for "Emitex" cleaning cloths upon them.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 750 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 3000 £
* data from the Rare Record Price Guide 2006
Second Pressings (1963)
Exactly the same as the above, but the publishing credit had changed to "Northern Songs". These gold/black pressings are equally as valuable as above. But in saying that, I am led to believe that after the changeover to the Northern Songs credit and before the lettering change as identified in the next pressing, there were fewer of these pressed than the first pressing. I am informed that only 900 were issued.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 750 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 3000 £
Exactly the same as the above, but the publishing credit had changed to "Northern Songs". These gold/black pressings are equally as valuable as above. But in saying that, I am led to believe that after the changeover to the Northern Songs credit and before the lettering change as identified in the next pressing, there were fewer of these pressed than the first pressing. I am informed that only 900 were issued.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 750 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 3000 £
Third Pressings (1963)
The gold lettering is now replaced with a more typical yellow block writing. The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label starts with "The Parlophone Co. Ltd." The label does NOT have "Recording first published 1963" or "Sold in the U.K..." statements. The word "mono" (or stereo) on the front cover is larger than in later editions.
On a rare version of this pressing, it appears a small 33+1/3 on label.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 150 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 400 £
Fourth Pressings (1963)
The standard yellow block writing Parlophone label. The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label starts with "The Parlophone Co. Ltd." The label DOES have "Recording first published 1963", but NOT "Sold in the U.K..." statements. The word "mono" (or stereo) on the front cover is larger than in later editions.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 60 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 180 £
Fifth Pressings (1965)
The standard yellow block writing Parlophone label. The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd." The label DOES have "Sold in the U.K..." statement. The word "mono" (or stereo) on the front cover is smaller.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 30 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 60 £
Sixth Pressings (1969)
The standard yellow block writing Parlophone label. The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd." The label does NOT have "Sold in the U.K..." statement. The word "mono" (or stereo) on the front cover is smaller.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 30 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 40 £
Seventh Pressings (1969)
Now with a silver/black Parlophone label. The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd." The label has one EMI boxed logo.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 50 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 40 £
1969 Re-pressings
Now with a silver/black Parlophone label and one EMI boxed logo. With laminated flip-back sleeves.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 50 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 20 £
Eighth Pressings (1973) - Stereo version ONLY
Silver/black Parlophone label. The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
The label has TWO EMI boxed logos as can be seen below ...
Ninth Pressings (1982) - Mono version ONLY
Now with a yellow/black Parlophone label. The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd." This release is on a lightweight vinyl.
Tenth Pressings (1995) - Mono version ONLY
Now with a Black and Silver Parlophone label. The sleeve has a printed statement which reads: "This album has been Direct Metal Mastered From a Digitally Re-mastered Original Tape to give the best possible sound quality" This release is (surprisingly) on a lightweight vinyl.
The gold lettering is now replaced with a more typical yellow block writing. The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label starts with "The Parlophone Co. Ltd." The label does NOT have "Recording first published 1963" or "Sold in the U.K..." statements. The word "mono" (or stereo) on the front cover is larger than in later editions.
On a rare version of this pressing, it appears a small 33+1/3 on label.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 150 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 400 £
Fourth Pressings (1963)
The standard yellow block writing Parlophone label. The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label starts with "The Parlophone Co. Ltd." The label DOES have "Recording first published 1963", but NOT "Sold in the U.K..." statements. The word "mono" (or stereo) on the front cover is larger than in later editions.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 60 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 180 £
Fifth Pressings (1965)
The standard yellow block writing Parlophone label. The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd." The label DOES have "Sold in the U.K..." statement. The word "mono" (or stereo) on the front cover is smaller.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 30 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 60 £
Sixth Pressings (1969)
The standard yellow block writing Parlophone label. The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd." The label does NOT have "Sold in the U.K..." statement. The word "mono" (or stereo) on the front cover is smaller.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 30 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 40 £
Seventh Pressings (1969)
Now with a silver/black Parlophone label. The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd." The label has one EMI boxed logo.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 50 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 40 £
1969 Re-pressings
Now with a silver/black Parlophone label and one EMI boxed logo. With laminated flip-back sleeves.
Mint value*:
Mono - PMC 1202 : 50 £
Stereo - PCS 3042 : 20 £
Eighth Pressings (1973) - Stereo version ONLY
Silver/black Parlophone label. The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
The label has TWO EMI boxed logos as can be seen below ...
Ninth Pressings (1982) - Mono version ONLY
Now with a yellow/black Parlophone label. The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd." This release is on a lightweight vinyl.
Tenth Pressings (1995) - Mono version ONLY
Now with a Black and Silver Parlophone label. The sleeve has a printed statement which reads: "This album has been Direct Metal Mastered From a Digitally Re-mastered Original Tape to give the best possible sound quality" This release is (surprisingly) on a lightweight vinyl.