Please Please Me

Track listing
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
8. Love Me Do
9. P. S. I Love You
10. Baby It's You
11. Do You Want To Know A Secret
12. Taste Of Honey, A
13. There's A Place
14. Twist And Shout


Details
Playing time: 32 min.
Producer: George Martin
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution
Recording type: Studio
Recording mode: Mono
SPAR Code: AAD


Album notes
The Beatles: George Harrison (vocals, guitar); John Lennon (vocals, guitar, harmonica); Paul McCartney (vocals, bass); Ringo Starr (vocals, drums).
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England. "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You" were recorded in September 1962. The other 12 tracks were recorded on February 11, 1963 ("Twist And Shout" was the last song to be recorded).
Includes liner notes by Tony Barrow.
Recorded in between a cup of tea and a cigarette, this album is raw yet dazzling. Here were four lads, highly experienced on stage, but with little or no idea of what a recording studio was like. They were subtly marshalled by the much-respected George Martin to deliver an entire album that was exactly what the fans wanted, but was still a surprise. Things were never as simple as this again, yet the genius is there. Examples are Lennon's unmatchable rasping on "Twist And Shout," McCartney's graceful ease in singing "I Saw Her Standing There," Harrison's sparse but definite Gretsch chords, and Starr's ace vocal on "Boys."

The Beatles in STEREO, part 1

Finally, after 22 years, the first 4 British albums from The Beatles are avaialble on CD in real, true Stereo, for the very first time ever! Their 1st album, "Please Please Me", has a lot going for it. In addition to the eight original tunes, there are six fabulous cover songs. The songs on this album were already a well-established part of the group's stage repertoire by the time they got into the studio. The Lennon/McCartney writing duo contributed the titles "Misery, "Ask Me Why", "Please Please Me", "Love Me Do", "P.S. I Love You", "Do You Want To Know A Secret" and "There's A Place", while the covers included "Anna (Go To Him)", "Chains", "Boys", "Baby It's You" and "A Taste Of Honey". The vocals are all handled by all 4 members. However, the album's two best songs are appropriately featured at the start and the close of the disc. These are two great rockers as only the band can perform them. Opening things is the original hit "I Saw Her Standing There" while their version of the Isley Brothers' song "Twist And Shout" is a superb way to finish off the disc. The remastering job done at EMI in England presents this classic album in brilliant stereophonic sound. The sound, including both vocals and instruments, is sharp and clear, bringing much-needed new life to this gem. Hearing these tracks in stereo is a dream come true (even though "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You" are not in true stereo, this is the best that they have ever sounded.) Hearing these early tracks is a dream come true. Every Beatles fan will enjoy this experience.

Excellent Debut By Fab Four

The Beatles have been considered by many to be the best band of all time. I don't quite agree, but I definitely would consider them for top ten. I'd have to say the Rolling Stones, their British rivals, have been a more versatile band and are much better musicians, but the Beatles' songwriting talents can't be denied. They are a band that invented Pop Rock and paved the way for many groups and musicians. And I think the Beatles' debut album is superior to the Stones' debut, although I like the Stones' rocking riffs much better on their later albums. Early on, though, the Beatles were more gifted in the songwriting department. They wrote nice melodies that people of any age could sing along with, while the Stones were more of an aquired taste earlier in their career.

Please, Please Me is an excellent debut album with nonstop nice verses and hummable choruses. It starts off with I Saw Her Standing There, a great song that kind of rocked for its time. McCartney and Lennon showed off their songwriting skills right out of the gate and never looked back. Although this album has quite a few covers, even covers that people associate with only the Beatles like Twist and Shout, they wrote many great original songs that put them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, thus stamping their place in music history. Please, Please Me is another song that you can't help singing along with, they show their talent with vocal harmonies that become their career trademarks. I've been in a few bands in my life, and Twist and Shout is the song that taught me how to harmonize. I owe a lot of gratitude to the Fab Four for the simple harmonies that they do during the aah's during this song. If you're in a band and want to know how to harmonize, just listen to this song. It's Harmonizing 101.

Please, Please Me isn't the Beatles' best album, but it's a great start and a very influential album. The songwriting genius is evident here as well as the vocal talents. All the songs are listenable, and even if you don't like a song, it's no big deal because none of the songs even top three minutes. Their musical chops aren't refined yet here, but you can see that they're a band that has a lot of staying power. I know it's easy to say that in hindsight with what the Beatles have accomplished, but just listening to their first album makes you realize how good they were at such a young age. If they were that good when they were young, one could only imagine at the time how good they were going to be in their prime.

So obviously, I recommend this album to diehard Beatles fans and music fans in general. And any person who is in a band should definitely own this album, for both songwriting and vocal harmony examples that can be used in countless songwriting styles.

The Beatles are responsible for unleashing the British Invasion; and Please,Please Me is the album that started it all. It's a piece of Rock and Roll History.

Please Please Me -- The Beatles

The Beatles' first British album, never officially released on vinyl in the US. This album has a good amount of covers, but it also contains such classic originals as "Please Please Me," "Love Me Do," "Twist and Shout," and "I Saw Her Standing There," songs that showcase the fact that the Beatles were already skilled songwriters, unlike other bands that just do a lot of covers at the very beginning. John's raw rendition of "Twist and Shout" is probably among his most memorable and one other interesting fact to note is that the version of "Love Me Do" featured here is different from their single version which went on to be their first #1 hit as it features Ringo Starr on the Drums. The single version features session artist Andy White.
All in all an excellent album, impressive when one considers the fact that it was all recorded in one 13 hour session. If you like it, check out their next British album, Beatles For Sale.

The Beatles at the Starting Gate

Track listing
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
8. Love Me Do
9. P. S. I Love You
10. Baby It's You
11. Do You Want To Know A Secret
12. A Taste Of Honey
13. There's A Place
14. Twist And Shout

Album Details
Playing time: 32 min.
Producer: George Martin
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution

This product was bought to complete my Beatles CD collection. There is nothing to dislike about this music. It is the Beatles at the beginning of their amazing careers. The Lennon/McCartney magic says it all. Everyone needs this album in their collection. It is a Beatles essential. I just wonder why it took me so long to get it on CD.