Love Me Do: Introduction

“Love Me Do” was the first single release using the name The Beatles. It didn’t make number one in the UK, but it did in some other countries. For example, it was a number-one record in Australia, New Zealand, and America. With this in mind, it qualifies for the 1 (One) album. However, the song appears on many other Beatles’ albums.

Love Me Do: Background

This was one of the earliest compositions by the prolific songwriters, dating back to around 1958.

“Love Me Do is Paul’s song. He wrote it when he was a teenager. Let me think. I might have helped on the middle eight, but I couldn’t swear to it. I do know he had the song around in Hamburg, even way, way before we were songwriters.”

John Lennon All We Are Saying
David Sheff

“Love Me Do was completely co-written. It might have been my original idea, but some of them really were 50-50s, and I think that one was. 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 the reason we eventually got so strong was because 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 publishing company called Ardmore and Beechwood that took the two songs, Love Me Do and PS I Love You, and in doing a deal somewhere along the way, we were able to get them back.”

Paul McCartney
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles

Developing Songwriting Partnership

As we know, The Beatles, just like other budding artists, would sing many cover versions of established artists. However, the songwriting partnership of Lennon and McCartney would develop soon enough. At first, though, they were not confident enough to introduce their songs into their live repertoire.

“Introducing our own numbers started round Liverpool and Hamburg. Love Me Do, one of the first ones we wrote, Paul started when he must have been about 15. It was the first one we dared to do of our own. This was quite a traumatic thing because we were doing such great numbers of other people’s, of Ray Charles, [Little] Richard, and all of them.

It was quite hard to come in singing Love Me Do. We thought our numbers were a bit wet. But we gradually broke that down and decided to try them.”

John Lennon
Anthology

In their early days, the band would jot down their songs in a school book. Furthermore, at the top of the page, they would write “Another Lennon-McCartney Original.”

John Lennon’s Harmonica

John Lennon’s harmonica playing on the Beatles’ songs is legendary, of course. Therefore, it is fitting that he was to play his mouth organ on their first single release. In fact, the song starts with his harmonica playing. Moreover, the song has his bluesy harmonica solo break just over half-way through the song.

As well as the prominent harmonica which dominates throughout the song, we get our first glimpse of the fine vocal harmonies that would help project the band to stardom.

Recording Studios

The Beatles were in their infancy and still learning the trade when they sang “Love Me Do.” As such, there are three variations because of the situation regarding the drummer. Obviously, we think of the Beatles’ drummer as Ringo Starr. But the first three recordings had three different drummers, the other two being Pete Best and Andy White.

The first recording of “Love Me Do” had Pete Best on the drums for their audition at the EMI Studios in London on June 6, 1962. This version is available on the 1995 album “Anthology 1” and the The Beatles’ Hits EP.

When Pete Best left the band and Ringo Starr became the recognised drummer, they recorded the song again on September 4. They recorded 15 takes before they had something suitable for a commercial release. This version became the single release but is also on the Past Masters album from 1988.

George Martin had some doubts about Ringo Starr’s drumming ability, so he brought in session drummer, Andy White for further recording on September 11. Ringo Starr then took on the role of tambourine player for these recordings. This version appears on the “Please Please Me” album.

Since a tambourine doesn’t feature on the recording from September 4, it is easy to distinguish between the two. Be that as it may, this song has three different drummers, all of whom are commercially available. Obviously, it just comes down to individual preference when playing back.

BBC Radio Show Recordings

During the early 1960s, The Beatles featured heavily on shows for BBC Radio and would record many songs for them. By now, though, Ringo Starr was the only Beatles’ drummer. Together, they recorded “Love Me Do” eight times for various BBC Radio programmes between October 1962 and October 1963.

Those radio shows included Here We Go, Talent Spot, Saturday Club, Side by Side, Pop Go The Beatles, and Easy Beat. The version that is commercially available on their 1994 album, “Live at the BBC,” is the one from “Pop Go The Beatles,” which aired on July 23, 1963, and which they recorded on July 10.

Just to point out that they also recorded the song during the Get Back/Let It Be sessions in 1969, it is available on Bootlegs. That song doesn’t have any of Lennon’s harmonica playing, but Paul McCartney is singing in the same vocal style he used for “Lady Madonna.”

Chart Success

There are fake stereo versions around, but again, that comes down to which you prefer.

Although The Beatles released “My Bonnie” earlier, that was with Tony Sheridan, and the Fab Four were just the backing group. Not only that, but Ringo Starr was not yet a band member. In this case, Pete Best was the drummer. So, that might have been their first commercial single, but “Love Me Do” is their first single in the conventional sense.

Take A Listen To “Love Me Do.”

Finally, what do you think about this song?