The Beatles Companion

Catalogue

Please Please Me album cover

Please Please Me

22 March 1963ParlophoneUKGeorge Martin

The debut LP, rushed out to capitalise on the ‘Please Please Me’ single. Ten of its fourteen tracks were cut in a single 11 February 1963 session at EMI Abbey Road — a marathon that ended with John’s shredded ‘Twist and Shout’.

Territorial note

In the US, Vee-Jay issued Introducing… The Beatles with a near-identical track list (omitting ‘Please Please Me’ and ‘Ask Me Why’ on the first pressing). Capitol ignored the album entirely until The Early Beatles in 1965.

Track listing

  1. 1I Saw Her Standing ThereLennon–McCartney2:55
  2. 2MiseryLennon–McCartney1:50
  3. 3Anna (Go to Him)Arthur Alexander · orig. Arthur Alexander2:57
  4. 4ChainsGerry Goffin, Carole King · orig. The Cookies2:26
  5. 5BoysLuther Dixon, Wes Farrell · orig. The Shirelles2:27
  6. 6Ask Me WhyLennon–McCartney2:27
  7. 7Please Please MeLennon–McCartney2:03
  8. 8Love Me DoLennon–McCartney2:22
  9. 9P.S. I Love YouLennon–McCartney2:05
  10. 10Baby It's YouMack David, Barney Williams, Burt Bacharach · orig. The Shirelles2:38
  11. 11Do You Want to Know a SecretLennon–McCartney1:59
  12. 12A Taste of HoneyBobby Scott, Ric Marlow · orig. Bobby Scott (from the play)2:05
  13. 13There's a PlaceLennon–McCartney1:52
  14. 14Twist and ShoutPhil Medley, Bert Berns · orig. The Top Notes / The Isley Brothers2:33