Love Me Do

Love Me Do was one of Paul McCartney's first songs and the first Beatles single to be released (October 5, 1962). P.S. I Love You was on the B-side. McCartney wrote this ground-breaking tune in 1958 or 1959 while taking an unofficial vacation from school. The middle eight bars were composed by John Lennon and added later. Love Me Do rose as high as number 17 on the British charts. When released in the U.S. in 1964, it went to number one. Fans immediately recognize the harmonica riff of John Lennon in the beginning of the song. (Later versions, done in a slower style, omit the harmonica.) In the original version, McCartney and Lennon share the lead, with McCartney singing a couple of phrases solo, to give Lennon time to switch to harmonica. Love Me Do was recorded at Abbey Road as part of the EMI audition on June 6, 1962 with Pete Best on drums. George Martin, the producer, then wanted to substitute drummers, and Ringo Starr came into the group. The September 4 recording with Starr on drums is the version on the single release in the UK, but on the debut album, Please Please Me, the cut is a September 11 version in which Ringo plays the tambourine with session drummer Andy White on the trap set.