The cover of this 1963 album, featuring four soon-to-be legendary baby-faced early-twenties-year olds, is as well-known as the songs themselves. In fact, a picture from the same shoot was used for the cover of the 1962 - 1966 compilation album, and a 1969 recreation photo for the 1967 - 1970 album (both released in 1973).
October 1962 saw the release of The Beatles' first single, 'Love Me Do', with 'P.S. I Love You' as the B-side. As an interesting fact, this version of 'Love Me Do' (the second of three studio recordings) was the first released recording to feature all four Beatles. However, Ringo Starr played the tambourine instead of his designated instrument - session drummer Andy White played the drums. In January of the following year, their next single was released - 'Please Please Me', backed by 'Ask Me Why'. Due to the success of these two singles, an album was to be recorded and rush-released by recording label Parlophone.
The album is renowned for having been entirely recorded in just under thirteen hours. Standard 12" LPs contained fourteen songs and with four songs written already (the singles), the album required ten more. February 11, 1963 was the day that the entire album was recorded. Please Please Me contains eight songs written by dynamic duo Lennon/McCartney, whilst the remaining tracks were covers. In addition to their singles, Lennon and McCartney provided 'Misery', 'Do You Want to Know a Secret' (sung by George Harrison), 'There's a Place' and favourite 'I Saw Her Standing There'.
At the end of the day, after a hard day's work, it was time to record the last song - 'Twist and Shout'. Many would know the classic from 80s paradigm Ferris Bueller's Day Off but the fun fact behind its existence is relatively unknown to most people who are not die-hard Beatles fans. John had developed a cold and the song had to be performed last so as not to ruin his voice for the rest of the recordings. Producer George Martin was so impressed, that the first take is the one found on the album!
Released in March 1963, Please Please Me, The Beatles' first album, set the standard for the group and skyrocketed them into mega success in the UK and, later, the US. It only went uphill from there!
Unique to this Beatles album: it was recorded in one day.
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