Love Me Do / P.S. I Love You (withdrawn version)

Track list

Side 1

1. Love Me Do

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   2:23 • Studio version • B2009 • Mono • 2009 stereo remaster

   Paul McCartney : Bass, Vocals Ringo Starr : Tambourine John Lennon : Acoustic rhythm guitar, Harmonica, Vocals George Harrison : Acoustic rhythm guitar George Martin : Producer Norman Smith : Recording engineer Andy White : Drums Ron Richards : Producer

   Session Recording: Sep 11, 1962 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   Session Mixing: Sep 11, 1962 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Side 2

1. P.s. I Love You

   Written by Lennon - McCartney

   2:04 • Studio version • A2009 • Mono • 2009 stereo remaster

   Paul McCartney : Bass, Lead vocals Ringo Starr : Maracas John Lennon : Acoustic rhythm guitar, Backing vocals George Harrison : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals Norman Smith : Recording engineer Andy White : Percussion Ron Richards : Producer

   Session Recording: Sep 11, 1962 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

   Session Mixing: Sep 11, 1962 • Studio EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

From superdeluxeedition, October 4, 2012:

What was to be a wonderful celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Beatles first ever single release, has turned into a farce as EMI withdraw the commemorative reissue of Love Me Do days before release, telling dealers that the pressed records are ‘faulty’.

The reissue was due out tomorrow, 50 years to the day from the first release in 1962. The ‘fault’ with the disc is rumoured to be the usage of the ‘wrong’ version of Love Me Do.

Ringo drummed on the track when recorded on the 4th September 1962, but George Martin brought in session man Andy White a week later, on 11th September, apparently not happy with Ringo’s performance. This second version has Ringo playing tambourine. In the end, the Ringo version was used on early pressings of the seven-inch, but not on the Please Please Me album. It is therefore correct, both technically and politically, that the Ringo version should be used on this celebratory seven-inch release.

EMI have told dealers “It is yet to be decided whether the single will be re-pressed”, although there is some confusion, with online retailers such as amazon, currently promising deliver of the item for early next week. […]

From 45cat:

This is a replica of the original single in the original colourful “beach towel” Parlophone company sleeve. The audio is taken from the mono remaster of 2009.

5th October 2012 release: Issued to record dealers in the week commencing 1st October for official release on 5th October, the single was then recalled by EMI when it was discovered they had mistakenly used the version of Love Me Do that features Andy White on drums, and had erroneously used catalogue # R 4714 on the B Side (R 4714 belongs to a 1960 Matt Monro release).

There are two versions of the single – one with Ringo drumming that was recorded on 4th September 1962 and used on early releases of the single, and one featuring Andy White on drums (with Ringo on tambourine), which was recorded on 11th September 1962.

EMI apparently announced that it was under strict instructions from The Beatles’ Apple label to destroy copies of the single (corroboration of this world be helpful).

Some record dealers who received their stock of the single mid-week are known to have honoured mail orders before the recall so there are copies in circulation, although it is not known how many.

This withdrawn release has BC88258-01A1 etched in the run-out groove of the A Side and BC88258-01B1 etched in the run-out groove of the B Side.

The “Love Me Do / P.S. I Love You – 50th anniversary” would finally be released on October 22, 2012.