I’m starting a new series today on The Beatles songs. Each entry will be an “in depth” look at that particular song including my own opinion on that song and some facts about it. I plan on covering every original song that they recorded & released from 1962 through 1970 as well as some of their covers and some of the songs that were recorded but not released until the Anthology series. I’m going to do this series chronologically based on the recording date for the song.

My Opinion

To say that “Love Me Do” has never been one my favorites is putting it mildly. I feel it is definitely The Beatles worst single (and among their worst original songs overall) and I think it’s unfortunate that it’s the first Beatles song that some people hear (as it’s the first track on the very popular Beatles 1 compilation.)

I think “Love Me Do” is overly simple with it’s basic chord changes, sing-song melody, & “teenager in love” lyrics. I also find the pace to really drag, perhaps if it were a bit faster it’d have more punch. On the positive side it is definitely catchy and the harmonica is pretty cool. I also think the vocal performances by John & Paul are pretty strong.

And when this song is played in the context of the tame manufactured pop music of 1962 is to understand how even a relatively lame Beatles song like this one was a revolution. And since this was the song that introduced The Beatles to the rest of the UK (outside of Liverpool) it will always be an important part of The Beatles catalog even if it’s not among their best work.

What really makes the importance of “Love Me Do” obvious is the alternative history that almost was. Their producer George Martin had wanted the band to release a piece of fluff called “How Do You Do It?” (you can hear their recording of this song on Anthology 1) which was written by Mitch Murray. Martin insisted it was a #1 single (and it was, Gerry and The Pacemakers had a #1 hit with their recording of it in April of ‘63) but The Beatles thought the song was embarrassing and would do much harm to their reputation.

About “How Do You Do It?” McCartney said this: “We knew we couldn’t hold our heads up with that sort of rock-a-pop-a-ballad. We would be spurned and cast away into the wilderness.”

A key element to what made The Beatles special in the early 60s, what really excited “the kids” about them, was that they wrote their own songs and that they had a new sound. If they had succumbed to the pressure to release the hokey, very safe, “How Do You Do It?” perhaps music history as we know it would not have happened. So yes, in that context I think “Love Me Do” deserves it’s due.

Musical Analysis

It’s in the key of G and based mainly on the chords G and C. D joins G and C for the bridge (”Someone to love…”) These (G, C, D) are the three main (most basic) chords in the key G major (the I, IV, and V chords.)

The song is most notable for the introduction of Beatles vocal harmonies (mostly open 5ths here) and Lennon’s harmonica playing to the UK. The harmonica riff (that’s repeated throughout the song) is the notes F-E-D-G. F being the flatted 7th note in the key of G which gives it a “bluesy” sound. Lennon played a chromatic harmonica (”with a button.”)

What The Beatles Said About It

McCartney: “If you want to know when we knew we arrived, it was getting in the charts with ‘Love Me Do.’ That was the one. It gave us somewhere to go.”

McCartney speaking about their early songwriting: “Then came ‘Love Me Do’, which was the culmination of it when we finally got a song we could actually record.”

Starr: “The first record: ‘Love Me Do’ was more important than anything else. That first piece of plastic. You can’t believe how great that was. It was so wonderful. We were on a record!”

Songwriting

McCartney said that it was “50-50″ co-written by himself and Lennon, but Lennon actually said it was mostly McCartney’s song: “Paul wrote the main structure of this when he was sixteen ore even earlier. I think I had something to do with the middle eight.” By the way, Lennon & McCartney always referred to bridges as a “middle eight” regardless of how many bars were in it.

Who Played What?

Lennon: vocals, harmonica, rhythm guitar.
McCartney: vocals, bass guitar.
Harrison: backing vocal, acoustic rhythm guitar.
Starr/White: drums (Starr plays tambourine on White’s version.)

There were quite a few different versions of “Love Me Do” recorded. Along with the version with Ringo on drums (this one can be heard on the Past Masters compilation, there’s also the demo recording with Pete Best (The Beatles first drummer) that can be heard on Anthology 1 and the most people know (on Please Please Me & The Beatles 1) with session drummer Andy White (George Martin didn’t think Ringo was up to playing the drums at first, so he had a session drummer replace him on this recording.) Ringo played tambourine on the recording with White on drums.

Recording

The demo version heard on Anthology 1 was recorded on June 6, 1962, the version on Past Masters (with Ringo on drums) was recorded on September 4, and the version with Andy White on drums which is on Please Please Me (and the compilation albums) was recorded on September 11th.

It was recorded on a single track machine, so needless to say - no stereo mix was made.

Charts

It reached #17 in the UK when it was released there in 1962 as The Beatles first single. It reached #1 in the US on May 30, 1964 (for one week.) It was their 4th US #1 (after “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “She Loves You,” & “Can’t Buy Me Love.”) They would have two more #1s in 1964 with “A Hard Day’s Night” & “I Feel Fine.”

That gave them a ridiculous six #1 hits in the US in 1964. They also had two more singles that went to #2 (”Twist & Shout” & “Do You Want to Know a Secret?”) and a #3 (”Please Please Me.”) But that’s not all: “She’s A Woman” reached #4 & “P.S. I Love You” reached #10. This gave The Beatles a total of 11 top ten singles in 1964. “And I Love Her” (#12) & “I Saw Her Standing There” (#14) just missed it.

Last.FM Ranking

#19 most listened to Beatles song. Why so high? Probably because it’s the first track on the very popular Beatles 1 compilation and the first track on disc 1 of the ‘62-’66 greatest hits double album known as The Red Album which has also been a huge seller over the years. As you’ll see below, “Love Me Do” has been included on many different compilations as well as being on The Beatles first album Please Please Me.

Available On

Mono Box Set, Stereo Box Set, Please Please Me, The Beatles 1, Past Masters, Anthology 1, The Beatles Red Album, & Live at the BBC. All can be purchased online at The Beatles Amazon.com Store.

Buy The Remastered Please Please Me CD

1962, Beatles Songs, The Beatles

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