An album recorded in one day | The Beatles in the Studio Series

When the beatles finished recording please please me on 26 November 1962 at abbey road, George Martin told them over the loudspeaker: "Gentlemen I think you've got your first number 1". Love me do which had also been recorded a few weeks earlier reached number 17 during 1962, and during December of that year the beatles catapulted to gigantic levels of national fame, and it was not until February of the following year, 1963, that please please me as a single reached number one in the new musical express charts, but reaching number 2 in the Record Retailer charts, which years later would evolve into the official UK chart, creating that controversial situation between whether please please me had reached number 1 or number 2.

With this situation George martin knew that the next logical step was to record a full length album to get it up the charts as quickly as possible, the first idea was to record a completely live album, the label's budget was not exactly the highest so they had done it before with artists like peter cook, but the cavern being subway with its concrete walls and natural echo chamber was not suitable for such an adventure, so George martin locked himself and the beatles in the studio to recreate the set list that the band played live, recording a complete album in such a short space of time did not seem an unreasonable request in 1963, the songs were recorded live on a two track BTR machine, leaving little chances for overdubs or elaborate edits, consider also that please please me and its B-side "Ask Me Why" were already recorded, as was the beatles' first single "love me do" backed by P. S. I Love you.
So the mission was to record 10 more songs to complement the 14 that were usual in those years for a british album, the idea was to record a direct interpretation of what was their live performances and broadcasts, their manager brian epstein left them a day of rest prior to the recording, so they would be focused and rested to make the recording. With the appointment at the EMI studios at 10 am on february 11, 1963.

Narrated by: Sean Horn

[den]

That winter of 1962-63 was horrendous ! As a 12 year old schoolboy living in Scotland my feet froze in the school playground. The fact that all I had to wear was a pair of plastic sandals on my feet compounded my misery. However the upside was the advent of the Beatles and their dynamite singles that year.

[pardyhardly]

We are so lucky to have had The Beatles.

[yesterdayproductions]

"There's A Place" was way ahead of its time. That opening Major7 note (D#) played against the E major chord was unusual for Pop/Rock. That song is hauntingly beautiful.

[doriskray]

I never tire revisiting the Beatles’ history and these very early songs. I still get chills.

[gaylealleluia]

Twist And Shout.. John’s voice, though damaged, gave him the perfect voice for this song. Even live he sings like that. Brilliant!!

[leebee]

The reason an album could be recorded so quickly is because the band was so good they could pull it off.

[AbqRealDeals]

AMAZING! I'm 68 years old, a long time Beatles fan, and I've never seen most of these photos. Thank you so very much!

[alphonsocarioti]

The Beatles' first album was recorded in one day. Their second album took even longer!

[docwill]

60-yrs later and the high harmonies, "Please pleease me, ohoh yeah, like I please you.." still send shivers.

[UncompressedWAVmusic]

Absolutely mind boggling how good the Beatles were on that one day LP recording. So much brilliance and synchronicity and Divine providence occurred for that LP in a day results to occur. They were simply the Best Group in the World at that time and proved it in a day and released it to the world and Beatlemania went worldwide. I remember going to a spin the bottle at a friends place and the only records there were the Beatles and The Rolling Stones. The Beatles was the most professional band in the world when they were together.

[mcarp]

The _Please Please Me_ lp was number one in the UK for *six solid months* before it was finally replaced by their second album, _With The Beatles._

[ricknorris]

Love their energy on this record. Lennon sings his arse off.

[pbasswil]

I loved the grainy b&w studio photos as much as the chronicle of the recording!

[Grisostomo]

"Please Please Me" is my favorite Beatles album. Every song on it is pure gold to my ears anyway. Solid and unpretentious, it showcases four excellent young musicians who had honed their craft doing virtually non-stop live performances.

[DSRQ]

And probably the best 2 minutes in pop/rock music, Please Please Me. Their energy is palpable and I cant get by with just one listen.

[RetroCarsForever]

I have a new appreciation for this album...They actually had much more complex studio work than I thought!

[anonymusum]

I guess most people can´t imagine what it means to record a whole album in real good quality in just one day. It´s insane! But without the experiences and stamina they got during their Hamburg engagements this would have been impossible. At that time they were the most professional band in the whole scene and they kept this title for at least the next six years. No other band came close.

[JB]

What great video of the greatest band of all time. I am going to redownload all of the early Beatles albums in lossless Apple music format. Still awaiting Super Deluxe Revolver in 2 weeks. Does everyone realize the Beatles went from this album to Revolver in just 4 years!!?? Talk about growth and improvement. I am 72 years old and just cannot get enough of these guy!

[MrThedonhead]

I really hope Paul will be seen as the Beatles as john himself said the Beatles were a band based on Pauls image, George said the same as well and the more we hear them in the studio you realise Paul was arranger and producer as well, the guy was on another level musically tgen any one that has ever lived as mozart and Beethoven didnt have words. But seriously Paul is a miracle and the hard life he had and never let him stop him is a inspiration!! You cannot be inspired by jagger, richards, lennon or dylan as they are bad human beings but McCartney had it all and still became a good father and husband!! What a man! And his solo career will one day be seen as the genius it is!

[Classicrocker]

I had no idea that the “Please Please Me” album was recorded so quickly. After this segment you can see first hand what a great team the Beatles along with George Martin were evolving into. The bridge on “I Saw Her Standing There” stand out for me as it sounds very innovative and ahead of it’s time. Great video!!