The Beatles' first album, Please Please Me, was released in 1963, shortly after the band's number one hit of the same name in England. During the recording of that song, it became clear for the first time that the Beatles and producer George Martin clicked. The lyrically quite ambiguous Please Please Me was written and rehearsed by John Lennon in the style of Roy Orbison, complete with his well-known
… solemn rhythm. Martin turned up the tempo and let George Harrison play a theme, after which the song came to life. The rest of the album, which also contains the first single Love Me Do, was recorded in one day without overdubs. The band still relied heavily on the live repertoire of rock & roll and girl group covers (from Arthur Alexander, The Cookies and The Shirelles) but the first signs of writing talent were already visible in I Saw Her Standing There, Ask Me Why and There's A Place. The latter song in particular is an exciting piece of harmony vocals, with lyrics bursting with authentic 'teenage angst'. The aaaah choirs in the closing song, a heavy version of The Isley Brothers' Twist & Shout, would drive teenagers mad during the live concerts for years to come. (MS)more
