On this day in1962 The Beatles completed the recording of their first single ‘Love Me Do’ at the Abbey Road Studios
On this day in September 1962, the Beatles completed their first single at the Abbey Road studios in north London. A double sided single, with ‘Love Me Do’ on the A side and ‘Hey Baby’ on the B side. A release that would change the music industry forever.
The Beatles first single was completed on the 11th September 1962
Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ newly appointed manager, had work tirelessly to get the Beatles signed by a record company before the small Parlophone label step forward. Parlophone’s boss, George Martin, had previously been best known for releasing comedy records with Peter Sellers and the Goons, but was looking for a “beat group” in the mould of Cliff Richard and the Shadows.
The Beatles in the Abbey Road studio in the 1960s
The single was released on October 5, 1962, with very little promotion from EMI. Apparently Epstein ordered 10,000 copies for his Liverpool record shop which was enough to push it into the Top 20 and 10 times more than he could ever sell. It also became a dance favourite throughout Britain’s two ballroom chains, Mecca and Top Rank. Even so, it got no higher than number 17.
Abbey Road in 1962
For the Beatles, its real importance was cementing their relationship with George Martin, a producer who was to be of crucial importance to the end of their collective career. When they returned to Abbey Road with a new Lennon-McCartney song, Please Please Me, Martin offered no objection. At the end of the session, he told them: “Gentlemen, you have just made your first number one.” And he was right.
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