Ask Me Why

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"Ask Me Why"
"Ask Me Why" cover
Song by the Beatles
from the album Please Please Me
Released 11 January 1963 (single, UK)
25 February 1963 (single, US)
22 March 1963 (album, mono)
26 April 1963 (album, stereo)
Recorded 26 November 1962
Genre Rock and roll
Length 2:24
Label Parlophone
Writer(s) McCartney/Lennon
Producer(s) George Martin
Please Please Me track listing
Side one
  1. "I Saw Her Standing There"
  2. "Misery"
  3. "Anna (Go to Him)"
  4. "Chains"
  5. "Boys"
  6. "Ask Me Why"
  7. "Please Please Me"
Side two
  1. "Love Me Do"
  2. "P.S. I Love You"
  3. "Baby It's You"
  4. "Do You Want to Know a Secret"
  5. "A Taste of Honey"
  6. "There's a Place"
  7. "Twist and Shout"

"Ask Me Why" is a song by the Beatles originally released in 1963 as the B-side of the hit single "Please Please Me" in the United Kingdom. It was also included on their first UK album, Please Please Me.

The song was mainly a John Lennon composition, written in early 1962, but it was credited to Paul McCartney and John Lennon, as were all other Lennon/McCartney originals on the Please Please Me album. It was included in their live act and was one of the songs performed at their Parlophone audition in Abbey Road's studio three on 6 June 1962. Complex in structure, it strives to emulate the style of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.[1]

"Ask Me Why" was recorded on 26 November 1962, the same day they attempted "Tip of My Tongue", another Lennon and McCartney song considered for the B-side of their second UK single. George Martin felt that "Tip of My Tongue" still needed some work and it was eventually given to Tommy Quickly to record.[2]

Some early Beatles' compositions had slightly unorthodox endings, and "Ask Me Why", written and performed in a major key throughout, switches to a minor key for its last unresolved chord, leaving it seemingly hanging in mid air. As a live performing band, all their songs needed clear-cut endings, but later, when they began recording their material, they would have the option of fading out a song.

[edit] Other Releases

[edit] Credits

  • John Lennon – rhythm guitar, lead vocal
  • Paul McCartney – bass guitar, backing vocal
  • George Harrison – lead guitar, backing vocal
  • Ringo Starr – drums

[edit] Reference

  1. ^ Ian Macdonald, Revolution In The Head, p.57
  2. ^ Mark Lewisohn, The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, p. 23
 v • d • e The Beatles
Singles (UK - Parlophone, Apple Records)

1962: Love Me Do • 1963: Please Please Me, From Me to You, She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand • 1964: Can't Buy Me Love, A Hard Day's Night, I Feel Fine • 1965: Ticket to Ride, Help!, Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out • 1966: Paperback Writer, Eleanor Rigby / Yellow Submarine • 1967: Strawberry Fields Forever / Penny Lane, All You Need Is Love, Hello, Goodbye • 1968: Lady Madonna, Hey Jude • 1969: Get Back / Don't Let Me Down, Ballad of John and Yoko, Something / Come Together • 1970: Let It Be

1976: Yesterday, Back in the U.S.S.R. • 1978: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band / A Day in the Life • 1982: The Beatles Movie Medley, Love Me Do (reissue) • 1995: Baby It's You, Free as a Bird • 1996: Real Love
B-sides

1962: P.S. I Love You • 1963: Ask Me Why, Thank You Girl, I'll Get You, This Boy • 1964: You Can't Do That, Things We Said Today, She's a Woman • 1965: Yes It Is, I'm Down • 1966: Rain • 1967: Baby You're a Rich Man, I Am the Walrus • 1968: The Inner Light, Revolution • 1969: Old Brown Shoe • 1970: You Know My Name (Look up the Number)

1976: I Should Have Known Better, Twist and Shout • 1982: I'm Happy Just to Dance with You, P.S. I Love You (reissue) • 1995: I'll Follow the Sun / Devil in Her Heart / Boys, Christmas Time (Is Here Again) • 1996: Baby's in Black
Singles (U.S. - Capitol Records, Apple Records)

1963: I Want to Hold Your Hand • 1964: Can't Buy Me Love, A Hard Day's Night, I'll Cry Instead, And I Love Her, Matchbox, I Feel Fine • 1965: Eight Days a Week, Ticket to Ride, Help!, Yesterday, We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper • 1966: Nowhere Man, Paperback Writer, Eleanor Rigby / Yellow Submarine • 1967: Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever, All You Need Is Love, Hello, Goodbye • 1968: Lady Madonna, Hey Jude • 1969: Get Back / Don't Let Me Down, Ballad of John and Yoko, Something / Come Together • 1970: Let It Be, The Long and Winding Road

1976: Got to Get You into My Life • 1978: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band / A Day in the Life • 1982: The Beatles Movie Medley • 1986: Twist and Shout • 1995: Baby It's You, Free as a Bird• 1996: Real Love
B-sides

1963: I Saw Her Standing There • 1964: You Can't Do That, I Should Have Known Better, I'm Happy Just to Dance with You, If I Fell, Slow Down, She's a Woman • 1965: I Don't Want to Spoil the Party, Yes It Is, I'm Down, Act Naturally • 1966: What Goes On, Rain • 1967: Baby You're a Rich Man, I Am the Walrus • 1968: The Inner Light, Revolution • 1969: Old Brown Shoe • 1970: You Know My Name (Look up the Number), For You Blue

1976: Helter Skelter • 1982: I'm Happy Just to Dance with You • 1986: There's a Place • 1995: I'll Follow the Sun / Devil in Her Heart / Boys, I Saw Her Standing There / This Boy / Christmas Time (Is Here Again) • 1996: Baby's in Black / Yellow Submarine / Here, There and Everywhere


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