Talk:Love Me Do

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[edit] Songwriting Timeframe

The edits of this article contain different songwriting timeframes. The current edit (28 October 2006) states:

• "Love Me Do" is an early Lennon-McCartney song, principally written by Paul McCartney in 1958.

whereas an earlier edit stated "1961-2".

According to Lennon's quotation listed at [1]:

• "Paul wrote the main structure of this when he was sixteen, or even earlier. I think I had something to do with the middle."

Unless there is a precise year from another citation, "late 1950s" may be the most appropriate.

Zakko 19:43, 28 October 2006 (UTC)

Hi Zakko. I was referencing Paul's "Many Years From Now" page 37. Paul was born 1942, so age sixteen would place it '58. If however you think it's safer to say late 50's then ok. I would dispute ' 61/' 62 however. --Patthedog 20:38, 28 October 2006 (UTC)

Hi Patthedog,

Thank you for the reference. I agree with you that "1961-2" doesn't seem to be correct because Many Years From Now and Lennon's quotation (shown above) states that the song was mainly written when McCartney was 16 "or even earlier" (to quote Lennon). That what would set the timeframe for McCartney's main structure of "Love Me Do" at between 18 June 1956 and 17 June 1959 because he wrote his first song ("I Lost My Little Girl") when he was 14, and his 17th birthday was 18 June 1959 (he would be classed as being 16 years of age up to 17 June 1959). (Lennon thought that he had "something to do with the middle", and it's possible that some parts of the song were written between 1959 and 6 June 1962, when The Beatles recorded the song at their Parlophone audition.)

I think it's fair to say, on the basis of the references, that McCartney probably wrote the main structure before his 17th birthday, so either "late 1950s" would be appropriate, or maybe "1958-9" if we accept that it was mainly written when has was 16. I'll put "1958-9" in the article, and include the Many Years From Now and Lennon interview references. I hope that's OK with you.

Zakko. It’s probably fair to say that McCartney had the basis of this song already in his head when they apparently, according to McCartney, composed it together “eyeball to eyeball”. Certainly Lennon remembered it differently though, playing down his role. The middle eight “Someone to love” bit always sticks out as being added somehow, possibly Lennon? Anyway, I agree with you so that’s fine with me. --Patthedog 12:40, 29 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Prevalence of Ringo version

"Most issues of the single contain the Andy White version of the track, which can also be heard on several albums (including Please Please Me) and the The Beatles' Hits EP. The initial issues of the UK single, however, featured the Ringo Starr version, which is also included on the compilation album Past Masters, Volume One. All singles printed with the red Parlophone label contain the Ringo Starr version, whereas the singles having a black Parlophone label are the Andy White version."

If the most recent Record Collector Rare Record Price Guide is anything to go by, this is untrue. The Ringo masters were used for black label pressings of the single until as late as 1964.

The evidence suggests that ALL 1960s UK Parlophone pressings of "Love Me Do", both red and black, are of the Ringo version. It appears that the Andy White version didn't surface on a British 45 until 1976 (!) - although it was presumably used for overseas issues of the single. The red label reissue from 1982, confusingly enough, also features the Andy White version - you must get an original 1960s pressing in order to get the Ringo version.

In summary (someone correct me if I'm wrong):

1962-3 red label = Ringo version

1963-4 black label = Ringo version

1976 black label = Andy version

1982 red label = Andy version

217.155.20.163 17:05, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Harmonica

"It was on the 4 September session that Martin suggested using a harmonica, presumably replacing a guitar phrase."

Actually, the "audition session" version with Pete Best, which was recorded I believe in June and released on Anthology 1, also has harmonica. So the idea to use the harmonica, whether Martin's or Lennon's or whoever, was made well before the single version with Ringo.--216.165.62.139 14:08, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for that. Will look into and amend. --Patthedog 16:12, 26 March 2007 (UTC)