Please Mr. Postman
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- For the Naruto episode see: OH!? Please ♥ Mister Postman
| "Please Mr. Postman" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by The Marvelettes | ||
| from the album Please Mr. Postman | ||
| Released | August 21, 1961 | |
| Format | 7" single | |
| Recorded | Hitsville USA (Studio A); 1961 | |
| Genre | Soul/pop | |
| Length | 2:31 | |
| Label | Tamla T 54046 |
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| Writer(s) | Georgia Dobbins William Garrett Brian Holland Robert Bateman Freddie Gorman |
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| Producer(s) | Brianbert (Brian Holland & Robert Bateman) | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| The Marvelettes singles chronology | ||
| --- | "Please Mr. Postman" (1961) |
"Twistin' Postman" (1961) |
| "Please Mister Postman" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Song by The Beatles | ||
| from the album With the Beatles | ||
| Released | November 22, 1963 | |
| Recorded | September 11-12, 1963 | |
| Genre | Rock and roll | |
| Length | 2:36 | |
| Label | Parlophone | |
| Writer(s) | Georgia Dobbins William Garrett Brian Holland Robert Bateman Freddie Gorman |
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| Producer(s) | George Martin | |
| With the Beatles track listing | ||
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"Please Mr. Postman" is the debut single by The Marvelettes for the Tamla (Motown) label, notable as the first Motown song to reach the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. The single achieved this position in late 1961; it hit number-one on the R&B chart as well. "Please Mr. Postman" became a number-one hit again in early 1975, when the Carpenters' cover of the song also reached the top position of the Billboard Hot 100.
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[edit] History
In early 1961, The Marvelettes (then known as "The Marvels") arranged an audition for Berry Gordy's Tamla/Motown label. Marvels member Georgia Dobbins needed an original song for their audition , and got a blues song from her friend William Garrett, which she then reworked for the group. Dobbins left the group after the audition and was replaced, Gordy renamed the group and hired "Brianbert" - Brian Holland and Robert Bateman's songwriting partnership - to rework the song yet again. Freddie Gorman, another songwriting partner of Holland (before Holland became part of the Holland-Dozier-Holland team) was also was involved in the final reworking.
The Marvelettes recording features lead singer Gladys Horton hoping that the postman has brought her a letter from her boyfriend, who is away at war. Instrumentation is provided by The Funk Brothers, including Marvin Gaye on drums.
Songwriting credits for "Please Mr. Postman" seem to have changed over the years. The original Tamla 45 single for the Marvelettes' version credits "Dobbins/Garett/Brianbert" as the songwriters, and credits "Brianbert" as producer. The original With the Beatles album cover credited it to just Brian Holland. The 1974 Beatles discography book All Together Now credits it to Holland, Bateman, and Berry Gordy. The 1992 Motown boxed set Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection credits Dobbins, Garrett, Holland, Bateman, and Gorman as the composers. As of 2006, the Songwriters Hall of Fame credits "Please Mr. Postman" to just Holland, Bateman, and Gorman. [1]
"Please Mr. Postman" has frequently been covered, including a cover by The Beatles on their With the Beatles album. The Beatles' cover features a lead by John Lennon, resulting the genders being reversed in the composition. Later, a second hit version was recorded by The Carpenters, whose version took the song again to number-one on the Hot 100 in early 1975. The song has also been sampled by rapper Juelz Santana for his single "Oh Yes," and is used by the Rob, Arnie and Dawn Show to introduce their Listener Mail segment.
[edit] The Beatles' Version
The Beatles included "Please Mister Postman" as part of their live act in 1962, performing it regularly at the Cavern Club. But, by the time it was recorded for their second album, With the Beatles, it had been dropped from their set, and required some work in the studio to bring it up to an acceptable standard. Their version has been criticised as being over produced and sounding “airless”.[1] Nonetheless, Lennon’s double tracked vocal is authoritative, and George Harrison’s backing vocals (with Paul McCartney) are flawless, illustrating Harrison’s important, but often overlooked contribution to the overall vocal sound of The Beatles.
[edit] The Carpenters' Version
The Carpenters' version resembles an old 50s rock song, and although only 2:52, the version has a nice beat, nice orchestrations, and Karen's nice, pure voice. Although the album was released in June of 1975, the single itself was released in 1974. It did relatively well; it reached #1 and was dubbed a gold record. A music video of the song can be found on the DVD "Gold: Greatest Hits" (released on DVD in 2002), originally packaged as "Yesterday Once More" (released on VHS in 1985).
[edit] Notes
- ^ Ian MacDonald Revolution In The Head P. 81
| "Please Mr. Postman" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by The Carpenters | ||
| from the album Horizon | ||
| Released | 1974 | |
| Format | 7" single | |
| Recorded | 1974 | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Length | 2:50 | |
| Label | A&M 1846 |
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| Producer(s) | The Carpenters | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| The Carpenters singles chronology | ||
| "I Won't Last a Day Without You" (1974) |
"Please Mr. Postman" (1974) |
"Only Yesterday" (1975) |
| Preceded by "Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single (Marvelettes version) December 11, 1961 |
Succeeded by "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by The Tokens |
| Preceded by "Mandy" by Barry Manilow |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single (Carpenters version) January 25, 1975 |
Succeeded by "Laughter in the Rain" by Neil Sedaka |
