The world celebrates 50 years of Beatle mania, and the cult band’s first hit single record ‘Love Me Do’ on October 5. Here’s saluting the Fab Four

The world celebrates 50 years of Beatle mania, and the cult band’s first hit single record ‘Love Me Do’ on October 5. Here’s saluting the Fab Four

    THE year 1962 will go down in history for American icon Marilyn Monroe’s death and Nelson Mandela’s prison sentence. But then a seemingly insignificant event that occurred that year went on to be a precursor for the decade’s definitive sensation. In June 1962, four boys from Liverpool, England, recorded their first single Love Me Do — backed by another single P.S. I Love You — and later went on to become the greatest band in the world. Released on October 5 that year, The Beatles’ seminal first recording established the group that went on to influence pop culture, fashion, spirituality and politics like no other.
THE MAGIC OF LOVE ME DO What sets apart this incredibly simple three-chord song (with an austere four-note harmonica riff is, in fact, its simplicity. For starters, compared to the “clean” hits of those days, it had a “rough” sound. Another reason was a slow “skiffle” beat — skiffle was a craze in the late 1950s (the song was written between 1958 and 1959). Skiffle is jazz, folk, or country music played using unconventional instruments, such as kazoos, washboards or jugs, sometimes in combination. Young people were attracted to the song’s instrumentation, because even ordinary players could master an acoustic guitar and two or three chords.
    It was also not the norm for bands to write their own songs. With Paul McCartney and John Lennon sharing writing credits, Love Me Do was different. Says singer Gary Lawyer, who has been part of innumerable Beatles tribute concerts, “I was a school goer when the song became a craze. I still remember how great I felt when I first heard it. My friends and I used to play it at every party we threw.” The track’s easy but powerful lyrics have a special significance for him. Love is a sweet and true emotion, full of innocence and that blush of a first crush. Perhaps that’s why it still features in music polls on the most popular love songs of all time.
    The innocence of the words has its roots in their inspiration. The lyrics have a direct link with McCartney and Lennon’s love for the literary works of Lewis Carroll. The phrase “love, love me do” is straight from the Carroll era — “Alice, stop daydreaming, do!” for instance. Lennon’s obsession with Carroll continued throughout his Beatles songwriting career, as seen in Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and I Am The Walrus.
THE BRITISH INVASION WAS BLACK McCartney is also quoted as saying this song was their attempt to “do the blues”, although it came out “whiter, because it always does”. What Americans viewed as the unique ‘British Invasion’ sound was in actuality The Beatles’ attempt to sound black.
RECORDED THRICE It’s an unusual single for another reason — it was recorded on three different occasions with three different drummers: June 6, and September 4 and 11 in 1962. The Beatles first recorded it on June 6, 1962 with Pete Best on drums. By September 4, Best had been replaced with Ringo Starr because producer George Martin said he did not approve of Best’s drumming. One week later, on September 11, The Beatles returned to the same studio and made another recording with session drummer Andy White, since Martin was unhappy with Starr’s performance!
    Despite all this, Love Me Do almost lost out on being their debut number. At their September 4 session, Martin decided their first single should be How Do You Do It? written by another lyricist. But the band didn’t like it and did some lacklustre takes of the song on purpose. Eventually, Martin changed his mind and How Do You Do It? was released by the band Gerry and the Pacemakers in 1964.
    Although not as legendary, P.S. I Love You has unusual chords and a song structure compared to Love Me Do. It has a completely different arrangement, and is an early indicator of the variety of music The Beatles went on to record.

From the prevalence of Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s transcendental meditation in the West to popularising the mop-top haircut, Edwardian suits and ankle-length pointed-toe boots, the Fab Four’s influence is written all over western spirituality and fashion. This 1964 file photo shows them attending a meditation session by the guru in Rishikesh. (Right, from top) Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — the Fab Four.