The Beatles recorded their first album in a 12-hour session
Please Please Me, The Beatles’ first album, was recorded during a 12-hour session on February 11, 1963.
The setting was EMI Studios in London, where John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr worked under the guidance of producer George Martin. Driven by a combination of youthful enthusiasm, raw talent, and a burning desire to make their mark, the Fab Four embarked on what would become a musical marathon. Initially, the band had booked out the studio for the whole day, though they added even more time in order to continue the recording session into the evening.
The lengthy recording session began at 10am, and was especially gruelling for John Lennon, who had a terrible cold. The band even rehearsed during their lunch break, meaning that by the end of the day, Lennon was truly struggling. He commented that the recording of the last song nearly killed him, and that it took his voice a very long time to recover. Despite this, the band were able to successfully record all 14 songs.
The day wrapped at 10:30pm, with ‘Twist and Shout’ being the last song that was recorded. But that wasn’t the end – the band still needed to listen to all the recordings back. Luckily, they were happy with the result of their efforts: their urgency and determination had paid off.
Please Please Me hit the shelves in March 1963, marking the beginning of a musical phenomenon.
If you’re a fan of The Beatles, you might like our limited edition Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite print.
Image credit: © UMG Archive via Abbey Road Studios.
Also in News
Songs for spring, a Beatles playlist
It’s been a long time coming but spring is finally here! As the first green shoots push through the earth, there's a palpable sense of renewal and rebirth in the air. As spring is a season of awakening, it’s the ideal time to refresh our playlists with tunes that mirror the blossoming world around us. And what better way to soundtrack the springtime than with the timeless music of The Beatles?
Celebrating the genius of Leonardo da Vinci: A tribute to a timeless visionary
April 15 marks Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday, a day when we are reminded of the remarkable life of Leonardo da Vinci, a figure whose profound influence transcends the boundaries of time and disciplines.
Our latest giveaway winner is a massive Beatles fan
You may remember that Lisa was the lucky winner of our last Instagram giveaway. It was clear from the comments on the giveaway post that there are many people who would love to win a copy of our Mr. Kite print, so we decided to give our followers another chance to win with our Easter giveaway.
Sign up to our (infrequent) newsletter and you’ll be automatically entered into a prize draw to win your choice of any print available on this site! You’ll also be first to hear about new limited edition prints and special offers.
Join today