The Beatles Love Me Do Fifty Years Ago

Posted: Oct 04 2012

LONDON – ‘Love Me Do’ (1962) was The Beatles first single record that was released exactly fifty years ago today.

The song only reached the 17th spot on the British hit parade but it was responsible for Liverpool’s Fab Four’s breakthrough.

The ‘early’ The Beatles rock band. L to R George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Star and Paul McCartney. Photo Credit: BRUNO

The song was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

“It was of course their first single but a more important fact is that The Beatles set a precedence to release only self-produced songs,” says Hamish MacBain, editor of the British music magazine NME.

“It was not normal during that time for groups to produce their own material. The Beatles were really radical.”

The Beatles would rise to great stardom since releasing ‘Love Me Do’ in 1962.

They became the best-selling band in history, with EMI Records estimating sales of over one billion units.

They have had more number-one albums on the British charts and sold more singles in the UK than any other act.

According to the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), as of 2012 The Beatles have sold 177 million units in the US, more than any other artist.