Single - “From Me to You” / “Thank You Girl” (1963)
Recording 17 days before the "Please Please Me" album would be released, The Beatles hoped to score another hit single with "From Me to You". Once again John and Paul worked together, reportedly writing in a car. The track opens with the band singing what was originally written as a lead guitar line. This innovation is credited to George Martin. The song is musically more complex than The Beatles’ earlier offerings, featuring a repeated bridge, and a very prominent G-augmented chord.
"The thing I liked about ‘From Me to You’ was it had a very complete middle. It went to a surprising place. The opening chord of the middle section of that song heralded a new batch for me. That was a pivotal song. Our songwriting lifted a little with that song." - Paul
Released on 11 April 1963, it became The Beatles’ first #1 UK hit on May 4. It remained on top for 7 weeks. The B-side was "Thank You Girl", a John-Paul number as a tribute to the band’s female fans. Although "Please Please Me" had been a total flop in ths US, Vee-Jay Records decided to release "From Me to You" state-side as well, in early May. It started out even less successful than "Please Please Me", but finally hit the lower rungs of the US charts in August after heavy play by one Los Angeles DJ, Dick Biondi. Still, The Beatles were the hottest thing in the UK and almost unheard of in the US.
Tags: Beatles, single, From Me to You, Thank You Girl, Number 1, #1, hit
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1 opinion for Single - “From Me to You” / “Thank You Girl” (1963)
Jennifer
Aug 1, 2007 at 12:45 am
Lord, they look like babies in that picture! This blog is so fascinating. I do prefer later Beatles to very early Beatles but every time I hear I Want To Hold Your Hand it makes me want to go to some prom somewhere and dance — it’s crazy. Good stuff you’ve got.
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