THE BEATLES - Please Please Me / Ask Me Why

Item Description

Vinyl, , 1st Issue
7" 45 RPM Single Misprint Mono

Released February 20, 1963, this is the first record released in the United States to bear the Beatles name. Manufactured by the American Record Pressing Co. (ARP). The record has thin silver lettering on a black label with oval logo and outer rim colorband. The misspelled “THE BEATTLES”. The initials “ARP” appear in script in the trail off areas. "AudioMatrix" stamps on the both sides.

Matrix numbers:
Side A (hand etched): 63-2967
Side B (hand etched): 63-2968

Accompanied by original 1963 Vee-Jay generic "circular logo" sleeve.

History: The first record released in the United States to bear the Beatles name was VJ-498, which was released on or about February 20, 1963. The single contained the group’s second British 45 RPM single, “Please Please Me” backed with “Ask Me Why”, and was released in England on January 11, 1963, as Parlophone 45-R 4983. Both songs were recorded on November 26, 1962 at Abbey Road Studios, London. Interestingly enough, Vee-Jay did not even know how to spell the group’s name. All initial issues of the record, as well as advertisements in the trade journals, added an extra “T” to the name. Thus, when VJ-498 was released in February of 1963, it was credited THE BEATTLES. The songwriters were listed as “J. Lennon-P. McCartney”.