Today in Music (1963): “From Me to You” became the Beatles’ first UK #1

From Me to You The Beatles

Writer(s): John Lennon, Paul McCartney (see lyrics here) Released: April 12, 1963 First Charted: April 18, 1963 Peak: 41 US, 41 CB, 46 HR, 4 CL, 17 UK, 6 CN, 9 AU, 8 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.8 UK Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 4.6 video, -- streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: After “Love Me Do” hit #17, the Beatles got to #2 with the follow-up, “Please Please Me.” When the group recorded the song, producer George Martin told the group, “Congratulations, you have just made your first number one.” KL His prediction was close, but it wasn’t until the Beatles’ third UK chart entry, “From Me to You,” that the group found themselves at the chart pinnacle. It didn’t fare as well in the U.S. It was released on the Vee Jay label on May 27, 1963, SF and failed to hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart until after the success of “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” Even then, it only reached #41. Del Shannon actually hit the charts first in the U.S. with his cover of the song. He was the first American to cover a Beatles song. SF His version charted on June 29, 1963, and peaked at #77. The song “is crisp, catchy and hip – more of that fashionable harmonica; throaty Everleys harmonies; a teasing lyric; a no-nonsense beat that accelerates thrillingly into the chorus; and shouting.” FT The song is “an archetypal Merseybeat recording,” KL which “was the fad that changed the world.” FT It is “upbeat and strong in the harmony and melody department, and performed by a white male group with lead, rhythm and bass guitars, and drum.” KL “Merseybeat, like skiffle, was a small club music and even if technique was valuable it was rarely shown off: what counted was energy and pace. There had been aggressive music at the top of the British charts before (‘Great Balls of Fire’!) but generally played by Americans…or incorporating safer comic aspects.” FT “From Me to You” was credited to John Lennon and Paul McCartney, as were more than 200 Beatles’ compositions. However, few were genuine examples of the pair writing together. KP They wrote the song on a bus while touring with Helen Shapiro, a 16-year-old who was more popular in America at the time. SF The Beatles wrote it as a message to their fans. SF The title was inspired by the letter column entitled “From You to Us” from the British music newspaper New Musical Express. SF Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for The Beatles KL Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh. (2005). 1000 UK Number One Hits. Omnibus Press: London, UK. Page 91. FT FreakyTrigger.co.uk (11/19/2004). “Popular (UK #1 Singles)” by Tom Ewing SF Songfacts Related Links: First posted 6/23/2022; last updated 9/19/2023.