Studio Two, EMI Studios, London
With the modest success of "Love Me Do", the Beatles were invited to return to EMI to record a second single. "Please Please Me", first aired in the studio on September 11th, was completed during this session, booked for 7:00-10:00 pm, but was finished 15 minutes ahead of time - 9:45. The group arrived at Abbey Road at 6:00 pm and had a short rehearsal prior to the session proper.
Including overdubs of John's distinctive harmonica wailing, "Please Please Me" was recorded in 18 takes and was chosen as the A-side. Then, after a short break, six takes of a re-make of "Ask Me Why" were taped (the first version having been recorded on June 6th) and the best was selected for the B-side. The Beatles also played to George Martin a third Lennon-McCartney number, "Tip Of My Tongue", but George was unhappy with the arrangement and said that it would have to be held over for another time. In fact, the Beatles never revived it, and it wasn't until July 1963 that it was recorded - by another Epstein artist, Tommy Quickly.
