Historic Day in Beatles History

06/06/2011
. On this day in 1962, the first Beatles recording session took place at Abbey Road Studios. The group recorded four tracks, including "Love Me Do," which earned the four musicians �7.10 ($12.07) each for their session work. Gibson takes a look back: After Decca Records famously turned down The Beatles ("Guitar groups are on the way out, Mr. Epstein�"), George Martin was there to swoop the Fab Four up for the EMI imprint Parlophone. Elation, however, quickly turned to sadness when the boys were greeted back in Germany with the news that Sutcliffe had suddenly died from a brain hemorrhage.

The Beatles regrouped from that tragedy and on this day in 1962 went into London's Abbey Road Studios to record for the first time under Martin's direction. They recorded four songs, including "Love Me Do," which would eventually � though not from this particular recording � become The Beatles' first hit, climbing to #17 in the U.K. and #1 in the States (it was re-released in the U.K. 1982, peaking at #4.) McCartney wrote most of "Love Me Do," with Lennon contributing a bit in the middle.

It was readily apparent to Martin during that first session at Abbey Road Studios that Pete Best wasn't going to cut it on drums, so he brought it up to Epstein, who spoke with the band (minus Best). Martin recalled in his book, Summer of Love, "On the 6 June Beatles' session (audition) I decided that Pete Best had to go [and said to Epstein] I don't care what you do with Pete Best; but he's not playing on any more recording sessions. I'm getting a session drummer in." more on this story

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