Please Please Me (1963) 60th Anniversary Part 1

As if there was ever any doubt, one truth was made evident in the fall 2016: Americans are geniuses! Capitol executives in 1963 were no exception, when they passed on the chance to release the first Beatles album. Then, when they finally released it in early ’65 (for roughly the 117th time - thank you, VJ! #FrankIfield), it was shortened and chopped up.

But before 1987, “The Early Beatles” was all we had in the U.S. (Anyone who owned an import of “Please Please Me” did so illegally and should do the right thing and turn themselves in. And since Apple has disowned the VJ releases, you must throw your originals away. #BeatleRules #Calderstone) And in ’87, when the Beatles CD’s belatedly appeared, and the original U.K. catalog restored globally, the U.S. finally got their proper debut. A year after “Twist & Shout” hit the charts thanks to “Ferris Bueller”, this amazing debut was back in the cultural zeitgeist.

We could go on and on, but, as David Bowie (no, not the 27 minute Phish tune, pal) once said: This is not America, sha la la la la… (#LiveAtTheBBC)

So Scottie Pip Pip and Honey Nut Cheerio, across the pond on a jumbo we go, as Tony and T.J. begin their trademark deep dish (try and replicate the sauce, b word…YA CAN’T) on one of the latter’s favorite British Beatles records. And along the way, the Gab Two twist and shout themselves into metaphorical McBeans over: