June 6, 2012, marked the 50th anniversary of the Beatles first visit to Abbey Road Studios. The group, consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney George Harrison and Pete Best, arrived at what was then called EMI Studios on June 6, 1962, for a commercial test (an evaluation of a signed artist). Two days earlier, the band had signed a recording contract with “The Parlophone Company Limited of Hayes in the County of Middlesex.” The group was paid Musicians Union rates for the June 6 session, indicating that the Beatles were in fact EMI recording artists by the time they arrived at Abbey Road.
The following four songs were recording that day: Besame Mucho, P.S. I Love You, Ask Me Why and Love Me Do. The latter three songs were Lennon-McCartney originals that would later be re-recorded for commercial release, with Love Me Do and P.S. I Love You issued as the Beatles first single and Ask Me Why appearing as the B-side to the group’s second single.
TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Who initially served as producer for the Beatles first recording session at Abbey Road Studios on June 6, 1962?
Although George Martin set up the Beatles first recording session at Abbey Road, Martin’s assistant, Ron Richards, initially served as producer because he was more familiar with pop and rock ’n’ roll than Martin, whose background encompassed classical and comedy recordings. Memories differ as to when Martin appeared at the session, but all agree he was there for Love Me Do. He was also there for most of the Beatles other recording sessions through January 3, 1970. As for Ron Richards, he signed the Hollies to EMI’s Parlophone label in 1963 and produced most of the Hollies music for the next 16 years. Richards died on April 30, 2009.
George Martin with the Beatles, late 1963.
Return to Main Trivia Page for more trivia
Other posts of the series
- 2012: THE YEAR OF 50TH ANNIVERSARIES (May 8, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Commercial Test at Abbey Road (June 5, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles First Visit to Abbey Road Studios - More (This post) (June 11, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles First Visit to Abbey Road Studios - Continued (June 18, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles First Proper Recording Session (September 4, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: The Beatles 2nd Recording Session for their 1st Single (September 12, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: EMI Prepares for Release of First Beatles Single (September 25, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: EMI Releases First Beatles Single (October 3, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: The Beatles First Television Appearance (October 16, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles played at Queen’s Hall (October 23, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles leave for Hamburg (October 30, 2012)
- 50 years ago: The Beatles and James Bond (November 6, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: Another full week of concert appearances for the Beatles (November 21, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: The Beatles Record their Second Single (November 27, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: A Rare Beatles Stage Show Flop (December 4, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Top Mersey Beat Poll Again (December 11, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Leave for Final Hamburg Club Dates (December 18, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles spend Christmas in Hamburg (December 24, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Ring in New Year in Hamburg (December 31, 2012)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles in Scotland (January 7, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Promote Please Please Me Single (January 15, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Promote Please Please Me Single (January 22, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Gearing Up for First National Tour (January 29, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Please Please Me Single Released in America (February 5, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Record First Album (February 11, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Continue Promoting 2nd Single (February 19, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: George Martin Prepares Album; Beatles Resume Helen Shapiro Tour (February 26, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Record From Me To You (March 5, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles on Tour with Tommy Roe & Chris Montez (March 12, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: First Beatles Album Released (March 18, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Conclude Roe/Montez Tour (March 25, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles at the BEEB (March 28, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Release and Promote Third Single (April 9, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Play Royal Albert Hall & Empire Pool (April 16, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Continue With Concerts (April 22, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: While the Beatles on Vacation, Singles Chart (April 30, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Beatles Please Please Me LP Tops the Charts (May 7, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: CONCERTS, CHILDREN’S TV AND TOURS (May 12, 2013)
- 50 Years Ago: Touring with Orbison and their own Radioshow (May 13, 2013)
