Oct 4, 2012 at 12:35 PM | MusicNews | By Rock Square

Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of the release of “Love Me Do”, The Beatles’ first single and arguably one of the most important and influential songs in the history of pop music. It’s a big deal birthday, in other words, and EMI was planning to celebrate the occasion with a special “replica” vinyl single of the 1962 track.

But record dealers are coming forward with word that EMI has begun a recall of the throwback 45s. Apparently a mix-up led to the wrong version of the song making its way to wax.

As you will read tomorrow in our lengthy tribute to The Beatles’ first record, two versions of “Love Me Do” were officially released back in 1962. The first pressings of the single featured new Beatle Ringo Starr on drums, while subsequent releases (including Please Please Me and various greatest hits packages) contained a slightly later recording with session musician Andy White playing drums.

According to internet scuttlebutt, EMI’s 50th anniversary reissue was supposed to feature the Ringo version, but somehow the better known Andy-White-on-drums iteration ended up getting pressed instead.

Whether this is a publicity stunt or an actual mistake, one thing is certain: Beatles collectors have a new treasure to hunt for.

And now, if you don’t mind, a little self-promotion: tune in tomorrow for our special tribute to “Love Me Do”.

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