Oct 16, 2012 at 4:14 PM | Music News | By Rock Square

Two weeks after recalling its initial batch of pressings, EMI and Apple Corps Ltd. have announced October 22 as the new street date for its “Love Me Do” replica 7-inch single, which is intended to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the song that launched The Beatles’ career.

The special edition record was supposed to be released on October 5, exactly fifty years after Parlophone delivered The Fab Four to turntables for the first time. But, as Rock Square reported a couple of weeks ago, the wrong version of The Beatles hit ended up getting pressed.

Parlophone’s original “Love Me Do” single, released on October 5, 1962, featured Ringo Starr on drums, but on subsequent pressings, that recording was switched out for a later version of the tune featuring session musician Andy White on drums. It is this “White version” that most fans know, but for the 50th Anniversary, EMI and Apple wanted to go with the Ringo track.

But, alas, a mix-up somewhere along the line resulted in a batch of “Love Me Do” replica reissues with White’s drumming on them, and EMI/Apple quickly pulled the plug, recalling the record from all retailers.

Which, of course, gives collectors another rare bit of Beatles treasure to endlessly hunt for. The “official” replica record will be out next Monday. Until then, check out Rock Square’s brief history of “Love Me Do” here for the full scoop on the many iterations of this classic song.

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