Home · Songs · The Beatles · Please Mister Postman
From album
With The Beatles
The Beatles · 1963
Details
TonalidadA
Compás4/4
Tempo123 BPM
Duración2:35
ÁlbumWith The Beatles
Año1963
ISRCGBAYE0401910
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The story behind
The story of *Please Mister Postman* is a fascinating example of how a song can evolve and leave its mark at different times. Originally, it was the song that served as the introduction for the Marvelettes, a girl group seeking an opportunity at Berry Gordy's Tamla label. For their audition in April 1961, Georgia Dobbins, who was then the lead vocalist, took a blues piece from a friend, William Garrett, and adapted it for the group. After Dobbins' departure, the songwriting duo known as "Brianbert"—formed by Brian Holland and Robert Bateman—entered the scene to further refine the piece. They were joined by Freddie Gorman, who, besides being a collaborator of Holland's, worked as a mailman in Detroit, giving him a unique perspective on the theme. The song's authorship has had various attributions over time, but the most complete version recognizes Dobbins, Garrett, Holland, Bateman, and Gorman as composers.
The Beatles' version, included on their 1963 album *With the Beatles*, gave it an interesting twist. Recorded at the Hitsville U.S.A. studio in Detroit, this interpretation featured production by George Martin and the participation of engineers like Geoff Emerick. In this take, John Lennon takes the lead vocals, reversing the gender roles of the original lyrics. Although the band was already playing it live in 1962, even in iconic venues like the Cavern Club, the recording for the album required studio work to achieve the desired sound. The piece, which remains in 4/4 time and uses a common harmonic progression, was originally released as a single on August 21, 1961, reaching the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts later that year, marking a milestone for Motown as its first track to top the Hot 100.
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