LOVE ME DO
The 2023 Red Album kicks off with an already somewhat controversial choice. The version of
The Beatles’ debut single that has graced every copy of 1962-1966 since its original issue is the
version recorded at EMI on 11 September 1962 with session player Andy White on drums and Ringo providing a rhythmic tambourine. It is this so-called 'Andy White version' which was released by the small US indie Tollie label in late April 1964. The Tollie 45 entered the BILLBOARD top 40 within the first few days of May of 1964. By the end of that month, it held the number 1 position. However, the 2023 edition instead reverts to a version of “Love Me Do” recorded seven days earlier than the Andy White take. This version has Ringo on drums and was included on initial pressings of the UK Parlophone single released on 5 October 1962. This UK single made a successful dent in the UK charts, getting as high as number 17 before dropping out. Even so, the Andy White version should be really be considered the ‘hit’, if we are being technical (and we are). Later UK pressings of "Love Me Do" and the UK PLEASE PLEASE ME LP also contained the Andy White take.
The reason for the switch back to the Ringo-only rendition is seemingly to appease both Ringo fans and perhaps even Ringo himself. Both versions are audibly different performances but most of the general public may not even be aware of the switch (that is, if they are even aware that there are two official versions in the first place). The 2023 edition of 1962-1966 offers up an “extracted stereo” mix which initially appeared as the B-Side of “Now and Then” in October of 2023 (a few days past the 61st anniversary of the release of the original UK “Love Me Do” single). While the “de-mixing” technology has been around in one form or another for a few decades already, it has only reached a point where it can deliver a well-rounded and believable result in more recent years. Unfortunately, this 2023 stereo “Love Me Do” is rather lackluster. While the elements are indeed separated, the focus of the mix is
slightly unclear, with a heaping dash of reverb added in to try and camouflage some of the ‘smearing’ artifacts caused by the de-mix process. The original mono mix still packs a definite punch in spite of there being no existing tape source (all copies are mastered from a vinyl pressing). The punch is not there in stereo even though Ringo’s thumping drums are placed in the center of the spectrum. The stereo effect is rather odd, with the harmonica being the most widely pannedobject throughout the song.
TL/DR:
Weird (boring) stereo spread and de-mixing artifacts galore. Not all bad, but could have been much better.
