In Great Britain on October 5, 1962, the Beatles released their first single record, which reached # 17 on the British charts. What was the title?

The song that kicked off the Beatles' legendary recording career was "Love Me Do," released in their home country on October 5, 1962. This catchy, harmonica-led tune was primarily written by Paul McCartney a few years earlier when he was still a teenager. Backed with the B-side "P.S. I Love You," the single was a modest but promising start for the Fab Four, peaking at number 17 on the British charts and signaling the arrival of a major new talent.

The story behind the recording is a classic piece of Beatles lore, centered on who was playing the drums. While the version on the initial single pressing features Ringo Starr, producer George Martin was unconvinced and hired session drummer Andy White to play on a later recording. This "Andy White version," with Ringo relegated to playing tambourine, is the one that appeared on their debut album "Please Please Me" and became more widely known. An even earlier recording with their original drummer, Pete Best, also exists, making this seemingly simple song a fascinating snapshot of the band's early evolution.