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Overview
"Please Mr. Postman" is a song written by Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Freddie Gorman, Brian Holland and Robert Bateman. It was the debut single by girl group the Marvelettes for the Tamla (Motown) label and is famous for being the first Motown song to reach the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. [Wikipedia]
Background
Please Mister Postman is a song by The Beatles, written by Holland–Bateman–Garrett–Dobbins–Gorman and led on vocal by John Lennon. Marvelettes cover; full-throated Lennon, hand-claps, Liverpool wall-of-sound. Within the catalogue, its cover thread connects it to Anna (Go to Him), Chains, Boys; its motown thread connects it to You Really Got a Hold on Me, Money (That's What I Want), Got to Get You into My Life. A Motown cover originally recorded by The Marvelettes, 'Please Mister Postman' was recorded for With the Beatleswith John Lennon on lead vocal. The song's upbeat rhythm-and-blues structure and message of romantic anticipation fit naturally with the Beatles' Motown-influenced arrangements. Lennon's delivery captured the original's energy while adapting it to the group's vocal style (Lewisohn 1988, p.30).
What's distinctive
One of 101 songs led primarily by John. A non-original — one of 23 cover versions in the canon. Recorded approximately 25 of 67 into the Beatlemania (1962–1964) sessions. Carries the unique tag 'hand-claps' — no other song shares it. Take count: 23 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)).Opening line — "Wait, oh yes wait a minute Mister Postman…" (brief identification excerpt; full lyrics © Sony Music Publishing — see Genius link in References.)
Pattern analysis
Recording
The session work falls within the band's Beatlemania (1962–1964) period, recorded 30 Jul 1963 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road. George Martin produced; Norman Smith engineered. For session-by-session detail, see Mark Lewisohn's account on p.34 of The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions (excerpt below). The recording was captured from take 3, suggesting straightforward arrangement execution. The song's reliance on rhythm-section drive and horn-influenced vocal line required tight coordination between Ringo Starr's drumming and the harmonic backing provided by Paul McCartney and George Harrison. George Martin's production strategy emphasized the groove without elaborate overdubs (Lewisohn 1988, p.30).
| Studio | EMI Studios, Abbey Road — predominantly Studio Two |
|---|---|
| Tape machine | Twin-track BTR-2 (1962); Studer J37 four-track from late-1963 |
| Console | REDD.37 / REDD.51 valve consoles |
| Microphones | Neumann U47, U48; AKG D19 (drums); STC 4038 (overheads) |
| Outboard / effects | EMI RS124 compressor (Altec 436B mod), EMT 140 plate reverb, STEED tape echo |
| Guitars | Rickenbacker 325 (Lennon), Gretsch Country Gent / Tennessean (Harrison), Höfner 500/1 violin bass (McCartney), Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl kit (Starr) |
| Amplifiers | Vox AC30 (TB & non-Top-Boost variants) |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineer / 2nd | Norman Smith • Richard Langham, Geoff Emerick (2nd) |
| Estimated takes | 23 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)) |
Legacy & release history
In the canonical discography it appears on the LP With the Beatles. Mono and stereo histories vary by era — see the dedicated section below. John Lennon lead vocals appear in 73 canon songs (26 in Beatlemania), making this one of his R&B-focused performances. As a Motown cover, the recording demonstrated the Beatles' respect for American soul and rhythm-and-blues traditions while maintaining their distinctive beat-group approach. The track became a concert staple and helped establish the group's Motown credibility (Lewisohn 1988, p.30).
Mono & stereo
- Mixed primarily in mono at Abbey Road; the Beatles attended only the mono mixes through Sgt Pepper.
- Stereo mixes from this period were prepared (often without the band present) and are now considered secondary by purists.
Documented alternate versions
No documented alternate versions.
Released on
- With the Beatles — LP, 22 November 1963
Cross-references
Other songs sharing themes (cover, motown, hand-claps, letter)
Other songs led by the same vocalist
Other songs from this era
covermotownhand-clapsletter
References & external databases
Awards & recognition
Recognition mentions extracted from the Wikipedia article. Verify against the linked source before quoting.
Frequently asked
Who wrote Please Mister Postman?
“Please Mister Postman” was written by Holland–Bateman–Garrett–Dobbins–Gorman.
Who sings lead on Please Mister Postman?
The lead vocal on “Please Mister Postman” is by John Lennon.
When was Please Mister Postman recorded?
“Please Mister Postman” was recorded 30 Jul 1963 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road.
How many takes did Please Mister Postman require?
Mark Lewisohn's session log documents up to 23 numbered takes for “Please Mister Postman”.