Love Me Don’t: EMI withdraws anniversary single

EMI is recalling copies of a 50th anniversary vinyl reissue of The Beatles’ first EMI single ‘Love Me Do’, due to go on sale on Monday 8 October.

Apple has reportedly ordered for the recalled stock to be destroyed, which would make the single an instant collector’s item. The Beatles’ official store and Amazon sites have already withdrawn it from sale, but independent retailers may still have copies available.

Due to an error in the manufacturing process the anniversary single was pressed with the album version of the song, which featured Andy White on drums and Ringo Starr on tambourine. The original single version, recorded on 4 September 1962 and released on 5 October, featured Starr on drums, but the song was re-recorded with White, a session musician on 11 September.

EMI has refused to comment on the mix-up, and it is unknown whether the single would be re-released at a later date. Reports suggest that it maybe re-pressed and released a week later, on 15 October, some days after the 50th anniversary of the single’s original release.