On March 5, 1963, the Beatles gathered at Abbey Road to cut a few tracks. One of them was “From Me to You.” John and Paul had written it the previous week... on a tour bus between gigs (as an opening act for teen star Helen Shapiro).“From Me to You” was released in April as the band’s third single. It was a No. 1 smash in the U.K.
But Beatlemania hadn’t yet struck the United States. “From Me to You” was released here on the black-owned Vee-Jay label. It didn’t do much.
The song was instantly covered by American rocker Del Shannon (“Runaway”). His version didn’t do much either. But this was the first time a U.S. artist recorded a Lennon-McCartney tune.
Click here to hear Del Shannon’s version streaming on my Vox blog. It’s downloadable from eMusic, Amazon and iTunes.
Wow! What a great piece of Beatles history. It was cool just seeing a Vee-Jay 45. I remember Del Shannon too. Runaway, run run run run runaway.
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I remember hearing this song the first time on the radio when I was a kid, and loving the energy of it. Back then, Black radio in St. Louis was either gospel or hard core blues, and as a kid I couldn't relate, so I listened to the "pop" station. They played Motown, but also Eric Burdon and the Animals, Del Shannon, the Beach Boys, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, and FINALLY, the Beatles. Loved them then, love them now. Wish I owned this 45, but at least I have my original copy of "Meet the Beatles" I bought for $3.60 at Woolworth's the first week it was released. Priceless!
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