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Rare ‘original issue’ Vee Jay Records 7-inch record for the Beatles single ‘Please Please Me / Ask Me Why’ (VJ 498), which represents the first record released in the United States to bear the Beatles name. Unfortunately, the label famously misspelled the band’s name to “The Beattles” on either side. The record has thick silver lettering on a black label with oval logo and outer rim colorband. The “MR” symbol machine-stamped in the trailoff areas indicate that this disc was pressed by Monarch Records. Matrix numbers to either side read “63-2967” and “63-2968,” with corresponding job numbers, “△ 46527” and “△ 46527-X.” Both sides bear “RA” initials and “AudioMatrix” stamps. The A-side label is annotated “B.2.” In fine condition, with light scuffs.
The first record released in the United States to bear the Beatles' name was VJ-498, which was released in February 1963. The single contained the group’s second British 45 RPM single, ‘Please Please Me,’ which was backed with ‘Ask Me Why,’ and released in England on January 11, 1963, as Parlophone 45-R 4983. Both songs were recorded on November 26, 1962, at Abbey Road Studios, London. Interestingly enough, Vee-Jay did not even know how to spell the group’s name. All initial issues of the record, as well as advertisements in the trade journals, added an extra 'T' to the name. Thus, when VJ-498 was released in February of 1963, it was credited THE BEATTLES, with the songwriters listed as “J. Lennon – P. McCartney.”
