Photos: 50 years ago on this Day – October 5,1962 – The Beatles’ first single, “Love Me Do” is released

Posted Oct 05, 2012

50 years ago on this Day – October 5,1962 – The Beatles the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed act in the history of popular music release their first single. They gained popularity in the United Kingdom after “Love Me Do”, became a modest hit in late 1962.The Beatles are the best-selling band in history, with EMI Records estimating sales of over one billion units. As of 2012 they have sold 177 million units in the US, more than any other artist. In 2008, they topped Billboard magazine’s list of the all-time most successful Hot 100 artists. As of 2012, they hold the record for most number-one hits on the Hot 100 chart with 20. (AP, Wikipedia)

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The Beatles are seen performing, date unknown. From left to right: Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles are seen performing, date unknown. From left to right: Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr on drums. (AP Photo)
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Two teenage girls, fans of The Beatles, add to the messages inscribed in lipstick on the windows and bodywork of the van belonging the Beatles, as it stands in the multi-story car park at the airport in London, England, October 29, 1963. The group is currently in Sweden. (AP Photo/Boy)
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A young Swedish fan hugs George Harrison as The Beatles play at a pop festival in Stockholm, Sweden, Oct. 26, 1963. Beatles Paul McCartney, left, sings with Harrison. (AP Photo)
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From left, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr of The Beatles are shown in February 1968. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles, Britain's top rock band, relax in London over tea in 1963. The group from left: John Lennon, Paul McCartney; George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The group is sporting similar thatch haircuts with bangs to the edge of their eyebrows. No other information available with photo. (AP Photo)
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George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and John Lennon of The Beatles are seen in London during the 1960's (exact date unknown). (AP Photo)
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The Beatles (from left to right) John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and George Harrison pose for photographers in London, 1963. (AP Photo)
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Labour Party leader Harold Wilson is pictured with The Beatles (from left) Ringo Starr, John Lennon, George Harrison and Paul McCartney during the Variety Club of Great Britain's "Show Business Personality" presentation ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel in London, March 19, 1963. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles, from left, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison, are shown in a studio rehearsing in a studio, in London, England, Oct. 1, 1963. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles, from left,George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Ringo Starr, perform on stage in London, England, Oct. 1, 1963. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles, from left, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison, are shown in this November 1963 photo. (AP Photo)
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The British rock group The Beatles perform at the palladium in London, England, in Nov. 1963. (AP Photo)
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Members of the British rock and roll band The Beatles stand on stage at the Prince of Wales Theater in London, Nov. 4, 1963, during rehearsals for the royal variety show. The musicians from Liverpool are, from left, Paul McCartney, bass guitarist; George Harrison, guitarist; John Lennon, guitarist; and Ringo Starr, drummer. (AP Photo)
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The Liverpool beat group The Beatles, with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, George Harrison, take it easy resting their feet on a table, during a break in rehearsals for the Royal variety show at the Prince of Wales Theater, London, England, November 4, 1963. (AP Photo)
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Britain's pop quartet The Beatles arrived almost unnoticed at the Hippodrome, Birmingham, Nov. 10, 1963, dressed as policemen. They are George Harrison, third left, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Ringo Starr in front. Others in picture are real policemen. (AP Photo)
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George Harrison, left, Paul McCartney, center and John Lennon, right, three members of the Beatles group during a concert, in London, on Nov. 11, 1963. (AP Photo)
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Paul McCartney, left, and John Lennon, two members of the Beatles pop group during a concert in London, on Nov. 11, 1963. (AP Photo/N)
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The Beatles Ringo Starr plays drums on the Ed Sullivan show in 1964. (AP Photo)
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From left: Ringo Starr, George Harrison and John Lennon of the Beatles have refreshments at Australia House, London, 1964. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles leave London airport in 1964. From left: John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles leave London airport in 1964. From left: John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and George Harrison. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles leave London airport in 1964. From left: John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. (AP Photo)
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George Harrison, left, and Paul McCartney of the Beatles have refreshments at Australia House, London, 1964. (AP Photo)
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Police hold back London fans of the Beatles, 1964. (AP Photo)
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The British rock and roll group The Beatles are seen during their first U.S. tour in 1964. The band members, from left to right, are George Harrison, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles leave London airport in 1964. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles leave London Airport, 1964. From left: manager Brian Epstein, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison. (AP Photo)
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Members of the Beatles John Lennon; George Harrison; and Paul McCartney, about to sign an autograph, after arriving in Paris, France for a series of concerts at L'Olympia on Jan. 14, 1964. (AP Photo/Spartaco Bodini)
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John Lennon; Paul McCartney; and George Harrison from the Beatles wave from the plane steps arriving in Paris, France for a series of concerts at L'Olympia on Jan. 14, 1964. (AP Photo/Spartaco Bodini)
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Three members of The Beatles, wave goodbye from their plane at London Airport, on Jan. 14, 1964, as they left for Paris and a series of performances at the Olympia Music Hall. They are, left to right: George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. A fourth member of the famous singing group, Ringo Starr, was held up by fog in Liverpool. He will travel to Paris later. (AP Photo)
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Three members of Britain’s pop quartet the Beatles buy souvenir postcards on the Champs Elysees in Paris, on Jan. 15, 1964. From left to right are: Paul McCartney, George Harrison and John Lennon. Their colleague Ringo Starr was delayed this side of the Channel by fog and joined the group at night for their French debut at night. At night they top the bill at the Olympia Music Hall. (AP Photo)
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Sightseeing in Paris, on Jan. 15, 1964, the day before their opening at Paris’ Olympia Theatre, three of Britain’s four Beatles pause for a look around on the Champs Elysees. From left John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison. In the background is the Arc de Triomphe. (AP Photo)
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Paul McCartney; John Lennon and George Harrison from The Beatles performing in Versailles, France on Jan. 15, 1964. (AP Photo/Tellier)
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The Beatles wave to fans assembled below their Plaza Hotel window after they arrived in New York City on Feb. 7, 1964 for a short tour of the United States. From left to right are, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and George Harrison. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles meet reporters at Kennedy Airport in New York City, Feb. 7, 1964 on their arrival from London for their first American tour. The band members, from left, are, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, and John Lennon. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles, minus an ailing George Harrison, perform on the "Ed Sullivan Show", Feb. 8, 1964. In front, left to right: Paul McCartney, Neil Aspinall (standing in for Harrison), and John Lennon. On drums is Ringo Starr. (AP Photo)
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British rock band the Beatles are shown during rehearsals on the set of the "Ed Sullivan Show" in New York, Feb. 9, 1964. On drums is Ringo Starr, bassist is Paul McCartney, left, and guitarist is John Lennon. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles perform on the CBS "Ed Sullivan Show" in New York Feb. 9, 1964. From left, front, are Paul McCartney, George Harrison and John Lennon. Ringo Starr plays drums. (AP Photo)
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The centre of attraction, four boys from Liverpool enjoy themselves as they attend a charity ball at the British Embassy, in Washington, on Feb. 11, 1964. They are the Beatles , from left: Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and John Lennon, currently raising a storm on their first tour of the United States. (AP Photo)
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The four members of Britain's young singing group, the Beatles, hold a press conference at an undetermined location ca. 1964. From left: John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles rehearse for their forthcoming television show at Wembley Studios, London, April 1964. Ringo Starr is costumed as Sir Francis Drake, with his bandmates as Heralds. From left, John Lennon, Ringo, George Harrison, Paul McCartney. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles appear to have lost their popularity at Beaver Meadows, a small community in northeastern Pennsylvania according to the sign, “God Forever, Beatles Never”, posted along Route 93, near Hazleton on August 10, 1966. A proposal in the Pa. legislature asks the ban of any future appearance of the Beatles in this state because of a remark attributed to one of the Beatles that they are more popular than Jesus Christ. (AP Photo)
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South Carolina Grand Dragon, Bob Scoggin of the Klu Klux Klan tosses Beatle records into the flames of a burning cross, in Chester, South Carolina, Aug. 11, 1966. The "Beatle Bonfire" was staged to take exception to a statement attributed to John Lennon, when he was quoted as saying that his group was more popular than Jesus. (AP Photo)
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Posters, albums and other memorabilia of the Beatles are burned in a bon fire protesting John Lennon's statement that the Beatles were now more popular than Jesus, in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, Aug. 12, 1966. (AP Photo)
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The rock group, The Beatles, is shown in 1967. From left, are: Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Paul McCartney; and George Harrison.(AP Photo/ho) NO SALES
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In a scene from their controversial television film fantasy "Magical Mystery Tour", in which The Beatles are seen disguised as animals, in England, Dec. 28,1967. (AP Photo)
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George Harrison, lead guitarist for the British rock and roll band the Beatles, plays the sitar in Bombay, India, Jan. 14, 1968, where he is visiting to record his music. At right is British actress Rita Tushingham, who is making a motion picture. (AP Photo)
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Beatles members John Lennon and Paul McCartney sing their harmonizing vocal lines in the Abbey Road Studios in London, England, February 11, 1968, during a recording session. (AP Photo)
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Members of the British pop group The Beatles, John Lennon, left,and Paul McCartney, announce that Beatles Ltd., is being reorganized for bigger things as Apple Corps Ltd., in New York, NY, May 15, 1968. The new company, owned equally by all four Beatles, will make films, produce records and own clothing stores in London. (AP Photo)
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John Lennon of The Beatles is shown circa 1969 at an unknown location. (AP Photo)
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Beatle John Lennon waves his marriage certificate as his bride, Japanese artist Yoko Ono, stands at his side after their wedding at the Rock of Gibraltar on March 20, 1969. They are about to board a chartered jet to Paris where they will honeymoon. (AP Photo)
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The Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison and his wife, Patti Boyd, leave court at Walton-on-Thames, England, March 31, 1969. They pleaded guilty to having posession of marijuana in their suburban home, and were fined $600. (AP Photo)
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Paul McCartney, formerly of the Beatles and now frontman of Wings, is shown during an interview, Dec. 20, 1977. McCartney said, "I used to get really exasperated with the way people always brought up the Beatles, but I've learned to live with it." (AP Photo)
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John Lennon of 'The Beatles' is seen here in December 1980. This image was taken just a few days before his assassination. Lennon's "Imagine'' will be rereleased as a single in Britain next month, after it was voted one the nation's favorite songs in a recent poll, the former Beatles' record company said. (AP Photo)
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A woman wipes a tear from her eye while holding a poster of John Lennon during the vigil for the former Beatle in New York's Central Park, Dec. 14, 1980. The silent vigil in front of the Central Park bandstand, called by Mayor Ed Koch, was followed by a 30-minute concert of Beatles music. (AP Photo/Carlos Rene Perez)
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Veteran British rock star Paul McCartney and his wife Linda smile for the press during a mini-concert at press conference in London on, July 27, 1989, announcing his nine-country, 23-concert European leg of a world tour opening on September 26 in Olso, Norway. The former Beatle will tour with musicians from his latest “Flowers in the Dirt” album. (AP Photo/Gillian Allen)