On this day in 1962, The Beatles recorded with George Martin for the first time

In late 1961, new Beatles manager Brian Epstein visited London to meet record executives from both EMI and Decca Records in the hopes of getting a recording contract for the band. He was able to get a demo tape recorded with Decca Records, though they then refused to sign the group, leading him to focus his efforts on EMI. He was able to contact a music publisher associated with the label, who organised a meeting with one of four A&R directors, George Martin, for February of 1962.

At the meeting, Epstein showed Martin the failed Decca Records audition that had been recorded back in January. Accounts differ as to Martin’s reaction, with Epstein claiming that he said he like George Harrison’s guitar playing and preferred Paul McCartney’s singing voice to John Lennon’s. Martin himself recalls that he “wasn’t knocked out at all” by the “lousy tape”. Nonetheless, Martin was ordered to sign the band by EMI management to appease a colleagues strong interest in the band and a deal was struck. 

Martin and Epstein met again in May at EMI Studios in London, and Epstein was informed that The Beatles would be given a standard recording contract with Parlophone, to record a minimum of six tracks in the first year, with a one penny royalty paid for each record sold on 85% of records. This figure would have to be split between the four musicians and Epstein himself. They also set up the band’s first recording date, which would be held on the 6th of June.

This first session was intended as both an audition and an opportunity to record some early material to be used for the band’s first single. They recorded four songs on the day, Besame Mucho, Love Me Do, Ask Me Why and P.S. I Love You. Martin arrived partway through the session and made some changes to the arrangement, though he remained unimpressed. He did however start to take a liking to the band members after they began joking with him about his corporate look, in particular his tie. After a few more sessions he started to change his mind about the music as well and saw the potential for a hit, causing him to focus more time on the group. By the end of 1962 he had found his hit with Love Me Do and they were soon on their way to stardom.

George Martin remained with the band throughout their entire career as a performing band, and even worked on some of their solo albums after the eventual breakup. For his work he earned numerous awards, including two Grammy’s for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, as well as a 1977 BRIT Award for Best British Producer (of the past 25 years) and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His commitment to The Beatles made him an integral part of their success and he eventually came to be known as the “fifth Beatle”.