Please Mr. Postman: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
Article Images
Line 1:
{{Short description|1961 song by the Marvelettes}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{for|the memoirs by Alan Johnson|Please, Mister Postman (book){{!}}''Please, Mister Postman'' (book)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Please Mr. Postman
Line 15 ⟶ 16:
| studio = [[Hitsville U.S.A.]], Detroit
| venue =
| venuegenre = ▼
| genre =* [[Pop music|Pop]],<ref>{{harvnb|Posner|2002|pp=92, 94}}; {{harvnb|Fong-Torres|1990|p=78}}.</ref> [[soul music|soul]], [[doo-wop]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]
* [[soul music|soul]]<ref name= "Smith 2021">{{cite news|first= Troy L. |last= Smith |title= Every No. 1 song of the 1970s ranked from worst to best |website= [[Cleveland.com]] |date= 14 December 2021 |access-date= 30 January 2023|url= https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2021/12/every-no-1-song-of-the-1970s-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html}}</ref>
* [[doo-wop]]<ref name= "Smith 2021" />
| length = 2:31
| label = [[Motown|Tamla]]
Line 27 ⟶ 31:
| next_year = 1961
}}
"'''Please Mr. Postman'''" is a song written by [[Georgia Dobbins]], William Garrett, [[Freddie Gorman]], [[Brian Holland]] and [[Robert Bateman (songwriter)|Robert Bateman]]. It is the debut single by [[the Marvelettes]] for the Tamla ([[Motown]]) label,<ref name=pc25>{{Gilliland |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19780/m1/ |title=Show 25 – The Soul Reformation: Phase two, the Motown story. [Part 4] }}</ref> notable as the first Motown song to reach the number-one position on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] pop singles chart. The single achieved this position in late 1961; it hit number one on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B chart]] as well.{{sfn|Whitburn|2004|p=379}} "Please Mr. Postman" became a number-one hit again in early 1975 when [[theThe Carpenters]]' cover of the song reached the top position of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. "Please Mr. Postman" has been [[cover version|covered]] several times, including by the British rock group [[the Beatles]] in 1963. The 2017 song "[[Feel It Still]]" by [[Portugal. The Man]] interpolatesdraws on "Please Mr. Postman".<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2017/05/02/526605157/portugal-the-man-on-world-cafe|title=Portugal. The Man On World Cafe|last=Schlanger|first=Talia|date=May 2, 2017|website=NPR.org|publisher=NPR|access-date=June 20, 2017|quote=Then there's the song itself, which bears a certain resemblance to the old Marvelettes song "Please Mr. Postman." And while Portugal. The Man certainly didn't try to pull one over on anybody, and even warned its team about the similarities between the two songs, the band explains why it had to get lawyers involved.|archive-date=June 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618234304/http://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2017/05/02/526605157/portugal-the-man-on-world-cafe|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sanders">{{cite newsmagazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7866213/portugal-the-man-feel-it-still-hot-100-interview|title=Portugal. The Man Explain How Bernie Sanders Inspired Surprise Hit 'Feel It Still'|workmagazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|last=Havens|first=Lyndsey|date=July 17, 2017|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-date=December 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209005559/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7866213/portugal-the-man-feel-it-still-hot-100-interview|url-status=live}}</ref> and includes a credit for Brian Holland.
{{TOC limit|3}}
Line 34 ⟶ 38:
=== Background ===
In April 1961, [[the Marvelettes]] (then known as the Marvels) arranged an audition for [[Berry Gordy]]'s Tamla label. Marvels' original lead singer Georgia Dobbins needed an original song for their audition, and got a blues song from her friend William Garrett, which she then reworked for the group. Dobbins left the group after the audition and was replaced,.<ref name="LH">{{cite web |last1=Flam |first1=Laura |last2=Liebowitz |first2=Emily Sieu |title=Black Girl Group Magic: The Marvelettes on How They Became Motown Music Legends |url=https://lithub.com/black-girl-group-magic-the-marvelettes-on-how-they-became-motown-music-legends |website=Literary Hub |access-date=3 November 2023 |date=9 October 2023}}</ref> Gordy renamed the group and hired "Brianbert" – [[Brian Holland]] and Robert Bateman's songwriting partnership – to rework the song yet again. Freddie Gorman, himself a Detroit postman and another songwriting partner of Holland (before Holland became part of the [[Holland–Dozier–Holland]] team) was also involved in the final reworking.▼
▲In April 1961, [[the Marvelettes]] (then known as the Marvels) arranged an audition for [[Berry Gordy]]'s Tamla label. Marvels original lead singer Georgia Dobbins needed an original song for their audition, and got a blues song from her friend William Garrett, which she then reworked for the group. Dobbins left the group after the audition and was replaced, Gordy renamed the group and hired "Brianbert" – [[Brian Holland]] and Robert Bateman's songwriting partnership – to rework the song yet again. Freddie Gorman, himself a Detroit postman and another songwriting partner of Holland (before Holland became part of the [[Holland–Dozier–Holland]] team) was also involved in the final reworking.
=== Composition and recording ===
Songwriting credits for "Please Mr. Postman" have been inconsistent.<ref name=pollack /> Journalist [[Ben Fong-Torres]] credits the song to Holland, Bateman, Gorman, Dobbins and Garrett.{{sfn|Fong-Torres|1990|p=79}} The original Tamla 45 single for the Marvelettes' version credits "Dobbins/GarettGarrett/Brianbert" as the songwriters, and credits "Brianbert" as producer. The original ''[[With the Beatles]]'' album cover credited it to just Brian Holland (the 1987 CD release credits it to "Dobbin-Garrett-Garman<!--sic-->-Brianbert"). The 1976 Beatles discography book ''All Together Now'' credits the songwriting to Holland, Bateman, and Berry Gordy. The 1992 Motown [[boxed set]] ''Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection'' credits Dobbins, Garrett, Holland, Bateman, and Gorman as the composers. The [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] credits "Please Mr. Postman" to just Holland, Bateman, and Gorman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibit_home_page.asp?exhibitId=291 |title=Brian Holland |publisher=Songwriters Hall of Fame |access-date=January 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402040744/http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibit_home_page.asp?exhibitId=291 |archive-date=April 2, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> EMI Music Publishing, the current music publisher of the song, list all five writers in their catalog.▼
▲Songwriting credits for "Please Mr. Postman" have been inconsistent.<ref name=pollack /> Journalist [[Ben Fong-Torres]] credits the song to Holland, Bateman, Gorman, Dobbins and Garrett.{{sfn|Fong-Torres|1990|p=79}} The original Tamla 45 single for the Marvelettes' version credits "Dobbins/Garett/Brianbert" as the songwriters, and credits "Brianbert" as producer. The original ''[[With the Beatles]]'' album cover credited it to just Brian Holland (the 1987 CD release credits it to "Dobbin-Garrett-Garman<!--sic-->-Brianbert"). The 1976 Beatles discography book ''All Together Now'' credits the songwriting to Holland, Bateman, and Berry Gordy. The 1992 Motown [[boxed set]] ''Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection'' credits Dobbins, Garrett, Holland, Bateman, and Gorman as the composers. The [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] credits "Please Mr. Postman" to just Holland, Bateman, and Gorman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibit_home_page.asp?exhibitId=291 |title=Brian Holland |publisher=Songwriters Hall of Fame |access-date=January 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402040744/http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibit_home_page.asp?exhibitId=291 |archive-date=April 2, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> EMI Music Publishing, the current music publisher of the song, list all five writers in their catalog.
Played in 4/4 time, the song features the common [['50s progression|I–vi–IV–V]] chord progression.<ref name=pollack /> The [[melody]] is [[Hexatonic scale|hexatonic]], avoiding "blue" notes.{{sfn|Everett|2009|p=287}}
Line 46 ⟶ 48:
=== Release ===
Motown's [[Tamla]] label released the song as a single in the US in August 1961, then on the [[Please Mr. Postman (album)|album of the same name]] in November 1961.{{sfn|Davis|1988|pp=272, 306}} The single was a commercial success, becoming Motown's second ever million-selling record and its first number-one hit.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=92}} The song was on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart for 23 weeks, and peaked at number 1 the week of December 11, 1961.<ref name=billboard /> [[Record producer|Producer]] [[Berry Gordy]] credited [[Barney Ales]]' PR effort with the commercial success of the song.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=93}} The song's hit status left many at Motown expecting the Marvelettes to be the label's biggest act, though they failed to ever match their first effort.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=92}} Journalist [[Ben Fong-Torres]] describes the Marvelettes' next song, "[[Twistin' Postman]]", as a "calculated follow-up".{{sfn|Fong-Torres|1990|p=79}} The song's success led to an expansion in Motown's efforts, with songs like [[the Miracles]] "[[I'll Try Something New (song)|I'll Try Something New]]" and "[[You've Really Got a Hold on Me]]" following in 1962.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=94}}▼
{{quote box|quote=[W]e were never really given our just dues as Marvelettes. For instance, we never received a [[Music recording certification|gold record]] for "Please Mr. Postman"{{nbsp}}... We didn't think about it much at the time, but looking back I can admit that it really wasn't fair the way [[the Supremes]] were put ahead of us in every way.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|1986|p=79}} |source=– [[Katherine Anderson]], 1986|width=25%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}
Journalist [[Ben Fong-Torres]] described the Marvelettes' next song, "[[Twistin' Postman]]", as a "calculated follow-up".{{sfn|Fong-Torres|1990|p=79}} The song's success led to an expansion in Motown's efforts, with songs like [[the Miracles]] "[[I'll Try Something New (song)|I'll Try Something New]]" and "[[You've Really Got a Hold on Me]]" following in 1962.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=94}}
▲Motown's [[Tamla]] label released the song as a single in the US in August 1961, then on the [[Please Mr. Postman (album)|album of the same name]] in November 1961.{{sfn|Davis|1988|pp=272, 306}} The single was a commercial success, becoming Motown's second ever million-selling record and its first number-one hit.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=92}} The song was on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart for 23 weeks, and peaked at number 1 the week of December 11, 1961.<ref name=billboard /> [[Record producer|Producer]] [[Berry Gordy]] credited [[Barney Ales]]' PR effort with the commercial success of the song.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=93}} The song's hit status left many at Motown expecting the Marvelettes to be the label's biggest act, though they failed to ever match their first effort.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=92}} Journalist [[Ben Fong-Torres]] describes the Marvelettes' next song, "[[Twistin' Postman]]", as a "calculated follow-up".{{sfn|Fong-Torres|1990|p=79}} The song's success led to an expansion in Motown's efforts, with songs like [[the Miracles]] "[[I'll Try Something New (song)|I'll Try Something New]]" and "[[You've Really Got a Hold on Me]]" following in 1962.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=94}}
[[Fontana Records]] released the song as a single in the UK in November 1961.{{sfn|Davis|1988|p=322}}
Line 56 ⟶ 58:
''Rolling Stone'' ranked it at No. 331 on their list of "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".<ref name=":0" />
In 2011, [[The Marvelettes]] version of the song was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]].<ref>https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#p {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>
===Personnel===
According to ''The Complete Motown Singles – Vol. 1: 1959–1961'' [[liner notes]],{{sfn|Anon.|2005}} except where noted:
{{col-begin}}
===='''The Marvelettes===='''▼
{{col-2}}
▲====The Marvelettes====
*[[Gladys Horton]]{{spaced ndash}} lead vocal
*[[Katherine Anderson]]{{spaced ndash}} backing vocal
Line 67 ⟶ 70:
*[[Georgeanna Tillman]]{{spaced ndash}} backing vocal
*[[Wanda Young]]{{spaced ndash}} backing vocal
{{col-2}}
===='''Additional musicians===='''
*[[The Funk Brothers]]:
**[[Marvin Gaye]]{{spaced ndash}} drums<ref>{{harvnb|Posner|2002|p=97}}; {{harvnb|Taraborrelli|1986|p=78}}.</ref>
**[[James Jamerson]]{{spaced ndash}} bass{{sfn|Jamerson|1989|p=88}}
**[[Eddie Willis]]{{spaced ndash}} guitar<ref>{{cite newsmagazine |last1=Graff |first1=Gary |title=Eddie Willis, Original Motown Funk Brother, Dies At 82 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/8471293/eddie-willis-motown-funk-brothers-dead |access-date=20 May 2021 |workmagazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=20 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
**[[Richard "Popcorn" Wylie]]{{spaced ndash}} piano
{{col-end}}
===Charts and certifications===
Line 81 ⟶ 83:
====Weekly charts====
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Please Mr. Postman"
!Chart (1961–62)
!scope="col"|Chart (1961–1962)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand (''Lever Hit Parade'')<ref>[http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20lever&qsongid=391#n_view_location Flavour of New Zealand, 29 March 1962]</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=The Marvelettes |rowheader=true|access-date=June 11, 2018 |refname=billboard}}
|-
!scope="row"|US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot R&B Sides]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180620061435/https://www.billboard.com/music/The-Marvelettes/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-songs/song/578591 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Please Mr. Postman The Marvelettes Chart History], ''Billboard.com''. Retrieved June 19, 2018.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|}
Line 96 ⟶ 99:
====Certifications====
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Please Mr. Postman"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Marvelettes|title=Please Mr Postman|note=sales since 2004|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2020|id=16692-5376-1|access-date=September 11, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=The Marvelettes|title=Please Mr. Postman|award=Gold|relyear=1961|certyear=2004|access-date=September 11, 2020}}
Line 105 ⟶ 108:
{{Infobox song
| name = Please Mr. Postman
| cover = File:The-beatles-roll-over-beethoven-1964-27-s.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Swedish single picture sleeve
Line 111 ⟶ 114:
| artist = [[the Beatles]]
| album = [[With the Beatles]]
| released = 22 November 22, 1963
| recorded = 30 July 30, 1963
| studio = [[Abbey Road Studios|EMI]], London
▲| venue =
| genre = [[Rock and roll]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]
| length = 2:36
Line 129 ⟶ 131:
=== Background and recording ===
The English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[the Beatles]] displayed an early interest in the music of [[girl group]]s, covering songs by groups like [[the Shirelles]], [[the Cookies]] and [[the Donays]].{{sfn|Whiteley|2006|pp=60–61}} They added "Please Mr. Postman" to their live repertoire in December 1961, their third Tamla song after [[the Miracles]]' "[[Who's Lovin' You]]" and [[Barrett Strong]]'s "[[Money (That's What I Want)]]".{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|pp=845, 1038}} Having not made it into the British top fifty, few in the UK knew the song, allowing them to make it their own among all [[Liverpool]] groups.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|pp=1038, 1135}} [[John Lennon]] sang lead vocal, [[Paul McCartney]] and [[George Harrison]] providing backing vocals, while all three added handclaps at their head level.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|p=1038}} In 2004, Billy Hatton of [[The Fourmost|the Four Jays]] recalled seeing one of the Beatles' first live performances of the song, saying it was "a ''Wow moment''. I was struck by how tight they were. As a semi-pro group, the Four Jays would take a month to start playing a new song really well."{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|pp=1038, 1561n34}} Without their knowing it at the time, the Beatles' 7 March 1962 performance of the song on [[BBC Radio]]'s ''Here We Go'' was the first time any Tamla song was played over BBC radio.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|pp=1122–1123}} Beatles author [[Mark Lewisohn]] reflects: "Without even realising it (and they'd have been thrilled to know), the Beatles broke the Detroit 'Motown sound' to the British listening public."{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|p=1123}}
Having not made it into the British top fifty, few in the UK knew the song "Please Mr. Postman", allowing the Beatles to make it their own among all [[Liverpool]] groups.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|pp=1038, 1135}} [[John Lennon]] sang lead vocal, [[Paul McCartney]] and [[George Harrison]] providing backing vocals, while all three added handclaps at their head level.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|p=1038}} In 2004, Billy Hatton of [[The Fourmost|the Four Jays]] recalled seeing one of the Beatles' first live performances of the song, saying it was "a ''Wow moment''. I was struck by how tight they were. As a semi-pro group, the Four Jays would take a month to start playing a new song really well."{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|pp=1038, 1561n34}} Without their knowing it at the time, the Beatles' 7 March 1962 performance of the song on [[BBC Radio]]'s ''Here We Go'' was the first time any Tamla song was played over BBC radio.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|pp=1122–1123}} Beatles author [[Mark Lewisohn]] reflects: "Without even realising it (and they'd have been thrilled to know), the Beatles broke the Detroit 'Motown sound' to the British listening public."{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|p=1123}}
In 1963, Beatles [[Talent manager|manager]] [[Brian Epstein]] approached Gordy for the rights to record several Motown songs, including "Please Mr. Postman", "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and "Money (That's What I Want)". Rather than the industry standard of two cents, Epstein only offered one and a half cents per record sold.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=136}} Gordy initially refused, only relenting two minutes before the offer was set to expire.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=137}} On 30 July 1963, the band [[cover version|covered]] the song for their second UK album, ''[[With the Beatles]]''. Recorded in Studio Two of [[Abbey Road Studios|EMI Recording Studios]], [[George Martin]] [[record producer|produced]] the session, supported by [[Mixing engineer|balance engineer]] [[Norman Smith (record producer)|Norman Smith]].{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=34}} The band recorded three takes in a similar style to their BBC performance, but found the results unsatisfactory. They altered the arrangement to sound closer to the Marvelettes' version, recording four more takes with a [[stop-time]] intro, drum [[Break (music)|breaks]] and a [[Coda (music)|coda]], the final take seven deemed "best".{{sfn|Winn|2008|p=63}} Due to their different vocal range from the Marvelettes, the Beatles [[Modulation|modulate]] their version into [[A major]].<ref name=pollack /> Between recording two takes of [[overdubbing|overdubs]], the band added handclaps while Lennon [[Double tracking|double tracked]] his original vocal,{{sfn|Winn|2008|p=63}} take nine marked "best".{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=34}} Martin and Smith mixed the song for [[Monaural|mono]] and [[Stereophonic sound|stereo]] on 21 August and 29 October, respectively.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|pp=34, 37}}▼
In 1963, Beatles [[Talent manager|manager]] [[Brian Epstein]] approached Gordy for the rights to record several Motown songs, including "Please Mr. Postman", "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and "Money (That's What I Want)". Rather than the industry standard of two cents, Epstein only offered one and a half cents per record sold.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=136}} Gordy initially refused, only relenting two minutes before the offer was set to expire.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=137}}
▲In 1963, Beatles [[Talent manager|manager]] [[Brian Epstein]] approached Gordy for the rights to record several Motown songs, including "Please Mr. Postman", "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and "Money (That's What I Want)". Rather than the industry standard of two cents, Epstein only offered one and a half cents per record sold.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=136}} Gordy initially refused, only relenting two minutes before the offer was set to expire.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=137}} On 30 July 1963, the band [[cover version|covered]]recorded the song for their second UK album, ''[[With the Beatles]]''. Recorded in Studio Two of [[Abbey Road Studios|EMI Recording Studios]], [[George Martin]] [[record producer|produced]] the session, supported by [[Mixing engineer|balance engineer]] [[Norman Smith (record producer)|Norman Smith]].{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=34}} The band recorded three takes in a similar style to their BBC performance, but found the results unsatisfactory. They altered the arrangement to sound closer to the Marvelettes' version, recording four more takes with a [[stop-time]] intro, drum [[Break (music)|breaks]] and a [[Coda (music)|coda]], the final take seven deemed "best".{{sfn|Winn|2008|p=63}} Due to their different vocal range from the Marvelettes, the Beatles [[Modulation|modulate]] their version into [[A major]].<ref name=pollack /> Between recording two takes of [[overdubbing|overdubs]], the band added handclaps while Lennon [[Double tracking|double tracked]] his original vocal,{{sfn|Winn|2008|p=63}} take nine marked "best".{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=34}} Martin and Smith mixed the song for [[Monaural|mono]] and [[Stereophonic sound|stereo]] on 21 August and 29 October, respectively.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|pp=34, 37}}
=== Release and reception ===
Line 137 ⟶ 143:
EMI's [[Parlophone]] label released ''With the Beatles'' in the UK on 22 November 1963, with "Please Mr. Postman" sequenced as the final track on the first side, coming after [[Till There Was You#The Beatles version|Till There Was You]]".{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=37}} In the US, [[Capitol Records|Capitol]] released ''[[The Beatles' Second Album]]'' on 10 April 1964, with "Please Mr. Postman" sequenced as the ninth track, between "[[I Call Your Name]]" and "[[I'll Get You]]".{{sfn|Womack|2009|p=291}} Both releases credit the song only to Holland.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=37}}<ref name=pollack>{{cite web|last=Pollack|first=Alan W.|author-link=Alan W. Pollack|url=https://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/covers2.shtml|title=Notes on the cover songs on the 'With The Beatles' album|year=1996|publisher=soundscapes.info|access-date=20 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813135720/https://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/covers2.shtml|archive-date=13 August 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Capitol also included the cover as the final track on the US-only four-song EP, ''[[Four by the Beatles]]'', released 11 May 1964.{{sfn|Womack|2009|p=290}}
Writing about ''The Beatles' Second Album'', music critic [[Robert Christgau]] considers the covers of "Please Mr. Postman" and "Money (That's What I Want)" as two of the Beatles' best ever recordings, "both surpassing the superb Motown originals".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Christgau |first1=Robert |author1-link=Robert Christgau |title=Xgau Sez |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xgausez.php?d=2020-06-17 |publisher=Robert Christgau |access-date=31 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926221659/https://www.robertchristgau.com/xgausez.php?d=2020-06-17 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |date=17 June 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Music critic [[Tim Riley (music critic)|Tim Riley]] calls the song's beat "tremendous", and that "like all great rock 'n' roll, it sounds perilously close to falling apart at any minute".{{sfn|Riley|2002|p=77}} He writes it is the "most reckless and completely irresistible playing" on the first side of ''With the Beatles'', and "the most flammable rock 'n' roll they've given us since "[[She Loves You]]".{{sfn|Riley|2002|p=77}}
Musicologist [[Alan W. Pollack]] sees the opening shout of "Wait!" as anticipating as the opening shout of "Help!" in the Beatles' 1965 [[Help! (song)|song of the same name]].<ref name=pollack /> Writer Chris Ingham calls the song "a dense curtain of guitars and harmonies" supported by "a delicious, elastic groove".{{sfn|Ingham|2009|p=23}} Writer Jonathan Gould writes that Lennon's strong vocal overpowers the weak lyric, while the band's backing "[explodes] off the record", ultimately "[epitomizing] all that is best about the Beatles' second album."{{sfn|Gould|2007|p=193}} He further writes that, among the covers on ''With the Beatles'', it is the only one that approaches the quality of "[[Twist and Shout#The Beatles version|Twist and Shout]]" from ''[[Please Please Me]]''.{{sfn|Gould|2007|p=193}} Writer [[Ian MacDonald]] dismisses the cover as "[l]acking the loose-limbed playfulness of the original", with a "[[wall of sound]] that quickly weights on the ear".{{sfn|MacDonald|2007|p=91}}
=== Personnel ===
Line 148 ⟶ 156:
*uncredited (played by the Beatles){{spaced ndash}} handclaps{{sfn|Winn|2008|p=63}}
==The Carpenters version==
{{Infobox song
| name = Please Mr. Postman
Line 172 ⟶ 180:
| next_title = [[Santa Claus Is Coming to Town|Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town]]
| next_year = 1974
| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|KGmgHjSX0wY|"Please Mr. Postman - Carpenters"}}}}
}}
A hit cover of "Please Mr. Postman" was recorded by the [[The Carpenters|Carpenters]], whose version took the song again to number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in early 1975. The Carpenters' version resembles an old 1950s rock & roll song. The single was released in late 1974, reached number one on both the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Easy Listening]] charts in January 1975,{{sfn|Whitburn|2002|p=47}} and was the duo's 10th and final million-selling single. The corresponding ''[[Horizon (The Carpenters album)|Horizon]]'' album was belatedly released in June 1975 and went Platinum.
The Carpenters' cover version was also [[sampling (music)|sampled]] by [[rapper]] [[Juelz Santana]] for his single "[[Oh Yes (Juelz Santana song)|Oh Yes]]". It is used by the ''[[Rob, Arnie and Dawn Show]]'' to introduce their Listener Mail segment, and was sungthe song by the presenters of the British Saturday morning show ''[[SMTV Live]]'' to introduce the mailbag section. Reaching number two in the [[UK Singles Chart]] in 1975, in a UK television special on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] in 2016 it was voted number one in ''[[The Nation's Favourite|The Nation's Favourite Carpenters Song]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tvkev.co.uk/content/carpenters-nations-best-carpenters-song | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910015122/http://www.tvkev.co.uk/content/carpenters-nations-best-carpenters-song | title=The Carpenters - The Nation's Best Carpenters' Song | author=[[Kevin O'Sullivan (journalist)|Kevin O'Sullivan]] | website=[[Kevin O'Sullivan (journalist)|Kevin O'Sullivan]] | date=2016-09-04 | archive-date=2016-09-10 | quote=...I have to admit I was somewhat surprised when I heard what the Number One Song was. (Hey Mr Postman) Mind you... | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Nation's Favourite Carpenters Song |url=https://www.itv.com/hub/the-nations-favourite-carpenters-song/2a4042 |access-date=25 May 2020 |agency=ITV}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023}}</ref>
A [[music video]] of the song, filmed in [[Disneyland]], can be found on the DVD ''[[Gold: Greatest Hits (video)|Gold: Greatest Hits]]'' (released in 2002), originally packaged as ''Yesterday Once More'' (released on VHS and LaserDisc in 1985).
Line 195 ⟶ 204:
====Weekly charts====
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1974–751974–1975)
!Peak<br />position
|-
Line 220 ⟶ 229:
|align="center"|1
|-
{{single chart|SwissSwitzerland|5|artist=Carpenters|song=Please Mr. Postman|access-date=June 11, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|2|artist=Carpenters|access-date=June 11, 2018}}
Line 230 ⟶ 239:
|US [[Cash Box (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top 100 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19750125.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 1/25/75|website=tropicalglen.com|access-date=2017-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620134433/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19750125.html|archive-date=2015-06-20|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|US ''Cashbox'' Radio Active Airplay Singles
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{single chart|West Germany|10|artist=Carpenters|song=Please Mr. Postman|songid=341|year=1974|access-date=June 11, 2018}}
Line 241 ⟶ 253:
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus75">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/8a2fnGs|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1975|publisher= [[Kent Music Report]] |issue= 79 |via= [[Imgur]] |date= December 29, 1975 |access-date= January 15, 2022 }}</ref>
|Australia{{sfn|Kent|1993}}
|align="center"|7
|-