Beatles' first single Love Me Do turns 50 on Friday

LONDON (AFP) - The Beatles' debut tune that launched Britain into the Swinging Sixties and helped to ignite a worldwide obsession for the four-man band from Liverpool celebrates its 50th birthday on Friday.

Even though it only peaked at number 17 on the British charts, the single Love Me Do was not only the group's first record but also their first hit.

"It's obviously the first single, but more importantly, it established their policy of only releasing songs that were written by the Beatles themselves," said Mr Hamish MacBain, assistant editor at British music magazine NME.

Co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the catchy lyrics and recognisable harmonies of Love Me Do were recorded at London's Abbey Road studios in September 1962 and went on sale on Oct 5, 1962.

The Beatles perform at the Ed Sullivan Show, in New York in this Feb 9, 1964 file photo. The Beatles' debut tune that launched Britain into the Swinging Sixties and helped to ignite a worldwide obsession for the four-man band from Liverpool celebrates its 50th birthday on Friday. -- PHOTO: AP