In Please Mister Postman, With The Beatles album, 1963 The Beatles pay tribute to the original through the tight harmonies and virtual call-and-response sections. As John cries “wait a minute” and “oh yeah,” George and Paul either repeat his phrases or underscore on key lyrics such as “since I’ve heard from that girl of mine.” Lennon’s lead vocals rank among his best, as his powerful, slightly raspy performance adds an edge to the Marvelettes original.Nodding to the group’s early days, John uses an amusing accent in the following line: “deliver de letter, de sooner de better.” It subtly refers to their Hamburg and Cavern eras, when they would add cheeky parts to their covers of “Sheik of Araby,” “Three Cool Cats,” and “Besame Mucho.” While they clearly adored the original versions, their irreverence and virtual winks to the audience indicate that the group’s members did not take themselves too seriously.“Please Mister Postman” illustrates how the Beatles adapted other musical forms to create their own sound, both honoring their forebears and adding another dimension to the original versions. By choosing yet another “girl group” song, the Beatles revealed the fearlessness that would drive them through their entire career. Soul and rhythm and blues inspired the four musicians, and their cover of the Marvelettes’ hit pays homage to genres they loved.
