down to the studios and we'll just whistle through them in a day'". Martin took the count-in from take 9, which was considered 'especially spirited' and spliced it onto take 1. Music journalist Richard Williams suggested that this dramatic introduction to their debut album was just as stirring as Elvis Presley's "Well, it's one for the money, two for the show ..." on his opening track, "Blue Suede Shoes", for his debut album seven years earlier. It also made the point that the Beatles were a live band as, at that time, they opened their set with this song. On the first American release of the song, issued on Vee Jay Records, the count was edited out—but the "Four!" is still audible. The full take 9 version of the song appears on the "Free as a Bird" CD single as a B side, released for the first time. Take 2 of the song was released on The Beatles Bootleg Recordings 1963, which was an album released exclusively to iTunes in 2013. Reception In its contemporary review of the US single, Cash Box described it as an "engaging" song that is "hard-hitting teen stuff." Charts Weekly charts Year-end charts Certifications Releases British LP: Please Please Me British EP: The Beatles (No. 1) American LP: Introducing... The Beatles American single: "I Want to Hold Your Hand" American LP: Meet the Beatles! Canadian LP: The Beatles' Long Tall Sally Personnel Paul McCartney – lead vocals, bass guitar, hand claps John Lennon – rhythm guitar, harmony vocals, hand claps George Harrison – lead guitar, hand claps Ringo Starr – drums, hand claps Personnel per Ian MacDonald Later performances by Beatles John Lennon A live version was recorded at Madison Square Garden on 28 November 1974 by the Elton John Band with John Lennon, and released as the B-side to the former's "Philadelphia Freedom" single. The song is available on the Lennon box set, and on Elton John's To Be Continued... box set as well as the expanded CD edition of his 1976 live album Here and There and Elton John's Rare Masters. Lennon's introduction: This was the last major live performance by Lennon. After Lennon's death, the track was released as a single and reached No. 40 on the UK Singles Chart in March 1981, making it the first time that any version of the song had entered the UK charts. Paul McCartney McCartney