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"Please Mr. Postman" is the debut single by The Marvelettes for the Tamla ( Motown ) label, notable as the first Motown song to reach the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. The single achieved this position in late 1961; it hit number-one on the R&B Chart as well. "Please Mr. Postman" became a number-one hit again in early 1975 , when The Carpenters ' cover of the song also reached the top position of the Billboard Hot 100. HISTORY In early 1961, The Marvelettes (then known as "The Marvels") arranged an audition for Berry Gordy 's Tamla/Motown label. Marvels member 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 , another songwriting partner of Holland (before Holland became part of the Holland-Dozier-Holland team) was also was involved in the final reworking. The song features Marvelettes lead singer Gladys Horton hoping that the Postman has brought her a letter from her boyfriend, who is away at war. Marvin Gaye played drums on the Marvelettes' recording of this song. Songwriting credits for "Please Mr. Postman" seem to have changed over the years. 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 1974 Beatles discography book ''All Together Now'' credits it to Holland, Bateman, and Berry Gordy. The 1992 Motown , the Songwriters Hall Of Fame credits "Please Mr. Postman" to just Holland, Bateman, and Gorman. {Link without Title} "Please Mr. Postman" has frequently been Covered , including a cover by The Beatles sung strongly by John Lennon (with the gender roles reversed) on their '' With The Beatles '' album, and later a popular one by The Carpenters , whose version took the song again to number-one on the Hot 100 in early 1975. The song has also been Sampled by Rapper Juelz Santana for his single "Oh Yes". SEE ALSO |
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