Capitol Canada 72090 Please Please Me / Ask Me Why rare first pressing

Capitol 72090 was initially released in April, 1963.  This was a couple of weeks before Vee Jay released the same song pairing in the USA.

Like "Love Me Do", "Please Please Me" was dubbed from the U.K. single. 

The initial pressing of this record is one of the rarest Canadian RPM.  In early 1963 the Beatles were a relatively unknown band so only a few hundred copies were pressed with the majority sent to Canadian radio stations and reviewers.  It is believed that as few as 180 copies were sold at the retail level, although it did chart at #40 on CFPL radio, London, Ontario and on April 27th on the CFGP Silver Dollar Survey in Grand Prairie, Alberta, at #27   The initial pressing of this single is a rare and desirable Canadian Beatles' collectible.

In 1964, as the popularity of the Beatles grew, the single was re-pressed.  Fortunately, it is easy to distinguish between the 1963 and 1964 pressings.

Original 1963 pressing with the Dick James credit on the b-side

On the initial 1963 pressing the etched B-side matrix is 7XCA-B171218.  On the 1964 re-pressing the "A" was changed to "E". In addition, on the 1963 B-side label the music publishing credits are assigned to Dick James Ltd while on the 1964 re-pressing the music publisher credit changed to Concertone Songs Inc.

Re-issue with the Concertone credit on the B-side

In 2019 a copy of the initial 1963 pressing in NM condition sold  for $470 and in 2020 an excellent copy sold for $355. 
   
In 2017 an excellent copy of the 1964 re-pressing sold for $190. 

In 2018 a NM- 1964 re-pressing with a -2/-2 matrix sold for $110. Average copies of the re-issue in VG+ condition sell in the $30 to $50 range.