The Beatles album was supplemented by the four tracks already released on their first two singles. Martin originally considered recording the Beatles' debut LP live at The Cavern Club, but after deciding that the building's acoustics were inadequate, he elected to simulate a "live" album with minimal production in "a single marathon session at Abbey Road". After the moderate success of "Love Me Do", the single "Please Please Me" met with a more emphatic reception. Released in January 1963, two months ahead of the album of the same name, the song reached number one on every UK chart except "Record Retailer", where
4 by the Beatles performer's current hit single". Accordingly, the series name is a reference to the limited success of that first EP by the Beatles that Capitol had released: "Four by the Beatles". Although initially intended to appear as a single by releasing the "4-By" in a soft sleeve and thus "distinguish the '4-By' product from EP's", "4 by the Beatles" was packaged in a cardboard sleeve, similar to regular EP releases. "Billboard" did not chart the record as a single either, but as an EP; on the Hot 100, it peaked at number 68, which was also the highest position it achieved