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Del Shannon did a version of this song before the Beatles. From Me To You didn't appear on any Beatles UK or Capitol albums. Was it released as a single only in the UK, and what year? What are the stats on From Me To You.

From Me To You was The Beatles' third UK single.

Recording Date: March 5th 1963

UK Release: April 11th 1963 (A side single/ Thank you girl)
US Release: May 27th 1963 (A side single/ Thank you girl)

Is it on any CD compilations like Past Masters?

It appears on both Past Masters Volume 1 and the Beatles 1 CD.

It went to number 1 on the charts? Geez.

It's also on the Beatles BBC Sessions 2 cd as well as a short version called From Us to You that was used as a theme song for some of the Beatles BBC radio appearances.

You better believe it.  What is criminal is that "Please Please Me" was left off of the #1 CD.  Wasn't it George Martin who said, "You just recorded your first number one hit"?

my exact thoughts, worms...i remember that from the anthology. Please Please Me is one of my favorite early hits...id replace it with Love Me Do...ugh, cant stand that song.

In 1964 it appeared on the Canadian LP "Twist & Shout" a Capitol Canada version of the first UK LP [taking away Misery I Saw Her Standing There and adding From Me To You and She Loves You] This album has never been on CD ever.....

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Del Shannon didn't do a version before the Beatles. But he recorded it hot on the Heels of the Beatles and got it out quick.  He heard it because he was on tour with the Beatles in the UK during 1963.  He told John he was going to record it who said "great". However he later asked Del not to do it. I think Brian didn't want Del to do it.  But Del cut the song while in London with arranger  Ivor raymonde (Dusty springfield, Walker bros etc) on May 1st 1963. So the Beatles version was not only recorded it was out on release.

In the USA Del's version was the bigger hit, but not by much. The Beatles version was on Veejay and  Del's was on Big top. 

I'm a Del Shannon fan, but I have to say I don't like his version.

Del Shannon is vastly underrated as a recording artist.  I dig these: "Runaway", "Ginny In The Mirror", "So Long Baby", "Hey! Little Girl", "Cry Myself To Sleep", "Hats Off To Larry", etc.  He also wrote Peter & Gordon's "I Go To Pieces".

Found this on delshannon.com: "Shannon, troubled with growing personal matters in his own life, literally solved all his problems by committing suicide with a .22 calibre rifle. Shannon was pronounced dead on February 8, 1990 in his home in Santa Clarita, California. Shannon's last action remains an uncorrectable mistake. He is sincerely missed by his family, friends, and fans, and is remembered as a kind and loving man who touched the hearts of millions. As long as there are keepers of the flame, his music will indeed play on."

Yeh his last album was called "Rock On" and is a beauty. Produced by Mike Campbell and Jeff Lynne. Great songs on it.

Also Anyone who like a bit of pop psych will enjoy his 1968 album "the further adventures of Charles Westover"

It was Del Shannon's "I Go To Pieces".  He put it out first and P and G covered it. The P and G version is good and it was the hit, but I like Shannon's version best. 

Rachel Sweet's version is my favorite.

Impeccable as ever, Ian! I'm playing "Fool Around" in your honor as we speak. ;D Love this girl! Should have included "Stay Awhile" in the Shop's "Spector soundalikes" thread.

I first saw the Beatles on the Huntley and Brinkley evening news show in the fall of 1963.   They had a segment on this British group that had the girls going crazy like they had for Elvis.  They  showed footage of the Beatles at an outdoor concert somewhere performing "From Me To You".  H and B seemed to me to be smirking about them in their commentary but I immeadiately thought:  H and B you are dead wrong.  These guys have got it and maybe they are going to wipe that smirk off your "adult" face.  I loved that song and I tried to find a copy of it without sucess.  All I could find was another called "She Loves You".  It went up, at that time, to maybe number 20 on the charts where I was (Phoenix, Az.) and faded away without addoo.  There was no particular attention on the radio given to who they were or where they were from - not a thing.  I thought,  somebody here needs to give them some kind of exposure.  I want to hear more of this.  Fortunately Ed Sullivan did just that in in February and all hell broke loose. 
I have often wondered if the H and B news segment still exists or if it was destroyed.
   

Didn't Del produce or arrange or something, that awesome cover "Baby It's You" by Smith?  I always thought that was one of the rare occassions when the cover was better than the original.  My favorite part about Del is his guitar playing, especially on songs like "Keep Searchin' " it's just magical. 

Yep he produced Smith around the same time he did stuff with Brian Hyland