February 12, 2013 16:44

Graham Coxon, Stereophonics, Mick Hucknall and I Am Kloot re-record The Beatles first album

Joss Stone, Beverley Knight and Gabrielle Aplin also feature on the cover of 'Please Please Me'

Photo Gallery: The Beatles
Photo: David Edwards/NME

Graham Coxon, Stereophonics, Mick Hucknall, and I Am Kloot are just some of the artists to appear on a re-record of The Beatles' debut album 'Please Please Me'.

The artists recorded a version of the Fab Four's 1963 album in 12 hours as part of BBC Radio 2's celebration of 'The Golden Age Of The Album' later this year.

Blur's Graham Coxon performed the track 'Baby It's You' with four female backing singers to try and replicate the sound of girl-group The Shirelles, who originally performed the track.

"I think everyone just expects it to be awful in the first place, don't they," he told the BBC. "Because some cover versions of pop songs are great, but when it comes to The Beatles, you either have to try and do it exactly the same as the original…But you never can, so you try and do your own take, which people hate because it's so personal to everybody." He added: "I think it's fun to hear people having a go and it's a lovely occasion."
The one-off stunt is part of the BBC's 'The Golden Age Of The Album' campaign, which is set to run across BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music and BBC Four in February.

Speaking about the challenge, Bob Shennan, Controller Radio 2, 6 Music and Popular Music, said: "The re-creation of 'Please Please Me' promises to be one of Radio 2's stand-out moments of 2013. Hearing those tracks brought to life again with a contemporary twist will have the network buzzing as much as the original did. It’s one album that changed the world of pop music and I think the 50th anniversary is a timely moment to remind everyone why."

Radio 2's tribute to 'Please Please Me' will coincide with a BBC Four documentary on the album which will be broadcast on February 15. Other programmes set to air throughout the season include The Great Album Showdown, where Danny Baker (alongside guests Boy George, Grace Dent, David Hepworth, Martin Freeman, Jeremy Clarkson and Trevor Nelson) will debate over which are the best albums in pop, rock and R&B.

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