View source for Please Mr. Postman

{{Short description|1961 song by the Marvelettes}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{for|the memoirs by Alan Johnson|Please, Mister Postman (book){{!}}''Please, Mister Postman'' (book)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Please Mr. Postman
| cover      = Please Mr Postman by The Marvelettes US vinyl single.jpg
| alt        =
| caption    = US picture sleeve
| type       = single
| artist     = [[the Marvelettes]]
| album      = [[Please Mr. Postman (album)|Please Mr. Postman]]
| B-side     = "So Long Baby"
| released   = August 21, 1961
| recorded   = April 1961
| studio     = [[Hitsville U.S.A.]], Detroit
| venue      =
| genre      = 
* [[Pop music|Pop]]<ref>{{harvnb|Posner|2002|pp=92, 94}}; {{harvnb|Fong-Torres|1990|p=78}}.</ref> 
* [[soul music|soul]]<ref name= "Smith 2021">{{cite news|first= Troy L. |last= Smith |title= Every No. 1 song of the 1970s ranked from worst to best |website= [[Cleveland.com]] |date= 14 December 2021 |access-date= 30 January 2023|url= https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2021/12/every-no-1-song-of-the-1970s-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html}}</ref>
* [[doo-wop]]<ref name= "Smith 2021" />
| length     = 2:31
| label      = [[Motown|Tamla]]
| writer     = *[[Georgia Dobbins]]
*[[Freddie Gorman]]
*William Garrett
*Brianbert ([[Brian Holland]] & [[Robert Bateman (songwriter)|Robert Bateman]])
| producer   = Brianbert
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [[Twistin' Postman]]
| next_year  = 1961
}}
"'''Please Mr. Postman'''" is a song written by [[Georgia Dobbins]], William Garrett, [[Freddie Gorman]], [[Brian Holland]] and [[Robert Bateman (songwriter)|Robert Bateman]]. It is the debut single by [[the Marvelettes]] for the Tamla ([[Motown]]) label,<ref name=pc25>{{Gilliland |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19780/m1/ |title=Show 25 – The Soul Reformation: Phase two, the Motown story. [Part 4] }}</ref> notable as the first Motown song to reach the number-one position on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] singles chart. The single achieved this position in late 1961; it hit number one on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B chart]] as well.{{sfn|Whitburn|2004|p=379}} 

The song has been [[cover version|covered]] several times, including a version by [[the Beatles]] in 1963. It became a number-one hit again in early 1975 when [[The Carpenters]]' cover of the song reached the top position of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The 2017 song "[[Feel It Still]]" by [[Portugal. The Man]] has significant similarities to "Please Mr. Postman"<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2017/05/02/526605157/portugal-the-man-on-world-cafe|title=Portugal. The Man On World Cafe|last=Schlanger|first=Talia|date=May 2, 2017|website=NPR.org|publisher=NPR|access-date=June 20, 2017|quote=Then there's the song itself, which bears a certain resemblance to the old Marvelettes song "Please Mr. Postman." And while Portugal. The Man certainly didn't try to pull one over on anybody, and even warned its team about the similarities between the two songs, the band explains why it had to get lawyers involved.|archive-date=June 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618234304/http://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2017/05/02/526605157/portugal-the-man-on-world-cafe|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sanders">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7866213/portugal-the-man-feel-it-still-hot-100-interview|title=Portugal. The Man Explain How Bernie Sanders Inspired Surprise Hit 'Feel It Still'|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|last=Havens|first=Lyndsey|date=July 17, 2017|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-date=December 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209005559/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7866213/portugal-the-man-feel-it-still-hot-100-interview|url-status=live}}</ref> and includes a credit for Brian Holland. 

{{TOC limit|3}}

==Original version==

=== Background ===
In April 1961, [[the Marvelettes]] (then known as the Marvels) arranged an audition for [[Berry Gordy]]'s Tamla label. Marvels' original lead singer 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.<ref name="LH">{{cite web |last1=Flam |first1=Laura |last2=Liebowitz |first2=Emily Sieu |title=Black Girl Group Magic: The Marvelettes on How They Became Motown Music Legends |url=https://lithub.com/black-girl-group-magic-the-marvelettes-on-how-they-became-motown-music-legends |website=Literary Hub |access-date=3 November 2023 |date=9 October 2023}}</ref> Gordy renamed the group and hired "Brianbert" – [[Brian Holland]] and Robert Bateman's songwriting partnership – to rework the song yet again. Freddie Gorman, himself a Detroit postman and another songwriting partner of Holland (before Holland became part of the [[Holland–Dozier–Holland]] team) was also involved in the final reworking.

=== Composition and recording ===
Songwriting credits for "Please Mr. Postman" have been inconsistent.<ref name=pollack /> Journalist [[Ben Fong-Torres]] credits the song to Holland, Bateman, Gorman, Dobbins and Garrett.{{sfn|Fong-Torres|1990|p=79}} The original Tamla 45 single for the Marvelettes' version credits "Dobbins/Garrett/Brianbert" as the songwriters, and credits "Brianbert" as producer. The original ''[[With the Beatles]]'' album cover credited it to just Brian Holland (the 1987 CD release credits it to "Dobbin-Garrett-Garman<!--sic-->-Brianbert"). The 1976 Beatles discography book ''All Together Now'' credits the songwriting to Holland, Bateman, and Berry Gordy. The 1992 Motown [[boxed set]] ''Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection'' credits Dobbins, Garrett, Holland, Bateman, and Gorman as the composers. The [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] credits "Please Mr. Postman" to just Holland, Bateman, and Gorman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibit_home_page.asp?exhibitId=291 |title=Brian Holland |publisher=Songwriters Hall of Fame |access-date=January 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402040744/http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibit_home_page.asp?exhibitId=291 |archive-date=April 2, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> EMI Music Publishing, the current music publisher of the song, list all five writers in their catalog.

Played in 4/4 time, the song features the common [['50s progression|I–vi–IV–V]] chord progression.<ref name=pollack /> The [[melody]] is [[Hexatonic scale|hexatonic]], avoiding "blue" notes.{{sfn|Everett|2009|p=287}}

The Marvelettes recording features lead singer [[Gladys Horton]] hoping that the [[mail carrier|postman]] has brought her a letter from her boyfriend.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} Holland and Bateman – dubbing themselves "Brianbert" – produced the session.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=92}} The song's rhythm section is made up of piano, electric bass and drums.{{sfn|Everett|2009|p=83}} The commercial failure of [[Marvin Gaye]]'s 1961 debut album, ''[[The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye]]'', led him to spend time as a studio musician for the remainder of the year.{{sfn|Posner|2002|pp=96–97}} Among these efforts was "Please Mr. Postman", on which he plays the drums.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=97}} Gaye's [[backbeat]] is busy throughout the song, playing his snare on the two and four beats while tapping the ride cymbal each half beat.{{sfn|Everett|2009|p=83}} He uses [[Fill (music)|fills]] to transition the song through sections. The bass mostly alternates between [[Root (chord)|root]] and [[Fifth (chord)|fifth]] chords. An electric rhythm guitar is buried in the mix, only occasionally audible, while handclaps are prominent.{{sfn|Everett|2009|p=84}} [[Musicology|Musicologist]] [[Walter Everett (musicologist)|Walter Everett]] suggests that the appearance of [[reverberation|reverb]] on the lead vocal at 2:10 is possibly the result of a vocal [[overdubbing|overdub]] being "punched into a mismatched circuit".{{sfn|Everett|2009|p=341}}

=== Release ===
Motown's [[Tamla]] label released the song as a single in the US in August 1961, then on the [[Please Mr. Postman (album)|album of the same name]] in November 1961.{{sfn|Davis|1988|pp=272, 306}} The single was a commercial success, becoming Motown's second million-selling record and its first number-one hit.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=92}} The song was on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] chart for 23 weeks, and peaked at number 1 the week of December 11, 1961.<ref name=billboard /> [[Record producer|Producer]] [[Berry Gordy]] credited [[Barney Ales]]' PR effort with the commercial success of the song.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=93}} The song's hit status left many at Motown expecting the Marvelettes to be the label's biggest act, though they failed to ever match their first effort.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=92}} 

{{quote box|quote=[W]e were never really given our just dues as Marvelettes. For instance, we never received a [[Music recording certification|gold record]] for "Please Mr. Postman"{{nbsp}}... We didn't think about it much at the time, but looking back I can admit that it really wasn't fair the way [[the Supremes]] were put ahead of us in every way.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|1986|p=79}} |source=– [[Katherine Anderson]], 1986|width=25%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}
Journalist [[Ben Fong-Torres]] described the Marvelettes' next song, "[[Twistin' Postman]]", as a "calculated follow-up".{{sfn|Fong-Torres|1990|p=79}} The song's success led to an expansion in Motown's efforts, with songs like [[the Miracles]] "[[I'll Try Something New (song)|I'll Try Something New]]" and "[[You've Really Got a Hold on Me]]" following in 1962.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=94}}

[[Fontana Records]] released the song as a single in the UK in November 1961.{{sfn|Davis|1988|p=322}}

''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' listed the song as #22 on their 2017 list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7857816/100-greatest-girl-group-songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 11, 2017}}</ref>

''Rolling Stone'' ranked it at No. 331 on their list of "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".<ref name=":0" />

In 2011, [[The Marvelettes]]' version of the song was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web | title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame {{!}} Hall of Fame Artists {{!}} GRAMMY.com | url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#p | access-date=2025-03-29 | website=www.grammy.com}}</ref>

===Personnel===
According to ''The Complete Motown Singles – Vol. 1: 1959–1961'' [[liner notes]],{{sfn|Anon.|2005}} except where noted:

'''The Marvelettes'''
*[[Gladys Horton]]{{spaced ndash}} lead vocals
*[[Katherine Anderson]]{{spaced ndash}} backing vocals, handclaps
*Wyanetta ("Juanita") Cowart{{spaced ndash}} backing vocals, handclaps
*[[Georgeanna Tillman]]{{spaced ndash}} backing vocals, handclaps
*[[Wanda Young]]{{spaced ndash}} backing vocals, handclaps

'''Additional musicians'''
*[[The Funk Brothers]]:
**[[Eddie Willis]]{{spaced ndash}} guitar<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Graff |first1=Gary |title=Eddie Willis, Original Motown Funk Brother, Dies At 82 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/8471293/eddie-willis-motown-funk-brothers-dead |access-date=20 May 2021 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=20 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
**[[Richard "Popcorn" Wylie]]{{spaced ndash}} piano
**[[James Jamerson]]{{spaced ndash}} bass{{sfn|Jamerson|1989|p=88}}
**[[Marvin Gaye]]{{spaced ndash}} drums<ref>{{harvnb|Posner|2002|p=97}}; {{harvnb|Taraborrelli|1986|p=78}}.</ref>

===Charts and certifications===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

====Weekly charts====
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Please Mr. Postman"
!scope="col"|Chart (1961–1962)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|New Zealand (''Lever Hit Parade'')<ref>[http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20lever&qsongid=391#n_view_location Flavour of New Zealand, 29 March 1962]</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=The Marvelettes|rowheader=true|access-date=June 11, 2018|refname=billboard}}
|-
!scope="row"|US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot R&B Sides]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180620061435/https://www.billboard.com/music/The-Marvelettes/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-songs/song/578591 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Please Mr. Postman The Marvelettes Chart History], ''Billboard.com''. Retrieved June 19, 2018.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|}
{{col-2}}

====Certifications====
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Please Mr. Postman"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Marvelettes|title=Please Mr Postman|award=Gold|relyear=|certyear=2021|refname=NZcert|source=radioscope|access-date=19 January 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Marvelettes|title=Please Mr Postman|note=sales since 2004|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2025|id=16692-5376-1|access-date=June 27, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=The Marvelettes|title=Please Mr. Postman|award=Gold|relyear=1961|certyear=2004|access-date=September 11, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
{{col-end}}

==The Beatles version==
{{Infobox song
| name       = Please Mr. Postman
| cover      = The-beatles-roll-over-beethoven-1964-27-s.jpg
| alt        =
| caption    = Swedish single picture sleeve
| type       = song
| artist     = [[the Beatles]]
| album      = [[With the Beatles]]
| released   = November 22, 1963
| recorded   = July 30, 1963
| studio     = [[Abbey Road Studios|EMI]], London
| genre      = [[Rock and roll]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]
| length     = 2:36
| label      = [[Parlophone]]
| writer     = [[Brian Holland]]
| producer   = [[George Martin]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  =
| misc       = 
}}

=== Background and recording ===
The [[the Beatles|Beatles]] displayed an early interest in the music of [[girl group]]s, covering songs by groups like [[the Shirelles]], [[the Cookies]] and [[the Donays]].{{sfn|Whiteley|2006|pp=60–61}} They added "Please Mr. Postman" to their live repertoire in December 1961, their third Tamla song after [[the Miracles]]' "[[Who's Lovin' You]]" and [[Barrett Strong]]'s "[[Money (That's What I Want)]]".{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|pp=845, 1038}} 

Since the original version hadn't made it into the British charts, few in the UK knew the song "Please Mr. Postman", allowing the Beatles to make it their own among all [[Liverpool]] groups.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|pp=1038, 1135}} [[John Lennon]] sang lead vocal, [[Paul McCartney]] and [[George Harrison]] providing backing vocals, while all three added handclaps at their head level.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|p=1038}} In 2004, Billy Hatton of [[The Fourmost|the Four Jays]] recalled seeing one of the Beatles' first live performances of the song, saying it was "a ''Wow moment''. I was struck by how tight they were. As a semi-pro group, the Four Jays would take a month to start playing a new song really well."{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|pp=1038, 1561n34}} Without their knowing it at the time, the Beatles' 7 March 1962 performance of the song on [[BBC Radio]]'s ''Here We Go'' was the first time any Tamla song was played over BBC radio.{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|pp=1122–1123}} Beatles author [[Mark Lewisohn]] reflects: "Without even realising it (and they'd have been thrilled to know), the Beatles broke the Detroit 'Motown sound' to the British listening public."{{sfn|Lewisohn|2013|p=1123}}

In 1963, Beatles [[Talent manager|manager]] [[Brian Epstein]] approached Gordy for the rights to record several Motown songs, including "Please Mr. Postman", "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and "Money (That's What I Want)". Rather than the industry standard of two cents, Epstein only offered one and a half cents per record sold.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=136}} Gordy initially refused, only relenting two minutes before the offer was set to expire.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=137}} 

On 30 July 1963, the band recorded the song for their second UK album, ''[[With the Beatles]]''. Recorded in Studio Two of [[Abbey Road Studios|EMI Recording Studios]], [[George Martin]] [[record producer|produced]] the session, supported by [[Mixing engineer|balance engineer]] [[Norman Smith (record producer)|Norman Smith]].{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=34}} The band recorded three takes in a similar style to their BBC performance, but found the results unsatisfactory. They altered the arrangement to sound closer to the Marvelettes' version, recording four more takes with a [[stop-time]] intro, drum [[Break (music)|breaks]] and a [[Coda (music)|coda]], the final take seven deemed "best".{{sfn|Winn|2008|p=63}} Due to their different vocal range from the Marvelettes, the Beatles [[Modulation|modulate]] their version into [[A major]].<ref name=pollack /> Between recording two takes of [[overdubbing|overdubs]], the band added handclaps while Lennon [[Double tracking|double tracked]] his original vocal,{{sfn|Winn|2008|p=63}} take nine marked "best".{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=34}} Martin and Smith mixed the song for [[Monaural|mono]] and [[Stereophonic sound|stereo]] on 21 August and 29 October, respectively.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|pp=34, 37}}

=== Release and reception ===

EMI's [[Parlophone]] label released ''With the Beatles'' in the UK on 22 November 1963, with "Please Mr. Postman" sequenced as the final track on the first side, coming after "[[Till There Was You#The Beatles version|Till There Was You]]".{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=37}} In the US, [[Capitol Records|Capitol]] released ''[[The Beatles' Second Album]]'' on 10 April 1964, with "Please Mr. Postman" sequenced as the ninth track, between "[[I Call Your Name]]" and "[[I'll Get You]]".{{sfn|Womack|2009|p=291}} Both releases credit the song only to Holland.{{sfn|Lewisohn|1988|p=37}}<ref name=pollack>{{cite web|last=Pollack|first=Alan W.|author-link=Alan W. Pollack|url=https://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/covers2.shtml|title=Notes on the cover songs on the 'With The Beatles' album|year=1996|publisher=soundscapes.info|access-date=20 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813135720/https://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/covers2.shtml|archive-date=13 August 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Capitol also included the cover as the final track on the US-only four-song EP, ''[[Four by the Beatles]]'', released 11 May 1964.{{sfn|Womack|2009|p=290}}

Writing about ''The Beatles' Second Album'', music critic [[Robert Christgau]] considers the covers of "Please Mr. Postman" and "Money (That's What I Want)" as two of the Beatles' best ever recordings, "both surpassing the superb Motown originals".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Christgau |first1=Robert |author1-link=Robert Christgau |title=Xgau Sez |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xgausez.php?d=2020-06-17 |publisher=Robert Christgau |access-date=31 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926221659/https://www.robertchristgau.com/xgausez.php?d=2020-06-17 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |date=17 June 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Music critic [[Tim Riley (music critic)|Tim Riley]] calls the song's beat "tremendous", and that "like all great rock 'n' roll, it sounds perilously close to falling apart at any minute".{{sfn|Riley|2002|p=77}} He writes it is the "most reckless and completely irresistible playing" on the first side of ''With the Beatles'', and "the most flammable rock 'n' roll they've given us since "[[She Loves You]]".{{sfn|Riley|2002|p=77}} 

Musicologist [[Alan W. Pollack]] sees the opening shout of "Wait!" as anticipating as the opening shout of "Help!" in the Beatles' 1965 [[Help! (song)|song of the same name]].<ref name=pollack /> Writer Chris Ingham calls the song "a dense curtain of guitars and harmonies" supported by "a delicious, elastic groove".{{sfn|Ingham|2009|p=23}} Writer Jonathan Gould writes that Lennon's strong vocal overpowers the weak lyric, while the band's backing "[explodes] off the record", ultimately "[epitomizing] all that is best about the Beatles' second album."{{sfn|Gould|2007|p=193}} He further writes that, among the covers on ''With the Beatles'', it is the only one that approaches the quality of "[[Twist and Shout#The Beatles version|Twist and Shout]]" from ''[[Please Please Me]]''.{{sfn|Gould|2007|p=193}} Writer [[Ian MacDonald]] dismisses the cover as "[l]acking the loose-limbed playfulness of the original", with a "[[wall of sound]] that quickly weights on the ear".{{sfn|MacDonald|2007|p=91}}

=== Personnel ===
According to MacDonald,{{sfn|MacDonald|2007|p=91}} except where noted:

*[[John Lennon]]{{spaced ndash}} [[Double-tracking|double-tracked]] vocal, rhythm guitar
*[[Paul McCartney]]{{spaced ndash}} backing vocal, bass
*[[George Harrison]]{{spaced ndash}} backing vocal, lead guitar
*[[Ringo Starr]]{{spaced ndash}} drums
*uncredited (played by the Beatles){{spaced ndash}} handclaps{{sfn|Winn|2008|p=63}}

==The Carpenters version==
{{Infobox song
| name       = Please Mr. Postman
| cover      = Please Mr. Postman (Carpenters).jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[The Carpenters|Carpenters]]
| album      = [[Horizon (The Carpenters album)|Horizon]]
| B-side     = [[This Masquerade]]
| released   = November 8, 1974
| recorded   = September 1974
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = [[Pop music|Pop]]
| length     = 2:50
| label      = [[A&M Records|A&M]] <small>1646</small>
| writer     = [[Georgia Dobbins]], William Garrett, [[Freddie Gorman]], [[Brian Holland]], [[Robert Bateman (songwriter)|Robert Bateman]]
| producer   = Richard and Karen Carpenter
| prev_title = [[I Won't Last a Day Without You]]
| prev_year  = 1974
| title      =
| title2     = [[This Masquerade]]
| next_title = [[Santa Claus Is Coming to Town|Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town]]
| next_year  = 1974
| misc       = {{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|KGmgHjSX0wY|"Please Mr. Postman - Carpenters"}}}}
}}

"Please Mr. Postman" was recorded by [[The Carpenters]], and their version went to number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in early 1975. The Carpenters' version resembles an old 1950s rock & roll song. The single was released in late 1974, reached number one on both the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Easy Listening]] charts in January 1975,{{sfn|Whitburn|2002|p=47}} and was the duo's 10th and final million-selling single. The corresponding ''[[Horizon (The Carpenters album)|Horizon]]'' album was belatedly released in June 1975 and went Platinum.  It also became Carpenters' third and final number one and eleventh top-ten single in the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

The Carpenters' cover version was also [[sampling (music)|sampled]] by [[rapper]] [[Juelz Santana]] for his single "[[Oh Yes (Juelz Santana song)|Oh Yes]]". It is used by the ''[[Rob, Arnie and Dawn Show]]'' to introduce their Listener Mail segment, and was the song by the presenters of the British Saturday morning show ''[[SMTV Live]]'' to introduce the mailbag section. Reaching number two in the [[UK Singles Chart]] in 1975, in a UK television special on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] in  2016 it was voted number one in ''[[The Nation's Favourite|The Nation's Favourite Carpenters Song]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tvkev.co.uk/content/carpenters-nations-best-carpenters-song | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910015122/http://www.tvkev.co.uk/content/carpenters-nations-best-carpenters-song | title=The Carpenters - The Nation's Best Carpenters' Song | author=[[Kevin O'Sullivan (journalist)|Kevin O'Sullivan]] | website=[[Kevin O'Sullivan (journalist)|Kevin O'Sullivan]] | date=2016-09-04 | archive-date=2016-09-10 | quote=...I have to admit I was somewhat surprised when I heard what the Number One Song was. (Hey Mr Postman) Mind you... | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Nation's Favourite Carpenters Song |url=https://www.itv.com/hub/the-nations-favourite-carpenters-song/2a4042 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907130744/http://www.itv.com/hub/the-nations-favourite-carpenters-song/2a4042 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 7, 2016 |access-date=25 May 2020 |agency=ITV}}</ref>

A [[music video]] of the song, filmed in [[Disneyland]], can be found on the DVD ''[[Gold: Greatest Hits (video)|Gold: Greatest Hits]]'' (released in 2002), originally packaged as ''Yesterday Once More'' (released on VHS and LaserDisc in 1985).

===Personnel===
*[[Karen Carpenter]] – lead and backing vocals, drums
*[[Richard Carpenter (musician)|Richard Carpenter]] – backing vocals, piano, [[orchestration]]
*[[Tony Peluso]] – guitar
*[[Joe Osborn]] – bass guitar
*Bob Messenger – tenor saxophone
*Doug Strawn – baritone saxophone
*Uncredited – [[castanets]], [[tubular bells]]

===Chart performance===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

====Weekly charts====
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1974–1975)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|Australian ([[Kent Music Report]]){{sfn|Kent|1993}}
|align="center"|1
|-
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|1|artist=Carpenters|song=Please Mr. Postman|chartid=3909|access-date=December 30, 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|artist=Carpenters|song=Please Mr. Postman|chartid=3918a|access-date=December 30, 2020}}
|-
|{{singlechart|Ireland2|2|song=Please Mr. Postman|access-date=July 14, 2017}}
|-
|Oricon International Singles Chart
|align="center"|1
|- 
|Oricon (Japanese) Singles Chart
|align="center"|11
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|29|artist=Carpenters|song=Please Mr. Postman|access-date=June 11, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|New Zealand|4|artist=Carpenters|song=Please Mr. Postman|access-date=June 11, 2018}}
|-
|Quebec ([[ADISQ]])<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151129063315/http://bibnum2.banq.qc.ca/bna/palmares/2010-Anglo-Allophone/Anglo-Compilation_succes_ordre_alpha_interpretes.pdf|url=http://bibnum2.banq.qc.ca/bna/palmares/2010-Anglo-Allophone/Anglo-Compilation_succes_ordre_alpha_interpretes.pdf|title=Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec|publisher=[[Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec|BAnQ]]|date=21 December 1974|access-date=22 June 2025|archive-date=29 November 2015|language=fr|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|align="center"|2
|-
|South Africa ([[Springbok Radio|Springbok]]) <ref>{{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965 – March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(C).html|access-date=2 September 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|5|artist=Carpenters|song=Please Mr. Postman|access-date=June 11, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|2|artist=Carpenters|access-date=June 11, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Carpenters |access-date=June 11, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|1|artist=Carpenters |access-date=June 11, 2018}}
|-
|US [[Cash Box (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top 100 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19750125.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 1/25/75|website=tropicalglen.com|access-date=2017-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620134433/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19750125.html|archive-date=2015-06-20|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|-
|US ''Cashbox'' Radio Active Airplay Singles
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{single chart|West Germany|10|artist=Carpenters|song=Please Mr. Postman|songid=341|year=1974|access-date=June 11, 2018}}
|}
{{col-2}}

====Year-end charts====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1975)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus75">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/8a2fnGs|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1975|publisher= [[Kent Music Report]] |issue= 79 |via= [[Imgur]] |date= December 29, 1975 |access-date=  January 15, 2022 }}</ref>
|align="center"|7
|-
|Canada <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5173a&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=enic7sdhqrbeuu9iiip880d0j4|title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada|work=collectionscanada.gc.ca}}</ref>
|align="center"|11
|-
|New Zealand <ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1975-12-31|title=The Official New Zealand Music Chart – NZ End Of Year Charts 1975}}</ref>
|align="center"|34
|-
|South Africa <ref>{{cite web|title=Top 20 Hit Singles of 1975|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sahits_1975.html|access-date=2 September 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|10
|-
|UK <ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Britain's best selling records of '75 |url=http://scans.chartarchive.org/UK/1975/53%20-%20Best%20Selling%20Singles%20Albums%20Record%20Mirror.jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921055325/http://scans.chartarchive.org/UK/1975/53%20-%20Best%20Selling%20Singles%20Albums%20Record%20Mirror.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 21, 2016 |magazine=[[Record Mirror]] |location=London |publisher=Billboard |page=12 |date=January 10, 1976 |access-date=August 29, 2016 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|28
|-
|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1975.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1975/Top 100 Songs of 1975|website=www.musicoutfitters.com}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|33
|-
|US ''Cash Box'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1975YESP.html|title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1975|website=tropicalglen.com|access-date=2017-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022180746/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1975YESP.html|archive-date=2016-10-22|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|21
|-
|}

====Certifications====
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Carpenters|title=Please Mr. Postman|award=Gold|relyear=1974|certyear=1976|access-date=September 11, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Carpenters|title=Please Mr. Postman|award=Silver|relyear=1974|certyear=1975|id=5136-662-1|access-date=September 11, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=The Carpenters|title=Please Mr. Postman|award=Gold|relyear=1974|certyear=1975|access-date=September 11, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
{{col-end}}

==See also==
*[[List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1961|List of ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one singles of 1961]]
*[[List of number-one R&B singles of 1961 (U.S.)]]
*[[List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1970s#1975|List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1970s]]
*[[List of RPM number-one singles of 1975]]
*[[List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1975|List of ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one singles of 1975]]
*[[List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1975 (U.S.)]]

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin|indent=yes}}
* {{Cite AV media notes |author=Anon. |title=The Complete Motown Singles – Vol. 1: 1959–1961 |others=Various artists |date=2005 |type=Liner notes|publisher=[[Hip-O Records|Hip-O Select]] |id=B0003631-02}}
* {{cite book |last1=Davis |first1=Sharon |title=Motown: The History |date=1988 |publisher=Guinness |location=Enfield |isbn=0-85112-894-7}}
* {{cite book |last1=Everett |first1=Walter |author1-link=Walter Everett (musicologist) |title=The Beatles as Musicians: The Quarry Men through Rubber Soul |date=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-514105-4}}
* {{cite book |last1=Everett |first1=Walter |title=The Foundations of Rock: From "Blue Suede Shoes" to "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" |date=2009 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-531024-5}}
* {{cite book |last1=Gould |first1=Jonathan |title=Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain, and America |title-link=Can't Buy Me Love (book) |date=2007 |publisher=Harmony Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0-307-35337-5}}
* {{cite book |last1=Ingham |first1=Chris |title=The Rough Guide to the Beatles |date=2009 |publisher=Rough Guides |location=London |isbn=978-1-84836-525-4 |edition=3rd}}
* {{cite book |last1=Jamerson |first1=James |author1-link=James Jamerson |title=Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson |date=1989 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |location=Winona |isbn=978-0-88188-882-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WV5HlgC6HU4C |language=en}}
* {{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W |year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|title-link=Kent Music Report}}
* {{cite book |last1=Lewisohn |first1=Mark |author1-link=Mark Lewisohn |title=The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions |title-link=The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions |date=1988 |publisher=Hamlyn |location=London |isbn=978-0-600-63561-1}}
* {{cite book |last1=Lewisohn |first1=Mark |title=The Beatles – All These Years, Volume One: Tune In |title-link=The Beatles: All These Years |date=2013 |publisher=Little, Brown |location=London |isbn=978-1-4087-0478-3 |edition=Extended Special}}
* {{cite book |last1=MacDonald |first1=Ian |author1-link=Ian MacDonald |title=Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties |title-link=Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties |date=2007 |orig-year=1994 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |location=Chicago |isbn=978-1-55652-733-3 |edition=Third}}
* {{cite book |last1=Posner |first1=Gerald L. |author1-link=Gerald Posner |title=Motown: Music, Money, Sex, and Power |date=2002 |publisher=Random House |location=New York |isbn=0-375-50062-6}}
* {{cite book |last1=Riley |first1=Tim |author1-link=Tim Riley (music critic) |title=Tell Me Why: The Beatles: Album by Album, Song by Song, the Sixties and After |date=2002 |orig-year=1988 |publisher=Da Capo Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0-306-81120-3 |edition=Revised and Updated}}
* {{cite book |last1=Taraborrelli |first1=J. Randy |title=Motown: Hot Wax, City Cool & Solid Gold |date=1986 |publisher=Doubleday |location=New York |isbn=0-385-19799-3}}
* {{cite book |last1=Fong-Torres |first1=Ben |author1-link=Ben Fong-Torres |editor1-last=Partridge |editor1-first=Marianne |title=The Motown Album: The Sound of Young America |date=1990 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |location=New York |isbn=0-312-04517-4 |pages=22–239 |chapter=History}}
* {{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001 |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research}}
* {{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004 |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research}}
* {{cite book |last1=Whiteley|first1=Sheila|author1-link=Sheila Whiteley|editor1-last=Womack |editor1-first=Kenneth |editor2-last=Davis |editor2-first=Todd F. |editor1-link=Kenneth Womack |editor2-link=Todd F. Davis |title=Reading the Beatles: Cultural Studies, Literary Criticism, and the Fab Four |date=2006 |publisher=State University of New York Press |location=Albany |isbn=0-7914-6716-3 |pages=55–69 |chapter="Love, love, love": Representations of Gender and Sexuality in Selected Songs by the Beatles}}
* {{cite book |last1=Winn |first1=John C. |title=Way Beyond Compare: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy, Volume One, 1957–1965 |date=2008 |publisher=Three Rivers Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-307-45157-6}}
* {{cite book |last1=Womack|first1=Kenneth|editor1-last=Womack |editor1-first=Kenneth |author1-link=Kenneth Womack |title=The Cambridge Companion to the Beatles |date=2009 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0-521-68976-2 |pages=286–293 |chapter=Beatles Discography, 1962–1970}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [https://secondhandsongs.com/work/11300/versions List of cover versions of ”Please Mr. Postman”] at SecondHandSongs.com

{{The Marvelettes}}
{{With The Beatles}}
{{Carpenters singles}}
{{The Originals}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1961 songs]]
[[Category:1961 debut singles]]
[[Category:1974 singles]]
[[Category:The Marvelettes songs]]
[[Category:The Beatles songs]]
[[Category:The Carpenters songs]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Cashbox number-one singles]]
[[Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in South Africa]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Australia]]
[[Category:Songs written by Brian Holland]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by George Martin]]
[[Category:Songs written by Freddie Gorman]]
[[Category:Tamla Records singles]]
[[Category:A&M Records singles]]
[[Category:Helen Shapiro songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Robert Bateman (songwriter)]]
[[Category:Capitol Records singles]]
[[Category:Polydor Records singles]]
[[Category:Songs about occupations]]
[[Category:Songs about letters (message)]]