nprmusic:

In an essay in this month’s issue of The Atlantic, Colin Fleming argues that the Fab Four’s most emblematic, “Beatle-esque” year was 1963, before they’d even made it big in the States. His evidence? A set of sessions that John, Paul, George and Ringo recorded that year at the BBC, which Fleming argues are the quintessence of everything the grouped would be come.

Hear the sessions, and the debate, on today’s Weekend Edition.

Photo: The Beatles pose in Liverpool’s Derby Square in February 1963. Michael Ward/Getty Images