"Why" is one of the early songs performed by the Beatles when they were backing Tony Sheridan. It was first issued on Sheridan's French extended play called "Mister Twist" in 1962.[1] In the UK, it is the B-side of the instrumental rock tune "Cry for a Shadow". Although it was originally intended to be the A-side, the record label Polydor chose not to release it (at that time). When the Beatles were gaining popularity by 1964, the record label decided to release it with "Cry for a Shadow" as the A-side and "Why" as its B-side. In the US and Canada, it was released as originally intended, by the North American record label MGM with "Why" as the A-side and "Cry for a Shadow" as the B-side, due to it being an instrumental. Both were included on the German compilation album The Beatles' First! in 1964 and on all its other reissues worldwide in subsequent years.[2]
"Why" reached number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the week ending April 18, 1964. It spent only one week on the chart.[3]
