Beatles Records

About Vintage Beatles Vinyl Records

Beatles records are collectible for two principal reasons. First, we’re talking about The Beatles, and anything associated with the Fab Four tends to become collectible before too long. Second, though short-lived compared to, say, the Rolling Stones and other acts from the 1960s, the Beatles were extremely prolific, which means there’s a lot of their stuff to collect.

This is especially true with Beatles records, which were released at various times in the U.S. and U.K. under numerous labels. There were dozens of LPs, scores of 45s, and even a healthy smattering of EPs...

The first U.K. Beatles single was "Love Me Do," which was released on October 5, 1962 by Parlophone. It charted at number 17 in England (two years later, it would hit number one when released in the States). The first versions of the 45 had a red label on the disc, with blue, yellow, purple, and red horizontal stripes on the sleeve. This is the version of "Love Me Do" with Ringo Starr on drums. A black-labeled version of the single was released shortly thereafter with Ringo on tambourine and session musician Andy White on drums.

Other U.K. singles that are fun to collect are the songs (four each) from A Hard Day’s Night and Help! As for the last Beatles single to be released in England when the band was still together? That would be "Let It Be" on March 6, 1970.

In the United States, before Capitol Records signed the band just before their 1964 appearance on Ed Sullivan, Vee-Jay Records was responsible for the release of Beatles music on vinyl, including singles. By all accounts, they did a poor job. One famous typo was on the 1963 45 of "Please Please Me," which included an extra "t" in the band’s name on some of the earliest pressings.

Also collectible are the 45s from the early 1990s, which Capitol produced in multiple colors—green, red, pink, blue, yellow, etc.—with the words "For Jukeboxes Only!" on the label. Most rare are the black discs with "Birthday" on one side and "Taxman" on the other; only 25 to 50 of these black 45s were shipped.

Anomalies like these are what make Beatles 45s such a rich area for collectors. According to Beatles record collector Jesse Barron, there were about 16 different label variations of the 1964 Tollie Records release of "Twist and Shout," all within about six months.

A step up in size from the 45 is the EP, which generally held two songs on a side. Twist and Shout from 1963 was the first EP in England, but Long Tall Sally is almost more interesting since it was the first Beatles EP to feature songs not previously recorded on a Beatles LP. One of those songs was "I Call Your Name," which was famously covered by The Mamas & The Papas in 1966.

Magical Mystery Tour was released as a six-song, double EP in the U.K., but when it was marketed in the U.S., Capitol decided to package it as a 11-song LP. In fact, only three Beatles EPs were issued in the United States during the band’s heyday. The first was called Souvenir of Their Visit to America. Despite the clumsy title, this 1964 Vee-Jay disc sold very well since it was released at the height of U.S. Beatlemania.

Vintage vinyl Beatles LPs offer collectors amazing diversity. Not only are there records from multiple countries, there are also records in different formats. That’s because during the 1960s, a painful (to the ears) transition from mono to stereo took place. In many cases, monaural recording sessions were turned into stereo LPs during post-production, with predictably poor results.

For collectors, some of the "pure" mono recordings of that decade are therefore highly prized. These include all of the U.K. Beatles albums released in mono, from the 1963 Parlophone release of Please Please Me to 1969’s Yellow Submarine (the last U.S. mono Beatles LP was Magical Mystery Tour in 1967).

Other LPs of note include the U.S. version of Rubber Soul without the words "The Beatles" on the record’s label. In the case of A Hard Day’s Night from 1964, the first pressings in mono and stereo featured a typo on one of the song titles ("I Cry Instead" rather than "I’ll Cry Instead"). A subsequent pressing by a company called Monarch corrected the mistake but left off the running times for each song on the record’s label. These LPs are more rare than the originals.

Unquestionably the most infamous Beatles LP was Yesterday and Today with its original cover of the smiling lads sitting around in butcher aprons with pieces of meat and dismembered dolls in their laps and on their shoulders. About 750,000 copies of this cover were printed, but response to the handful of covers sent out as advance copies convinced Capitol to immediately recall them. Some were destroyed but most were pasted over with a rather boring group photo of the Beatles sitting on, and in, a steamer trunk.

Most "butcher" covers on the market today are LPs that have had the replacement "trunk" photo peeled off. The most rare examples, of course, are the LPs with the original "butcher" cover in its original shrink wrap. The best of these are the so-called "Livingston Butchers," which are any of the 24 sealed "butcher" covers that former Capitol Records president Alan Livingston stored in a closet for more than 20 years before releasing them for sale in 1987. In all cases, stereo versions are the rarest of the rare.

Finally, a few Beatles LPs appeal to both Beatles collectors and fans of Pysch rock. Covers such as 1966’s Revolver and 1967’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band certainly fit that bill, but Magical Mystery Tour is also a link to the world of rock music posters, thanks to its cover by renowned poster artist John Van Hamersveld.

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Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Beatles Record and Memorabilia Collector Jesse Barron

About 12 years ago a coworker told me that they saw a picture sleeve on eBay from The Beatles selling for 500 dolla… [more]

An Interview With Psych Vinyl Record Collector Patrick Lundborg

I’ve been interested in psych records for about 25 years now. It started with just 1960s music, the Beatles and stu… [more]

An Interview With 78 RPM Record Collector Gary Herzenstiel

I have about 20,000 records in my collection at my house and another 7,000 at another house. I keep them in a room … [more]

An Interview With 78 RPM Record Collector Ted Staunton

Ted Staunton was born in England, but now lives an active retired lifestyle in Vancouver, Canada. Ted has an outsta… [more]



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Beatles Records Videos



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Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Mybeatles.net

Mybeatles.net

Jesse Barron's collection of Beatles 45s, picture sleeves, magazines, books, and memorabilia. Browse singles and al… [read review or visit site]

78 RPM Record Label Collection

78 RPM Record Label Collection

Ted Staunton's fabulous record label collection spanning six decades (1900-1960). Browsable by decade or label name… [read review or visit site]

45 RPM Record Label Designs

45 RPM Record Label Designs

A quick tour of 45 rpm label designs from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Do the whole slide show or use the alphabetical i… [read review or visit site]

New Zealands 78rpm Record Site

New Zealands 78rpm Record Site

Even more compelling than Adam Miller’s collection of 78 rpm record labels from New Zealand and Australia are hi… [read review or visit site]

Association of Vogue Picture Record Collectors

Association of Vogue Picture Record Collectors

This great site, from the Association of Vogue Picture Record Collectors, offers detailed background information an… [read review or visit site]


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Original Signed Copy Of Beatles 'love Me Do' 1962$15,000 Ends in 20 hours 1 bid 58 watchers
Beatles Please Please Me Gold Stereo Parlophone Label $5,336 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 93 watchers
Beatles Second State Stereo Butcher Cover Lp In Shrink$900.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 12 watchers
Beatles White Album Uk 1968 1st *mono* Pressing Ex+$604.12 Ends Sunday 28 bids 30 watchers
Mfsl Uhqr Beatles "the Collection" Lp Box Set$561.00 Ends Tuesday 10 bids 52 watchers
Lennon Wedding Album Lp Box 1969 Apple Uk 1st Beatles$512.27 Ends in 20 hours 16 bids 38 watchers
Mfsl The Beatles Collection$510.00 Ends in 22 hours 6 bids 18 watchers
The Beatles - The Collection- Limited Edition No. 16823$504.99 Ends Monday 2 bids 10 watchers
Mfsl Beatles "the Collection" 14 Album Master Box Set $405.00 Ends Sunday 9 bids 27 watchers
The Beatles Box Set-tmoq Colored Wax Not Takrl Mint $405.00 Ends Tuesday 10 bids 38 watchers
Beatles "please Please Me" Parlophone Black & Gold Ex!$361.33 Ends in 20 hours 8 bids 61 watchers
The Beatles..butcher Cover..2nd State *nice*$305.00 Ends Sunday 9 bids 24 watchers
Beatles Vi Uk Export Yellow / Black Parlophone Cpcs 104$268.33 Ends in 22 hours 7 bids 36 watchers
Lot Of 62 Acid Psych Lps Beatles Butcher Doors Promo$256.00 Ends Tuesday 14 bids 32 watchers
Beatles Record Butcher Yesterday And Today T2553$250.00 Ends Sunday 8 bids 18 watchers
The Beatles-rare 2nd State Butcher Cover-mono Lp Vg+$244.75 Ends in 18 hours 9 bids 43 watchers
Emi Parlophone Bc13 Beatles Collection 14 Lps Nm$227.50 Ends in 14 hours 18 bids 28 watchers
Beatles - Yesterday And Today -2nd State Stereo Butcher$227.50 Ends Saturday 5 bids 18 watchers
Beatles-please Please Me-parlophone 1963 "gold Label"$212.50 Ends Thursday 3 bids 26 watchers
The Beatles ~65` Factory Sealed Mono$202.50 Ends in 1 hour 9 bids 14 watchers
The Beatles 7" 1st 1967 Israeli Ep Ultra - Rare! 45 Ex$199.99 Ends Monday 1 bid 15 watchers
The Beatles Uk Orig 68 Mono Low Numbered White Album Ex$195.15 Ends Sunday 9 bids 56 watchers
Beatles Sgt Pepper Lp Uk Orig Press 1967 Mono Nr Mint$186.00 Ends Monday 2 bids 42 watchers
Beatles Get Back Journals 11 Lp Original Film Box Tmoq$165.50 Ends Monday 4 bids 23 watchers
Beatles Rare Exclusive Italian Apple Kenny Everett 45 $155.51 Ends Thursday 2 bids 22 watchers
The Beatles Lp 7 Uk 68 Mono Apple 1st Press White Album$153.98 Ends Sunday 4 bids 45 watchers
Ultra Rare Beatles Can't Buy Me Love Picture Sleeve!!!$152.50 Ends Friday 5 bids 26 watchers
Beatles 1968 Uk Christmas Fan Club Flexi Disc & Insert$150.16 Ends Sunday 15 bids 24 watchers
The Beatles White Album Numbered Error Nm In Shrink$150.00 Ends Friday 10 bids 64 watchers
The Beatles Japan #ed Box Set Blue Box 14 Lps + Poster$149.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 12 watchers
The Beatles Lp Collection Blue Box Bc-13 14 Lps Nm$149.95 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 11 watchers
The Beatles Yellow Submarine ((sealed)) Mfsl Mint Lp!$138.09 Ends Sunday 15 bids 25 watchers
Beatles White Album Mono Nr Mint Complete With Spacer$125.02 Ends in 20 hours 7 bids 56 watchers
*beatles "nowhere Man" 1966 Uk 1st Pressing E.p*$115.88 Ends Monday 18 bids 21 watchers
The Beatles Let It Be ((sealed)) Mfsl Audiophile Lp!$112.50 Ends Sunday 13 bids 18 watchers
John Lennon "the Lost Lennon Tapes Volume 31" Color Wax$112.50 Ends Monday 5 bids 4 watchers
John Lennon "the Lost Lennon Tapes Volume 29" Color Wax$102.50 Ends Monday 7 bids 7 watchers
John Lennon "the Lost Lennon Tapes Volume 30" Color Wax$102.50 Ends Monday 6 bids 7 watchers
Les Beatles - Odeon Osx 222 - Orange Label$99.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 6 watchers
The Beatles Please Please Me. Original Red Label 45 Ex$96.05 Ends in 21 hours 8 bids 38 watchers
Beatles Rare 5 Cd Unreleased Macca Track In Mpl Wallet $92.99 Ends Thursday 11 bids 9 watchers
Beatles Ultra Rare Sgt Peppers One Box Emi Mono Nr Mint$91.57 Ends in 20 hours 8 bids 59 watchers
The Beatles Abbey Road ((sealed)) Mfsl Mint Lp!$91.00 Ends Sunday 7 bids 12 watchers
The Beatles Revolver ((sealed)) Mfsl Mint Lp!$89.00 Ends Sunday 6 bids 24 watchers
The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lhcb ((sealed)) Mfsl Mint Lp!$89.00 Ends Sunday 10 bids 19 watchers
The Beatles Rubber Soul ((sealed)) Mfsl Mint Lp!$81.00 Ends Sunday 8 bids 19 watchers
The Beatles Uk 1967 B/y Mono Sgt Peppers..m-/ex$80.80 Ends Sunday 7 bids 28 watchers
*beatles "my Bonnie" Original Uk Polydor Scroll Label*$77.75 Ends Monday 4 bids 21 watchers
Beatles- Yesterday & Today 2nd State Butcher Cover$76.75 Ends Monday 5 bids 26 watchers
The Beatles Etc, Rarest Live Bbc Top Of The Pops No. 0.$76.23 Ends in 20 hours 1 bid 7 watchers
Beatles - The Capitol Souvenir Record (rare Compact 33)$76.00 Ends in 8 hours 6 bids 12 watchers
Rare: The Beatles Let It Be Box Pxs1 1970 1st Red Apple$75.75 Ends Wednesday 8 bids 21 watchers
The Beatles - Yellow Submarine Ep Portugal$74.99 Ends in 20 hours 1 bid 5 watchers
The Beatles 12 Lp Lot W. Sealed Abbey Road Puzzle$72.00 Ends in 4 hours 10 bids 32 watchers
The Beatles Please Please Me ((sealed)) Mfsl Mint Lp!$71.00 Ends Sunday 9 bids 20 watchers
The Beatles Lp White Album On White Vinyl W Poster/pixs$70.00 Ends in 3 hours 15 bids 16 watchers
Beatles~rubber Soul~mfsl~sealed Pressing$66.00 Ends in 22 hours 11 bids 23 watchers

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Recent News: Beatles Records

Source: Google News

The Melismatics Interview: SXSW 2010
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I really had to pick one of them, I would pick the Beatles because that is the first music that I was ever really exposed to, my dad's Beatles record...Read more

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so we thought we should change the spelling. So we changed the e to au and became Shurman. Let's listen to a Beatles record, then go to a Stones concert...Read more

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By JERRY OSBORNE Dear Jerry: The British invaded in 1964 and WLS in Chicago was the first station in the country to play a Beatles record...Read more

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These are my influences and I love to sit and listen to all of these guys, but I will at anytime put on a Beatles record and listen to the Beatles...Read more

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By Drew Olson Releasing a solid debut album is one of the tougher accomplishments in the music industry. The only thing more difficult, it seems,...Read more

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I've been really into this early Beatles record that was recorded with a different singer that had an Elvis affectation, but the Beatles were playing all...Read more

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In 1963, Vee Jay Records released the first Beatles record in the US, "Please Please Me" backed with "Ask Me Why." At the time, the single went unnoticed by...Read more

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