Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Beatles Forever 1972-1976 Canadian singles reissue series.


Beginning in 1972 Capitol of Canada introduced the "Beatles Forever" series of 45 RPM reissues on their new orange label.  To  market the series a special picture sleeve was created.  One side common to all releases featured the Beatles' head shots from the "Let It Be" album above a t-shirt emblazoned with a British style flag and the words "Beatles Forever".  The other side displayed the song title, the words "The Beatles" and the Capitol logo. 
      
Of all the releases "This Boy / All My Loving" was the most sort after by collectors as it contained the first world wide release of "This Boy" in true stereo.  In the years since the true stereo version of this song have appeared on a number of issues worldwide. 

Almost all discs in the series were on Capitol's orange label with two exceptions.  In 1972 copies of "Can't Buy Me Love" on the previous red target label were issued in a Beatles Forever sleeve as was a tan label Capitol Starline copy of "Kansas City / Boys". 

In 1976 the orange label "Got To Get You Into My Life" could be found in both a Beatles Forever sleeve and an imported US sleeve.
Rare promotional retail poster for the Beatles Forever series 
Between 1972 and 1976 thirteen records were issued in the Beatles Forever series.  In addition there were a number of label variations and contract pressings. 

 In Near Mint condition (vinyl/label/sleeve) each has a value of between $20 and $45.

    
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1 comment:

  1. phantomgtownerMarch 4, 2020 at 6:29 AM

    The red target label was still in use up to at least January 1973. I'm not sure but it seems to me the "Beatles Forever" series was not implemented until 1976 just prior to when Capitol-EMI began to press their own records. Early "Beatles Forever" issues had a larger text and were pressed by (correct me if I'm wrong) MCA Records. By mid '76 they had the smaller text with the bumpy ridge around the outside of the label. These are the ones pressed by Capitol themselves. In the years between 1973 and 1975, the Beatles Capitol orange reissues certainly exist but appear to be sporadic and many, many Beatles reissues available in Canadian retail outlets were on US pressed Apple labels including those that had originally been on the Capitol label. Thanks for letting me put my two cents in. Great discussion!

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