Capitol Labels During and After the Beatle Era

This label was actually the THIRD of Capitol's rainbow labels, but it was the one that launched the Beatles in the USA.

Every Beatles album up through Magical Mystery Tour was originally issued on this classic label.

Every album that was originally issued on the label shown above was reissued in mid-1968 onto this very similar label (to the left).

The only difference is the "rim print," which now has the added words, "a subsidiary of Capitol Industries, Inc." (see the arrow). This label was in print until about June, 1969. Reissue copies of the Beatles' LPs were pressed by all three Capitol Records factories (Scranton, LA, Jacksonville); some LPs were also pressed in this form by Columbia Records. It is not known whether every LP was being pressed by every factory on the "subsidiary" label.

Capitol's green label was first issued in June, 1969, before the release of Abbey Road. Every album from Meet the Beatles! through Magical Mystery Tour was reissued onto the green label.

Although the green label continued (on other artists' records) until 1972, the Beatles catalog was switched onto the Apple label in around late 1970. Beatles reissues were not pressed by every factory on the green label. Since the factory at Scranton was being phased out, the factory was dropped from pressing reissue LP's, having been replaced by Winchester. It is believed that every Capitol Beatles album was reissued onto the green label at each of the three factories. The trademark registration can be found in one of two configurations: either as TM to the right of the word "Capitol" or as (R) underneath the l in "Capitol".

Apple records were first issued (on new and re-issues) beginning in 1968. The first Apple label style to appear on Beatles records was this, the "Capitol logo" variety, so-called because Capitol's usual rim print (which contains their logo) appeared on the sliced side of the label. These were made off-and-on as reissues until June, 1971.

Although all four (three) factories pressed copies of those LP's that originally appeared on this label DURING 1969, albums that were reissued onto this label from probably mid-1970 through June, 1971, were pressed only at Los Angeles and Jacksonville. Most, if not all, "Capitol logo" reissues actually date to the period beginning in Fall, 1970, and ending around June, 1971. Also, all "new" albums pressed onto this label style AFTER Abbey Road (including ST-3359, ST-3362, STAO-3363, ST-3364, and SMAS-3375) were pressed only in Jacksonville. Wonderwall Music is also only known on the Capitol/Apple label style from the Jacksonville plant.

The classic Apple label was issued as early as 1968. The rim print of this label, which appears on the front side, or both, simply states that Apple Records, Inc. was the manufacturer. This label style was discontinued for 45's in May, 1971 and for LPs later that same year.

While "new issue" LPs were common on this label style, reissues of the earlier Capitol LPs onto the Apple label with "Mfd. by Apple" on the b-side are somewhat rare, because the reissue catalog was being pressed on the green label and Apple label with Capitol logo.

For reasons that are not currently known, in 1971 the rim print of the Apple label was moved to the front (unsliced) side of the record. It simply states that Apple Records, Inc. was the manufacturer. This label style was discontinued in September, 1975.

All three of Capitol's factories pressed reissue LPs on this label style, and some Apple albums have been found pressed in Scranton on this label. At some point, circa 1973, the words "Mastered by Capitol" were added to the matrix of Capitol and Apple LP's and singles.

This version of the red label with the Capitol logo along the bottom rim is a very rare US pressing and highly collectible. Although Canada did press the red "target/bullseye" label the Canadian pressings are not nearly as collectible.

Just before Capitol switched from their green label to their first orange label, there was a transition red label. No Beatles records were supposed to be issued on this label, since by this time (c. mid-1971), their catalog had switched to Apple, but a few rare specimens received the red label. Notice the appearance of the registered trademark symbol to the right of the word "Capitol." This change happened in 1971.

This last Apple label is called the "All rights" issue because a longer statement about copyrights was added to the label. Available from September, 1975 until the stock was depleted. For some records, this was as late as 1980.

All three Capitol factories pressed LPs on this label style. This print may be found across the label, added after the rim print, or added underneath the rim print.

After September of 1975, the "All Rights Reserved" wording was added to the label.

Until December, 1975, the whole Beatles/solo catalog remained on the Apple label, but beginning in 1976 the orange label was used for Beatles-related reissues. Therefore, the whole LP catalog was transferred to the orange Capitol label with "All Rights Reserved."

All Beatles reissues appeared on this label style until about March of 1978. Prior versions of this label without the "All Rights Reserved" had no Beatle LP pressings except for Revolver. Finding a Revolver pressing on the orange label without the "All Rights Reserved" wording would a very rare find indeed!

Capitol custom labels, imitating their earlier label styles, had been appearing as early as 1975. By 1977, the decision had been made to return to a label similar to the old purple label that had been used on 78's. The rim print of the "70's purple label" starts with "MFD. BY CAPITOL," and the Capitol logo is quite large. All Beatles albums were reissued onto this label style.

Original labels from the '60's contained the rim print along the bottom of the label above (outside) the colorband.

The re-issue above has the rim print inside the colorband (above the Capitol logo).At least since the Rarities album in 1980, Capitol had been experimenting with returning to their classic rainbow label. Records by other artists, such as the Knack, also appeared on variations of the earlier label styles. In July of 1983, the "new rainbow" label became the label for all regular issues. This label style is distinctive, since the rim print actually appears IN the rainbow portion of the label (versus the original and "subsidiary" labels from the '60's which had the rim print OUTSIDE along the bottom of the rainbow colorband).

All Beatles albums were reissued onto this label style. Later copies show the publishing credits of Michael Jackson's publishing company.

From Summer of 1988 onward, the "new purple" label has been in use by Capitol.

In addition to a smaller logo, the label differs from earlier styles because the rim print starts with "MANUFACTURED BY CAPITOL." i.e., the word "manufactured" is spelled out. The rim print now stretches almost all the way around the label.