Some Beatles Picture Sleeves

In the early days, The Beatles 45's had picture sleeves.  These were usually just thrown together jobs with a picture of the band and song titles popped across the top in Capitol Records Font.

Until Penny Lane....

Penny Lane b/w Strawberry Fields Forever.

As the Beatles wielded more power, they began to take control of aspects of their presentation normally relegated to the record companies  - like designing the sleeves.  It had been five months since Revolver. The record company was chomping at the bit.  The band needed to get something out.  They chose these two songs from the sessions for their next album.  What set this one apart was the sleeve, which departed from the standard issue Capitol Records Font sleeve.

I often wondered what would have happened if they didn't need to rush out a single.  Would these two have been included on Sgt, Pepper?  Could the album have ended up as a double?   Would it have changed the songs that were composed for the album later if they were already working with these in mind for inclusion?

Next.

Hey Jude b/w Revolution

This is the first release on Apple records.  The Beatles presented their product with a design that certainly set the label apart from all others.  Releases were in a classy black sleeve.  Beatles releases read 'The Beatles on Apple' in cursive.  Other artist releases read simply 'Apple.'  It was unique to have the standard label have different designs on the A-Side and B-Side.  The label also didn't say the name of the record company.  They let the image speak for itself.

Most subsequent releases by The Beatles carried this design.

And yes, these are the mono mixes.  Revolution sounds amazing cranked up to 11.


The Ballad of John and Yoko b/w Old Brown Shoe

A later picture sleeve on Apple.  I got this in a pile of records someone was giving up.  It had a different record inside it.  I played mix and match with it and now have an original pressing in a picture sleeve.   It served its purpose for me.  It served a purpose for someone else in the lower right.  I'm glad their ballpoint pen works. Only John and Paul play on the A Side.  B-Side by George.