The Beatles Collection

Infobox Album
Name = The Beatles Collection
Type = box
Artist = The Beatles


Released = December 1978 (UK)
November 1978 (U.S.)
Recorded = Abbey Road (mostly)
11 September 1962 – 1 April 1970
Genre = Rock
Length = 8:53:40
Label = Parlophone BC 13
Producer = George Martin, Phil Spector ("Let It Be"), and Chris Thomas ("You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)")
Reviews = *Allmusic" rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:li8ibk596akq link]
Chronology = The Beatles UK
Last album = "Love Songs"
(1977)
This album = "The Beatles Collection"
(1978)
Next album = "Rarities"
(1978)
Misc = Extra chronology 2
Artist = The Beatles U.S.
Type = box
Last album = "Love Songs"
(1977)
This album = "The Beatles Collection"
(1978)
Next album = "Rarities"
(1980)

"The Beatles Collection" is a box set of vinyl albums containing the official catalogue of The Beatles in stereo, and a new compilation called "Rarities". The American issue by Capitol Records contained the British pressings of the same twelve original Beatle albums, with an American pressing of "Rarities." The American pressing of "Rarities" differed from its British counterpart in that it included the previously released English-language versions of "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand," rather than the German-language version found on the British pressing. [ [http://www.rarebeatles.com/boxsets/rarit.htm Beatles Rarities album ] ] The American edition of the boxed set was a limited edition of only 3,000 numbered copies. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:li8ibk596akq allmusic ((( The Beatles Collection [14 LP Box > Overview ))) ] ] The limited availability of the American release resulted in the British release becoming popular as an import into the U.S. [ [http://www.rarebeatles.com/boxsets/boxset.htm Beatles Box sets ] ]

The boxed set failed to include a number of Beatles recordings, including those released on the "Magical Mystery Tour" album. (The album had been released in the United States in 1967, but it was not counted among the group's official catalogue because it was not issued in the United Kingdom until 1976.) The collection also failed to include the non-album singles that had been previously released on the twin compilation packages, "1962–1966" and "1967–1970". Finally, some fans also found fault with the exclusion of the group's live album, "The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl". The LP release of "Past Masters, Volumes One and Two" satisfied most of the complainers about the box set. So all that was needed afterwards to make the set truly complete was the "Magical Mystery Tour" LP. Both of these complaints were addressed with the 1988 release of "The Beatles Box Set".

Along with the LPs listed below with their sleeves, the collection also include the inserts contained in the individual albums including the cardboard cutout sheet in Sgt. Pepper and the photos and poster in The White Album. [ [http://www.rarebeatles.com/boxsets/boxset.htm#UNITED%20KINGDOM Beatles Box sets ] ]

Audiophile company Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab released a similar box set in 1981 called "The Beatles - The Collection" consisting of the twelve British versions of the albums (Rarities was not included) pressed off the original Abbey Road studio master tapes using a technique called "Half Speed Mastering" and pressed on Japanese "virgin" vinyl. The set was highly acclaimed for it's sonic accuracy and only approximately 10,000 were released. In this case, the actual covers for each album was a photo of the studio master tape along with the engineer's log sheet. The original album covers were put together in a full sized booklet.

Album listing

References