Skip to content
Elly Roberts reviews
The Capitol Albums Volume 1
Capitol (EMI)
- Released: November 2004
- Rating: 10/10
- Cat. No: 07243 875400 2 6
- Format: CD (4 disc boxed set)
- Booklet: 48 pages of archive colour & black and white photos, with essay byBeatles expert Mark Lewisohn and Beatles quotes.
- Track listing: See Amazon link above – 90 titles (stereo/mono)
Its the greatest story in popular music folklore the rise and demise ofThe Beatles.
Much has been chronicled about the Fab Four. This, the rise,just scrapes the surface, but its a very important part of their worlddomination, particularly in America. Cracking the States was important toany groups development.
Brian Epstein tried landing them a record contract,but almost every label in Europe rejected the group. Then in May 1962, theirproducer George Martin secured a deal with EMIs Parlophone subsidiary. Theycut two originals Love me Do / P.S. I Love You on 11 September 1962. Thingsmoved quickly from then on, three UK number ones in 1963 From Me To You,She Loves You and I Want To Hold Your Hand. At the time, Americans werethriving on acts like Elvis, and Motown acts like Little Stevie Wonder,Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, and The Miracles.
On 16 January, 1964 TheBeatles were in Versailles performing at the Olympia. It wasnt a good night their gear broke down three times. Sabotage was even suspected. The Frenchcrowd and press were frosty towards the group. The band werent reallybothered. Returning to their suite at the George V hotel, they received someunexpected news.
It was a telegram with advance news of the following weeks singles chart inAmerican journal Cashbox I Want To Hold Your Hand had leaped from 43 tonumber one. It was the breakthrough Epstein and the boys had been waitingfor. Apart from some isolated cases, like The Tornados Telstar, AckerBilks Stranger On The Shore, and Kenny Balls Midnight In Moscow, no otherBritish act had broken big in the USA. After 3 days it sold ¼ million copiesacross the country. They were on a roll: things would never be the same.
All this happened, purely by coincidence; before they were due to appear onnationwide television via the Ed Sullivan Show. 70 million people wouldwatch each show on Feb 9 and 16. In the post JFK assassination gloom,America opened its arms in a welcomed diversion. On 7 February, 1.20pm localtime, Pan American Boeing 707, PA 101 landed at JFK airport in New York.Three thousand screaming fans turned out to greet them Beatlemania hadarrived in America. It sent shock waves around the world seismic ones.
This collection is released to coincide with that momentous occasion. EMIsAmerican label Capitol eventually decided to release its fourth single IWant To Hold Your Hand and Meet The Beatles (identical to their second UKalbum With The Beatles), both becoming their first US chart toppers.These releases were the versions the Yanks heard.
Adjustments were made forthe USA market reduced tracklisting because of cost, and echo was added.Capitol Records president Andrew Slater said, “These are the records thatintroduced The Beatles to America these were the audio mixes and sequenceof songs that found their way into our homes.” He added, “In the sixties,American record labels often chose to reformat British records to suit theneeds of the US market.”.
“Higher music publishing costs in the US also made itimpractical to include as many songs on American albums
some of therecordings on American albums were given more echo than the Britishversions, to Americanize their sound.” The American public were none thewiser over the differences, and the group were never consulted either. Theywere, apparently annoyed, at the rapidity of these releases January,April, July and December.
Back home in 64, they had only released twoalbums A Hard Days Night and Beatles For Sale. In effect, Capitol playedcatch-up, and bombarded the market. Controversial it may have been, but itworked. Brian Epstein said, “We knew that America would make us or break usas world stars. In fact, she made us.”
What you get here are both stereo andmono recordings crammed onto each disc, which are presented in mini-LPjackets with the original artwork. Its a fantastic addition to theircollection, which is long over due on CD. Enjoy the American experience allover again.
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.