Good review! Great cap!

Every track on this album is top notch 1980 christ it's just as good today deffo in my top 10 all time al bums played it death when it came out unbelievable album

Don’t you have these songs already?

Only a 6? Still, It's a sure bet you'll buy volume 2. Just like the first set, it'll contain seven albums (BEATLES VI through MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR) with eight discs. The extra disc will be the butcher cover version of YESTERDAY AND TODAY...and it will only be available in the box set.

Thank you for the video. Though being pedantic "Early Beatles" wasn't actually released until 1965! Maybe a nicer idea would have been to have had a repro of the VJ Introducing Album instead which was released in January 1965

I bought three of them so far and am really enjoying the sound. Yes these will never sound as good as 1st generation UK tapes but that isn’t really the point. If they had used the UK 2014 mono masters then there would fury about them not being the authentic US ‘experience’ . As a U.K. resident I enjoy the US albums as a fun alternative - just another excuse to enjoy Beatles music in less familiar surroundings!

This is a great set. There is unfortunately quite a few tales of skipping and missing inserts around the Internet, and it was unlucky for you that you initially got a dud. I hope we get Beatles VI, Help!, Yesterday and Today and Rubber Soul at least as individual releases even if there isn't another box set.

I thought the boxed set was over priced and I have all the original capitol mono and stereo versions in mint condition, so I opted to buy the colored vinyl Meet The Beatles from Target. Like you I noticed the shrill in the sound. They are definitely louder cuts which is cool in a way. My suspicion for the shrill sound is most likely Capitol didn't store the masters with the same care that Abbey Road does with the original UK masters. In '87 when the Capitol albums went out of print, they probably thought there would be no need for these albums to ever be issued again. I could be wrong, but it's just a guess. I am glad they are out though. Seeing them in the shops brings back memories.

I bought the blue Target MTB on release day, last Friday and just received my boxset yesterday... Haven't cracked it open yet, but I definitely will be sometime today to inspect for any flaws. I'm kind of wishing I would've ordered through Amazon now, since returning it due to flaws would be much easier. I got mine through The Sound of Vinyl since there was a 20% off coupon. Hopefully my gamble paid off! 😬🤞 Thanks for the review, and Happy Thanksgiving! 🍻

I purchased the Target Blue Vinyl. I already have these records that I purchased new in the 1980s. They are the stereo versions. I also have the U.S. Albums box set on CD. I love the physical presentation of this set.

Cash grab

Cool review. I ordered two of these through Merchbar back in October, yet to receive them. Haven't heard these Capital releases in 50 yrs, so it should be interesting.

Always love your reviews.. In this case, since these are mono albums, did you use a mono cartridge with a mono stylus ? I know you are aware that mono groves are wider than stereo grooves.. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family...

Yet another unboxing video.

I heard some people complaining about the stereo fold downs but that really makes no sense. The point of releasing an American box set was to have the record that was originally released in America, or as close to it as possible. The original albums had fold downs so the reissue needed to have them too. There was a huge outcry when the US albums were released on CD using the UK remaster mixes so I guess they couldn't win whatever they did.

Nobody has brought up the big flaw on the "Meet The Beatles" album. Just as the song "I want To Hold Your Hand" starts there is a click. I can look at my recording I made on a graph and the click is as plain as day. I have 2 different copies of this album, each made from a different stamper, and both records have the flaw. When Norman Maslov did his review of the box set, at the end, he plays the start of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and the click is very noticeable. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIm7l4SPoap3pZY These albums were cut from the original Capitol master tapes. ALL the early Beatles recordings were recorded 2-track and then folded down to mono. There is NO originally recorded in mono session tape, they were 2-track. By the "A Hard Day's Night" album the Beatles were recording 4-track, even synching 2 4-track decks to get 8-tracks. These were also all folded down to mono.

One thing I've noticed in comments on all of these unboxing videos is that it's a cash grab if it wasn't the album you were waiting for. When that Rubber Soul cash grab drops next year, everybody here will probably buy it

OK these are better sounding than the US 1964 albums, but are they better sounding than the 2014 versions ?

Thank you for the video. Nice and interesting review. nuanced…Bought the set yesterday, same feelings, a solid 6 and happy to cherish it like a very listenable peace of arthistory🪲🪲🪲🪲 greetings a Belgium Beatle Fan

First off, thanks for your honest take in the boxed set. It's always better to hear an honest review as opposed to someone gushing over everything about the product. Now two questions: Is the vinyl quiet? Secondly, what about Ringo's drums? One of the things I love on Giles Martin's remasters is that I can hear Ringo's drums so much better. As far as Pauls bass, you covered that a lot but no mention of Ringo's drums, or for that matter, the acoustic guitars, Johns harmonica, keyboards, etc. Does any of this stand out or change for you with this set?

If an anniversary Rubber Soul box comes out next year, I hope they include the U.S. version.

No Run Devil Run? Worth it just for the title song

How much is it

The Early Beatles' tracks are 62-63 but the reason it was included is because the songs on it were first released in the US in January 1964 by Vee-Jay.

Hi Brian, yes, like you said they’re good for what they are. I had to replace mine too and the new ones are better but my favorite “upgrade” for these albums is still the 2004 Ted Jensen(?) cds. I kinda wished now that they just put his work onto vinyl. Happy Thanksgiving !👍

I won’t be opening my box set instead I bought the Target Meet The Beatles and I’ll listen to my Beatles us albums box set

When will we see the remaining US albums? Beatles IV, Help!, Butcher Cover, etc...

Do you have a mono cartridge or are you listening through a stereo cartridge? It makes a difference.

I'm a huge Beatles and vinyl fan but to me this is a huge rip off. I think I paid less than the $300 for the 2014 mono box which includes all the mono British albums not one year. It was a rip off back in the 60's when they released these shortened albums with inferior sound in the US. I guess that's why the superior 2014 box is no longer in print so they can release these cash grabs in addition to the awful digital remixes. You again have no choice just as back in the 60's. So nostalgic.

On side 3 of the beatles story, towards the very end, when the narrator is discussing paul gokarting I have a skip. I exchanged it with Amazon and the second copy has the same issue. I’m curious if anyone else has the same issue or if it’s my setup

Do you know of anyone who only purchased the individual albums and if they experienced the same issues or not?

ILL AGREE $130 for Beatles Story doesnt make sense $20 on Ebay for original1964. You bought cardboard to keep them together? Lol i see shelves behind you . 2+2= 5? Nope

Buy separately ..theyre sealed. Right? Box set theyre all open. Ugh

Buy separately ..theyre sealed. Right? Box all open.?

You paid extra $130 for Beatles Story and cardboard? One born every minute I guess.

Wow. 1st off I'm happy you got the issues sorted okay. I'm as cynical of Apple as if I'd bought it myself: When you pay that amount, Quality Control ought to mean something - - it's down to Apple to commission the right ppl for pressings & mixes & supplements. I'm thinking of getting *HDN new Mono* because I never had the soundtrack, only the album, & though Beatles-related there's a hint of what George Martin's career might have sounded like without them, in terms of orchestration. But you can bet I'm wary. There's a chance that whenever *HDN SDL* arrives, the *soundtrack* may be one of the discs, & they may follow the *Mono* initiative of *Revolver SDL* . These days, to buy wise, we have to *anticipate* buying double in order to avoid it. What Apple is going out of its way to do nowadays is manipulate fans into that double-bind, to buy double at every crook in the road. You know how cynical I am by now. This is easily by a long way the best review of this box set to help make my own decision about all that, so I'm sure glad that you persevere with these Beatles reviews, Brian. One of the wider values of these reviews: viewers don't have to agree about your cost outlay/product decisions & can still find your sharp analysis so valuable that one way or another you save us money or you out us onto something in the nick of time. We win, either side of that line. Bottom line: I'm as pleased as if I bought it myself that you sorted out a proper replacement because you sure deserve it. Good one!

Hey Brian, Thanks for another great review. I always appreciate your straight forward thoughts. I do have a question. How do you think the sound compares with the mono versions on the Capitol Albums vol.1 and part of vol.2 cds? If I remember correctly they were also supposed to be from the original Capitol master tapes. Obviously with cds they are not full analogue. But inquiring minds would like to know. LOL

That inner groove distortion is the crap mastering and cutting job. The bass is so woofy. Not impressed. The tapes are shot. I listened to the CDs they put out a few years ago with mono mixes. They sound fantastic compared to these vinyl releases. Don’t buy these. I got a replacement of my hard days night and it has the exact same problems. They should have just done the 2014 boxset again.

I knew when this box was advertised that I wasn't going to spend that amount of money for what it was. I've watched a lot of reviews and my mind still hasn't been changed. I'm tired of lackluster collections that don't deliver and over the top box sets that are $500 or more. Quality control across the board needs to improve greatly before I spend this amount of money. I'd rather buy a beautiful original UK version - yes it will cost you, but you have quality and a collectors item like my copy of With The Beatles. My 1st time here ... Thanks 👍

These American releases should not be compared with the British releases These are what first generation fans heard when the band first broke in America They are not audiophile recordings If you don’t like the Dexter mixes don’t buy this set and then complain about it!! You said in a earlier video you weren’t interested in this because you like the British versions better so it’s surprising why you bought this

Love your videos even though I don’t have any vinyl! I think universal made a blunder not including cd or digital listeners. I still love my US album box set, with some us mixes and the best uk mixes(mono and stereo) Happy thanksgiving

Fantastic review! Happy to see your replacement is much better.

Great video, Brian, lots of interesting information. I opted to buy the albums individually, except for "The Early Beatles," which is just the "Please Please Me" album with two songs missing. I have a copy of "The Beatles's Story" that I bought in 1973 and have listened to exactly once. The box is very nice, but not worth the extra money to me. I'm hoping that they will release the rest of the U.S. Capitol albums on new pressings: Beatles VI, Help!, Rubber Soul, Yesterday and Today (maybe with the butcher cover?) and Revolver.

The price dropped today $264. So that sucks for people who paid the full price 😮 That’s a much better price much more reasonable. Its getting expensive being a Beatles fan 😂 Never mind looks like the price went back up to $299. I wonder it was a glitch?

Thank you for your very honest review. I have been on the fence about these albums. They are much more expensive up here in Canada for the individual albums. I already have the 2004 and 2006 Capital Albums CD sets, which sound reasonably good for what they are. I have all my Beatles CDs ripped to a hard drive, which makes it much easier to compare the various mixes. Unless the prices drop considerably, I'll probably pass.

Got my box set from the UK on Monday. All is good except that I noticed that The Early Beatles cover looks a little blurred to me compared to the original. What do you think?

I wouldn't feel too guilty about using Amazon on something like this and glad you were able to return it easily, if you feel bad for your local go and spend some money on second hand stuff, the margins for them are bound to be miles better anyway

Ok, nobody has asked how do you still have the “ returned “ set, and also the new box? You must sent it back to get the replacement

Overall, I really enjoyed this set, and the sound is very good. The highs, middle and lows are well equalized, and the bass & drums have a new resonance. Outside of the stereo fold downs (which aren't as clear) I would slightly disagree with Brian. Try finding any of the 2014 mono LPs (in mint condition that are well over 100 dollars apiece) as they want a king's ransom. The box is overpriced but most of the individual albums are an essential purchase for Beatles fans!

I got my set last Friday and each record played great. I grew up with these albums and these are a big improvement on the original monos I own. I am glad these records are back in print. This is more of a nostalgia experience as opposed to an audio file experience. If I want the best sounding versions then I can listen to the UK mono but this is more to relive the experiences of the past. Thanks for your review!