The Beatles Capitol Albums Vol. 1 & 2, What’s In the Box?!?!?

[@andrewcutts3197]

A U.K. Beatles fan here since 1963. Due to the new single and revamped Red and Blue albums, I’ve started to go through my collection and realised that I’d never bothered with any of the U.S. releases. This has now changed with a pristine 13 album box set added. I’ve turned my attention to the two 4 CD boxes which I’m checking out. Thanks for the information about how to look out for the second and correct version of Volume 2. I picked up a mint copy of the Volume 2 sampler today for £12. Great videos, I really enjoy them. Andy C.👍🇬🇧

[@BeatleDustino]

Thanks so much for the kind words. So glad I was able to help. The U.S. mixes are interesting and these box sets are great to get those mixes.

[@takubo]

apparently, Beatles '65 released on the 28th of december in the US, so capitol named it that because they had believed it wouldnt really start selling until the start of 1965

[@BeatleDustino]

It was late in the year, but it was all music made very much in 1964. Capitol’s naming of these albums was not very thought through.

[@aerialtour]

Hey Beatle Dustino I meant to check this video out when you uploaded it months ago I’m glad I finally got to it. I grew up w/ the Capitol Dave Dexter Jr. Lp Mixes so I never had a problem with listening to the Beatles in this way. In fact I always liked the kick in the sound & added reverb that was added & on purpose for the American ears. When I first heard I Wanna Hold Your Hand as a kid on a Capitol 45 record the music/sound just leapt off my parents stereo console -fantastic. It was years later when I started collecting the UK vinyl Beatles records that I found out that was the approved George Martin mono mixes & song order the Beatles wanted their fans to hear (stereo being not as important). Obviously the UK mixes were quieter & to my ears flatter in sound(no reverb at all) & that’s the way the Beatles wanted it so I enjoy both mixes! I held off getting the Capitol versions volumes 1 & 2 for awhile as I had my vinyl sources ect. to play. However I did eventually purchase Vol.1 as you showed it has lousy packaging & plain unappealing graphics on both volumes outer boxes! No protective inner sleeves & my Beatles 65 disc fell out & lucky no scratches to it. You mentioned why Capitol titled the album Beatles 65, I believe because it was released so late in 1964 that the Beatles would again be touring the U.S. in 1965 & did refer to the album when introducing a song from it in concert. Now the sound is for the most part the true Capitol mixes if there were any mistakes I don’t think it was anything major except for Volume 2 -which you mentioned! I did not know about any speeding up of the tape on the Beatles Second album (thanks for info)that was new to me but I’m not too surprised. Now Vol. 2 I bought online knowing it was the incorrect mixes used- mono channel instead of stereo signal was used on Rubber Soul & no flubbed guitar intro on “I’m looking through You”. But if I recall the price was real good & mint condition brick package, plus I didn’t mind getting the unusual incorrect mixes. Yes Vol.2 is more expensive harder to find & your going to have get one you did w/hype sticker to make sure you have the corrected stereo versions & the matrix numbers on the discs. I will pickup the corrected Vol.2 Beatles Capitol version in time, once again if you really want to hear the real unadulterated Capitol or UK mixes you need to needle drop the original vinyl copies! Nice video I enjoyed it! 6:01

[@BeatleDustino]

Funny you mention all this especially needle dropping the vinyl. I’m currently “researching” the U.S. albums to do a ranking video on them. I just finished listening to a stereo mix Introducing the Beatles. A mono mix Meet the Beatles. And a stereo version of the Beatles Second Album. Very cool to hear on vinyl. Been listening to the Capitol Albums box CD’s in my car too. Hope to have the video out sometime in October.

[@aerialtour]

@@BeatleDustino yeah when Beatles are in the air it happens! Glad your enjoying your vinyl copies & Capitol Beatles Box- looking forward to your next video on them.

[@BeatleDustino]

@aerialtour I’m getting used to the reverb. Liking it a little too. The mono ones really don’t seem that much different though. I’ve slowly been getting a decent Capitol albums vinyl collection, and am purposely looking for both mono and stereo. Unfortunately I have not been able to locate a stereo Meet the Beatles yet. To me the stereo is the key to hearing really noticeable differences in the mixes. I’ll be showing my Beatles vinyl collection soon too in an episode. But I have to get through my Paul McCartney collection first.

[@aerialtour]

@@BeatleDustino Yes I love what we call the wet sounding Capitol mixes!The Capitol mono mixes Lp’s & the 45 rpm records do sound a little stronger than the Stereo mixes. As you know Capitol didn’t always have the true stereo masters so hence the duophonic & fold down mixes ect..So Capitol stereo albums sometimes sound a little thin in sound. All the Beatles songs I heard in the 1960’s were the mono mixes,7 that’s what most fans bought & they were more in supply than the stereo Lp’s. But don’t get me wrong the Capitol stereo vinyl mixes were unique plenty of reverb & decent stereo separation - as stated on the albums Capitol Full Dimensional Stereo. It’s easier finding the mono albums & are a little less expensive than the stereo (the later issued Stereo Capitol labels & Apple labels are cheaper in price). Good luck in your Beatles vinyl search & enjoy those U.S. Beatles records it’s what started it all here!

[@BeatleDustino]

@aerialtour I came to loving the Beatles in the CD era, so I know the UK catalog much better. But am really starting to embrace the US ones. Keep watching for my journey through them.

[@hewgrebe4771]

Amazing sets. I grew up on the old records from the U.S. Such a good video.

[@BeatleDustino]

Thanks! Yes they are amazing sets. Wish they would have finished the series.

[@be8723]

I'm also a CD guy who grew up on the UK albums. And while I inherited most of the US LPs, I haven't listened to them much. So, when I saw both Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (for only $20 and $15) at a record store today, I couldn't pass them up! I was standing there trying to remember whether the Capitol sets or the US Album set was the one with the right mixes; thankfully, I remembered correctly. And luckily for me, vol. 2 has the corrected discs. The packaging is a little worn, but not too bad. Nothing on the album spines of vol. 1 is pretty lame, though. Thanks for the info!

[@BeatleDustino]

You’re welcome. That was a really great price for those. Enjoy them.

[@craigcavaliere6744]

I had Volume 1 which had a book in which the covers were upside down and/or the front was the back cover instead of the front.

[@BeatleDustino]

I suppose there could be some printing errors out there too.

[@craigcavaliere6744]

I grew up listening to my parents' US albums and whichever cassettes I got for Christmas in the 80s. Then I started getting the CDs when they came out, so I had a mix of both. I guess since I had more years of the UK albums, I prefer them. I really do enjoy Meet the Beatles, Beatles '65, Beatles IV, and Rubber Soul.

[@BeatleDustino]

The only Capitol albums of theirs my parents had was The Early Beatles and Hey Jude. So I never really got much influence from their collection. They also had Abbey Road and the Blue Album. I introduced them to a lot of The Beatles actually as I got buying the CD’s. There are several of the U.S. versions that are decent, but the U.K. catalog in my opinion is superior.

[@Thomasgene]

Smart Extra with promo sampler! Second Album Capitol is great! I have the Correct Vol 2. with the great fase start. "I'm looking through you" I find your vid's well done an you even fact check yourself. I'm surprised you don't have 10Xs the Sub you got. Thank you for your hard work! Being an old fa-t I grew up with the Capitol records. We knew nothing else, we lived in the sticks. We rarly got to any Big City!

[@BeatleDustino]

I thought that was a good spot to slip that sampler in. Still haven’t found a good Vol. 2 sampler, but with the corrections they made to the packaging, I’m not sure it will fit. Thank you so much for the great compliment too. I really try to get the best, most correct information out there. I like the idea of the edit and having a chance to correct myself if I said something wrong or wasn’t sure. I’m surprised how many in the vinyl community don’t edit.

[@josephmantineo1376]

Hey Beatledustino, Wonderful video I’m going to check out your what if video. I’m looking forward to seeing your video on the us box set.

[@BeatleDustino]

Thanks. I forgot to link that, but it should be there soon. The U.S. Albums episode should be out this coming Wednesday.

[@TommyT6219]

Thanks for doing a video covering these two sets! These are some of my favorite CDs that I have, and are played often! lol I can understand why most people prefer the UK albums, but for some reason I prefer the US ones, and their unique sound. I grew up as a kid in the 80’s, teenager in the 90’s, but my Dad has most of the US albums that he bought new as a teenager when they first came out. He always let me listen to his records growing up, so maybe that’s why I like the US ones better? It is a shame they didn’t do a volume 3! At least we sort of got the remaining albums in the US Albums box set.

[@BeatleDustino]

It think it all boils down to what you grew up listening to by them. I remember hearing some of the US mixes on the radio before I got really into them in the 90’s. So I love having these different mixes available. But totally get why people prefer one or the other.

[@robertmaichrowicz3158]

I remember being excited when these sets came out originally because in addition to the unique mixes it was also one of the first Beatles cd remastering jobs done since the 1987 cds with the exception of the Yellow Submarine Soundtrack in 1999 which might have been remixed as well as remastered. I liked your solution of putting your Volume 1 promo sampler cd in the box so the cds stay put!

[@BeatleDustino]

Very true. These would have been the first since the 87 CD’s to get remastered. Plus the first time for these mixes on CD. The Yellow Submarine Songtrack was a remix when that came out. And aside from the Help! and Rubber Soul CD remixes, the first to get a remix in a wide release. That promo sampler does squeeze nicely in there too. Unfortunately I don’t think I’ll be able to do the same with Vol. 2 when I finally track that one down. That additional cardboard they added might prevent that.

[@beatleytonesbeatleschannel]

Thanks for doing this Dustin. I appreciate seeing these and I look forward to seeing the US Albums box. Im still undecided as whether or not to get these but all info is good info and will have a think about. Enjoyed your video as always so thanks very much

[@BeatleDustino]

You’re welcome. The Capitol albums are so different, but an interesting listen. A big reason why I think these boxes are the way to go. I’m working on the edit of the U.S. Albums video right now, and it’s turning out well. It should be up and viewable by next Wednesday.

[@bilguana11]

I grew up with the Capita LPs and l like these CDs as they are well mastered. Only Revolver is missing. I have found false info on Discogs as regards to Neil Young's Archive Vol. 1 DVD box set: they all say 24-bit/192 which is impossible.

[@BeatleDustino]

Yesterday and Today is missing also. But yes, these are great sets and were well mastered. I’d believe not everything you read on Discogs or any website might not be correct.

[@RobertP_1960]

I have the US set which has wonderful mini lp style covers. and I had these sets,but sold them. I use as my go to set transfers made by Dr Ebbetts SS which are from original vinyl. I grew up with these and therefore have to have them. take care

[@BeatleDustino]

I’ve heard those Dr Ebbetts transfers are fantastic. I love the U.S. Albums box for the packaging. I just wished they’d used the original Capitol mixes.

[@RobertP_1960]

@Beatle Dustino I have all the Dr Ebbetts material and many others as I've worked with him and others 1977 to 2009

[@BeatleDustino]

@@RobertP_1960 that must have been fun working with him. What an impressive collection that would be.

[@indiana2096]

I started getting into music in the late 70s before CDs and before the switch to the UK versions. I started with the "Red and Blue" albums that were gifted to me followed by "yesterday and Today" and "Hey Jude" and that was just the beginning. I remember when the stores had a mix of Capital albums and the "new" UK versions and I was just so confused about what to collect, I went with the UK versions. When these two sets came out, I had to have them, luckily by the time I bought them the corrected version was available. I love these but I just hate the packaging, I have the US Albums box and while I like it (love the packaging) I was disappointed in the music, so I keep the original box sets and over the years have also collected all of the US LPs as well.

[@BeatleDustino]

Very nice. Yeah, sad these had such terrible packaging. And that the US Albums box has the incorrect mixes but superb packaging. I’m trying to collect the original US LP’s too. Getting there. Just need some of the later stuff.

[@indiana2096]

@@BeatleDustino I did the same thing. I have all the LPs 70s vintage in decent condition but nothing special. I would like to get all in the original 60s releases.

[@BeatleDustino]

Oh so true. I’m talking about the 70’s compilations.

[@FrankEPotts]

I always wished they were allowed to finish the set with volume 3.🤯

[@BeatleDustino]

Volume 3 would have been so nice. But it does get tricky what to include. I’m of the mindset now to go Yesterday and Today; Revolver; Magical Mystery Tour; Hey Jude/Beatles Again.

[@trevordixon1427]

Big box very pricey

[@BeatleDustino]

@@trevordixon1427 I remember seeing these boxes on sale at Best Buy for as low as $25. They cost a little more now.

[@anwarhosenn]

You keep going mate hope you get success very soo

[@BeatleDustino]

Thanks so much for another great comment.

[@jnagarya519]

Calling the mono "fold-downs" presumes that the tracks were originally stereo. They were not. The standard was to record all the music to one track, and all the vocals to the other track. Then, as intended from the outset, the two tracks were mixed down to MONO, because the MARKET was MONO, and the promotional medium -- radio -- was MONO. So mixing the two tracks down to MONO -- which was intended from the outset -- is not an ERROR.

[@BeatleDustino]

The error I was referring to was with Beatles VI and Rubber Soul in the Vol 2 box, they mistakenly took the Capitol stereo mix of those albums and folded it down to mono for these CD’s. That was the fold down mono error I was referring too. Wrong mix folded down.

[@jnagarya519]

@@BeatleDustino So you're saying the fake stereo was "folded down" to make mono -- when they already had the original mono on hand, and from which they'd made the fake stereo?

[@BeatleDustino]

@@jnagarya519 pretty much. They messed those initial releases up bad of the Capitol Albums Vol 2. But yeah, it would be fake stereo folded down to mono.

[@jnagarya519]

@@BeatleDustino I'm skeptical for the reasons stated. And the main problem with the "Rubber Soul" release is the screwy "stereo" mix of "I've Just Seen a Face".

[@johnwatson1260]

This is a blanket statement and only partially true. Only the first two UK albums (here showing up as MTB, BSA, and EB) were two-track recordings in the style you describe. Also, as I'm sure you know both PPM and WTB were mixed and released in both mono and stereo at the time, though mono was the focus for the reasons you cited. A Hard Day's Night and forward were all four track recordings (up through Pepper and early White Album) and also were mixed to both mono and stereo at the time. Notably, the stereo mix of BFS is quite good and not a hard-panned left-right stereo mix as with the first two albums. Obviously the mono ended with the White Album. Secondly, use of dedicated mono mixes is never a 'mistake', that's not the issue with the second box here. The issue with the second box is that they were produced with improper fold downs of the stereo for mono instead of using the available dedicated mono mixes.

[@Stco23]

I found the correct mixes on a Japanese release, so it's most likely that the Japanese release will have the correct mixes.

[@BeatleDustino]

Yeah. I think the Japanese release was all correct.

[@trevordixon1427]

Vol 3 should have been next

[@BeatleDustino]

Yes it should. Too bad this series got cut off.

[@josephmantineo1376]

We’re can the matrix code be found on the disks?

[@BeatleDustino]

The matrix code is the numbers and letters on the center of the disc by the spindle hole. The corrected disc will end with RE2.

[@josephmantineo1376]

@@BeatleDustino darn I have the RE1 01 codes on them are they worth anything?

[@BeatleDustino]

@@josephmantineo1376 yeah, you got the incorrect mixes. There’s still value to them. I would just guess more collectors would want the correct mixes. But most Vol 2 sets are all selling at fairly high values, correct or incorrect.

[@ianz9916]

@@BeatleDustino This doesn't really apply to the EU made discs because they have totally different matrix codes. I had to go by the false start to check. Mine is the incorrect first disc release. I'm not sure if they even bothered to correct the EU versions. I think the US Albums set, whilst mostly using the UK remaster mixes, did use the correct mix for I'm Looking Through You. I believe this was the case with any tracks where there were significant differences. I have that set too but it's very early in the morning now in London and I'm too tired to check.

[@BeatleDustino]

@@ianz9916 sorry about that. I should have researched that a little further for the EU releases. But yes, the US Albums box did present all the very significant changes correctly. No need to check it as I have never heard of that set with incorrect mixes.

[@darthwarren4599]

I just got vol 1 and i feel fine and it has alot of reverb and sounds distant on both mono and stereo. Is mine fake or real i cant tell

[@BeatleDustino]

Vol. 1 had no issues with the mixes. All will have the correct Capitol mixes which might seem strange as there is a lot of reverb and echo in these mixes.

[@darthwarren4599]

And the labels and covers are kind of blurry

[@BeatleDustino]

@@darthwarren4599 the Capitol Albums sets were not as high quality as the U.S. Albums set. But the labels still should be fairly clear. I’ve not heard of knock off versions of these. But anything is possible. Sorry I can’t be of better help on this.

[@darthwarren4599]

Thanks for the help i just was wondering

[@BeatleDustino]

@@darthwarren4599 I’ll always try to help the best I can.