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List Price: $69.98 | | Label: Capitol
Salesrank: 3042
Released: November 16, 2004 |
| Our Price: $49.77 |
| Used Price: $41.09 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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The Capitol Albums Vol. 1 Track Listing:
Disc 1:
1. I Want To Hold Your Hand (Stereo)
2. I Saw Her Standing There (Stereo)
3. This Boy (Stereo)
4. It Won't Be Long (Stereo)
5. All I've Got To Do (Stereo)
6. All My Loving (Stereo)
7. Don't Bother Me (Stereo)
8. Little Child (Stereo)
9. Till There Was You (Stereo)
10. Hold Me Tight (Stereo)
11. I Wanna Be Your Man (Stereo)
12. Not A Second Time (Stereo)
13. I Want To Hold Your Hand (Original Mono)
14. I Saw Her Standing There (Original Mono)
15. This Boy (Original Mono)
16. It Won't Be Long (Original Mono)
17. All I've Got To Do (Original Mono)
18. All My Loving (Original Mono)
19. Don't Bother Me (Original Mono)
20. Little Child (Original Mono)
21. Till There Was You (Original Mono)
22. Hold Me Tight (Original Mono)
23. I Wanna Be Your Man (Original Mono)
24. Not A Second Time (Original Mono)
Disc 2:
1. Roll Over Beethoven (Stereo)
2. Thank You Girl (Stereo)
3. You Really Got a Hold On Me (Stereo)
4. Devil In Her Heart (Stereo)
5. Money (alt version to UK release)(Stereo)
6. You Can't Do That (Stereo)
7. Long Tall Sally (Stereo)
8. I Call Your Name (Stereo)
9. Please Mr. Postman (Stereo)
10. I'll Get You (Stereo)
11. She Loves You (Stereo)
12. Roll Over Beethoven (Original Mono)
13. Thank You Girl (Original Mono)
14. You Really Got a Hold On Me (Original Mono)
15. Devil In Her Heart (Original Mono)
16. Money (alt version to UK release) (Original Mono)
17. You Can't Do That (Original Mono)
18. Long Tall Sally (Original Mono)
19. I Call Your Name (Original Mono)
20. Please Mr. Postman (Original Mono)
21. I'll Get You (Original Mono)
22. She Loves You (Original Mono)
Disc 3:
1. I'll Cry Instead (Stereo)
2. Things We Said Today (Stereo)
3. Any Time At All (Stereo)
4. When I Get Home (Stereo)
5. Slow Down (Stereo)
6. Matchbox (Stereo)
7. Tell Me Why (Stereo)
8. And I Love Her (Stereo)
9. I'm Happy Just To Dance With You (Stereo)
10. If I Fell (Stereo)
11. Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand (I Want To Hold Your Hand) (Stereo)
12. I'll Cry Instead (Original Mono)
13. Things We Said Today (Original Mono)
14. Any Time At All (Original Mono)
15. When I Get Home (Original Mono)
16. Slow Down (Original Mono)
17. Matchbox (Original Mono)
18. Tell Me Why (Original Mono)
19. And I Love Her (Original Mono)
20. I'm Happy Just To Dance With You (Original Mono)
21. If I Fell (Original Mono)
22. Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand (I Want To Hold Your Hand) (Original Mono)
Editorial Review:
*First Time Ever on CD...Meet The Beatles, The Beatles’ Second Album, Something New and Beatles ‘65....presented in both Stereo and Mono
*Compiled from the original U.S. master tapes
*Special packaging including original album cover artwork and 48 page collectors booklet
Description of The Capitol Albums Vol. 1:
When the Beatles catalog was first issued on CD in the '80s, an attempt was made to standardize the releases (which often varied wildly in content internationally) by using their original British format. But this confounded many Fabs fans in the U.S. who now found CDs with track listings that often differed dramatically from their original American LPs. More maddening, the initial four releases were only available in not-so-glorious mono mixes. This four-CD collection of the band's 1964 American album releases finally addresses those concerns, and then some. Meet the Beatles, The Beatles Second Album, Something New, and Beatles '65 have been digitally prepared from Capitol's vintage album masters and presented in both the original stereo and mono mixes released back in '64. This set gives younger fans a chance to finally hear the band's epochal early music in stereo--and should please an older generation by returning massive hit singles like "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "She Loves You," "She's a Woman," and "I Feel Fine" to their original American album contexts. The booklet contains a wealth of rare photos and concise notes by noted Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn. --Jerry McCulley
The Capitol Albums Vol. 1 Reviews:
This is What I Grew Up With 
2009-12-11 - For my eighth birthday, my mother bought me Meet the Beatles, at my official request. I had recently heard the band on WLS AM in Chicago doing "Ticket to Ride." I'd been gifted with that single (which was backed with the beautiful, sad "Yes It Is") along with "We Can Work it Out" b/w "Day Tripper" by the brother of one of my mom's friends. I listened to those singles incessantly, knowing nothing of the cultural impact for which The Beatles had been responsible. I just loved those songs. As "Ticket" played on, I thought to myself, "Gee, these guys are on the radio, so they must be pretty good! From now on, they're my favorite band."
Anyway, back to that eighth birthday present, when "I Want to Hold Your Hand" came blaring out of my little phonograph, it felt like the skies were opening up. Little did I know that it was a duophonic, or "fake stereo" version to which I was listening. Of course, then, I couldn't have cared less about any kind of technical nonsense. I was much too into the actual songs. Well, the skies have remained open to this day, thirty-six years later, and one of the things I absolutely love to do these days is compare the mono and stereo versions of these wonderful songs, because sonically, they're VERY different from each other, and that "technical nonsense" to which I just referred is treated by me now in a slightly more open-minded fashion than before.
When Capitol released these US LP's on CD (in stereo AND mono, no less), I couldn't have been more happy or excited. I could listen to, in pristine form, what I remember these incredible songs sounding like, and compare the mono versions to the stereo versions, which I hadn't been able to do back in those heady days of the early '70's.
Meet the Beatles was the first US LP and, of course, the first CD I put into my player, the which is connected to a sound system that betters my childhood phonograph just a bit (OK, maybe a LITTLE more than that). It didn't disappoint at all. The clarity of the sound is a testament to the care that the Capitol people put into this set overall. It was a little jarring to hear "I Saw Her Standing There" come in in full, unadulterated stereo, but a distinct pleasure, nonetheless. We're back to duophonic for "This Boy," then real stereo again for "It Won't Be Long." Interesting listening, to say the least. On the following CD, entitled simply The Beatles' Second Album, "Roll Over Beethoven" leads off with that layer of reverb to the fore, which the US engineers back in '64 slathered on, and which has been endlessly criticized by professional and amateur listener alike. Personally, I love it. I think it's just the personal memory factor. It just sounds so BIG, like it did back "in the day!" I remember hearing the UK versions of The Beatles' output for the first time years ago (with which the '87 release of the band's material was standardized throughout the world and remains so for the current remasters) when my best friend shelled out the extra money for the imported stereo UK versions, and being slightly put off by the "reigning in," at least as I heard it, of the overall sound of the songs.
Anyway, back in the US, this "Second Album" also has more "fake stereo" cuts on it than its brother recordings in this particular set. Both "I'll Get You" and "She Loves You" are treated with duophonic, and again, it sounds funny to today's more sophisticated ears, but I still get a great kick out of them. The low frequencies in one channel and the highs in the other -- now that's technology! Notice the significant variations between the stereo versions of "Long Tall Sally" and "I Call Your Name" and their mono renderings, particularly in the latter's lead guitar work.
Ready for Something New, the third US release? Notice how "I'll Cry Instead" in stereo is shorter than its mono counterpart (the latter containing a repeated first verse). Notice again the differences between "Slow Down" and "Matchbox" from stereo to mono, again, particularly in terms of the guitar solos, this time in both songs. Overall, bits are added and taken out, and consequently make for fascinating listening.
Beatles '65, the final installment in Vol. 1, is relatively consistent until one gets to "She's a Woman" and "I Feel Fine." I remember being bewildered at the "mushy" quality of these two songs, even back when I first heard the album. I can't help but wonder today who saw these versions as radio-worthy. The mono versions are an ever-so-slight improvements over the terrible stereo versions, but I must say that it's a relief to hear the "normal" sounding "Everybody's Trying to be My Baby" after suffering through the mistreatment of two fine, fine songs. Even today, when I hear the "reigned in" UK versions of these two classics, it's always surprising and refreshing.
I don't really prefer the mono versions to the stereo or vice-versa. I love them both for different reasons. I still listen to this set often, even though the UK versions are sonically superior, especially the recently released remasters -- they're truly amazing! However, the work done on these US versions is also quite impressive, and represent the deserved care that the folks at Capitol are putting into these immortals. I'd like to thank them for issuing this box set. It was overdue, but better late than never, which I thought was going to be the case at one point. My hat's off to you, you Capitol people!
Fantastic on headphones
2009-12-10 - Until fairly recently I had no idea the US had different versions of the Beatles recordings, and until very recently the implication of that entirely bypassed me. As a South African, I have only ever known the British versions and had never even seen The Capitol Albums on sale in this country. I came across this in a second hand bin recently and had to buy it.
I was firstly stunned as to how different they are from the UK versions - almost unrecognisable. Secondly, I was stunned at how good they sound. I divide music into two categories: music that can hold my full attention listening to it on headphones, and music I put on as background music while doing something else. Although the Beatles are far and away my top band, because of the quality of the issue (and frankly the fact that I've heard it so many times) excluded it from the headphone treatment.
I've been listening to this (and some other remastered Beatles) and it truely is like listening to it for the first time. There is real excitement. I do occasionally get jarred by some echo that I know should not be there, but it makes for more fun. After all, I could appreciate 'Love' so I can appreciate a few subtle differences here.
I have all the British versions but think I'll mostly be listening to these more. Considering the quality of the Beatles and that there's a finite amount of it, it's one band that's worth buying multiple versions of their limited output.
A fresh listen ! As good as the 09 09 09 remasters !
2009-10-21 - I was raised with the British versions of the beatles albums. They are tremendous of course. I recently bought the capitol boxes (Vol.1 and 2) and I was surprised how great the US albums were. Meet the beatles is easily as good as its Brit counterpart With the beatles, and it's nice to have the track This boy on an album. The Beatles US second album has a great and unique rock'n roll feel. The US Help soundtrack is funny and enjoyable, much more a soundtrack for the better and the worse. The US version of Rubber Soul is more folky and that's good for me. The sequencing of the Early beatles US album is better than the Please please me one, with Love me do and Twist and shout as track one and two.
My advice would be to buy the capitol Vol. 1 and 2, even if you already own the new remastered box of the UK albums. It's a fresh listen !
Classic
2009-10-18 - This little box seems quaint given the massive Beatles reissue that has just taken place, be it the officals or Dr. Ebbits. But from the 1980s until this came out in 2004, Americans could not get the albums they grew up hearing, as the English versions were issued, not the American. Can you imagine going into a shop, asking for a Beatle album, and hearing "it's out of print."? I'd beleive little green jazz players from Neptune making love in my bed--when I am in it--before that. But it happened, for 20 years. With this and the second volume, you get everything up to Revolver in both mono and stereo, and yes, the stereo versions ARE the albums you grew up with.
When the Beatles took over in 1964, the BBC did not have a lot of rock, and the Beatles releasded clean, folk, rockabiliy blues albums in England. American had AM top 40 stations and a less traditional, more consumer oritented youth. Capitol added eccho and bottom to the British albums so they could thrust out of AM transister radios, America's 1964 model of the I-pod. These radios ware not stereo-the record were- and it didn't sound good, but it did compete with the booming voices of top 40 DJ's, and almost fifty years on, we are still lapping it up with outstreched puppy tounges.
Now if you are a progressive rock and jazz guy like me, the mistaken tendancy is to always listen to the Beatles from Revolver-maybe Rubber Soul-up. But buy these sets--or the new reissues if you are REALLY ready to go back to school-- and you'll realize for the 1546th time just how good these good these guys were from day negative one. Even the first records blast fouth with what was then hard rock--remember Frankie Avalon and Fabian--but hard rock with clean hollow body guitars, harmonicas, maraccas, melodic drumming, loping bass, bell clear riffs--well, I only have 10,000 words here and I am already running over budget--which always happens when I review the Beatles. Let's just say all the reasons we started listening as babies and still listen as middle age men and women are right here, gleeming on the discs in this little box.
The boxes also have the albums in mono, and personally, I like this better. You hear more of the clear nuances of this clean music. The whole idea of the early work was to strip rock back to essentials, and when you hear the guitars and drums and voices sans the electronic sheen Capitol placed on the albums in 1964-65, you are more aware of the magic the fab four are working with their playing, and reminded how crisp, fresh and genuine all this must have sounded in 1964, when pretty boys, strings and harps were being used to, well, let's face the ugly truth--make rock more White.
Fortunately, these four lads were not about to let the buggers get away with THAT!
Now this is how I remember The Beatles!
2009-09-17 - I'm only in my early 30's but, growing up in the 80's, I frequently heard The Beatles through my dad's HUGE record player. I mean it was like a piece of furniture. He had all these albums on LP. When I got a CD player in the early 90's I picked up some of the early Beatle CD's. One's like With the Beatles and A Hard Day's Night. I looked at these and thought "What's With the Beatles and why does A Hard Day's Night have more songs on it?" Well, I soon found out that this was the way that their albums were released in the UK. They made less albums and had more songs on each album. Also, until much later they did not put singles on their albums. Which meant no singles like "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" or "She Loves You" on a UK album until later with the Past Master's Collection. None of that was really a big deal to me. What was a big deal was how these songs sounded on the UK albums. First of all, most of The Beatles CD's made in the late 80's sound tinny and lacked weight compared to their LP's that I was used to listening to. Second, they were missing that "echo" or reverb that the Capitol LP's had which, for me, really added something to their music. I know that The Beatles did not intend for their songs to have those extra background effects but this was what I grew up with. My father cannot stand the UK versions. He told me that they sounded too "clean" and "sterile."
This past year I decided to finally pick up this box set to see if these were the versions that my father and I remember. First, about the packaging. Yea, it's pretty cheap. My bootleg Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl has nicer packaging. The CD's do fall out easily. I took them out of the box and put them in seperate plastic holders. The booklet is nice though featuring some pictures I've not seen before and some interesting info.
As soon as I popped in Meet the Beatles I knew this was the way I rembered them. Capitol did right by simply remastering (not remixing) the albums and leaving in all that reverb. There is no comparison to the late 80's UK CD's. These one's blow them away. They're much more dynamic have that "weight" that some of the UK CD's were missing. They also have much more bass than the old ones. Capitol also included the mono versions too. Unlike the new re-masters which make you buy an overpriced Mono Box Set to get them. Meaning each CD has the stereo mixes first followed by the original mono versions. This is really nice since I do like the mono versions of some of their songs. In a few (mostly Meet the Beatles) of the stereo mixes the vocals are sent to the right channel with reverb coming through the left. This is cool on some of their songs but others I prefer the vocals to be front and center.
Keep in mind that A Hard Days Night is not on here because the US version was contolled by United Artists who have the rights to the film. But many of the songs ("And I Love Her", "If I Fell", "I'll Cry Instead", "Tell Me Why", and "I'm Happy Just To Dance With You" among a few others) from that movie are on Something New. I did get the re-mastered UK A Hard Day's Night this past week because I wanted a "good" version of "I Should Have Known Better." I also wanted to do some comparison's between the versions on Something New and the one's on the re-mastered UK version of A Hard Days Night. I simply liked the versions on Something New better. I like that extra reverb and the music just has more "authority" on the Capitol versions. My advice is if you like the Capitol albums buy the two box sets for their older albums and get the UK one's for their later (Rubber Soul onward) ones. If you want to do some comparisons take the Beatles 65' versions of "I Feel Fine" and "She's A Woman" and listen to them after the versions that are on Past Masters. Wow! You may hate the US versions or like them. Me. I love them because that's how I remember The Beatles.
