I recently started collecting The Beatles on cassette. Why? Not the sound quality, obviously, but having collected the LPs and singles, I figured it was time for my persistent and irrational love for cassettes to cross-pollinate with my Beatles fixation. There are some interesting variations out there, including some with songs that didn’t even appear on the vinyl or CD versions of the albums. Figured I’d post some photos of my favorites. Here’s “Yellow Submarine” with the added track Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.
Here’s the “Hey Jude“ album... Note the sides of the LP are reversed here, with “Hey Jude” being the opening track.
Arguably the most lavishly produced Beatles cassette, “Live At The BBC,” with extensive liner notes in each of the two J-cards, plus a full-color booklet, plus a slipcase, with hype sticker. Designed by Richard Ward and The Team.
The cassette single tie-in for “Live At The BBC,” with hype sticker promoting the three non-album tracks.
My first ever album was Sgt Pepper on cassette, Christmas 1967. I was ten years old. I didn't ask for it and I didn't (at first) understand it was a Beatles album as I still thought of them as the four mop tops singing, "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" My mother had heard from some ladies at church what an exceptional record it was (they'd learned from their own kids) so she got it for me along with a $20 ROSS cassette player/recorder. The rest is history.
The “Anthology” cassettes were sold in a couple of different sizes of cardboard long boxes, and packaged in double-hinged white plastic cases with all liner notes included on the J-cards. Here’s a look at the “short” long box:
Can I just say that in these parts of the Far East we were privy to some very strange cassette configurations
You should collect the original UK cassettes, the ones that were all that was available on cassette up until 1987. There's some bizarre track sequencing going on there. That iconic opening chord starting the A Hard Day's Night album? No. It's I Should Have Known Better followed by When I Get Home, then the closing track!
https://images.45worlds.com/f/ca/the-beatles-with-a-little-help-from-my-friends-parlophone-ca.jpg The very first one!
For us poorer folks I think I'm right in saying cassettes and their otherwise blank configurations were how we were first exposed to so much of the music we hold dear to this day.
A classic single, with the cassette cover indicating an A-side that didn’t chart as well as the flip side....
I had loads of Beatles albums on cassette. UK ones. All 70's and 80's. Really odd tracklistings but that was my first exposure. Revolver starts with Good Day Sunshine for example. They are now in my loft. Not sure of their quality now. I played them on cheap tape players for years as a little kid.
I wish the inside of this cassette’s J-card replicated the LP’s gatefold photos and notes, but it doesn’t...
I used to have them all, those old USA tapes with the blue spines. Ah, memories. Sold the whole lot of them on eBay many moons ago. Sometimes I feel the nostalgic pang... but not often.
The first issued Beatles cassettes with paper labels from the US/UK, made in the late 60's/early 70's are getting pretty scarce and are very collectible. I have most of the original US titles, but need several 1st issued UK cassettes. I also own the blue BC-13 box and several reissues from the 80's and beyond. The last issued Beatles cassettes I own are Asian made releases of "Let It Be.....Naked" and "Love".
