Beatles discography: United Kingdom (UK)

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1. Don Sunday 9 October 2011

   it seems you have Mystery Tour out of order in this chonological listing… when you click the album it shows a much earlier original release date than 1976…

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• Joe Sunday 9 October 2011

  MMT was released as a double-EP set in the UK in December 1967 (and is shown in the EP section of this discography), and with extra tracks as a full LP in the US and elsewhere. The album was imported to the UK but wasn’t officially released there until 1976.

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• MikeP Friday 28 April 2017

  Perhaps the one (and only?) time Capitol had a better idea!

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• William Saturday 5 October 2019

  I have a fondness for the way that Capitol made Rubber Soul a very folk-rock album, even more so than the UK IMO. There’s still the old shorting of tracks that the Capitol pressings are famous for, 12 tracks vs. 14 for the Brits. It’s also had “I’m looking Through You” with false starts. UK discography is definitely better and more complete, but people are thrown off by MMT.

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• Richard Saturday 10 October 2020

  I was too young to have experienced the “original” US version of Rubber Soul, so my introduction to it was via the UK version despite living my entire life in the US. I don’t quite understand why so many consider the US version so much more “folky”. True, replacing “Drive My Car” with “I’ve Just Seen a Face” does set up that possibility but as a lifetime folk musician I don’t really see how “It’s Only Love” is in more of a folk style than the country-infused “What Goes On?” which it replaced, and the song that is most emblematic of the folk-rock 12-string guitar style that was in vogue in the U.S. (as exemplified by groups like “The Byrds”) is Harrison’s “If I Needed Someone” (one of his best, IMO), which was cut from the U.S. album. So the Capitol version of the album to me isn’t “folkier”, it’s just missing some of the best songs.

  I know people might think me sacrilegious, but if Capitol were to have made a better 12-song version of the album, they could have dropped the weakest songs–“The Word”, “Wait”, and the openly misogynistic and uncomfortable “Run for Your Life”, left “Drive My Car” and “Nowhere Man” on the album, put “I’ve Just Seen a Face” at the beginning of SideTwo (“What Goes On? is a throwaway, despite what I said above). and closed the album with “Day Tripper”, which was already in the hopper. Quite frankly, Parlophone, in its 14-song version, could just as easily have kept “IJSAF” off the “Help” album, where it gets lost before “Yesterday”, moved “Yesterday” to right after “Act Naturally” and stuck another cover, like “Bad Boy”, right before “Dizzy Miss Lizzie”, making IJSAF available to lead off SideTwo of RS (and with 14 songs, they could have kept “The Word” and replaced “Wait” and “RFYL” with “We Can Work it Out” and “Day Tripper”). I know this means Ringo gets no song on RS, but is “WGO” worth it? With regard to their practice of not putting singles on their albums, they had done it already with “Yesterday”/”Act Naturally” anyway.

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• za Sunday 20 November 2022

  At Capitol records they NEVER had a better idea. They were just scamming linsteners butching the albums, I call it sabotage. The originals were always the best options. Magical Mystery Tour LP does not make sense, let alone how out of context Rubber Soul US and Revolver US sound.

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• Bill Thursday 24 November 2022

  Believe it or not, US Capitol had a method to their madness. Meet The Beatles had mostly original compositions on it, while The Beatles’ Second Album contained mostly cover versions (on Side 1) and non-LP tracks (on Side 2).

  All of the US Capitol LP’s (whether they were compilations – such as “Beatles VI” or truncated versions of the UK LP’s – such as “Rubber Soul” or “Revolver”) have a good flow-through when played from start to finish, regardless of whether it was the group’s intention or not.

  The US version of “Rubber Soul” inspired Brian Wilson to make “Pet Sounds”, which in turn inspired the Beatles to make “Sgt. Pepper”. Not a bad deal there.

  Capitol also followed UK Parlophone’s method for soundtracks, putting all of “MMT”’s film songs on Side 1 & all of the non-film songs from the same time-frame on Side 2.

  Capitol kind of unfairly gets a bad rap for this, as US record company policy was to have 12 tracks per LP, with singles included. All the UK groups (Hollies, Searchers, DC5, Stones, Yardbirds, etc.) had bastardized versions of their UK counterparts. Capitol wasn’t doing anything different than all the other US companies were doing.

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• JC Hervella Monday 29 April 2024

  And only.

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• Mike Hamilton Sunday 4 November 2018

  Magical Mystery Tour was originally released in the US as an 11 track LP on November 27th 1967 (Capitol SMAL 2835 / MAL 2835). The 6-track double EP version was released in the UK on December 8th 1967 (Parlophone SMMT-1). It was issued as an 11-track cassette in the UK in 1973 (Parlophone TC-PCS 3077) and on vinyl (11 tracks) in 1976 as Parlophone PCTC 255.

  However, a fact that is often overlooked is that the full 11-track Magical Mystery Tour was issued as an album in the UK in December 1967 as a stereo 8-trk cartridge (8X-PCS 3077).

  So, us Brits can legitimately claim the 11-track Magical Mystery Tour album as a UK release.

  But only just.

  The US LP was freely available in UK record stores from late 1967 onwards (it reached the UK album charts as an American import in January 1968). I bought my copy in 1971; by which time the label design had changed from Capitol to Apple. The catalogue number remained unchanged.

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• Donald McIntosh (@Jimiheadstone) Sunday 12 March 2017

  The Magical Mystery Tour was released in the US in November of 1967.
  I know this for a fact.. I went to the store with My Mother when she bought it. It also contained a booklet inside the Album…. So something is not quite right with your list

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• MikeP Thursday 27 April 2017

  You realise the title of this article is “Beatles discography: United Kingdom (UK)”?
  i.e – it’s not including releases outside the U.K.

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• Jo Sharpe Friday 12 May 2017

  The list is good….in the UK Mmt an EP originally. USA albums different, u almost got the butchers cover as I recall…possibly inaccurate but rings a bell…didn’t they pull it in the end? I’m old, memory ropey!

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• Paul Chapman Saturday 12 August 2017

  I agree. I remember buying it in 67 and taking it to a frat party.

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• Gerardo Viau Saturday 18 November 2017

  In the UK there was no MMT Lp, until 1976, and this is the UK discography not hte U.S. discography

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• David Vincent Dec Wednesday 7 June 2017

  Yes, this bugs me too. When you click the details the date is correct. You transposed the year so it reads 1976 instead of 1967 and puts it in incorrect chronological order.

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• Joe Friday 9 June 2017

  I didn’t, as I explained above. The album was released in the UK in 1976 by EMI (Lewisohn, Complete Recording Sessions, 1988, p131). Previously it was available as an import. The EP was released in the UK in 1967.

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• Brian. Friday 17 November 2017

  Joe is spot on with the uk listings, it was not released here in the uk until 1976, regardless of being available elsewhere Joe has clearly stated that this is uk listings and spot on as well.

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• Brian. Friday 17 November 2017

  The only blip I can see Joe is the live at the Star club Album missing from 1977 and the double album Beatles Rock,nRoll music.

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• Joe Friday 24 November 2017

  Thank you. I left out the Star-Club album because it wasn’t an official release which Apple took legal action to block (and eventually succeeded). There’s a feature on it here.

  As for compilations, there were so many (Love Songs etc) that it didn’t feel right to include them – it’s an endless task and I had to draw the line somewhere! Hence this discography focuses on titles released during the 1960s or those available today.

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• Andrew Schuricht Tuesday 20 August 2019

  Back in the 1960’s Magical Mystery Tour was only released as an album in the United States. It was only an EP in the UK. It was added to the British catalog for the box set along with Past Masters Volumes 1 & 2, to complete the collection. It was first released in the UK in 1976.

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• Ozman Wednesday 20 January 2021

  MMT was released as an EP in Australia, the album came out much later. I still have the EP. Unusually, my copy was made in the UK.

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2. Rienk Wednesday 28 December 2011

   I always got the impression that I have an original UK-single of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, coupled with While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Was that single not released in the UK? And also, wasn’t Back in the USSR not released as a single in the UK?

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• Gerd Hanke Monday 9 January 2012

  “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” coupled with “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” has been released in Germany on Apple/Odeon O 24 004 as well as in Japan. “Back in the USSR” coupled with “Don’t Pass Me By” has been released in Scandinavia (I’m not sure whether it has been Sweden and/or Norway) on Apple SD 6061. “Back in the USSR” coupled with “Twist And Shout” has been released in the US. As far as I know neither of both singles have been officially released in the UK.

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• Gerardo Viau Saturday 18 November 2017

  Obladi /Gently weeps was a single in the rest of Eurpoe, probably yours is german or french. It was released in 1969

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3. it'smikew Friday 6 January 2012

   Is there any reason why you haven’t listed Rock ‘n’ Roll Music, the compilation vinyl double album released in June 1976 on Parlophone (PCSP 719). It was an official album, much like Beatles Oldies, which you have listed.

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• Joe Friday 6 January 2012

  Yes. Generally I only include core albums, or compilations which included previously unreleased songs (Oldies had Bad Boy on it). I would like to expand these discographies to include every release in every country, but it’d probably be an endless job. There have been so many official or unofficial compilations over the years that I had to draw the line somewhere.

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• Von Bontee Friday 6 January 2012

  Well, fwiw, “Rock ‘n Roll Music” was notable for featuring the first appearance of “I’m Down” on a North American LP. (Plus “Got To Get You Into My Life” was taken from the album and released as a single that summer, becoming a big hit and consequently giving my 8-year old self my first exposure to the song!) Still, I agree it’s not feasible to include every non-UK compilation.

  But, hey: I’m just now noticing that you haven’t included the UK “Rarities” up there! Shouldn’t that be added?

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• Disker Monday 14 October 2013

  It would be nice to see ‘Rock ‘n Roll Music’ and ‘Rarities’ in the UK discography. Better still, ALL EMI compilations! How about it?

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• JNagarya Friday 24 July 2015

  It’s also noteworthy that George Martin did remixes on “Rock and Roll Music” — at least as concerns the US release.

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• Disker Tuesday 12 November 2013

  I know it’s only just hit the stores, and the details have been available in ‘Latest Posts’ for some time, but it would be great to see ‘On Air’ in the discography.

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• Joe Tuesday 12 November 2013

  Good idea! It’s in there now. I should probably add it to other countries too.

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• Disker Thursday 14 November 2013

  Fantastic! Excellent!! Looks great (I’m glad you included the speech tracks too 🙂
  Cheers.

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• Disker Tuesday 15 October 2013

  The amazing ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Music’ collection included all four fabulous tracks from the ‘Long Tall Sally’ EP, as well as ‘I’m Down’. It was the first UK album to include any of these.

  I’d love to see ‘Beatles Ballads’, ‘Love Songs’, and even ‘Reel Music’ included for the artwork alone!

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• Joe Tuesday 15 October 2013

  Are you THE Disker? (Your email address suggests you might be.) If so, hello!

  I’ll try to add those albums if I get a chance, though I generally avoid compilations.

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• Disker Tuesday 15 October 2013

  Ha ha! No, sorry Joe. But my real name IS the same as the more famous sleevenote writer aka Disker!

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• Joe Wednesday 16 October 2013

  That’s why I asked! I’d just been reading about Tony Barrow in the Lewisohn biog.

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• James Ferrell Wednesday 16 October 2013

  Speaking of which… if any of you is/are the Purple Chick, God bless you.

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4. Peter Mulholland Saturday 18 August 2012

   Yestrday was released as a single in 1976 (R6013) bw I should have known better as part of the singles collection; Back In The USSR in June 1976 (R6016) bw Twist and Shout and Sgt Pepper bw A Day In The Life in 1978 (R6022)

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5. dan Sunday 29 September 2013

   in the blue box series the singles box all had picture sleeves . were the singles originally released with picture sleeves in the uk ? or just the few that you have pictured .

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• Adrian González Tuesday 19 August 2014

  i’m wondering the same, i saw a sleeve of ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’!

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• dan Friday 11 September 2015

  the picture sleeves were issued with the singles in the blue box in 1982.

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6. Carlos Wednesday 14 January 2015

   what about Hey Jude? wasn’t it oficially released in the UK?

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• Julian Friday 16 January 2015

  Not until 1979. It was mainly for America.

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• Neil Thursday 22 September 2016

  Hey Jude was released in the U.K. in 1968 with Revolution on the b side. I remember watching the promo on the David Frost show.

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• jamessick Tuesday 1 December 2020

  He was referring to the American album entitled Hey Jude. It included an odd bunch of single-only issues since 1964 that Capitol compiled for an album that was issued in February 1970. According to Wikipdia, here is the track listing:

  1. “Can’t Buy Me Love” McCartney 2:19
  2. “I Should Have Known Better” Lennon 2:39
  3. “Paperback Writer” McCartney 2:14
  4. “Rain” Lennon 2:58
  5. “Lady Madonna” McCartney 2:14
  6. “Revolution” Lennon 3:21
  7. “Hey Jude” McCartney 7:06
  8. “Old Brown Shoe” (George Harrison) Harrison 3:16
  9. “Don’t Let Me Down” Lennon 3:30
  10. “The Ballad of John and Yoko” Lennon 2:55

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• Joe Monday 7 December 2020

  There’s a feature on the Hey Jude album here.

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• André Poirier Sunday 9 October 2016

  The publication of Hey Jude, was also to complete the reissue of the album box set the year before. It should probably be added to this list of albums after The Beatles At The Hollywood Bowl….just sayin’.

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7. Bongo Sunday 18 January 2015

   I’m curious of why they released “Baby It’s You” on 20 March 1995 as a single??? I get releasing Free As A Bird ’95 & Real Love ’96 as they are new releases, but “Baby It’s You” ? Why???? (see bottom of page 2)

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• Joe Monday 19 January 2015

  It was to promote the Live At The BBC album. I guess they thought it might sound good on the radio.

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8. Dominic Saturday 21 February 2015

   Baby It’s you was actually an EP & the 3 additional tracks with it hadn’t been released on the earlier Beatles Live at The BBC album which came out in Dec 94. Baby it’s You EP was released three months later in Mar 95 and did very nicely reaching no.7 in the UK. Also missing is the Movie Medley single from June 82 which reached no.10 in the UK

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9. carluig33@hotmail.com Saturday 25 April 2015

   I suppose that she loves you was just a single, right? Because i do not see it included in any of those full albums

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• Joe Saturday 25 April 2015

  Yes, it was non-album in the UK, but now it’s available on Past Masters and Mono Masters.

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• Bongo Friday 7 August 2015

  I can’t believe all those great singles that were never released on any of the UK LPs (not including Oldies But Goldies) that would have made each album that much better. That’s the one and only good thing Capitol records did by including each of those great singles on the albums.

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10. Bongo Monday 6 July 2015

    Shouldn’t the last 3 singles be considered EPs and be on the EP Page 3? (1995 “Baby’s In Black”, “Free As A Bird” & 1996 “Real Love”)

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• Joe Tuesday 7 July 2015

  That’s a good point. They were also released as two-song 7″ singles, although I’ve not reflected that in the tracklisting. They’re generally considered singles rather than EPs, and I think it would confuse people (and lead to other comments) if I moved them to the EPs section.

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• Bongo Wednesday 8 July 2015

  I didn’t know they were also released as a 2 song single. Txs for the clarification Joe!

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• André Poirier Sunday 9 October 2016

  Since they were released also as two track singles, shouldn’t these be in this list and the four track ones be in the EP section…in my very humble opinion, I believe they sould be classified that way !!

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11. graham Monday 29 February 2016

    hi, l have meet the beatles past masters volume 1 and volume 2 on cds on capital records made in japan. on meet the beatles volume 2 on the back is the track listing, track 4 is rain there is another track listing on the cd itself which has track 4 as han instead of rain also there is another track listing on the inside cover which also states track 4 as han. was this cd withdrawn as l cannot find it anywhere on the internet. please do`es anyone have information on these cds. please let me know.

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12. Thomas Dunne Sunday 23 April 2017

    All the English released albums were in Mono only, Not in Stereo…

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• Joe Thursday 27 April 2017

  I’m not sure where you got that from. All of them were released in stereo in the 1960s. The later ones were stereo-only.

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• Ozman Wednesday 20 January 2021

  Recorded for Mono. The stereo versions were an after thought done by George Martin and not true stereo as having the vocal placed in the centre of the mix.

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13. Disker Saturday 11 November 2017

    It would be great to see the Sgt. Pepper 50th anniversary release listed here in the U.K. Discography section (there’s a full track listing in the news section).

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• Disker Friday 17 November 2017

  … that is, when it’s actually been released! (December 15th?). And, on the same date, there’s the first official release of a vinyl box set of
  the Beatles’ fan club Christmas flexidiscs.

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14. ThisBoy Monday 1 January 2018

    There are still a number of records missed from the catalogue, The Beatles 1962-1966 (Double), The Beatles 1966-1970 (Double, Rock ‘n’ Roll Music Double), Love Songs (Double), Rarities, The Beatles Ballads, Reel Music, 20 Greatest Hits – And if you want to go even further: From Then To You (Fan Club), The Beatles Collection 12 LPs + Rarities), The Beatles Box From Liverpool (8 LPs), and various different types of Bos Sets during the 1980’s.

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• raymond carroll Thursday 1 March 2018

  hi, were there any diff mixes from the Liverpool box set? thnx

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15. Gerardo Viau Sunday 7 January 2018

    Hi! Do you have some information related ro export releases by Parlophone? Specially Second Album, Something New, Beatles ´65 and Beatles VI

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16. Paul McCartney Friday 16 February 2018

    What about the One album released Nov 2000? It got to number one too!

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17. Danny Sunday 26 August 2018

    Where is 1 in the albums section? I remember it being here, but now it’s gone

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18. Danny Saturday 10 November 2018

    Just so you know, some bonus tracks are now on the Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl album on iTunes

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19. Maits Saturday 17 November 2018

    It’s time to add the sgt pepper and white album’s super deluxe versions

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20. jamessick Thursday 2 May 2019

    Don’t forget the rarest of all, the annual Christmas issues (I think 1963 to 1968).

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21. Bongo Monday 23 September 2019

    Just missing the famous 1973 Red & Blue LPs.

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22. Jeff Buckridge Tuesday 8 September 2020

    Unpopular opinion- there are some things about the American releases that are better. Not as a whole, but some things… So many of the UK albums didn’t include whatever the single that was recorded at the same time as the album- So for instance, you won’t find Day Tripper or We Can Work it Out on an album (except hits compilations) Likewise with stuff like I Feel Fine, She’s a Woman, She Loves You, etc. Not on the UK album releases, just as singles or as part of a hits comp, where on the US releases those songs appear on albums from that year… Even though you have a couple extra albums to buy (Yesterday and Today, Beatles VI, etc.) you get all of the songs (with a couple exceptions- “I’m Down” never made it to a US album.) without having to hunt for all of the singles and such…. There’s my 2 cents…

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23. jamessick Tuesday 1 December 2020

    I was wondering on how the 6 tracks were placed on two EPs. Most EP’s have four songs on them, so that means there was room for 8 songs on a double EP. Did they have two songs on three sides, and a blank fourth side, or did they have three songs on each EP, with two on the A side and 1 on the B side? “I Am the Walrus” is pretty long, so I could see that., and that may be why it is the third song in the sequence. If I recall, “Blue Jay Way” is a little on the long side as well, so it could be by itself on a side.

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• Ozman Wednesday 20 January 2021

  MMT EP 2 records, 6 songs. 1967

  Record 1 – Side One, Magical Mystery Tour, You’re Mother Should Know
  Side Two. I Am The Walrus

  Record 2 – Side One. The Fool On The Hill, Flying
  Side Two. Blue Jay Way

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