Capitol Records
The American label that packaged the Beatles for US fans.
Capitol Records was the American record label that released the Beatles' music in the United States, beginning with the band's commercial breakthrough in the US. The label issued *The Beatles' Story* on 23 November 1964, a documentary double album featuring interviews, press conferences, and snippets of songs, with voice-over narration. It was produced by Gary Usher and Roger Christian, and narrated by John Babcock, Al Wiman, and Christian. The album peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Top LPs chart for one week (the week ending 2 January 1965) and was certified gold by the RIAA on 31 December 1964. Capitol also reissued the album in 2014 as part of *The U.S. Albums* box set.
- Role
- Primary US Distributor
- Region
- United States and Canada
- Key Action
- Repackaging albums for the American market
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Capitol Records originally intended to create an album from the Beatles' show at the Hollywood Bowl on 23 August 1964, but the recording was deemed of insufficient quality due to poor sound and the volume of fans' screaming. Instead, *The Beatles' Story* included a 1-minute-and-2-second excerpt of "Twist and Shout" from that performance, making it the first US album to include a live concert recording. The album was produced by Los Angeles–based songwriter Gary Usher and disc jockey Roger Christian, with voice-over commentary written and narrated by John Babcock, Al Wiman, and Christian. The Hollyridge Strings performed easy listening versions of Beatles songs heard on the album. Capitol issued the album in response to the Vee-Jay Records LP *Hear the Beatles Tell All* and to compete with unauthorised Beatles interview records by the Radio Pulse Beat label.
In Their Own Story
In the fall of 1964, Capitol Records executives in Los Angeles moved quickly to capitalize on Beatlemania. They assembled *The Beatles' Story* from interviews, press conferences, and snippets of songs, with a voice-over narration designed to bridge segments. The front cover featured individual photos of the band members by photographer Joe Covello above a Union Jack. The album was released on 23 November 1964, the same day as the "I Feel Fine" single. It spent 17 weeks on the Billboard Top LPs chart, peaking at number 7 on 2 January 1965, while the band's new studio album *Beatles '65* was number 1. Author Barry Miles called the documentary record "blatantly exploitative," but it still went gold.
Reader's Guide
Capitol Records served as the Beatles' primary US distributor during the band's active years, releasing albums adapted for the American market. The label's key action was repackaging albums for the US, as seen with *The Beatles' Story*, a documentary double album that was not a standard studio release. The album was produced by Gary Usher and Roger Christian, and narrated by John Babcock, Al Wiman, and Christian. It included segments devoted to each of the four Beatles—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr—as well as their manager Brian Epstein and producer George Martin. The Hollyridge Strings performed easy listening versions of Beatles songs. The album was also issued in Canada and later in Japan by Toshiba EMI on the Apple label with a deluxe booklet. In 2014, Capitol reissued the album on CD for the first time as part of *The U.S. Albums* box set.
Did You Know?
- The Beatles' Story was the first US album to include a live concert recording, featuring a 1-minute-and-2-second excerpt of 'Twist and Shout' from the Hollywood Bowl performance on 23 August 1964.
- The album was produced by Los Angeles–based songwriter Gary Usher and disc jockey Roger Christian, and narrated by John Babcock, Al Wiman, and Christian.
- Capitol issued the album in response to the Vee-Jay Records LP 'Hear the Beatles Tell All' and to compete with unauthorised Beatles interview records by the Radio Pulse Beat label.
- The album peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Top LPs chart for one week (the week ending 2 January 1965) while 'Beatles '65' was number 1.
- The Hollyridge Strings performed the easy listening versions of Beatles songs heard on the album.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Capitol Records in relation to The Beatles?
Capitol was the primary American record label responsible for distributing the band's music across the United States and Canada during their active years. While EMI owned the master recordings in Britain, Capitol handled the US licensing deal that launched Beatlemania in North America.
What role did Capitol Records play?
The label acted as the main gateway for Beatles albums to reach American audiences by manufacturing and selling vinyl records based on Parlophone's British releases. They frequently repackaged songs into different album configurations that differed from the original UK versions.
Why was Capitol initially hesitant to sign them?
Executives at the label originally rejected early Beatles singles due to concerns about their British accents and unconventional musical style not fitting American tastes. This changed after the band gained traction in other markets, prompting a licensing agreement with EMI.
How did Capitol Records affect album releases?
The company created unique US-specific albums that often combined tracks from multiple UK LPs or included non-album singles to fill out record sleeves. This practice resulted in significant discrepancies between American and British discographies for decades.
What is Capitol Records's legacy today?
Although the band's contract has long ended, Capitol still holds rights to distribute many Beatles recordings within North America under current ownership structures. Their early marketing efforts remain credited with establishing the group as global superstars in the United States.
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