This is a private records collection of The Beatles. The owner of this collection is sure that this site will provide lots of useful information for people interested in collecting of Beatles vinyl. Information - is the main purpose of the site, however some things will be released for sale. All rights reserved copying, broadcasting and the publication of materials from this site is possible from the sanction of the owner of the site only. The collection will be always updated.

For any contact information use: 498thebeatlescollection@gmail.com

The Beatles Featuring Tony Sheridan, Pickwick CN(A) 2007. Pickwick Records was an American record label and British distributor known for its budget album releases of sound-alike recordings, bargain bin reissues and repackagings under the brands Design. It was the first UK company to put in place exclusive licensing deals with the major record companies (for many years it was the official budget reissue outlet for labels such as RCA and CBS.) Pickwick was sold in 1977 to American Can Company, who relocated their corporate headquarters from Long Island City, New York to Minneapolis, Minnesota. In the 1970s the label changed direction, and began reissuing LPs that had been deleted from catalogs of the major record labels, in particular the RCA Records subsidiary RCA Camden, itself a reissue label. Pickwick also reissued numerous LPs from the Motown catalog during the 1970s. Pickwick’s assets were purchased by PolyGram Records in the late 1970s. Pickwick’s catalog is now owned by Universal Music, which merged with PolyGram in 1998.

The Beatles Featuring Tony Sheridan, Pickwick presence Contour, CN(A) 2007. This album is a reissue of the British version of “Early Years” (Contour 2870 111). At the same cover design was again changed and the name of the album cut. Text appears “Collectors item original recording” in the upper right corner. Has also been modified catalog number. Album were sold in Britain still has the Contour logo on both sides of the cover. Cover is front laminated. Includes plain white paper inner sleeve.

1. First pressing, early 70s (probably 1973). Light orange labels with “Pickwick presents” text and Contour logos. Matrix numbers: Side 1: CN 2007 1Y//1 420; Side 2: CN 2007 2Y//1 420.

2. Second pressing, 1970s (probably 1974 – 1976). White and blue label design with “Pickwick presents” text and Contour logos. Matrix numbers: Side 1: CN 2007 1Y//2  420; Side 2: CN 2007 2Y//2  420.

3. Third pressing, 1970s (probably 1976 – 1978). Dark orange labels with “Pickwick presents” text and Contour logos. Matrix numbers: Side 1: CN 2007 A//4 420; Side2: CN 2007 B//2 420 (or B//3).

Export pressing, late 70s (probably 1976 – 1978). The export version of the album was released on the Pickwick label and thus has the Pickwick logo on both sides of the cover. In addition, the cover has an image of the British flag with the “British Import” text on the front side. This version was imported in United States. Cover is front laminated. Includes plain white paper inner sleeve.

Orange labels are “Pickwick” logo and catalog number with CNA prefix. Matrix numbers: Side 1: CN 2007 A//4 420; Side2: CN 2007 B//3 420.

In Commonwealth countries the album was exported as “Pickwick presents Contour” c Contour logos. Cover has a “Half British Flag” sticker with rounded corners and with “direct import” text.

Lingasong Records was a record label formed by Paul Murphy of Buk Records for the sole purpose of producing and marketing The Beatles’ “Live album Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962”. The album was released in 1977 after The Beatles lost a court case to block it. Lingasong teamed up with other record labels for distribution of the album in various countries, and the songs themselves were later licensed to other record companies.

Twist And Shout / Falling In Love Again, Lingasong NB 1. Both tracks taken from the album The Beatles’ “Live! At The Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962”. Single was released to promote the album on May 25, 1977. It was released in a plain white sleeve.

Variation A. Promotional copy.

Variation B. Standard copy.

Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962, Lingasong LNL 1 is a double album featuring live performances by The Beatles, recorded in late December 1962 at the Star Club during their final Hamburg residency. Recorded by Ted “Kingsize” Taylor at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany between December 18 and 31, 1962. The tapes were originally described as having been recorded in the spring of 1962, an attempt to pre-date The Beatles’ June 1962 contract signing with Parlophone. However, song arrangements and dialogue from the tapes pointed to late December 1962, and a recording date of 31 December 1962 (the group’s last day in Hamburg) was commonly cited. Later researchers have proposed that the tapes are from multiple days during the last week of December; Allan Williams (The Beatles’ booking agent at the time) recalled that a total of about three hours was recorded over three or four sessions between Christmas and New Year’s Day. The album first appeared in Germany in April 8, 1977 in association with Bellaphon Records, and was released in the UK on May 25, 1977. The album has a gatefold sleeve and plain white inner sleeves.

Matrix numbers: Side 1: LNL1-A-2E; Side 2: LNL1-B-1E; Side 3: LNL1-C-2E; Side 4: LNL1-D-1E.

The first Beatles Christmas record was distributed by the Official Beatles Fan Club on December 9, 1963. Beginning in 1963, the Beatles started a holiday tradition of recording Christmas messages for their fans. The first Christmas recording from the Beatles featured several renditions of the traditional carol “Good King Wenceslas” and individual messages from the four, ending with a closing chorus of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Ringo”. The recordings were edited and issued on flexi-discs through the Official Beatles Fan Club in England. The records were not available for sale, but were distributed free to Fan Club members. Tony Barrow came up with the concept for the Christmas records and scripted the initial efforts.

The record was packaged in yellow paper gatefold cover. The open gatefold contains the Fun Club’s National Newsletter No. 2.

Lynton Recordings pressed 25,000 copies of the one-sided seven inch discs, which have white labels with dark blue print. Disc plays at 33 1/3 – rpm. Total time: 5:00. Matrix number LYN 492-1U.

The second Beatles Christmas record was issued by Official Beatles Fan Club in December 18, 1964. The song “Jingle Bells” is sung, followed by individual messages to the fans. John mocks the prepared statement, doing an imitation of Paul Harvey and includes his own pseudo-words and ad-libbing. When Paul asks him if he wrote this himself, he says, “No it’s somebody’s bad hand-wroter. It’s been a busy year Beople peadles, one way and another, but it’s been a great year too. You fans have seen to that. Page two… Thanks a lot folks and a happy-er Christmas and a Merry Grew Year. Crimble maybe.” (The statement is apparently handwritten as at various points in the recording, Paul reads “making them” as “melting them” before correcting himself and George reads “quite a time” as “quiet time” before correcting himself with “great time” as well.) Finishing up the record is a brief rendition of the traditional song “Oh Can You Wash Your Father’s Shirt?”.

The disc was packaged in cardboard sleeve printed and made by MacNeil Press Ltd., London. The back side has text by Tony Barrow, who wrote the liner notes to many of the band’s early albums and EP records.

The Fan Club’s National Newsletter No. 4 included with the holiday mailing.

The one-sided disc has white labels with red text. While the 1963 disc plays at 33 1/3 – rpm, the shorter 1964 record plays at 45-rpm. Total time: 3:58. Lyntone Recordings pressed approximately 65,000 copies of 1964 Christmas record. Matrix number LYN 757-1R.