THE BEATLES - The Beatles' Greatest

Item Description

Vinyl,
LP Compilation Reissue

This intermediate variant of the second label design was introduced some time in the second half of 1968 when ZTOX numbers (secondary catalogue numbers) were dropped from the labels but not later than January 1969, when the blue Odeon label was introduced. The YBEX matrix number appears under the catalogue number, shifted there from its earlier position under the GEMA box.

Earlier characteristics from some of the previous issues that remain unchanged include the rim text, which is common to all issues of SMO 73 991 from 1966 onwards (starting with "Urheber- ..." instead of "Alle ..."), the second white/gold/red label design (with rounded figures in the "33" rpm indicator and a different typeface for 'GEMA' and 'SMO'), as well as large font size side designations "1" and "2". The track listing on side 1 is in seven lines.

The cover has the later black and white logo on the front left upper corner with the EMI logo above the Odeon logo.

Other label differentiations from earlier pressings include:
-Track A8 is printed on one line, not two,
-Copyright text/rim text begins with "Urheber..." and not as the original 65' version with "Alle...".
-"YBEX-matrix" appears under catalog #, not under the GEMA box.

AUDIOPHILE NOTES:
-I Want To Hold Your Hand is the 1965 stereo mix: June 8th. 1965 - Norman Smith made a new (second) mix of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" with the vocals placed center of the stereo picture.
-She Loves You A7 is fake stereo
-I Feel Fine B1 similar to the version from Beatles '65 in the US, fake stereo drenched with echo.
-All My Loving B8 has the hi-hat intro