The Beatles 1967-1970 (a.k.a. The Blue Album)

The Beatles
 
The Beatles 1967-1970 - LP cover
The Beatles 1967-1970 - LP Cover
The Beatles 1967-1970 - Gatefold Interior
The Beatles 1967-1970 - Gatefold Interior

Label Apple
Catalogue No.'s PCSP 718
PCSPB 718 (Blue Vinyl)
CDPCSP 718 (C.D.)
Release dates 19th April 1973
30th September 1978 (Blue Vinyl)
September 1993 (CD)
Total time
U.K. Album Chart Detail :
Entry Date :5th May 1973
Highest Position :2
Weeks in Chart :
+
+
+
106 (The 1973 original release)
    7 from 20th December 1978 (Blue vinyl issue ... reached no.66)
  24 from 2nd October 1993 (CD release ... reached number 4)
  11 from 24th October 2010 (CD remaster ... reached number 4)
  17 from 10th November 2023 (Remix new issue ... reached number 2)
===
165 weeks in total
===
Detail : In 1973 E.M.I. (under the Apple banner) released two double albums of the "Best" of The Beatles, The Beatles 1962-1966 and The Beatles 1967-1970.
The package of this release has the catalogue number PCSP 718, but the two albums are individually numbered as PCS 7181 and PCS 7182, which actually fits in with the Parlophone numbering of the time.
The album was also released on cassette tape, Catalogue number - TC2 PCSP 718.

The estimated worldwide sales of this double L.P. are under 2 million.

The gatefold sleeve features a shot on the front cover that is the shot that had originally been taken for the aborted "Get Back" L.P., and the rear cover photo was taken at the "Please Please Me" cover shoot, but is obviously different
The inner sleeves matched the colour of the front cover's outer border, and had the lyrics printed upon them.

Unfortunately, nothing new on the album, every track had been previously released.

Five years later on 2nd December 1978 during the coloured vinyl boom, E.M.I. re-promoted the pair of L.P.s on coloured vinyl that matched the covers theme colour, e.g. the release of "1962-1966" was on red vinyl, and "1967-1970" on blue.

In September 1993 the red and blue album's had their first release on C.D.'s, 1967-1970 had a catalogue number of CDPCSP 718
And on the same day, the record shop H.M.V. produced a special 12" numbered CD Box Set Comprising:
The C.D. of "The Beatles 1967-1970"
+ A badge
+ A booklet of b/w photos
+ Extended notes about the L.P.
+ The usual colour Beatle shots
This set had a catalogue number of BEA CD 25/12, and was in a limited edition.

14th February 1994 - E.M.I. released coloured vinyl editions of the new digitally enhanced Red and Blue albums and pressed just 20,000 copies. E.M.I. then deleted the release immediately.

The album was also released on twin-cassette tapes (1⅞ ips) - Catalogue number - TC2-PCSP 718
The album was also released on twin 8-track stereo continuous play cartridges (3¾ ips) - catalogue no. 8X2-PCSP 718

I didn't notice any particular Beatles campaigns in 2007, but in October the "Red Album" hit the charts again.
This "Blue Album" narrowly missed out though, when on 21st October it went from 181 to 91, but didn't get into the Top 75.
It was again listed in the top 100 on 11th November 2007 when it went from 112 to be at number 98.

18th October 2010 The Red and Blue albums were re-issued on c.d. under the guise of new "Re-masters".
Of course, all they contain are the 2009 remasters re-packaged.
The Blue album was presented in a triple panel card package using conservation grade FSC paper complete with
an expanded picture booklet containing original liner notes, newly written essays by Bill Flanagan, and rare photos.
Catalogue number: BLUE6770   (Barcode: 5099990674723).
24th October 2010 - The Blue album re-entered the charts at number 4.
31st October 2010 - The Blue album dropped down 12 places to number 16.
7th November 2010 - The Blue album dropped another 12 places to number 28.
14th November 2010 - The Blue album dropped another 8 places to number 36.
21st November 2010 - The Blue album went back up the chart to number 32.
28th November 2010 - The Blue album went up again in the chart to number 29.
5th December 2010 - The Blue album dropped back to number 32.
12th December 2010 - The Blue album dropped back another place to number 33.
19th December 2010 - The Blue album dropped again to number 34.
26th December 2010 - The Blue album was a non-mover staying at number 34.
2nd January 2011 - As Christmas sales dropped off the Blue album dropped way back down the chart to number 70.
9th January 2011 - The Blue album dropped out of the official chart, down to number 85.
16th January 2011 - The Blue album dropped to the bottom of the Top 100 to number 100.

Note that there was also a set released of the Red and Blue albums coupled together.
This special set entered the chart separately to the two individual sets for one week at number 59 on 28th November 2010.
In following weeks it was listed outside the official chart at 97, then 97, then 85, then 95 (on 26th December) before disappearing.

In 2023 with the release of the "Last" Beatles single Now And Then, the Red and Blue albums were re-issued with extra tracks.
All the tracks were listed as remixed.
Details of the new issue of the Blue album at the foot of this page.

      The Beatles 1962-1966 ~ The "Red" Album


Side 1

Track Composer Original Source Time
Strawberry Fields Forever Lennon-McCartney Strawberry Fields Forever the single. 4:06
Penny Lane Lennon-McCartney Strawberry Fields Forever the single. 3:00
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band Lennon-McCartney Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 2:00
With A Little Help From My Friends Lennon-McCartney Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 2:43
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds Lennon-McCartney Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 3:26
A Day In The Life Lennon-McCartney Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 5:04
All You Need Is Love Lennon-McCartney All You Need Is Love the single. 3:47

Side 2

Track Composer Original Source Time
I Am The Walrus Lennon-McCartney Hello Goodbye the single. 4:34
Hello Goodbye Lennon-McCartney Hello Goodbye the single. 3:27
The Fool On The Hill Lennon-McCartney Magical Mystery Tour E.P. 2:57
Magical Mystery Tour Lennon-McCartney Magical Mystery Tour E.P. 2:48
Lady Madonna Lennon-McCartney Lady Madonna the single. 2:14
Hey Jude Lennon-McCartney Hey Jude the single. 7:07
Revolution Lennon-McCartney Hey Jude the single. 3:22

Side 3

Track Composer Original Source Time
Back In The U.S.S.R. Lennon-McCartney White Album 2:45
While My Guitar Gently Weeps Harrison White Album 4:44
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da Lennon-McCartney White Album 3:07
Get Back Lennon-McCartney Get Back the single. 3:09
Don't Let Me Down Lennon-McCartney Get Back the single. 3:30
The Ballad Of John And Yoko Lennon-McCartney The Ballad Of John And Yoko the single. 2:58
Old Brown Shoe Harrison The Ballad Of John And Yoko the single. 3:17

Side 4

Track Composer Original Source Time
Here Comes The Sun Harrison Abbey Road 3:04
Come Together Lennon-McCartney Abbey Road 4:16
Something Harrison Abbey Road 2:59
Octopus's Garden Starkey Abbey Road 2:48
Let It Be Lennon-McCartney Let It Be the single. 3:49
Across The Universe Lennon-McCartney Let it Be 3:45
The Long And Winding Road Lennon-McCartney Let it Be 3:37

 


2023 Re-issue of The Beatles 1967-1970 (The Blue Album)

The Beatles 1962-1966 - LP cover
The Beatles "Red and Blue" album Re-issues

On November 10th 2023 The Beatles 1962-1966 (The Red Album) and The Beatles 1967-1970 (The Blue Album) were re-issued with extra tracks and remixed versions.
Available on three-album black vinyl, red and blue vinyl and on double C.D.

1967-1970 Blue Album Versions
3 LP Black vinyl - 0602 455 92080 5
3 LP Blue vinyl - 0602 455 92089 8
2 CD - 0602 455 92095 9

The Blue album had 9 additional tracks added chronologically, including "Blackbird", "Glass Onion" and the LAST Beatles song, Now And Then.

The Extra Tracks:

  1. Now And Then (2023)
  2. Blackbird (2018 Mix)
  3. Dear Prudence (2018 Mix)
  4. Glass Onion (2018 Mix)
  5. Within You Without You (2017 Mix)
  6. Hey Bulldog (2023 Mix)
  7. Oh! Darling (2019 Mix)
  8. I Me Mine (2021 Mix)
  9. I Want You (She’s So Heavy) (2019 Mix)

10th November 2023 - The album entered the Official album chart at number 99 (this included just one day of sales !).
17th November 2023 - After a full week of sales the new set climbed up to number 2 .... reprising it's highest ever position.
24th November 2023 - Third week and the set dropped 7 places down to number 9.
1st December 2023 - Fourth week in the chart and down eight places to number 17.
8th December 2023 - Fifth week in the chart and down just five places to number 22.
15th December 2023 - Sixth week in the chart and a drop of just three places, down to number 25.
22nd December 2023 - Seventh week in the chart and a non-mover remaining at number 25.
29th December 2023 - Eighth week in the chart and another drop of just three places, down to number 28.
5th January 2024 - Ninth week in the chart and another drop of three places, down to number 31.
12th January 2024 - Tenth week in the chart and another drop of three places, down to number 34.
19th January 2024 - Eleventh week in the chart and another drop of three places to number 37.
26th January 2024 - Twelfth week in the chart and a drop of five places, down to number 42.
2nd February 2024 - Thirteenth week in the chart and a drop of four places, down to number 46.
9th February 2024 - Fourteenth week in the chart and a rise again, back up to number 44.
16th February 2024 - Fifteenth week in the chart and a drop back two places again to number 46.
23rd February 2024 - Sixteenth week in the chart and a rise again, back up to number 44.
1st March 2024 - Seventeenth week in the chart and a rise again, back up to number 41.



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