| A unique feature of Japanese LPs is a
fragile strip of paper called an "Obi"
(pronounced oh'-bee; literally meaning "belt") wrapped around the cover. The practice of wrapping an Obi around an LP started many years before the Beatles releases and continues up to the present day. The Obi is generally used as a marketing tool, and Obi designs are as varied as the LPs they decorate. Some Obis display attractive graphics and provide a list of the songs on the album or other information considered useful to the consumer. Other Obis simply display a marketing phrase meant to pique the viewer's interest. |
| Type-1:
"Hankake" Obi (April 1964 - Oct 1964?) One of the characteristics of the Odeon Obis with the 7000 range numbers (from 7041 to 7600) is definitiely the dark blue "Hankake-Obi" (Obis draped from the top, not forming a loop), which is the oldest type. This type can be found only in three Beatles' albums and one omnibus album. |
| OR-7041 | OR-7058 | OP-7123 | OR-7060 Fresh Sounds from Liverpool Vol.1 |
| (5. April 1964/1st. Press) | (5. June 1964/1st. Press) | (5. Sep. 1964/1st. Press) | (15. Sep. 1964/1st. Press) |
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| Type-2: "Dark
Green
or Light Blue" Obi (Nov. 1964? - middle 1966?) After the type-1 was abandoned, Obis became the usual form. At first in dark green (OP-7179), and after 1965 in light blue. *Except Commemorative disks of the Beatles' visit in Japan (OP-7548, OP-7549) and one omnibus album. |
| Dark Green Type | |
| OP-7179 | OR-7071 95 Milloin People's Popular Request |
| (15. March 1965/1st. Press) | (5. Nov. 1964/1st. Press) |
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| Ligh Blue Type | ||
| OR-7103 | OP-7387 | OP-7450 |
| (5. May 1965/1st. Press) | (15. Sep. 1965/1st. Press) | (15. March 1966/1st. Press) |
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| OR-7193 Fresh Sounds from Liverpool Vol.2 |
OR-7240 Fresh Sounds from Liverpool Vol.3 |
OP-7420 95 Milloin People's Popular Request Vol.3 |
| (15. Oct. 1965/1st. Press) | (15. Feb. 1966/1st. Press) | (15. Nov. 1965/1st. Press) |
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| exceptions | |||
| misprint?? | Commemorative disks of the Beatles' visit in Japan | 95 Milloin People's Popular Request Vol.2 (golden Obi) | |
| OP-7179 | OP-7548 | OP-7549 | OR-7150 |
| (15. March 1965/1st. Press) | (25. May 1966/1st. Press) | (30. May 1966/1st. Press) | (15. July 1965/1st. Press) |
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| Type-3:
"Light
Blue" Obi R2 (middle 1966? - middle 1967?) The next issue was "Triangle in lignt blue Obi". This type was used in three Beatles' albums, "The Beatles' Story (OP-7553-4)", "Revolver (OP-7600)" and "Oldies (OP-8016)". But "Oldies" was issued the 'Yellow triangle' version. And the older released four albums, OR-7041, OR-7058, OP-7123 and OP-7179 were replaced this type. |
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| OP-7553-4 | OP-7600 | OP-8016 |
| (5. Aug. 1966/1st. Press) | (5. Oct. 1966/1st. Press) | (5. Feb. 1967/1st. Press) |
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| Reissue albums | |||
| OR-7041 | OR-7058 | OP-7123 | OP-7179 |
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| Type-4: "Arrow
in
Dark Green" Obi (June 1967? - 1968) In 1967, starting with "Oldies (OP-8016)", numbering for new Odeon LPs changed to the 8000 range numbers. So Obis were renew, A.K.A. "Arrow Obi" in dark green and with the same design as the Apple Obis. *Except "Oldies (OP-8016)" and "Sgt. Pepper (OP-8163)" *When Toshiba changed the record number format from OP-7*** to OP-8***, the commemorative disks of the Beatles' visit, "Vol.1 (OP-7548)" and "Vol.2 (OP-7549)", and "The Beatles Story (OP-7553-4)" were deleted. And these were not released until late 1969 when they changed the record number format again to AP-8***. |
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| Reissue albums | |||
| OR-8026 | OR-8027 | OR-8028 | OP-8147 |
| (5. June 1967/2nd. Press) | (5. June 1967/2nd. Press) | (5. June 1967/2nd. Press) | (5. June 1967/2nd. Press) |
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| OP-8151 | OP-8156 | OP-8442 | OP-8443 |
| (5. June 1967/2nd. Press) | (5. June 1967/2nd. Press) | (1. Aug. 1968/2nd. Press) | (1. Aug. 1968/2nd. Press) |
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| OP-8442 and OP-8443: Note the unusual use of the EMI/Odeon logo on the Obi. | |||
| exceptions | |
| OP-8016 | OP-8163 |
| (5. July 1967/1st. Press) | |
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| Type-5: "Dark
Blue"
Obi (1968) The only Obi with the 9000 range number (9728) is "Magical Mystery Tour" which was printed in dark blue. Note the unusual use of the EMI/Odeon logo on the front cover, back cover, and Obi. |
| OP-9728 |
| (5. Dec. 1968/1st. Press) |
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| Some Toshiba/Odeon's Beatles LPs, There is order sheet on the back side of the Obi. |  |
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Help!
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Revolver
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Oldies
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 ...Go to "Obi
History #2 (Apple) Guide page ...Go to "Obi
History #3 (EMI/Odeon) Guide page |
