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The Toshiba EMI Recordings / Original Stereo Version
16. The Beatles (A.K.A. White Album) (AP-8570/1)
(Update: 11th. August 2023)

white
Apple 1st. Sleeve


Notice* Click the label of each photo, so you can see the large picture image.

#16-1 The Beatles (Promotional Record: AP-8570/71)
Back to the top of the line
TITLE THE BEATLES
CATALOG NUMBER AP-8570/1
RELEASE DATE Promotional Record (First Press: 18th. January.1969)
TRACK LISTING SIDE 1 SIDE 2
Back In The U.S.S.R.
Martha My Dear
Dear Prudence
I'm So Tired
Glass Onion
Blackbird
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Piggies
Wild Honey Pie
Rocky Raccoon
The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
Don't Pass Me By
Whie My Guitar Gentry Weeps
Why Don't We Do It In The Road
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
I Will

Julia
SIDE 3
SIDE 4
Birthday
Revolution 1
Yer Blues
Honey Pie
Mother Nature's Son
Savoy Truffie
Everybody Got Something To Hide Execept Me And My Monky
Cry Baby Cry
Sexy Sadie
(" Can You Take Me Back...")
Helter Skelter
Revolution 9
Long Long Long
Good Night
ALBUM COVER
INNER SLEEVE
DISC1: FRONT DISC1: BACK DISC1: FRONT
DISC1: BACK
The original plain white inner bag has a fold-over flap at the top of the bag to prevent the record from falling out.
With a die-cut circular opening on one side.
sleeve sleeve
label label
DISC2: FRONT DISC2: BACK DISC2: FRONT DISC2: BACK ALBUM COVER
sleeve sleeve label label Each record was placed in a Toshiba sample sleeve and distributed to radio stations.
LABEL
DISC
DISC 1
DISC 2

label
SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2 --> Click! SIDE 3 --> Click! SIDE 4 --> Click!
sleeve sleeve sleeve sleeve
ALBUM COVER CLOSE UP
label Promo copies were sometimes sent in generic EMI Sample Record covers.
DISC 1: LABEL CLOSE UP
label label label The label design of plain white label LPs (NO Apple logo): The print in black has an unusual "hand lettered" look to it quite unlike the regular commercial version.
DISC 2: LABEL CLOSE UP
label label label Toshiba white label (promotional use only). The words "Sample"  was printed at upper left side of the label.
The release date "21th. January" was printed on both labels.
DISC1: LABEL CLOSE UP
label label Track 7 on side 1 was misspelled as "WHIE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS".
DISC 2: LABEL CLOSE UP
label label Track 4 on side 3 was misspelled as "EVERYBODY'S GOT SOMETHING TO HIDE EXECEPT ME AND MY MONKY".
Track 3 on side 4 was misspelled as "SAVOY TRUFFIE".
LABEL CLOSE UP
SIDE 1
SIDE 2
SIDE 3
SIDE 4
The words "Not For Sale" was printed at the right side of the label.
Catalogue number and matrix number were printed at the below of the catalogue number.
label label label label
OTHER ITEM
-

RECORD LABEL Toshiba Plain White Label (for promotional use only)
MIX STEREO
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 YEX-709    1S     1
SIDE 2
YEX-710    1S     1
SIDE 3 YEX-711    1S     1
SIDE 4
YEX-712    1S2   1
PRESS MARK DISC 1
-
DISC 2 -
VINYL COLOR RED
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME SLEEVE Toshiba Ongaku kogyo Kabusikigaisha
LABEL MFD. BY TOSHIBA MUSICAL INDUSTRIES LTD. JAPAN
SYMBOL/PRICE -
LYRIC SHEET STYLE -
COVER FORM Toshiba Sample Record Sleeve
INNER SLEEVE
The original plain white inner bag has a fold-over flap at the top of the bag to prevent the record from falling out.
OBI
-
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES Toshiba sample record sleeve.
COMMENTS
Toshiba white label (promotional use only).
The Beatles' first double album.
The release date was originally announced as 20th. January, but was pushed forward to 18th. January.

In Japan, promotional records have traditionally been provided at no charge to radio stations, record shops, and the mass media to increase the sales of a record or in some cases to promote a tour.

This type is called the white label promo for which a unique label has been made.
The label design of plain white label LPs (NO Apple logo): The print in black has an unusual "hand lettered" look to it quite unlike the regular commercial version. The release date is in black and appears  the left of the center hole.
Most usually, the regular cover is used with appropriate alterations to prohibit commercial sale. Promo copies were sometimes sent in generic EMI Sample Record covers.



#16-2 The Beatles (1st. Press "H ¥4,000 / Gourd in dark green Obi": AP-8570/71)
Back to the top of the line
TITLE THE BEATLES
CATALOG NUMBER AP-8570/1
RELEASE DATE 18th. January.1969 / First Press
TRACK LISTING SIDE 1 SIDE 2
Back In The U.S.S.R.
Martha My Dear
Dear Prudence
I'm So Tired
Glass Onion
Blackbird
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Piggies
Wild Honey Pie
Rocky Raccoon
The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill
Don't Pass Me By
While My Guitar Gentry Weeps
Why Don't We Do It In The Road
Happiness Is A Warm Gun
I will

Julia
SIDE 3
SIDE 4
Birthday
Revolution 1
Yer Blue
Honey Pie
Mother Nature's Son
Savoy Truffie
Everybody Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
Cry Baby Cry
Sexy Sadie
(" Can You Take Me Back...")
Helter Skelter
Revolution 9
Long Long Long
Good Night
FRONT --> Click! BACK --> Click! INSIDE --> Click! DISK
sleeve sleeve
label
label
LABEL
SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2 --> Click! SIDE 3 --> Click! SIDE 4 --> Click! Dark green Apple label Type-1with black print.
sleeve sleeve sleeve sleeve
INNER SLEEVE
FRONT COVER CLOSE UP (Serial Number)
FRONT --> Click! BACK --> Click!
sleeve sleeve label
With Apple custom black inner sleeve.
The front cover has “The BEATLES” embossed in raised block letters. Each LP is sequentially numbered.
label
LYRIC SHEET CLOSE UP
label "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." and "H ¥4,000" was printed at the bottom of the back cover.
Apple "Gourd" in dark green OBI CLOSE UP
FRONT --> Click! BACK --> Click!
sleeve sleeve Narrow Obi with a large round Apple logo at the top, has a dark green  background. The Apple logo mark and catalog number were printed on the front. 1st. pressing had a priced ¥4,000 on obi strip.
sleeve The obi remains intactwith the order form on the back uncut.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label Toshiba pressed a lot of their records on red, "Everclean" vinyl from 1958 through 1974 (maybe).  The Everclean vinyl was designed to be less prone to collecting static electricity and dust than the more common black vinyl.
In 1969, Toshiba had to reissue on the Apple label all the records previously issued on the Odeon label.The phrase "Apple Records - All Rights of the Manufacturer and of the Owner of the Recorded work Reserved." was printed at the perimeter.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label
The words "MFD. BY TOSHIBA MUSICAL INDUSTRIES LTD. JAPAN" was printed at the bottom of the label.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label "Pro duction by GEORGE MARTIN" and "Orchestrations by GEORGE MARTIN" credits were printed at the below of the group's name on the label.
Catalogue number and matrix number were printed at the below of the catalogue number.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label 2 songs were misspelled as "WHILE MY GUITAR GENTRY WEEPS" and "SAVOY TRUFFIE".
OTHER ITEM
PORTRAITS
sleeve sleeve sleeve sleeve Each LP was issued with four 28.5×27 cm glossy photos of each Beatle taken by John Kelly.
POSTER
FRONT --> Click! BACK --> Click! POSTER: BACK CLOSE UP
sleeve sleeve label
The sleeve design was by Richard Hamilton, who suggested the minimalistic approach and the consecutively numbered sleeves which would give a limited edition feel to it. Richard also came up with the montage idea for the large free poster, which included the lyrics on it's rear.
Each LP was issued with large 85.8 x57.2 cm poster.
The credit "TOSHIBA MUSICAL INDUSTRIES LTD" was printed at the back of the poster.
TRACK LIST SHEET
FRONT --> Click! BACK --> Click! With a track list sheet.
sleeve sleeve
BOOKING SPECIAL GIFT
ENVELOPE: FRONT
ENVELOPE: BACK
PORTRAIT
CLOSE UP
Early booking special gifts for pre-order customers.

The  portrait was inserted in the envelope.
sleeve sleeve sleeve sleeve
FLYER FOR PRE-ORDER CAMPAIGN
FLYER: FRONT FLYER: BACK
FLYER: FRONT CLOSE UP
sleeve sleeve sleeve sleeve
FLYER: BACK CLOSE UP
sleeve sleeve Toshiba had special gifts for pre-order customers.
SHOP DISPLAY FOR PRE-ORDER CAMPAIGN
DISPLAY: FRONT SHOP DISPLAY: CLOSE UP
sleeve sleeve This point of sale display advertises the Beatles first album on Apple Records in Japan, “The Beatles,” released January, 1969. The cardboard display measures 27 x 24.5 cm”
This display was delivered to record stores by Toshiba as part of a national pre-order campaign.
-

RECORD LABEL Dark Green Apple label Type-1
MIX STEREO
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 YEX-709   1S2    1    2
SIDE 2 YEX-710   1S      13
SIDE 3
YEX-711   1S      15
SIDE 4
YEX-712   1S2    12
PRESS MARK DISC 1 8M
DISC 2
8M -> A9
VINYL COLOR RED
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME SLEEVE Toshiba Ongaku kogyo Kabusikigaisha
LABEL MFD. BY TOSHIBA MUSICAL INDUSTRIES
LTD. JAPAN
SYMBOL/PRICE H - ¥4,000
LYRIC SHEET STYLE Slip Sheet Type
COVER FORM Gatefold type. Open Side cover.
INNER SLEEVE
Apple custom black sleeve
OBI
Apple "Gourd" in dark green Obi
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES Photo: Iain Macmillan
COMMENTS
Gatefold and open side cover. A two-LP set.
Comes with four photos and a poster (like U.K. and U.S. versions).
Dark green Apple label Type-1with black print.
"Pro duction by GEORGE MARTIN" and "Orchestrations by GEORGE MARTIN" credits were printed at the below of the group's name on the label.
The words "MFD. BY TOSHIBA MUSICAL INDUSTRIES LTD. JAPAN" was printed at the bottom on the label.
The front cover has “The BEATLES” embossed in raised block letters. Each LP is sequentially numbered.
Toshiba had special gifts for pre-order customers.

The release date of the white album in Japan was originally planned to be 21th. January, but it was rushed to 18th. January.

In Novemver 1968, that was the date when Apple Corp Ltd. of England and Toshiba came to an agreement on the manufacturing and distribution of the Beatles' records in Japan.
As part of that agreement, Toshiba had to reissue on the Apple label all the records previously issued on the Odeon label. The sleeves also had to be altered to desplay the Apple logo. Futher still, all the Odeon catalog number prefixes were changed to ones with Apple prefixes. In most cases, only the prefixes were changed and the catalog numbers were left intanct. Odeon singles, EPs, and LPs with the OR or OP prefixes were changed to Apple singles, EPs, and LPs with the AR or AP prefixes, respectively.
But Toshiba did not instantly implement all these changes and did not immediately withdraw all Odeon label records. In fact, the phasing out of the Odeon label products and the phasing in of the Apple label was a lengthy process taking several months at least.
The very first record in Japan issued under the Toshiba/Apple contract and bearing the Apple label was "The Beatles double LP (the White Album)", released on 21th. January 1969. And unlike elsewhere in the world, the first single in Japan to bear the Apple label was not "Hey Jude / Revolution" but rather "Ob- La-Di, Ob-La-Da / While My Guitar Gently Weeps", released on 10th. March, 1969.

Red vinyl:
Besides good sound and quality printing, Japanese records also offered some other things of interest to the collector.  One of the primary manufacturing companies in Japan, Toshiba, pressed a lot of their records on red, “Everclean” vinyl from 1958 through 1974 (maybe).  While not pressed as collectors’ items, these red vinyl pressings are more sought out by collectors than their black vinyl counterparts.  The Everclean vinyl was designed to be less prone to collecting static electricity and dust than the more common black vinyl.

The obi: Apple "Gourd" in dark green Obi
1st. pressing issued with a narrow Obi with a large round Apple logo at the top, has a dark green  background. The word "STEREO" and Apple logo mark and catalog number "AP-8570-71" were printed on the front. 1st. pressing had a priced ¥4,000 on rear sleeve and obi strip.
While most Japanese records feature local music, a lot of music fans there like foreign music, as well.  The language barrier in Japan presented a problem – should foreign album covers be changed for Japanese albums?  The solution was the obi, which means “belt” or “sash”.  The obi is a strip of paper, usually about two inches wide, that wraps vertically around the album cover, containing information about the artist and album in Japanese.  As these strips of paper were fragile and easily torn, they are often missing, especially since consumers in the 1950s and 1960s attached little significance to them.  Finding Japanese records made prior to 1970 that still have the obi intact can be quite difficult, and for some albums, nearly impossible.  The inclusion of the obi can dramatically affect the price of some Japanese records, sometimes increasing the price by a factor of ten.



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