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Toshiba EMI: Forever Obi Series #2
#24 The Early Beatles (AP-80034)
(Update: 28th. October 2024)

sleeve
Apple 1st. Sleeve


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

#24-1 The Early Beatles (CBS SONY Contract Press "Toshiba-Onko / H ¥2,000 / Forever Obi with Order Sheet": AP-80034)
Back to the top of the line
TITLE The Early BEATLES
CATALOG NUMBER AP-80034
RELEASE DATE 1973 / Reissue / CBS SONY Contract Press
TRACK LISTING SIDE 1 SIDE 2
Love Me Do (sim. stereo)
Please Please Me
Twist And Shout
P. S. I Love You (sim. stereo)
Anna
Baby It's You
Chains
A Taste Of Honey
Boys
Do You Want To Know A Secret
Ask Me Why
FRONT --> Click! BACK --> Click! SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2 --> Click! DISK --> Click!
sleeve sleeve
label label label
INSIDE --> Click! INNER SLEEVE
FRONT --> Click! BACK --> Click! With Apple custom black inner sleeve.
sleeve sleeve sleeve
LYRIC SHEET (Slip Sheet Type)
FRONT --> Click! BACK --> Click! LYRIC SHEET CLOSE UP
sleeve sleeve label label
label Company name "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." was printed on the lyric sheet.
FRONT AND BACK COVER CLOSE UP
label label label The Apple logomark was printed on the front and back cover.
"Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." and "H ¥2,000" was printed at the bottomof the back cover.
INSIDE CLOSE UP
label Linernotes: Motoharu Kojima.
Catalog number "AP-80034" was printed at the lower bottom corner of the inside cover.
"FOREVER" OBI: FRONT CLOSE UP
sleeve sleeve sleeve It is a wide Obi characterized by the Apple logo at the top, and has a dark green background. Catalog number and price "¥2,000" were printed at the top on obi strip.
"FOREVER" OBI: FRONT CLOSE UP "FOREVER" OBI: BACK CLOSE UP
sleeve The words "The Beatles Forever" was printed at the bottom.

sleeve
The obi remains intact with the order form on the back uncut. Price "¥2,000" and "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." were printed on the obi strip.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label
The phrase "Apple Records - All Rights of the Manufacturer and of the Owner of the Recorded work Reserved." was printed at the perimeter. Sometimes Toshiba had problems to press enough records to keep up with the demand. To increase production they turned to other companies (Gramophone, Sony etc.) to press up some copies of a particular release.
CBS Sony contract press: There is a ridge approximately 31mm out from the centre hole.
label label label The words "MFD. BY TOSHIBA MUSICAL INDUSTRIES LTD. JAPAN" was printed at the bottom of the label.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label
Dark green apple label.

Song titles were printed in narrow sans-serif font on the label.
OTHER ITEM
-

RECORD LABEL Dark Green Apple label Type-1
MIX STEREO *excepted as noted
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 ST-X-1-2309    1S    1
SIDE 2 ST-X-2-2309    1S    2
PRESS MARK F S 8
VINYL COLOR BLACK
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME SLEEVE Toshiba Ongaku kogyo Kabusikigaisha
LABEL MFD. BY TOSHIBA MUSICAL INDUSTRIES
LTD. JAPAN
SYMBOL/PRICE H - ¥2,000
LYRIC SHEET STYLE Slip Sheet Type
COVER FORM Gatefold type. Hard cover.
INNER SLEEVE
Apple custom black sleeve
OBI
"FOREVER" Obi (¥ 2,000 / Toshiba Onko)
Wide Obi characterized by the Apple logo at the top, and has a dark green background.
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES Front cover photo: Robert Freeman taken in Hyde Park
Liner notes: Motoharu Kojima
COMMENTS
Dark green Apple label Type-1with black print.

The Early Beatles is the Beatles' sixth album released on Capitol Records, and their eighth album for the American market. All of the tracks on this album had previously been issued on the early 1964 Vee-Jay Records release "Introducing... The Beatles".

The front cover photo for this album features the same back cover photo for the British LP Beatles for Sale.

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.
And in the Apple label, there are two subtypes, TOSHIBA MUSIC and TOSHIBA EMI. Further more, the early copies of the APPLE-TOSHIBA MUSIC type have dark Apple on its label, though the late copies have light one.

Sometimes Toshiba had problems to press enough records to keep up with the demand. To increase production they turned to other companies (Gramophone, Sony etc.) to press up some copies of a particular release.
CBS Sony contract press: There is a ridge approximately 31mm out from the centre hole.

In late (September?)1969, Toshiba had to reissue on the Apple label all the records previously issued on the Odeon label.
And in the Apple label, there are two subtypes, TOSHIBA MUSIC and TOSHIBA EMI. Further more, the early copies of the APPLE-TOSHIBA MUSIC type have dark Apple on its label, though the late copies have light one.


The obi: "Forever" Obi
This style Obi came into use in the late (October?) 1972 to promote all Beatles releases then currently on the Apple label. The tagline "Beatles Forever" used in Toshiba Onko's campaign began to be used around 1972.
It is a wide Obi characterized by the Apple logo at the top, the words "The Beatles Forever" at the bottom, and has a dark green background.
This is the first obi that was released with the same design.Forever obi was used in the early 70's, and used for the Beatles, solos, and Apple artist LPs.

On 1st October 1973, Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd. was changed its name to Toshiba EMI Ltd. So, there were two kind of Obis --the company name is "Tohiba Musical..." version and "Toshiba EMI..." version.
The order sheet was printed for the first Apple Obi but was discontinued in the early years of the Toshiba EMI/Apple Obi (maybe 1974)



#24-2 The Early Beatles (1974 Press? "Toshiba-EMI / H ¥2,200 / Forever Obi without Order Sheet": AP-80034)
Back to the top of the line
TITLE The Early BEATLES
CATALOG NUMBER AP-80034
RELEASE DATE 1974? / Reissue
TRACK LISTING SIDE 1 SIDE 2
Love Me Do (sim. stereo)
Please Please Me
Twist And Shout
P. S. I Love You (sim. stereo)
Anna
Baby It's You
Chains
A Taste Of Honey
Boys
Do You Want To Know A Secret
Ask Me Why
FRONT --> Click! BACK --> Click! SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2 --> Click! DISK --> Click!
sleeve sleeve
label label label
INSIDE --> Click! INNER SLEEVE
FRONT --> Click! BACK --> Click! With Apple custom black inner sleeve.
sleeve sleeve sleeve
LYRIC SHEET (Slip Sheet Type)
FRONT --> Click! BACK --> Click! LYRIC SHEET CLOSE UP
sleeve sleeve label label
label Company name "Toshiba-EMI Ltd." was printed on the lyric sheet.
FRONT AND BACK COVER CLOSE UP
label label label The Apple logomark was printed on the front and back cover.
"Toshiba-EMI Ltd." and "H ¥2,200" was printed at the bottomof the back cover.
INSIDE CLOSE UP
label Linernotes: Motoharu Kojima.
Catalog number "AP-80034" was printed at the lower bottom corner of the inside cover.
"FOREVER" OBI: FRONT CLOSE UP
sleeve sleeve sleeve It is a wide Obi characterized by the Apple logo at the top, and has a dark green background. Catalog number and price "¥2,200" were printed at the top on obi strip.
"FOREVER" OBI: FRONT CLOSE UP "FOREVER" OBI: BACK CLOSE UP
sleeve The words "The Beatles Forever" was printed at the bottom.

sleeve
The obi remains intact with the order form on the back uncut. Price "¥2,200" and "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." were printed on the obi strip.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label label Light green apple 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 label The words "MFD. BY TOSHIBA-EMI LTD. JAPAN" was printed at the bottom of the label.

LABEL CLOSE UP
label label
Dark green apple label.

Song titles were printed in narrow sans-serif font on the label.
OTHER ITEM
-

RECORD LABEL Light Green Apple label Type-2-1
MIX STEREO *excepted as noted
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 ST-X-1-2309       1S     14
SIDE 2 ST-X-2-2309       1S     11
PRESS MARK 5-Z
VINYL COLOR BLACK
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME SLEEVE Toshiba EMI Kabusikigaisha
LABEL MFD. BY TOSHIBA-EMI LTD. JAPAN
SYMBOL/PRICE H - ¥2,200
LYRIC SHEET STYLE Slip Sheet Type
COVER FORM Gatefold type. Hard cover.
INNER SLEEVE
Apple custom black sleeve
OBI
"FOREVER" Obi (¥ 2,200 /No Order Sheet)
Wide Obi characterized by the Apple logo at the top, and has a dark green background.
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES Front cover photo: Robert Freeman taken in Hyde Park
Liner notes: Motoharu Kojima
COMMENTS
Dark green Apple label Type-1with black print.

The Early Beatles is the Beatles' sixth album released on Capitol Records, and their eighth album for the American market. All of the tracks on this album had previously been issued on the early 1964 Vee-Jay Records release "Introducing... The Beatles".

The front cover photo for this album features the same back cover photo for the British LP Beatles for Sale.

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.
And in the Apple label, there are two subtypes, TOSHIBA MUSIC and TOSHIBA EMI. Further more, the early copies of the APPLE-TOSHIBA MUSIC type have dark Apple on its label, though the late copies have light one.

In late (September?)1969, Toshiba had to reissue on the Apple label all the records previously issued on the Odeon label.
And in the Apple label, there are two subtypes, TOSHIBA MUSIC and TOSHIBA EMI. Further more, the early copies of the APPLE-TOSHIBA MUSIC type have dark Apple on its label, though the late copies have light one.


The obi: "Forever" Obi
This style Obi came into use in the late (October?) 1972 to promote all Beatles releases then currently on the Apple label. The tagline "Beatles Forever" used in Toshiba Onko's campaign began to be used around 1972.
It is a wide Obi characterized by the Apple logo at the top, the words "The Beatles Forever" at the bottom, and has a dark green background.
This is the first obi that was released with the same design.Forever obi was used in the early 70's, and used for the Beatles, solos, and Apple artist LPs.

On 1st October 1973, Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd. was changed its name to Toshiba EMI Ltd. So, there were two kind of Obis --the company name is "Tohiba Musical..." version and "Toshiba EMI..." version.
The order sheet was printed for the first Apple Obi but was discontinued in the early years of the Toshiba EMI/Apple Obi (maybe 1974)



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