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Capitol  Label: Compilation Singles
34. Leave My Kitten Alone / Ob La Di Ob La Da (Cancelled) (B-5439)
(Update: 4th. February 2025)

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  Capitol Original Sleeve


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

#34-1 Leave My Kitten Alone / Ob La Di Ob La Da (Alternate Version) (Cancelled / Picture Sleeve Only: B-5439)
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TRACK LISTING
SIDE 1
Leave My Kitten Alone
SIDE 2
Ob La Di Ob La Da (Alternate Version)
RELEASE DATE
31th. January 1985? / Cancelled
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SIDE 1
SIDE 2
DISK
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SLEEVE: BACK CLOSE UP
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Catalog number "B-5439" and Capitol dome logo were printed at the lower left corner of the front sleeve.
Sleeve has a curved down top on its open side.
label Additional information above the picture includes "Taken from the forthcoming album: Sessions".
SLEEVE BACK CLOSE UP
label
"Original recordings produced by George Martin" and "Re-nix: Produced by Geoff Emerick" credit were printed at the light side of the label.
label
The bottom two lines state "Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc. a subsidiary of Capitol Industries-EMI, Inc. Hollywood and Vine Streets, Hollywood, California Factories: Jacksonville, Illinois; Winchester, Virginia" and "All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. Printed in U.S.A." all in tiny uppercase letters.
OTHER ITEM
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CATALOG NUMBER B- 5349
LABEL No Disc
MIX -
PRESS FACTORY
-
MATRIX No.
SIDE 1
-
SIDE 2
-
VINYL COLOR -
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME
CAPITOL RECORDS
CENTER -
PUBLISHER'S NAME SIDE 1 -
SIDE 2 -
RUNNING TIME
SIDE 1 -
SIDE 2 -
PRODUCER Produced by George Martin  *Remix: produced by Geoff Emerick
DCOVER DESIGN / PHOTO / NOTES
Photo session of January, 1963
COMMENTS
In 1984, EMI began preparing an album of unreleased Beatles recordings titled Sessions. The project was shrouded in secrecy by EMI and Capitol and given the code name Mary Jane after one of the album's tracks, What's The New Mary Jane? Plans called for issuing a preview single a few weeks ahead of the album's release. Capitol's January 2, 1985, singles forecast listed the release date for Mary Jane as January 31, 1985, but stated that the single had been placed on "LEGAL HOLD." Although the legal problems pertaining to the recordings were later resolved, the disc was never issued.
The A side of the aborted single was Leave My Kitten Alone, which in 1980 had been considered for release as a single. After John Lennon was assassinated on December 9, 1980, EMI determined that it would be inappropriate to move forward with the plan. Apparently, EMI was concerned that people might view the release of a previously unissued Beatles song featuring a Lennon lead vocal as a callous act designed to cash in on the singer's tragic death.

The scheduled B side of the single was an alternate version of Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da from the White Album sessions. The picture sleeve to the single states that the selection is "take 5 recorded between the 3rd and 5th of July 1968 at Studio 2 Abbey Road." This rejected reggae version of the song features Paul on lead vocal, acoustic gui-tar and an overdubbed guitar part played and recorded to sound like a bass, John and George on background "la-la" vocals, Ringo on drums and embellishments by outside musicians including three saxophonists and Jimmy Scott on bongos. This recording later appeared on Anthology 3 in October, 1996.
Although the single was pulled from Capitol's release schedule before any copies of the record were pressed, Capitol did produce a ten-inch acetate of Leave My Kitten Alone (shown bottom center).
In addition, a number of picture sleeves were printed prior to the cancellation. In 1994, a stash of 1,500 copies of the unused sleeve was unearthed.
The picture sleeve has an upward curved top on the front side and a downward curved top on the back. The front features a black and white portrait of the group, which is slightly set inward at the sides and top, creating a thin white border.
"THE BEATLES" appears in black block letters margin left and "LEAVE MY KITTEN ALONE" is margin right at the top of the sleeve.
The back of the sleeve has another photo from the same January, 1963, session as the picture on the front side. While the Beatles have serious expressions on the front, the boys are smiling on the back side. The top of the sleeve has, from left to right, the oval Capitol logo, "THE BEATLES" and the record number B-5439 above "STEREO." This is followed by the song titles and songwriter's credits. Additional information above the picture includes "Taken from the forthcoming album: Sessions," "Original recordings produced by George Martin" and "Remix: produced by Geoff Emerick." The recording history of the songs is detailed below the photo, along with copyright information.



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