1962-1966

Album Notes

In early 1973, an independent record label called Audio Tape Inc. released in some parts of the U.S. an unauthorized box set containing the Beatles greatest hits. Titled Alpha Omega (Volume 1), this four record boxed set included both Beatles hits as well as album tracks and even a few post-Beatles songs (Imagine, Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey, etc.).

When Apple/Capitol/EMI got word of this Beatles boxed set, they decided to hurriedly rush out two double album sets titled The Beatles 1962-1966 and The Beatles 1967-1970. Interesting note is that Apple/Capitol/EMI saw to it that the Alpha Omega albums were not advertised anymore. However, Audio Tape Inc. released two addtional volumes of Alpha Omega (Volume Two, a four record set, and Volume Three, a two record set) in the months following this action.

The Beatles 1962-1966 contains mostly songs that were released as singles. Most of these songs went to number one on the charts in the U.S. and abroad. The cover of the album is from the same photo shoot that the Please Please Me album cover originated from. Of note here is that the U.S. album version contains the song Help! with the James Bond introduction as was released on the U.S. Help! soundtrack album. Chart-wise, this set lagged slightly behind The Beatles 1967-1970 which was also released on the same day.