The Beatles' Story
Encyclopedia
The Beatles' Story a documentary double album
featuring interviews, press conferences, and songs by The Beatles
. It was the Beatles' fourth release by Capitol
and sixth American album, released in both mono
and stereo
. The LP was also released in Canada. Capitol released this album shortly after competitor Vee-Jay Records
released Hear The Beatles Tell All.
The album contains brief stereo excerpts of their 1964 Hollywood Bowl concert, which was unreleased until May 1977 on The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl
. Several voice overs dominate the rest of the record.
The album entered the Billboard Top LP's chart on 12 December at number 97. On 2 January 1965, the album reached its peak position at number seven, where it remained for four weeks before beginning its slide down the charts. Cash Box entered the album at number seven, whereas Record World showed the record peaking at number 13. Although not a million-seller, the album was certified gold, signifying sales in excess of one million dollars, in its first week; a very respectable showing, considering that the album was little more than an elaborately packaged documentary record.
In 1996, The Beatles' Story was being prepared for release on Digital Audio Tape
(DAT), but when the format failed commercially, the plan was scrapped. As of 2011, it only has been issued in long-playing record and compact cassette
, making this one of the few American Beatles albums that has yet to be officially reissued on compact disc
or any other format.
Side two
Side three
Side four
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
featuring interviews, press conferences, and songs by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. It was the Beatles' fourth release by Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and sixth American album, released in both mono
Monaural
Monaural or monophonic sound reproduction is single-channel. Typically there is only one microphone, one loudspeaker, or channels are fed from a common signal path...
and stereo
STEREO
STEREO is a solar observation mission. Two nearly identical spacecraft were launched into orbits that cause them to respectively pull farther ahead of and fall gradually behind the Earth...
. The LP was also released in Canada. Capitol released this album shortly after competitor Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records is a record label founded in the 1950s, specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. It was owned and operated by African Americans.-History:...
released Hear The Beatles Tell All.
The album contains brief stereo excerpts of their 1964 Hollywood Bowl concert, which was unreleased until May 1977 on The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl
The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl
The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl is a live album released in May 1977 featuring songs by The Beatles compiled from two live performances at the Hollywood Bowl during August 1964 and August 1965...
. Several voice overs dominate the rest of the record.
The album entered the Billboard Top LP's chart on 12 December at number 97. On 2 January 1965, the album reached its peak position at number seven, where it remained for four weeks before beginning its slide down the charts. Cash Box entered the album at number seven, whereas Record World showed the record peaking at number 13. Although not a million-seller, the album was certified gold, signifying sales in excess of one million dollars, in its first week; a very respectable showing, considering that the album was little more than an elaborately packaged documentary record.
In 1996, The Beatles' Story was being prepared for release on Digital Audio Tape
Digital Audio Tape
Digital Audio Tape is a signal recording and playback medium developed by Sony and introduced in 1987. In appearance it is similar to a compact audio cassette, using 4 mm magnetic tape enclosed in a protective shell, but is roughly half the size at 73 mm × 54 mm × 10.5 mm. As...
(DAT), but when the format failed commercially, the plan was scrapped. As of 2011, it only has been issued in long-playing record and compact cassette
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
, making this one of the few American Beatles albums that has yet to be officially reissued on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
or any other format.
Track listing
Side one- "On Stage with the Beatles"
- "How BeatlemaniaBeatlemaniaBeatlemania is a term that originated during the 1960s to describe the intense fan frenzy directed toward The Beatles during the early years of their success...
Began" - "Beatlemania in Action"
- "Man Behind the Beatles" – Brian EpsteinBrian EpsteinBrian Samuel Epstein , was an English music entrepreneur, and is best known for being the manager of The Beatles up until his death. He also managed several other musical artists such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black, The Remo Four & The Cyrkle...
- "John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
" - "Who's a Millionaire?"
Side two
- "Beatles Will Be Beatles"
- "Man Behind the Music" – George MartinGeorge MartinSir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
- "George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
"
Side three
- "A Hard Day's Night – Their First Movie"
- "Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
" - "Sneaky Haircuts and More About Paul"
Side four
- "The Beatles Look at Life"
- "'Victims' of Beatlemania"
- "Beatle Medley"
- "Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
" - "LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and All the World!"