Expert: James Michael Anderson - 8/12/2007

Question
I have seen in record price guide books that besides the original 1st pressings of each Beatle record in the 1960's there were also records made in 1973 (with a lime-green label on the record) and 1976 (with an orange label on the record) as copies or replica's of the original records from the very year each one was made and marketed.  Could you please tell me the story behind these copies or remakes made in 1976 for example.  I have a Sgt. Pepper's and Magical M. Tour albums where the label on the record is orange and not black with a rainbow outline that the original Beatle records have.  I know that these records themselves are copies made in 1976 and not 1967.  However the cardboard albums have copyright dates on them and both albums have "1967" as a copyright date and not "1976."  Could you please explain the confusion with these records.  I know that these records from 1976 are not as near as valuable as the originals from the 1960's but could you please tell me the collectibility and availability of such albums and the story behind them.  I would appreciate any information you could give me.  Thank you.

Answer
Capitol records really stepped up their production of Beatle records in the mid-1970s seeing waning sales since the demise of the Beatles as an active recording group.  Consequently, you see many "new" Beatle records in the mid 70s such as "Rarities" and "Hollywood Bowl" - While not as valuable as originals, they are many times very clear recordings and are still collectible.