K7.2228.1.2 shares the same blue spine J-card as K7.2228.1.1, but the tape inside is different: a black shell with the text printed directly onto the plastic in silver, with no paper label at all. It is the last incarnation of Beatles'65 on the blue spine.
The shells feature the oval Capitol logo rather than the target logo found on the paper labels. A bilingual Canadian manufacturer line is also found with the Mississauga address of Capitol Records-EMI of Canada Limited, which indicates a release from around 1981. The J-card, on the other hand, is unchanged: still the USA-printed blue spine card without the three bars.
Availability
This printed-shell incarnation dates from around 1981, after the yellow paper label variations (K7.2228.1.1). It seems to have run alongside the black spine copies of the same period (K7.2228.3A.2 and K7.2228.3A.3), which carry the very same printed shells under a different card. The blue spine J-card was dropped with the SDR reformatting of 1982, when Capitol Records-EMI of Canada moved the catalogue over to the new Super Dynamic Range series. No SDR pressing of Beatles'65 has been documented to date, so leftover blue and black spine stock may well have been sold through until the colour J-card arrived in 1985 (see K7.2228.6.1 and K7.2228.6.2), though that remains to be confirmed.
The Blue Spine design in Canada
Early cassettes had a blue spine and white paper labels on a white plastic shell. Blue Spine tapes are found until around 1980 with white paper labels, and 1982 with black shells with silver print. Early series of tapes most likely overlapped with the black spine series (see K7.2228.3A.1, 3A.2 and 3A.3) as some titles from up until 1982 were found on this variation.
It is not known what made a title be released on a blue or black spine J-card, but some titles remained on the blue spine and never switched to the black spine like other albums did (this title appeared on both). Generally speaking, the blue spine design made way for the black spine sometime in the 70s. Some titles were simultaneously released on both designs, while others seem to have been only found on either design. More information on this would be appreciated.
Pressing Information
The shell is black plastic with silver text. Each side reads "BEATLES '65" with the programme track listing beneath, the oval Capitol logo at the left, and PROGRAM 1 or PROGRAM 2 over the catalogue number 4XT-2228 at the right. Below the tape window is the bilingual manufacturer line: "Fabriqué au Canada · Disques Capitol · EMI du Canada Ltée / Manufactured in Canada · Capitol Records EMI of Canada Limited / 3109 American Dr Mississauga Ont L4V 1B2". The Mississauga address and the EMI company name both point to the early 1980s.
Different types of shells were often used simultaneously and seemingly, also interchangeably. There is no clear timeline based on the types of shells that were used.
Note that the cassette programmes do not follow the album's running order: side 2 of the LP opens with Honey Don't, while the tape's programme 1 closes with Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby, so that both programmes run to a similar length.
Cover
The cover (or J-card) featured the USA "blue spine" design: a generic layout where the spine of the J-card is blue without the three white bars (it is not known if they were printed in Canada from US artwork or if they were imported). Some titles were released on a light blue J-card, but these were usually reserved for half price budget releases and compilations. This title has only been documented on the darker blue J-card format.
The front panel is red, with "BEATLES '65" in white over a short track teaser ("No Reply • I'm a Loser • Honey Don't • She's a Woman • I Feel Fine • others") and the umbrella photograph from the album cover. The blue spine carries the Capitol logo, the title, "STEREO CASSETTE" and the catalogue number 4XT 2228. The back panel is a lighter blue and carries USA text: "MANUFACTURED BY CAPITOL RECORDS, INC., A SUBSIDIARY OF CAPITOL INDUSTRIES, INC., HOLLYWOOD AND VINE STREETS, HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. - FACTORIES: SCRANTON, PA., LOS ANGELES, CALIF., JACKSONVILLE, ILL." over the PROGRAM 1 (13:47) and PROGRAM 2 (13:26) listings.
Packaging
Tapes were sold in a black back jewel case, and sealed either in a firm wrap that was folded shut or in shrink wrap (earlier paper label tapes were mostly found in folded wrappers).