LP.2228.13.1 was released on the retro rainbow label. Since pressing operations ceased at Capitol's in-house pressing plant, Capitol Records reverted to a trusted subcontractor, Columbia (CBS), as early as late 1983 or early 1984. This pressing features a new Columbia-made master; these are regarded by many as the best-sounding series of reissue pressings. They are recognized by their flat-textured retro rainbow label and the thin 68 mm pressing ring.
Availability
LP.2228.13.1 was available between 1984 and August 1988 (for approximately four years) when CBS hired Cinram to take over pressing operations in Canada. It is the only retro rainbow pressing of the album documented so far.
General Information
When pressing operations were phased out at the Mississauga plant in late 1983, Columbia became the official subcontractor for Capitol's LP pressing needs. This lasted until August 1988, when Cinram took over for the ultimate series of reissues, coinciding with the worldwide launch of the Beatles' catalogue on CD, and Beatles records being imported from the UK or the USA from this point on.
Pressing Information
This pressing was manufactured at a well-known subcontractor's pressing plant, Columbia (CBS), which prepared new quality masters for every title in the Beatles' back catalogue. These pressings can be identified by the 68 mm thin pressing ring.
Matrix numbers feature the new Columbia-made master. On this pressing they are hand-written and lightly etched in the trail-off:
Side 1: ST-2228-A-1B-2H23
Side 2: ST-2228-B-1B-2H23K
Cover
This variation came with a new print run of the cover. On the back cover, the bottom legal text now features the classic Capitol dome logo (replacing the target logo of the previous variations), and the legal line now credits MPL Communications Inc. The posterboard construction remains, but this cover was no longer printed by Modern Graphics: the spine only reads "Printed in Canada" (no printer's logo), and a small "DJ" logo appears at the bottom of the back cover. DJ is the logo of Ross-Ellis, a Montreal printer that opened a second plant in Markham, Ontario, in 1977 (a separate company from Shorewood, despite frequent confusion; see the Printers page). The spine is shown below.
Packaging
This edition was shipped in tight shrink wrap, with a square polyethylene inner sleeve. These Columbia (CBS) sleeves are square and have a straight cut opening with UNEVEN sides (making it easier to open to manipulate the record inside).
