Something New

LP.2108.13.1 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 is the most common of the retro rainbow pressing variations, and features a new Columbia-made master. These are regarded by many as the best-sounding series of reissue pressings. These pressings are recognized by their flat-textured retro rainbow label and the thin 68 mm pressing ring.

Availability

LP.2108.13.1 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, and it remains amongst the scarcer variations of the album.

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 now manufactured at a well-known subcontractor's pressing plant: Columbia (CBS), who 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 very faintly etched; they can barely be read in the trail-off:

Side 1: ST-2108-1 1AZHZK
Side 2: ST-2108-2 1BZHZ

Cover

The cover kept the posterboard construction, but this variation came with a new print run that is easy to recognize. On the front cover, the stereo designation changed: the old block STEREO lettering was replaced by a thin, rounded font (in the style of "Century Gothic Light") under the Capitol logo.

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 spine also changed: the Modern Graphics logo found on LP.2108.11.1 was removed, leaving only the title, the STEREOPHONIC box and the catalogue number.

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).