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7" Singles (45s) Variations

Beatles 7" records were pressed in Canada from 1963 up until the late 1980s. (The Decca My Bonnie 45 from 1962 was not a "Beatles" record per se). Like it was the case with the LPs, these 45s were reissued many times during this period (although not as much as LPs), after which records were imported from the USA or the EU once Canada stopped pressing its own vinyl records. Beatles 45s on Capitol Records also saw seven label designs through the years, most of which have different subvariants of their own, making a total of fifteen label subvariants, plus Starline variants (each one is numbered accordingly across this website). Understanding these differences can allow precise dating of any specific pressing. Here below is a detailed account of the different Capitol label variations and subvariations found with Canadian Beatles 45s:

1. Yellow / Orange Swirl no Brackets
These were used on Beatles records between 1963 and June 1966 (this is identified as number "1" across this website). This variant is identified by the perimeter text around the label that states "MFD IN CANADA BY CAPITOL RECORDS OF CANADA"

2. Yellow / Orange Swirl with Brackets
These were used on Beatles records between July 1966 and 1969 (this is identified as number "2" across this website). This variant is identified by the perimeter text around the label that states "MFD IN CANADA BY CAPITOL RECORDS (CANADA)", adding brackets around the word "Canada".

3. Apple
These were used on Beatles related records between November 1968 and 1975 (this is identified as number "3" across this website). This variant is easily identified by the apple on the label. It is important to note that in Canada, only Apple releases were released on this label, while, unlike it was the case in the USA, reissues of Capitol titles were NOT released on the Apple label, but rather on the Capitol target and early orange labels. Between 1973 and 1975, the Beatles 45s seemed to have been imported from the USA, while the non-Beatles Apple catalogue was being pressed in Canada by CBS.

4. Target with Oval Logo
These were used on Beatles records in late 1969 on some rare titles before using the target logo (see label 5), this is identified as number "4" across this website. This variant is identified by the orange / red target label that features the old-style oval logo. While the USA reissued Capitol albums on the Apple label, Canada reissued them on this label instead during this period.

5. Target with Target Logo
These were used on Beatles records in 1970 and 1971 (this is numbered as number "5" in this website). This variant is identified by the orange / red target label that features the new target-style logo. Labels from before December 1971 are glossy, while those from early 1972 have a flat finish. While the USA reissued Capitol albums on the Apple label, Canada reissued them on this label instead.

6. Orange 1st Generation
These were used on a handful of Beatles titles in 1972 and 1973 (this is identified as number "6" across this website). This variant is identified by the GOLD perimeter text around the label. While the USA reissued Capitol albums on the Apple label, Canada reissued them on this label instead during this period. This is one of the scarcest variations for Beatles singles.

7. Orange 2nd Generation
These were used on Beatles records in 1975 - labels all have the ® logo, which seems to indicate that this variation was not used before January 1975, unlike the LPs that features earlier labels with the ™ logo in 1973-1974. (this is identified as number "7" across this website). This variant is identified by the BLACK perimeter text around the label. This variation also features only a handful of reissued titles, but remains slightly more common than the previous variation. While the USA reissued Capitol albums on the Apple label, Canada reissued them on this label instead during this period.

8. Orange 3rd Generation
These were used on Beatles records as early as June of 1976 (this is identified as number "8" across this website). This variant is identified by the bumpy ridge around the label, symbolic of pressing operations moving to Capitol's new in-house pressing plant. Almost all Beatles singles (Capitol and Apple) were reissued on this variation; only a few early titles from the 72000 series were not reissued. This was also the variation that was featured in the Beatles Forever series. (See section on Beatles singles for the complete list).

9. Purple 1st Generation
This label variation does not exist with Beatles 45 RPM singles, but was used on a series of Solo (mostly McCartney) reissues in 1977-1978 on an old-style black label with a silver circle and the dome logo in the perimeter print.

10. Purple 2nd Generation
These were used on Beatles records between 1978 and 1980 (this is identified as number "10" across this website). This variant is identified by the perimeter text around the label design that states "Manufactured in Canada by Capitol Records-EMI".

11. Purple 3rd Generation
These were used on Beatles records between 1980 and 1983 (this is identified as number "11" across this website). This variant is identified by the thinner perimeter text around the label design that states "Manufactured in Canada UNDER LICENSE by Capitol Records--EMI".

12. Retro Rainbow label - 1st Generation (Capitol Pressing)
These were used on Beatles records only in 1983 before the Capitol pressing plant was decommissioned (this is identified as number "12" across this website). This variant is identified by the new retro rainbow label design with characteristic bumpy ridge found on Capitol pressings . These were the last of the Capitol pressings to be pushed out of the Mississauga plant. Only a handful of titles have been pressed on this generation.

13. Retro Rainbow label - 2nd Generation (Columbia Pressing)
These subcontracted Columbia pressings were found on Beatles records between late 1983 and 1986 (this is identified as number "13" across this website). This variant is identified by the same retro rainbow label design and a smooth label edge. These usually also have a Columbia matrix number system. This label design is identical to the previous variation, but the text font and layout is quite different from titles found on the 1st generation. This variation has seen the complete reissue of the Beatles' catalogue (unlike variation 1 who has seen only a handful of titles).

14. Retro Rainbow label - 3rd Generation (Cinram Pressing)
***No Beatles 45 has been pressed by Cinram*** There is therefore no variation with a ".14" number in this archive.

15. Neo Purple
These were used on Beatles records around 1986 (this is identified as number "15" across this website). This variant is identified by the neo-purple label design with no bumpy ridge.

Starline Series : Green Swirl and Beige Variants
These were used on Beatles records between 1965 and 1986. Starline releases from 1965 feature a green swirl design (and are made from US masters), while later Starline issues are identified by their beige label design (see "Beatles Singles" section for a detailed list of subvariants).

Other Labels : Decca, United Artists, MGM, ATCO
Although the core of the Beatles' Canadian catalogue features releases by Capitol, some titles were released and reissued on other record labels, and therefore feature different label designs. These are detailed and pictured in each individual album title sections.

For a detailed account of released titles for each of these label variations, you can also explore the RELEASE BY LABEL TYPE page through the main menu.

Generic Sleeves

Vinyl is a fragile material, and the tiny grooves pressed into a record need protection from dust, grease, sunlight, and friction with other objects or other records. This was true for albums, but it was even more important for 45s. Unlike LPs, these smaller records were not housed in cardboard covers that offered at least some basic protection. Instead, they depended almost entirely on the thin paper sleeves in which they were sold, whether picture sleeves or generic company sleeves.

Because these sleeves were made of paper, their life expectancy was often much shorter than that of an album cover. It did not always take long for a sleeve to become creased, pinned to a wall, misplaced, or torn open. It was also common to see stacks of 45s stored on a shelf, in a box, or even piled together in a suitcase, with little or no protection at all.

Today, now that these records are recognized as historical artefacts worth cataloguing and preserving, it may seem surprising that they were once handled so casually. Collectors now protect them with paper and poly sleeves, carefully separating the record from its original packaging when needed. But at the time, records, especially singles, were everyday consumer products. They were meant to be played, shared, carried around, and enjoyed. For many young listeners, the 45 was the most accessible format for discovering new music.

As covered in each dedicated section, some early first pressings were sold in attractive picture sleeves, which helped present the artwork while also offering a basic level of protection (these were almost exclusively imported from the USA and not produced in Canada). Once those imported sleeves were used up, however, the company generally relied on standard generic company sleeves.

Just as label designs changed over time, the paper sleeves used to house the records also evolved. In many cases, these sleeves were designed to match the visual identity of the label variation found on stock copies. In other cases, they were created to identify or promote a specific series of records, such as the Starline series.

For collectors today, finding a record in the correct company sleeve adds an important layer of authenticity. It helps place the record in its proper historical and commercial context, and gives a more complete sense of how it would originally have appeared in stores. The following section presents the various generic company sleeves used for Canadian Beatles 45s, arranged in chronological order, beginning with the first 1960s issues.

Below is a detailed list of all company 45 RPM sleeves found with Beatles records between 1962 and 1986:

NOTE** This sleeve is often mistakenly paired with early Beatles titles by record dealers and collectors. Although it was indeed used until the early 1960s, it was never used with any Beatles records, domestic or exported. The company had changed for the new black glossy Capitol sleeve just a few years earlier, around the same time the swirl labels were introduced to replace the original purple labels.

S1. Decca Beige With Black Mesh Squares
April 1962
This sleeve was used exclusively with the Decca pressing of My Bonnie and features a black mesh pattern on a brown paper sleeve. The back side of the sleeve features instructions for record care below the centre hole, and identifies the Lachine Compo pressing plant.

Originally released in this sleeve: My Bonnie / The Saints (Decca 31382)

S2. Black Capitol Glossy
1963 - Late 1963
These sleeves supplied by Capitol were made of thick glossy paper. Canadian sleeves were straight cut and featured the word CAPITOL in large white letters at the top, below a thick white line. The company dome logo is also found below the centre hole. This sleeve was last used with Can't Buy Me Love.

Originally released in this sleeve: Love Me Do / P.S. I Love You (72076); Please Please Me / Ask Me Why (72090); From Me To You / Thank You Girl (72101); She Loves You / I'll Get You (72125)

S3. MGM "The Greatest Name In Entertainment"
January - March 1964
These sleeves were supplied with the two yellow label MGM pressings of early 1964. It features a grey paper sleeve on which MGM RECORDS and THE GREATEST NAME IN ENTERTAINMENT are written between two thick lines above and below the centre hole.

Originally released in this sleeve: My Bonnie / The Saints (MGM 13213X); Why / Cry For A Shadow (MGM 13227X)

S4. Black Capitol Flat
Late 1963 - Early 1966
Although these sleeves supplied by Capitol featured exactly the same design as their predecessors, they were made of cheaper, and much thinner paper with a flat finish. This sleeve was first used with the Twist And Shout single up until Help!.

Originally released in this sleeve: Roll Over Beethoven / Please Mister Postman (72133); I Want To Hold Your Hand / I Saw Her Standing There (5112); All My Loving / This Boy (72144); Can't Buy Me Love / You Can't Do That (5150); Twist And Shout / There's A Place (72146); Do You Want To Know A Secret / Thank You Girl (72159); Sie Liebt Dich / I'll Get You (72162); A Hard Day's Night / I Should Have Known Better (5222); I'll Cry Instead / I'm Happy Just To Dance (5234); And I Love Her / If I Fell (5235); Slow Down / Matchbox (5255); I Feel Fine / She's A Woman (5327); Eight Days A Week / I Don't Want To Spoil The Party (5371); Ticket To Ride / Yes It Is (5407); Help! / I'm Down (5476), Act Naturally / Yesterday (5498); We Can Work It Out / Day Tripper (5555)

S5. London White and Blue (ATCO)
July 1964
The generic London white and blue paper sleeve was the one used with the ATCO single Ain't She Sweet, the previous model (brown sleeve) had been replaced by the white / blue design in mid 1962.

Originally released in this sleeve: Ain't She Sweet / Nobody's Child (ATCO 6308)

S6. Capitol Sideways Logo
Early 1966 - 1969 (approx)
These sleeves supplied by Capitol featured a modernized design with the word CAPITOL repeated in black at an angle on a white background across both sides of the sleeve. The dome logo is featured in the top left corner of the sleeve. Sleeves with small text below the dome logo are American-made, and not Canadian. This sleeve was introduced with Yesterday, and was used on non-Apple releases until 1969.

Originally released in this sleeve: Paperback Writer / Rain (5651); Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby (5715); Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever (5810); All You Need Is Love / Baby You're A Rich Man (5964); Hello, Goodbye / I Am The Walrus (2056); Lady Madonna / The Inner Light (2138)

S7. Capitol Starline
October 1965
These sleeves supplied by Capitol featured a list of other Starline releases in Canada. The design used with the 1965 Beatles Starline releases features the 4 Beatles titles on the sleeve (later sleeves do not). Canadian sleeves have the words PRINTED IN CANADA centred at the bottom. The black print has a slightly purple hue compared to their US counterparts. Only used with Starline releases of October 1965.

Originally released in this sleeve: The four 1965 Starline releases — Twist And Shout / There's A Place; Love Me Do / P.S. I Love You; Please Please Me / From Me To You; Kansas City / Boys (6066)

S8. Capitol White With a Black Frame
1966
Although this design was used extensively in the USA around 1962, this Capitol generic sleeve was used for a very short time in 1966 in Canada. Some copies of Nowhere Man were sold in this sleeve design. Some copies of the previous 2-3 singles were also reported to have been sold in this sleeve, but never officially confirmed.

Originally released in this sleeve: Nowhere Man / What Goes On (5587)

S9. White "The Beatles On Apple"
November 1968 - 1969 (approx)
This unique sleeve was used for all original Beatles Apple releases. It is all white with green text, and is made of a more fragile flat paper. This sleeve is unique to Canada since all American sleeves were black.

Originally released in this sleeve: Hey Jude / Revolution (2276); Get Back / Don't Let Me Down (2490); The Ballad Of John And Yoko / Old Brown Shoe (2531); Something / Come Together (2654) — the last title to use this sleeve

S10. Black "The Beatles On Apple"
November 1968 - 1975 (approx)
These American sleeves were heavily imported to Canada and are made of thick glossy paper. American sleeves can be found with either a straight or round cut tab. These were used on Beatles Apple releases until 1975.

Originally released in this sleeve: Let It Be / You Know My Name (2764); The Long And Winding Road / For You Blue (2832).
Label generation featured (reissues): Label 3 (Apple) — ongoing reissues of earlier Apple titles through 1975

S11. Capitol Yellow and Blue Target 1
April - May 1969
This sleeve was used in early 1969 with the rare mistake target label 45s featuring the dome logo. The sleeves have blue and yellow concentric circles around the centre hole, and have the word CAPITOL on the top left corner of each side. Both sides of the sleeve are identical.

Label generation featured: Label 4 (Target with Oval/Dome Logo) — rare reissues of earlier Capitol catalogue titles

S12. Capitol Yellow and Blue Target 2
June 1969 - 1970
This sleeve was used with the corrected target label 45s featuring the target logo. The sleeves have blue and yellow concentric circles around the centre hole, and have the new (and appropriate) Capitol target logo to the left of the centre hole on each side. Both sides of the sleeve are identical.

Label generation featured: Label 5 (Target with Target Logo) — reissues of earlier Capitol catalogue titles

S13. Capitol Red and Beige Target 1
1972 - July 1978
These sleeves were supplied with orange label pressings. Not many titles were issued on these labels until 1976, so the sleeves would mostly have been seen with 3rd generation pressings when the Beatles Forever sleeves were unavailable. These feature a red target design with the word CAPITOL written in each circle, on a brown paper sleeve. The sleeve has a curved cut tab. These sleeves were still being used with early copies on the "new purple label" in the first half of 1978.

Label generations featured: Label 6 (Orange 1st Generation, 1972-1973); Label 8 (Orange 3rd Generation, 1976+) when Beatles Forever sleeves were unavailable

S14. Capitol Red and Beige Target 2
1974 (approx)
This sleeve is almost identical to the previous design, but is printed on much thicker paper, and has round corners and a straight cut tab. Its construction is quite similar to the thicker and flat paper black Apple sleeves used briefly in 1974. This was most likely used with second generation orange labels.

Label generation featured: Label 7 (Orange 2nd Generation, 1975)

S15. Capitol Purple (paper)
July 1978 - 1980 (approx)
These sleeves were supplied with the early generation of purple label pressings, starting around July 1978. It features a dark purple colour with CAPITOL printed in silver above the centre hole. This sleeve has a curved cut tab. Later sleeves from the fall of 1979 switched to a non-glossy finish.

Label generation featured: Label 10 (Purple 2nd Generation, 1978-1980) — early issues

S16. Capitol Purple (Mylar)
1980-1983 (approx)
These sleeves were supplied with the third generation of purple label pressings. It features a dark purple colour with CAPITOL printed in silver above the centre hole. This sleeve are not paper but mylar.

Label generation featured: Label 11 (Purple 3rd Generation, 1980-1983) — early issues

S17. Capitol Silver With Dome Logo Disposed In a Circle
1980 (approx)
These sleeves were supplied with the early generation of purple label pressings. It features a silver thick paper sleeve with purple Capitol dome logos displayed in a circle around the centre hole. This sleeve has a curved cut tab.

Label generation featured: Label 10 (Purple 2nd Generation, 1978-1980) — later issues

S18. Capitol Light Grey With Dome Logo Disposed In a Circle
1981 - 1983 (approx)
These sleeves were supplied with later purple label pressings. It features a light grey thin paper sleeve with purple Capitol dome logos displayed in a circle around the centre hole. This sleeve has a curved cut tab.

Label generation featured: Label 11 (Purple 3rd Generation, 1980-1983)

S19. Capitol White With Dome Logo Disposed In a Circle
1983 (approx)
These sleeves were supplied with later purple label pressings. It features a white thin paper sleeve with purple Capitol dome logos displayed in a circle around the centre hole. This sleeve has a curved cut tab.

Label generation featured: Label 11 (Purple 3rd Generation, 1980-1983) — late issues; possibly Label 12 (Retro Rainbow 1st Generation, Capitol pressing, 1983)

S20. Capitol Grey Checkered Paper
1983 (approx)
This was used with early retro rainbow label pressings, and features a grey sleeve on which was printed a white grid pattern with the word CAPITOL printed in white over the centre hole. This sleeve has a curved cut tab.

Label generation featured: Label 12 (Retro Rainbow 1st Generation, Capitol pressing, 1983)

S21. Capitol Grey Checkered Mylar
1983 - 1986 (approx)
For the first time, Capitol used a mylar sleeve instead of a paper sleeve. This was used with retro rainbow label pressings, and features a clear sleeve on which was printed a grey and white grid pattern with the word CAPITOL printed larger in red over the centre hole.

Label generations featured: Label 13 (Retro Rainbow 2nd Generation, Columbia pressing, late 1983-1986); Label 15 (Neo Purple, 1986)

S22. Fireworks Mylar
1987-1988 (approx)
Capitol used a black "fireworks" mylar sleeve with a "Magic Behind The Music!" slogan on it. This was used with late retro rainbow label pressings.

Label generations featured: Label 13 (Retro Rainbow Columbia pressing, Circa 1987-1988)

The Archive Numbering System

Entries in this archive are numbered so you can easily refer to them when trying to organize your collection. A typical variation number would be presented in an Alpha Decimal format that sequentially identifies:

• • The FORMAT
• • The TITLE ID
• • The LABEL TYPE ID
• • The VARIATION ID

As an example, the Columbia pressing of the White Album featured on the 2nd generation orange label would be numbered LP.APP101.7.1 : in other words, the LP version of the Apple album number 101 (the White Album's catalogue number), on the 7th label type (The orange 2nd gen. label), and this is the first variation of this category.

Or, the Gold Box Series Reel to Reel release of Sgt Pepper's would be numbered RE.2653.2.1: in other words, the reel version of the title with catalogue number 2653 (Pepper), from the second series of reels (Gold Box), and this is the first variation of this category.

Finally, the last clear shell cassette issue of Abbey Road would be numbered K7.APP383.9.2: in other words, the cassette version of the Apple album numbered 383 title (Abbey Road), from the ninth series of tapes (Color J-card XDR Clear Shell), and this is the second variation of this category.

...and so on.

This allows anyone who has learned the numbering system to identify with precision any variation, just from its ID number. This system does not replicate other numbering systems (e.g. Spizer, or Valiquette), but has been tailored to the structural logic of this archive. For detailed explanations of label variations and their relative numbers, visit the FORMATS page from the main menu.