A Hard Day's Night
(US Format)

This variation marks the very first official released of the album on Capitol Records. Second generation purple label variations are usually amongst the most common variations. But the case is different for A Hard Day's Night, and it is actually one of the scarcest variations of the album. The 2nd generation purple labels are recognized by the perimeter print that states "Manufactured in Canada by Capitol Records-EMI". Later variations changed this text in 1980 for the "under license" text with a thinner font (see entry LP.6051.11.1).

Availability

This variation is a mystery because it does not fall in its normal space in the logical timeline. It seems it would have been available around the Fall of 1980 (for a very short time, before "fixing the mistake", and using the proper "UNDER LICENSE" labels in late 1980). It is one of the hardest to find variations of Hard Day's Night today.

General Information

The transition from the sunrise to the Capitol purple label is quite puzzling because it does not follow the logical order of label evolution (logically, either LP.11921.10.1 or this variation (LP.6366.UA7.1) should not have been used in the natural sequence of label evolution). At first glance, it would seem that (having the same perimeter prints), the sunrise and purple labels were available at the same time, in both label generations. But it seems unlikely that Capitol would have reissued the album on UA once it had acquired the rights to the album and released it on its own label with a different catalogue number. The back and forth between the two labels therefore seems unlikely. All in all, there is one variation too many to follow the natural sequence of label designs (if either LP.11921.10.1 or LP.6366.UA7.1 had not been used, the logical sequence would be clear).

The authors see two possible explanations: either 1) the two labels were curiously available simultaneously during a transition period from UA to Capitol (which seems unlikely), which would mean the sunrise and purple labels "alternated" twice between 1978 and 1980, or...

2) a more logical (non-alternating) timeline would mean that earlier 2nd generation purple labels were mistakenly used when the labels had already been updated to the "Under License" perimeter print. This would also mean that the first official Capitol reissue happened slightly later than the previously estimated 1978-1980 period (i.e., in the Fall of 1980, after the "Under License" perimeter text had been introduced in mid to late 1980).

This remains to be officially confirmed, more information on this transition would be appreciated, but the authors tend to lean towards option 2. The oddball pressing would be this first purple incarnation (LP.11921.10.1), explaining the very few copies that surface today, compared to the other variations.

The "UNDER LICENSE" perimeter text change happened before Capitol issued this album under its own banner, so this variation with the earlier perimeter print probably mistakenly happened after the "UNDER LICENSE" was introduced (it is possible that Capitol used leftover older labels from a few months prior, by mistake).

The theory is further supported by the fact that some collectors have reported seeing A Hard Day's Night still available on the second sunrise label in 1980 while the rest of the Beatles' catalogue was being pressed and sold on Capitol's purple label (3rd generation). One could also add the fact that the matrix numbers are completely different on purple label pressings, and the I Cry Instead mistake was corrected only on the Capitol reissues (e.g., when Capitol gained the rights to UA).

It therefore seems unlikely that leftover sunrise labels would have been reused on these new Capitol pressings; if it was the case, these sunrise pressings would carry the new matrix numbers, the new 11921 number and the corrected I'll Cry Instead title--they do not.

Pressing Information

This pressing was manufactured at Capitol's pressing plant in Mississauga, Ontario. These pressings can be identified by the medium size (39 mm) pressing ring, characteristic of Capitol pressings.

Side A: SW-1-11921 F4. TLC-A
Side B: SW-2-11921 F4. TLC-A

The TLC-A marking indicates the lacquer was cut at "The Lacquer Channel" in Toronto, from an Apollo blank lacquer disc.

Even though the rights had changed hands and Capitol prepared a brand new master, the original "fake stereo" mixes were still used on these new releases. Only the George Martin instrumentals were in true stereo.

Cover

This new Capitol reissue commanded a slightly updated cover. While the artwork itself remained identical, the Capitol dome logo was added to the top left of the front cover, while the back cover legal information was updated to Capitol / EMI information. This Ever Reddy cover also used a similar posterboard construction.

Packaging

This edition was shipped in tight shrink wrap, with or without a plain paper LP inner sleeve. These Capitol sleeves have a large flap on the bottom and side.

Note** These inner sleeves were being used as they refilled stocks, so it is possible that leftover earlier sleeves were used as well.