A Hard Day's Night
(US Format)

LP.6366.UA4.1 features the updated label perimeter text that ends with "UNDER AUTHORIZATION", but is mostly interesting because of its unusual RCA deep groove pressing ring (pressings had moved to Dynaflex by then).

Availability

This RCA pressing was most likely available for a short period of time around early 1973 when the label design had just changed to this new variant. All later variants are regular Dynaflex pressings (see LP.6366.UA4.2). It is not known how many copies were pressed, but they are quite scarce today, indicating they might have been a short-lived, one-off pressing to fulfill an order while the regular Dynaflex press was temporarily unavailable. More information on these pressings would be appreciated.

General Information

The tan label variations were found in many forms between 1971 and 1978, all having subtle but distinctive differences. They can be considered similar to the orange Capitol labels in both era and type of evolution. The perimeter text is what defines most variation differences. Seven variations have been documented on the tan label; early variations with the "ONLY" perimeter text show different matrix etchings than earlier pressings, indicating that pressing operations probably moved to RCA at this time, coinciding with the introduction of their new Dynaflex technology. The label then shortly changed to a "REG'D" perimeter print in 1972 before quickly changing again to the "AUTHORIZATION" version that lasted until 1978. Finally, the tan label was last seen on Capitol pressing made at their new Mississauga plant, after which labels design changed to its final incarnation on a UA label: the sunrise label.

Pressing Information

United Artists seemingly stayed with their new provider for their pressing operations (RCA). This variation has the small matrix etchings on both sides. The previous "REG'D" variant also has identical etchings, indicating that these 3 different pressings (LP.6366.UA3.1, this variant LP.6366.UA4.1 and the next LP.6366.UA4.2) were made at the same pressing plant; the large traditional RCA deep groove pointing towards RCA and not Compo anymore. It is the author's opinion that the move towards RCA Dynaflex happenned in 1971 when the label changed to the tan label (LP.6366.UA2.1 and LP.6366.UA2.2) because the smaller matrix number were introduced at that time on the B side.

LP.6366.UA4.1 has the same small matrix etchings as its previous incarnation on the "REG'D" label variation:

Side 1: UAS-6366-A R2 (small)
Side 2: UAS-6366-B- R2 (small)

Cover

The jacket of this variation was still built with the traditional back slick construction, but the manufacturing information on the back was changed to a "non-Willowdale" text.

This new cover also has a new added printer's logo on the spine (Ever Reddy)

There were five different jacket construction types (differentiated by the shape of the cardboard inner seam - where the parts of the cardboard frame are joined inside the jacket). This first tan label variation (LP.3366.UA3.1) is found with the older version 2, with the angled and curved inner seam.

Version 1 – Straight-cut with rounded outer edges

Version 2 – Angled and curved inner seams

Version 3 – Narrow straight-cut inner seams

Version 4 – Seamless construction

Version 5 – Wide straight-cut inner seams

Packaging

These tan label pressings were wrapped in a tight shrink wrap, and the discs were housed in a rounded paper inner sleeve.