Beatles Best Album Poll - 1 of 2

[Beach]

Why was this done? Was it because they weren't conceived as albums but rather each song as a single? Then it up to the record label to group them into compilations. Or did the Beatles simply not have much artistic control until later in their career? Are the Beatles partially responsible for the long-player album?

You'll notice that the very first U.S. Beatles album, Introducing... The BEATLES, England's No.1 Vocal Group was released on the Vee Jay label and that all later releases were on Capitol, Jon.
The situation was that they were trying to break into a market that, up until that time, had been pretty much inviable for British bands and Capitol Records, when they took over, were very much an entity unto themselves in the States. I don't think they were even part of EMI over there. They decided that they would release things their way and, as a consequence, even albums such as Rubber Soul were not released with the tracks as The Beatles had recorded them.
Record companies decided that the American market was different and that they would release as they saw fit in accordance with that belief.
I have a strange feeling that even Revolver may have been different in the States to elsewhere as well.
It is well to remember that in the U.K. and Australia (at least) Magical Mystery Tour was originally released as an EP (Extended Play) album - a Stereophonic (for the first time ever) two record set. In the U.S. it was released as on a 12" vinyl with a stack of other songs on the second side that had nothing whatsoever to do with Magical Mystery Tour.

*Reading through this article at Wikipedia and following the links for the albums will explain what happened between U.K./Australian and U.S. releases better than what I have said above, Jon - The Beatles Discography

[JonG]

Thanks Beach that was helpful. It appears it mostly comes down to Capitol trying to decide what is best for the American audience.

But going back to what I said, the Beatles albums don't really feel like albums to me until Rubber Soul. Does that make sense?

[Beach]

Thanks Beach that was helpful. It appears it mostly comes down to Capitol trying to decide what is best for the American audience.

But going back to what I said, the Beatles albums don't really feel like albums to me until Rubber Soul. Does that make sense?

Yes mate, it does!
I guess that Rubber Soul is the first album where everything feels like it belongs and it's not just a collection of Lennon/McCartney tunes that they've written and released on vinyl to keep the flow going. Rubber Soul was the very first LP, as such, that I ever owned as well. My cousin bought it for me as a birthday present for what was my, I think, 14th birthday and it has always been my favourite. far outshining anything that came before or since.
It seems I was correct about Sgt. Pepper being the first album to correspond Worlwide as well.
I have to disagree with those who believe that Abbey Road is a great album though. Frankly, I thought it was a bit of rubbish from day one and have never liked it. Individual tracks, yes but the album as a whole was crap in my opinion!

[Tiggi]

"Crap" is a bit strong, Rodders, but I know what you mean :biggrin1:.

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