Beatles ’65 In-Store Display – Capitol Records Promo December 1964

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• published: 26 Jan 2016
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http://www.postercentral.com An original, vintage 1964 Capitol Records promotional piece for the Beatles’ newest album at the time, “Beatles ’65.” This POP merchandising item was made of cardboard and measures approximately 21.5” square. It’s easy to date this “Beatles ’65” promotional display because the album was released by Capitol on December 15, 1964… and record labels almost always had their advertising pieces all lined up and ready to send out upon a record’s release. There was also a small paper poster made to advertise this album, along with 1964’s “The Beatles Story,” which I’ve already video-blogged and posted years ago. Luckily, Capitol decided to go to the expense and make their “Beatles ’65” merchandising display in full color, not skimping in that area. Can you imagine this LP cover in B&W;… without the colors of the four seasons as depicted, including four different colored umbrellas… how unacceptable that would have been! They must have known it. Notice how the stereo cover is used for this “Beatles ’65” retail display. Mono was still very much outselling stereo in late 1964, but for some reason, Capitol’s sales department decided to use the stereo image. And of course, we should be somewhat glad they did, because the Fab Four’s music would live on forevermore in stereo, and the monaural format would die out within five years. The four photos found on this “Beatles ’65” counter display were taken by famed photographer Robert Whitaker, who had a real eye for the pop scene back in its early days. Whitaker, of course, would gain fame and notoriety two years later when he shot the Fabs’ famous “butcher cover” photo for their “Yesterday and Today” LP… withdrawn just before commercial release. It’s interesting to note that Capitol decided to not add any extra wording to their “Beatles ’65” 3-D display. It could have said all kinds of things such as “New Album Out Now!” or “Buy It Here!” Things like that. But instead they chose to just show the album cover. Heavens, it says enough already… the LP cover named all the songs, and the individual Beatles by first name as well. This “Beatles ’65” display is happily shown to you today by a first-generation fan who bought the LP upon its release at Christmastime 1964: me! I’m Pete Howard, lifelong music historian. I can be communicated with via pete@postercentral.com or by calling (805) 540-0020. And to see pictures of more vintage Beatles promo posters and displays from the 1960s, including my long “Goldmine” magazine article on them from the 1990s, just head over to this page of my hobby web site: http://www.postercentral.com/goldmine-promoposters.htm