Meet the Beatles (CD)

Reviews

"The Beatles - Meet The Beatles! (US Capitol CD)" by Lionel D - 2 April 2018

"Meet The Beatles!" (1964) was NOT the first album released by The Beatles as US Vee-Jay had already released "Introducing" (1964). " "Meet The Beatles" was the first of four Capitol hodge-podge compilations issued in the US in the same year to sate the growing American Beatlemania demand for product. "Meet The Beatles!" even duplicated "I Saw Her Standing There" from "Introducing", albeit with a slightly longer intro. Because Capitol used material from different source mastertapes, a number of tracks were not in true Stereo, but were rather presented as re-processed "duophonic" (or fake stereo), resulting in unique mixes not available elsewhere. These mixes were in turn "folded down" (combining two channels into one), producing further unique Mono mixes not available elsewhere. However, this 2014 US CD, also included in the US Capitol "US Albums" boxset [reviewed elsewhere] DOES NOT CONTAIN the original US 1964 mixes, but the 2009 UK remasters, unlike "Meet The Beatles!" on the US Capitol "Capitol Albums Vol 1" (2004) boxset [reviewed elsewhere]. Collectors should also note that this album differs in tracklisting from the identically titled CD on the "The Japan Box" ( 2014) boxset [reviewed elsewhere]. Overall opinion: avoid if you are a serious collector and rather buy the US Capitol "Capitol Albums Vol 1" (2004) boxset [reviewed elsewhere].