U.S. Capitol Record Club LPs

[LeeDempsey]

Fellow Collectors,

Those of us that are disciples of Brad Elliot's book know that in 1968, the Capitol Record Club outsourced the pressing of some its LPs to the Longines Symphonette Society.  As a result, from 1968 to around 1970, the Capitol Record Club versions of Beach Boys LPs had slighty different catalogue number, label, and cover variations.  The most widely known examples are:

Capitol ST 8-2891 Smiley Smile (rare because of the use of the Capitol Rainbow label instead of the Brother Records label)
Capitol SKAO 8-0133 20/20 (Capitol Rainbow label; no gatefold cover; eyechart on the back cover)
Capitol SKAO 8-2893 Stack-O-Tracks (Capitol Rainbow label; different photos in the gatefold)
Capitol DT 80442 Good Vibrations (green "C" label; white border around the cover)
Capitol SKAO 93352 Sunflower (on the Yellow Brother/Reprise label, but with a Capitol catalogue number on the cover and label)

With the exception of Sunflower, the covers of the Capitol Record Club pressings have a unique marking -- three chevrons (>>>) on the top spine.  And all have the 8- prefix on the label.

The albums listed above are the most widely-known, but I can verify a few more from my collection:
Capitol DT 8-2458 Pet Sounds
Capitol ST 8-2859 Wild Honey
Capitol SKAO 8-0133 20/20 (green "C" label)

I bought the Capitol Record Club Pet Sounds in a store in new Orleans, and I have never seen another one for sale -- even now in the age of eBay.  It would seem logical that at least a Capitol Record Club version of Friends exists, but does anybody have any pre-Pet Sounds Capitol Record Club LPs with the 8-prefix on the cover and label -- maybe Party, or Summer Days, or Today?  I'm pretty sure that Capitol Records Club 8-prefix versions of all of the Beatles LPs exist, back to Meet the Beatles.  Can anyone here add anything to the list?

Lee

[Dogbone51]

The only thing I think I remember....


Wasn't 1971's SURF UP album, printed on the record club as well....and some of those were on the ASYLUM Label?   This might not be from the "record club"..as it may be too late...(ie the club had already closed).   I admit, I may have it wrong.

As for the early ones...I vaguely remember someone saying there was a BEACH BOYS TODAY version with an "8" in the serial number, but I've never seen it.   And I do think there might be a BEST OF Vol 1, or Vol 3 with the "8" in the serial.   Again, I've never seen it.

Dogbone

[MBE]

I've been wanting to at least see the alternate Stack O Tracks photos for years.

[LeeDempsey]

Thanks Dogbone and MBE.  I was beginning to think all of the collectors had abandoned the list!

Doggy, the Asylum Surf's Up was an RCA Record Club misprint.  That club carried on into the '80s, I believe.  I had an ESQ subscriber tell me that he found a box of them in a trash bin at the Record Club's distribution center, or somewhere like that.  And like you, I either heard about the Capitol Record Club Today, or saw a copy on eBay.

MBE, I have the Record Club Stack-O-Tracks.  Walked into a record store in Greensboro, NC, and they had a NM copy, with booklet.  And they had priced it as if it were a normal copy of Stack-O-Tracks -- which wasn't cheap (as it hadn't yet been re-released on CD), but was definitely cheaper than the book value of the Record Club version.  I'll post a scan of the interior pictures, and I'll also post some labels of the different Record Club LPs, over the weekend.

Hey Rich, come out of hiding -- what do you have?  I know you got a still-sealed Capitol Record Club Good Vibrations from me in trade, and you got that Capitol Record Club Sunflower that I passed over at that store in Mississippi.  I was able to replace both of those -- even the still-sealed Good Vibrations in the same condition!

Lee

[LeeDempsey]

Speaking of Record Club issues, the Capitol Record Club Sunflower just popped up on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310174243074&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

$34.99 is a good price for it.

[LeeDempsey]

Okay, a Capitol Record Club Edition of Little Deuce Coupe is confirmed:

BEACH BOYS 1960s USA RECORD CLUB LP Beatles Surf MT 8/9 
 
End price: USD 194
End date: 2004-05-11
Number of  bids: 21
Auctioned at: ebay
Country: USA
 
Greetings!

This is an unusual release of "Little Deuce Coupe" in stereo by THE BEACH BOYS. It is on the Capitol Records black & Rainbow Label released in the 1960's sometime but I don't know what year exactly. It is a CAPITOL RECORD CLUB ISSUE! The catalog number on both the record jacket (cover) and the record labels is ST 8-1998. The record jacket also has the three parallel black lines on the top left side all ofwhich indicates that this is definitely a record club issue. On the bottom perimeter of the record labels it states "Manufactured Under License From Capitol Records Inc." (This is how The Beatles Record clubalbums were released so Beatles Capitol Record Club collectors may enjoy this album). It is not listed in any price guide.

This album was manufactured and printed in Hollywood, California USA. This is what it states on both the record cover AND the record labels. It is NOT a foreign pressing.

The stiff and rigid record as graded under a bright light is graded at MINT 8/9 with shiny, glistening scratch and scuff free playing vinyl.(Actually, there is a small, tiny scuff on the dead wax next to the record label on one side but that is it.

The record jacket is graded at MINT 8 with beautiful seams and spine, front and back. There is a slight corner ding on the top right corner and mild aging on the back just at the entrance (mouth) of the jacket. There is shrink wrap on the jacket.
 
 

[MBE]

Thanks Dogbone and MBE.  I was beginning to think all of the collectors had abandoned the list!

Doggy, the Asylum Surf's Up was an RCA Record Club misprint.  That club carried on into the '80s, I believe.  I had an ESQ subscriber tell me that he found a box of them in a trash bin at the Record Club's distribution center, or somewhere like that.  And like you, I either heard about the Capitol Record Club Today, or saw a copy on eBay.

MBE, I have the Record Club Stack-O-Tracks.  Walked into a record store in Greensboro, NC, and they had a NM copy, with booklet.  And they had priced it as if it were a normal copy of Stack-O-Tracks -- which wasn't cheap (as it hadn't yet been re-released on CD), but was definitely cheaper than the book value of the Record Club version.  I'll post a scan of the interior pictures, and I'll also post some labels of the different Record Club LPs, over the weekend.

Hey Rich, come out of hiding -- what do you have?  I know you got a still-sealed Capitol Record Club Good Vibrations from me in trade, and you got that Capitol Record Club Sunflower that I passed over at that store in Mississippi.  I was able to replace both of those -- even the still-sealed Good Vibrations in the same condition!

Lee

Thanks Lee that will be really helpful. I think I saw one for sale once by mail order but I had just spent a lot for the original. I have a 1994 vinyl one that gets rid of the fake stereo. I think this one will become the rarest over time. Those 1994 reissues are very hard to get now. The Pet Sounds one is the only place on vinyl that has all three bonus cuts.

[LeeDempsey]

I have posted photos of my Capitol Record Club LPs:

Pet Sounds (label):  http://www.flickr.com/photos/44160692@N04/4056895361/
Pet Sounds (front cover):  http://www.flickr.com/photos/44160692@N04/4056898009/
Pet Sounds (back cover):  http://www.flickr.com/photos/44160692@N04/4057638538/
Wild Honey:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/44160692@N04/4056903573/
20/20 (rainbow label):  http://www.flickr.com/photos/44160692@N04/4056900437/
20/20 (green label):  http://www.flickr.com/photos/44160692@N04/4057639296/
Stack-O-Tracks (label):  http://www.flickr.com/photos/44160692@N04/4056901525/
Stack-O-Tracks (inner gatefold):  http://www.flickr.com/photos/44160692@N04/4056902491/
Good Vibrations:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/44160692@N04/4056904699/
Sunflower:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/44160692@N04/4056905529/

Enjoy!

Lee

[Dogbone51]

Hey Lee--

Very cool to see all of these labels.  I'm also wondering why on some the 8 is hyphenated, and on others, it's all one number....

Also..on the GOOD VIBRATIONS ST 442...I've seen a variation on a RED Label, which was shortlived back in 1970...I think I have a copy.  I was wondering if this was a Record Club Issue or just a label variation.  I believe it's the latter myself, and if I can dig out my copy..I'll post it at some point.   I may not have it anymore...

Thanks for sharing.

Dogbone  

[LeeDempsey]

D'oh!  I forgot the most famous one of all:

Smiley Smile - Capitol rainbow label:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/44160692@N04/4061214572/

But wait -- there's more!  As I was pulling that one out of the racks, I found this one right next to it:

Smiley Smile - Capitol GREEN "C" label:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/44160692@N04/4061215540/

I forgot I had that one -- totally undocumented, as far as I know.  This one is stone mint, and the cover is still in the shrink wrap.  Here's a scan of the top right corner of the front cover, showing the ST-8 number and Capitol Logo (pardon the glare):  http://www.flickr.com/photos/44160692@N04/4061263532/

Dogbone I hadn't heard of the red "C" Good Vibrations; I'll have to start looking for that one.  

Lee

[MBE]

Thank you very much Lee. That picture of Bruce in the Stack O Tracks looks a lot older then the one in the regular version. I heard the back of 20/20 in the record club version had Brian and the titles. I may have seen that one printed  somewhere.

[LeeDempsey]

Yeah, the Carl and Bruce pictures are different.  Not sure why they changed just those 2.  Those Record Club editions came later than the original pressings, so perhaps Carl and Bruce were unhappy with their original photos and made them change them.

The back cover of the Record Club 20/20 has just the eye chart with the titles, without Brian peering over the top of it.

Over the weekend I spoke to a record dealer who specializes in the Capitol Record Club Beatles pressings.  He says that there are Capitol Record Club versions of Best of, Vol. 1 and Best of, Vol. 2. with the DT-8 numbers, but he couldn't add any more titles to the list.  He said that the Longines factory used flimsier stock on the covers, plus if you've ever belonged to one of the clubs you'll know that the mailers that they use are pretty cheap.  Both factors add up to it being very hard to find Record Club copies in near mint condition.

Lee

[LeeDempsey]

An addition to the Capitol Record Club collection -- Best of the Beach Boys

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44160692@N04/4099242737/

Lee

[Arapaho]

 Back for a visit, then off on vacation again:

 I have these additions to your list with pictures of the labels.
The covers are all identical to regular issue LPs, with these exceptions:
1; The catalog number on all of the Capitol releases( the additional "8" );
2;  The 3 diagonal slashes at the left top of the cover for the original Capitol LPs. The later Capitol reissues which were released by the club don't have the 3 slashes.
3;  The Brother/ Reprise issues have  the additional club number on the spine of the cover, but no other designation

Little Deuce Coupe   ST-8-1998  ( addition, in that I have a picture)        http://www.flickr.com/photos/45245577@N03/4156569856
The Beach Boys Today   DT-8-2269       http://www.flickr.com/photos/45245577@N03/4156569742
Summer Days ( and Summer Nights)     ST-8-2354      http://www.flickr.com/photos/45245577@N03/4156569674
Friends     ST-82895         http://www.flickr.com/photos/45245577@N03/4155807533
All Summer Long ( reissue)     SF-8-0501     http://www.flickr.com/photos/45245577@N03/4155807287
California Girls  ( reissue)    DF-8- 0502        http://www.flickr.com/photos/45245577@N03/4156569436
Dance, Dance, Dance  (reissue)    DF-8-0703      http://www.flickr.com/photos/45245577@N03/4156569514
Pet Sounds/Carl and The Passions- So Tough  KBO-94427 Record 1 Side 1 & 2/ SKBO-94427  Record 2 Side 1 & 2
     Pet Sounds:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/45245577@N03/4155807237    
     CATP:    http://www.flickr.com/photos/45245577@N03/4156694470    

The D,D,D reissue has a strange number on the spine: SWBB 80703
PS/CATP simply has 94427 on the spine with no prefix

[LeeDempsey]

Very cool Arapaho!  Definitely some more to put on my want list.  And if you have doubles of any of these, you know where to find me!

Lee

[bgas]

 Ahh, Something I can add to the list.  
Noticed a hole in the list from Arapaho, and found a copy of Fun Fun Fun ( the reissue) on Ebay.
I hope the picture works here, as I have trouble figuring out how to do these uploading things.  
Anyway, it's SF-8-0702. ( i just bought it, and don't actually have it in hand)  



Evidently, from the preview, not the greatest image; but if you strain your eyes, I think you can make out the numbers on the label.  
 I thought I was getting a Mint copy of the Summer Days Club LP from a craigslist seller here. We had a deal at 50% of the Goldmine price; When I got to her house to pick it up, she told me "some lady from North Carolina" had offered her $50. It was no use emphasizing that we had a deal. " This is my christmas $$"
maybe I'll get "the next one"...

[LeeDempsey]

Well Chris, "Lee" can be a male or female name...   

[bgas]

Well Chris, "Lee" can be a male or female name...   

WHAT exactly are you saying? 
The seller said , and I quote: "some lady from North carolina".
She didn't say "LEE".
Truth be told, I asked her "was it someone named Dempsey, because I know a couple people in NC"
She said she didn't know.
I guess  maybe it was an email offer. She didn't tell me, and I didn't demand to know. I Was PISSED.

So, are you saying you bought it?   
If not:
Maybe your wife is getting it for you for Xmas, and you don't know about it?  ( Act  SURPRISED,  if this is the case)
It was a lousy moment in time for me, I'll tell ya that.
But like I said, maybe I'll get the next one. 
HEY, I got that FFF on EBAY! 

[Dogbone51]

Gee..fricken collectors!!   

I've never collected a dam thing in my life....except for maybe a "flea" or two.

Well..one must have pets.

Dogbone

[bgas]

Hey Lee--

Very cool to see all of these labels.  I'm also wondering why on some the 8 is hyphenated, and on others, it's all one number....

Also..on the GOOD VIBRATIONS ST 442...I've seen a variation on a RED Label, which was shortlived back in 1970...I think I have a copy.  I was wondering if this was a Record Club Issue or just a label variation.  I believe it's the latter myself, and if I can dig out my copy..I'll post it at some point.   I may not have it anymore...

Thanks for sharing.

Dogbone  

Just remembered seeing this post; Checked my shelves, and found the Red label version. Definitely a hard to find label, but NOT a club version.

 

[Dogbone51]

Aww..that RED One..that's Very Cool.  Haven't been able to find my copy. 

But still to see it again..in all of it's glory!!

Capitol Records only printed this label variaton for a month or two..I believe.  There are a few Beatles' releases on it as well...I think REVOLVER and RUBBER SOUL exist on it...but they're quite quite rare.

Thanks Bgas for posting it.

I'm also surprised to see that it's NOT a Record Club issue.  Thought it was.

Dogbone

[LeeDempsey]

Well, I did get the Summer Days Record Club edition for Christmas.  VG++, still in the shrink wrap.  It still amazes me how flimsy the back spine of these record club editions are -- the back spine is split about an inch and a half, even though the shrink wrap is intact.

Of course I wouldn't put it past the Capitol Record Club to have re-wrapped their returns and sent them back out to unsuspecting customers...

Now to find Little Deuce Coupe, Today, Friends, and Pet Sounds/Carl & the Passions...

Lee

[bgas]

Well, I did get the Summer Days Record Club edition for Christmas.  VG++, still in the shrink wrap.  It still amazes me how flimsy the back spine of these record club editions are -- the back spine is split about an inch and a half, even though the shrink wrap is intact.

Of course I wouldn't put it past the Capitol Record Club to have re-wrapped their returns and sent them back out to unsuspecting customers...

Now to find Little Deuce Coupe, Today, Friends, and Pet Sounds/Carl & the Passions...

Lee

HA! That's a good one then.
You list the others that have been shown, and yours, but I bet there are Club copies for every release by them; we just haven't found people yet that bought them. 

I do wonder, tho, if there's a Surf's Up or Holland on the Capitol Club. If the Pet Sounds/CATP is any indication, it will only show on the spine and the labels. So unless we check every copy we ever see, they could be easily passed up

[LeeDempsey]

I do wonder, tho, if there's a Surf's Up or Holland on the Capitol Club. If the Pet Sounds/CATP is any indication, it will only show on the spine and the labels. So unless we check every copy we ever see, they could be easily passed up

Chris, you don't already check every copy you ever see?   

[bgas]

I do wonder, tho, if there's a Surf's Up or Holland on the Capitol Club. If the Pet Sounds/CATP is any indication, it will only show on the spine and the labels. So unless we check every copy we ever see, they could be easily passed up

Chris, you don't already check every copy you ever see?   

I even check the ones I meet in my dreams. But do you? do all the collector types?  I'm thinking it's more of: "there's another beat-up copy of Surf's Up, I'm not looking at that"