Label Guide: Apple
Apple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968, as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston. In practice, by the mid-1970s, the roster had become dominated with releases by the former Beatles as solo artists.
EMI and Capitol Records agreed to distribute Apple Records until 1975, while EMI retained ownership of the Beatles' recordings. Beatles recordings issued in the United Kingdom on the Apple label carried Parlophone R-prefixed catalogue numbers, while U.S. issues carried Capitol catalogue numbers.
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1. Label Variation (Side One)
first Apple Label (1968 - July 1969)
The first Apple label shows a dark green apple on Side One, and a sliced apple on Side Two. The text 'Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions. see price lists' indicates a pressing earlier than July 1969. For all EMI-distributed labels in the UK, this text must be present on the label for all original pressings, released between February 1964 and July 1969.
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1. Label Variation (Side Two)
first Apple Label (1968 - July 1969)
There are several minor variations of the classic 'dark green apple' labels over the years, some of those indicating a more exact date of pressing. For further reference please consult one of the many Beatles Collectors Guides out there.
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2. Label Variation (Side One)
second Apple Label (July 1969 - )
Identical to the first label variation, but the text 'Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions. see price lists' was removed in mid-1969.
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2. Label Variation (Side Two)
second Apple Label (July 1969 - )
Identical to the first label variation, but the text 'Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions. see price lists' was removed in mid-1969.
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3. Label Variation (Side One)
black and white Apple Label (December 1970)
This is a special black and white label - shown here is the German version - that was used for the Plastic Ono Band album (PCS 7124) in the U.K. and Europe. Both sides show a sliced apple.
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3. Label Variation (Side Two)
black and white Apple Label (December 1970)
This is a special black and white label - shown here is the German version - that was used for the Plastic Ono Band album (PCS 7124) in the U.K. and Europe. Both sides show a sliced apple.
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4. Label Variation (Side One)
first Zapple Label (May 1969 - July 1969)
Zapple was intended to be a budget subsidiary label for Apple Records, but only two albums were released in 1969 before Zapple was shut down again.
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4. Label Variation (Side Two)
first Zapple Label (May 1969 - July 1969)
This first version of the label includes the text 'Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions. see price lists', which indicates a pressing earlier than July 1969.
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5. Label Variation (Side One)
second Zapple Label (July 1969 - late 1969)
The Zapple label also exists without the 'Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions. see price lists' statement, pointing to a pressing in the second half of 1969.
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5. Label Variation (Side Two)
second Zapple Label (July 1969 - late 1969)
The Zapple label also exists without the 'Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions. see price lists' statement, pointing to a pressing in the second half of 1969.
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1. U.S. Label Variation (Side One)
first U.S. Apple Label (1960s)
This is the standard American Apple label for all early releases that were manufactured and distributed by Capitol Records.
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1. U.S. Label Variation (Side Two)
first U.S. Apple Label (1960s)
This is the standard American Apple label for all early releases that were manufactured and distributed by Capitol Records.
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2. U.S. Label Variation (Side One)
red U.S. Apple Label (1970)
A special red apple label was used for the U.S. release of Let It Be (AR 34001) only.
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2. U.S. Label Variation (Side Two)
red U.S. Apple Label (1970)
This album was distributed by United Artists Records instead of Capitol, and the label change is meant to illustrate this difference.
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3. U.S. Label Variation (Side One)
second U.S. Apple Label (1970s)
A later version of the U.S. Apple label shows the apple from a slightly different angle, and the label colours have been altered as well.
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3. U.S. Label Variation (Side Two)
second U.S. Apple Label (1970s)
A later version of the U.S. Apple label shows the apple from a slightly different angle, and the label colours have been altered as well.
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Custom Label
custom Apple Label, John Lennon (1971)
A custom label design for the Imagine album, UK 1971.
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Custom Label
custom Apple Label, George Harrison (1970)
A custom label design for the George Harrison's All Things Must Pass album, UK 1970.
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Custom Label
custom Apple Label, George Harrison (1970)
A custom label design for the George Harrison's All Things Must Pass album, UK 1970.
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Custom Label
custom Apple Label, George Harrison (1973)
A custom label design for the George Harrison's Living In The Material World album, USA 1973.
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Custom Label
custom Apple Label, George Harrison (1973)
A custom label design for the George Harrison's Living In The Material World album, USA 1973.