Twist And Shout

This second pressing is overall identical to variation 2.1.1, but has a corrected front slick: the missing printer's logo (Parr's) was added. Variation 2.1.2 then has 1) no dash in the top catalog number, 2) has curved inner seams and 3) a Parr's logo on the bottom right of the front jacket.

Availability

This second variation was most likely available shortly after (or concurrently with) the initial release in February 1964 (for possibly a few weeks) when the cover added a dash in the catalog number - (see next entry). It is quite possible that the mistake was caught before release and that both variations 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 were available simultaneously. Both of these variations featured a cover with no dash in the catalog number on the top seam.

General Information

It is not known for sure how many copies were made in this configuration (2.1.2), or exactly when they were available, but in all likelihood, these were just as early as 2.1.1. Soon after (before April), a dash was added to the catalog number on the top of the cover.

This pressing was only available in Mono, and remained as such even when Mono was phased out in 1968. In fact, no stereo release of the LP was prepared in Canada until 1976.

Pressing Information

Capitol of Canada subcontracted the RCA pressing plant in Smith Falls (Ontario) to manufacture the records. RCA Toronto cut a set of lacquers from mono master tapes sent from EMI’s UK head office (source: P. Hemmingsen, The Beatles’ Canadian Discography part. 2).

These copies also feature the "no brackets" rainbow label (see perimeter print at the bottom of the label: "Manufactured in Canada by Capitol Records of Canada" with no brackets around the word CANADA). As stated previously, it is not known exactly how many copies were prepared for early runs of pressings, but the original stampers were quickly replaced by a second set of stampers (“-2”). These first “no dash” stampers seem to have been used fairly quickly since it is not rare to find early curved inner seam copies (i.e.pre-April 64) with a "-2", "-3" or even "-4" stampers. This being said, it is the opinion of the authors that variation 2.1.2 was only made as a "no dash" copy (in the etched dead wax) since they were the amongst the earliest copies to be produced.

Cover

The jacket for this pressing used the same curved inner seam type of construction as 2.1.1. These inner seams (the inside fold of the cardboard jacket) have a curved indentation in the centre; Modern Album used this jacket template until April 1964, at which point the inner seams were then straight. This original curved inner seam measured 10 mm high. This indicates that variation 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.3 were all manufactured within 2 months, before April 1964.

Covers up until the mid 70s used a “front slick” construction (a larger back slick, usually printed in black and white, that wrapped around the front of the cardboard cover, onto which a smaller color front slick was glued, creating a white frame effect all around the front image).

Both front and rear slicks were printed by Parr’s Litho in Toronto and sent to Modern Album for assembly. This second variation added the missing printer's logo . Some collectors have claimed that the logo was simply trimmed off during assembly (this does happen often -and has been verified- since there was a lot of variation in the process), but many side-by-side comparisons of copies that were trimmed at the same distance from the edge indicate clearly that an early batch of copies indeed never had a logo printed on the jacket.

The rear of the jacket is otherwise identical to variation 2.1.1.

The top right features the T-6054 catalog number and a full dot denoting the Mono pressing placed just over the 6000 series logo. This second variation still has no dash in the catalog number.

Packaging

This variation from February 1964 was also shipped in loose poly bag wrap, with or without a red and white Capitol / Pathe paper LP inner sleeve (apparently designed by Paul White).

Being probably available concurrently with (or at least within a very short period of time) variation 2.1.1, it is believed that 2.1.2 also featured a bright orange hype sticker, and were sold with a black and white promotional picture.

The black and white promotional picture provided with the album was prepared by Capitol, where the band was identified as "Exclusive Capitol Recording Stars". This particular picture was apparently available in two different sizes. It is not known if both were sent with the album, or if the larger picture was meant for other promotional channels.

Sales

The album is said, from promotional communications, to have sold 350 000 copies in one month (source: P. Hemmingsen, The Beatles’ Canadian Discography part. 2). Then again, more official numbers state 231 523 copies were sold in all of 1964; and closer to 265 000 in total between 1964 and 1967 (source: P. Hemmingsen, The Beatles’ Canadian Discography part. 3)

In this manner, it is not known how many early no dash / curved inner seam copies (2.1.1 and 2.1.2) were made, but the corrected covers were introduced very early, if not simultaneously.

Variation 2.1.2 then, along with variations 2.1.1, 2.1.3 and 2.1.4 most likely constitute the core of these high sales numbers for 1964, making all versions with the hype sticker and the promotional photo much scarcer today, being the very first incarnations of the album.