Twist And Shout

Variation 2.6.2 is the eighth pressing and was released only in MONO. This pressing is recognized by its new type of RCA pressing with a small 24 mm pressing ring similar to Compo pressing rings (that are 25 mm). Dynaflex technology used a more flexible vinyl compound that was said to be "more forgiving", and where records could be pressed thinner.

This technology would apparently allow the grooves to "preserve their shape" more easily after repeated use (this claim has not been verified and the technology was "hit and miss", with fantastic pressings on some occasions, while others were wobbly and would curve easily when the shrink wrap was too tight and the record kept in conditions where the temperature was too high).

Availability

This variation was available primarily in or around 1973 (for approximately 1 year) before the label design featured a black perimeter text - (see next entry).

General Information

This first North American Beatles album was in fact the band’s second album, and was identical to its UK counterpart (except for additional news quotes on the front cover) released 3 days prior. The Canadian album was also made from master tapes sent from the UK head office, so it features the exact same audio as the UK mono pressing of With The Beatles (source: P. Hemmingsen, The Beatles’ Canadian Discography part. 2)

This pressing was only available in Mono. Actually, no stereo release of the LP was prepared in Canada until 1975. Many young Beatles fans would have received this LP for Christmas in 1963, during the onset of Beatlemania in Canada. This along with a few singles launched Beatlemania in Canada months before the USA.

Cover

The jacket for this very first pressing is unique, in the sense that it is the only variation that used this type of construction for its cardboard frame. Up until early April 1964, the inner seams (inside fold of the cardboard jacket) have a curved indentation in the centre. Modern Album used this jacket template until April 1964, from which point the inner seams were then straight. This original curved inner seam measured 10 mm high.

Covers up to 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 (see the printer’s logo on the bottom right of the cover) and sent to Modern Album for assembly.

The front cover added news quotes to the original UK cover design, but the back cover remained identical, except for added Canadian legal and manufacturing information.

This is the VERY FIRST official Beatles album released in North America!

The rear of the jacket was identical, complete with sleeve notes by Tony Barrow.

Original covers featured the words PRINTED IN CANADA inside a box at the bottom of the back cover, along side the Monophonic playing instructions.

First pressings are distinguishable by the cover frame construction that featured 10 mm wide CURVED inner seams.

The top right features the T-6051 catalog number and a full dot denoting the Mono pressing placed just over the 6000 series logo.

As stated earlier, the original release of this album used the "front slick" assembly method, meaning that the black and white back slick is larger and wraps around the front, over which the smaller color front slick is pasted, making a noticeable white frame around the front cover. The proper "high quality" construction would have been the Back Slick construction to have the front slick wrap around the back, ensureing the front image would cover the whole surface of the jacket.

Using the front slick approach was a way for Capitol to save money since producing smaller color front slicks cost less than producing the larger slicks that would wrap around the back.

Slicks were printed by Parr's Litho in Toronto and assembled onto the cardboard frame by Modern albums. The distinctive Canadian Parr's logo appears at the bottom right corner of the front cover.

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 lacquers were then used to create many different generations of stampers in the years to come (until 1975), with matrix numbers up to “dash 6” (XEX 447-6). This first pressing has “no dash” matrix numbers (XEX-447 and XEX-448).

These copies 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). It is not known exactly how many copies were prepared for this first run, but the original stampers being still good after this limited first run were recommissioned in early 1964 when Beatlemania officially skyrocketed, until a second set of stampers (“-X”) were needed. These first “no dash” stampers seem to have been used until later in 1964, where “-2, -3, -4, -5 and -6” stampers were then used instead.

RCA's new DYNAFLEX technology

RCA's "Dynaflex" technology, introduced in the 1970s, was an innovative approach to manufacturing vinyl records. Dynaflex records were significantly thinner and more flexible than standard vinyl records of the time. RCA developed this technology in response to several issues with traditional records, including warping, breakage, and the cost of materials. Specifically:

Material and Thickness: Dynaflex records were made from a specially formulated vinyl that allowed them to be pressed thinner than conventional records. While standard vinyl records were around 120-150 grams, Dynaflex records typically weighed between 90-110 grams.

Flexibility: One of the most notable features of Dynaflex records was their flexibility. They could be bent and flexed without breaking, which made them more durable and less prone to warping.

Cost Efficiency: The thinner vinyl used in Dynaflex records reduced production costs. This was advantageous for RCA, allowing them to save on materials and shipping due to the reduced weight.

Sound Quality: While Dynaflex records were praised for their durability, there was some controversy regarding their sound quality. Audiophiles and critics often debated whether the thinner vinyl affected the audio fidelity. Some felt that Dynaflex records had less dynamic range and were more prone to surface noise.

The reception to Dynaflex was mixed. While some consumers appreciated the durability and lower cost, others preferred the traditional, heavier vinyl records for their perceived superior sound quality and tactile feel. Despite the mixed reviews, Dynaflex represented an interesting chapter in the history of vinyl record production, highlighting the industry's efforts to innovate and adapt to changing market conditions and technological advancements.

ALSO OF NOTE
The Dynaflex pressings with the smaller pressing ring were officially introduced in the Beatles catalog around 1972-1973, but some earlier pressings with the traditionnal large RCA groove were found in the previous few years with a softer compound (e.g. Late rainbows, target labels and early orange label pressings). It is believed that RCA was experimenting with different vinyl compositions before officially introducing their new approach.

Packaging

Early editions from late 1963 were shipped in loose poly bag wrap, with or without a red and white Capitol / Pathe paper LP inner sleeve (apparently designed by Paul White).

Sales

Sales records show that 182 396 copies of Beatlemania! With The Beatles sold in Canada in 1963-1964 (source: P. Hemmingsen, The Beatles’ Canadian Discography part. 3). These numbers including both 1963 and 1964 sales would indicate that most of these 182 000 copies were in fact sold in 1964 after Beatlemania really took off, around the time they played the Ed Sullivan Show in February.

In this manner, it could be assumed that these very first pressings (1.1.1) with the cruved inner seams were made in much smaller quantitites than 1.1.2, and that most of them were most likely sold BEFORE the Beatleamnia phenomenon took off. Remaining unsold copies of 1.1.1 would have found a home sometimes in the early part of 1964 until the next variations (1.1.2 appearing in April) was used to restock the shelves under high profile demand.

Variation 1.1.2 then, is most likely the one that constitute the core of these high sales numbers, making 1.1.1 much scarcer today.