Introducing
The Beatles

A Comprehensive Discography
and Price Guide


By Perry Cox, Robert York and Mitch McGeary
© 1997 All Rights Reserved

Perhaps the most distinctive component in the history of Beatles records is the album Introducing the Beatles (Vee Jay VJLP/SR-1062). This eccentric LP is distinctive on many fronts, not the least of which is that its dozen tracks have proliferated into over two dozen subsequent albums and singles.

This summer 1963 product of Chicago's Vee Jay label competed heartily in the marketplace, right along with the big boys over at Capitol. As a small, independent company with a big hit record on their hands, Vee Jay and their vendors worked around the clock to meet the enormous demand for this LP. For the last few months of '63, this was the only Beatles album available for purchase in American shops. Although a huge seller, its sales life was cut very short by the courts, when, in early 1965, the rights to all of the Beatles recordings were turned over to Capitol/EMI.

Not surprisingly, most of the world's rare and valuable records, including Introducing the Beatles, have been counterfeited -numerous times and in a myriad of variations. It is probably the most counterfeited record in history, and deserving of consideration for a gold or platinum award in the category: Rock Album Most Frequently Faked.

With so many different bogus copies floating around, perhaps we should begin by giving a precise description of the original album. Knowing how to spot an original is one of the best weapons against getting stuck with a pretender.

The first issue covers were manufactured in both Chicago and St. Louis. All original covers have a glossy coated paper stock, both front and back. Approximately 90% of all Introducing the Beatles covers were produced at these plants. If either the front or the back cover is flat -lacking gloss -it is a counterfeit.

In late 1964, when Vee Jay relocated their offices to Santa Monica, California, a small number of original covers were then made on the west coast. These have less of a gloss on the back cover; however, they do have some shine and are clearly not a flat stock.

Although color shades do vary on originals, the printing of the photo and text is always very sharp and clear. Any with poor quality printing are probably counterfeits. All legitimate covers are made using varying shades of gray or tan cardboard, with the printed front and back slicks bonded on them. All original covers we have seen have a 1/4" overlap of cardboard at the top and bottom of the inside cover. This check can only be made by viewing the inside of the cover at the top and at the bottom. On most fakes, these overlaps are either much larger than 1/4", or there is no flap at all. The California plant made a small quantity of original monaural covers that have no flap at all, but they still have the glossy back cover slick as well as high quality printing. Also, these come with an authentic disc inside, yet another way to help determine originality.

A few counterfeits do have covers with high quality printing, but their overall construction and/or disc quality are noticeably imperfect.

While it is very helpful to have a known original on hand for comparison, few folks have that luxury. When this is not possible, use the following checklist to make a determination regarding authenticity.

Some of the more common characteristics found on COUNTERFEIT COVERS:

  • Covers with a brown border around the front cover photo are fakes.
  • Covers with a bright yellow tint and the word "STEREO" printed in black at the upper left are fakes.
  • Covers without George Harrison's shadow-visible to his right of where he stands, near the edge are fakes.
  • Covers with red, blue, and yellow dots, unmistakable under the top of the back cover, are fakes. The dots are used by the printers during the printing process. On originals, the dots are in a different area and are not normally visible. (This fake is of particular importance due to the high quality of the front cover photo. For that reason, this cover has fooled many a collector. Look for the dots! Fake covers are almost always accompanied by a fake disc.)
  • Covers for the stereo issue that list Love Me Do and P. S. I Love You, among the two columns of tracks on the back, are almost always fakes. Only a couple of authentic copies of these versions are known to exist.
  • Covers having a flat paper stock on the back side slick are fakes.

Some of the more common characteristics found on COUNTERFEIT DISCS:

  • Any labels with flat textured rainbow/colorband labels are fakes.
  • Labels that have "THE BEATLES" and "INTRODUCING The BEATLES" separated by the center hole are fakes.
  • If the width of the vinyl trail-off -the gap between the end of the last track and the edge of the label is greater than one inch, you have a fake.
  • Any copy with black labels that do not have the rainbow colorband, that are printed on glossy paper stock, are fakes.
  • Copies with rainbow/colorband labels that have faint print and/or weak color brightness and a lack of clarity are fakes.

Some of the more common characteristics found on ORIGINAL COVERS:

  • Covers-front and back-must have slicks that are either glossy or semi-glossy.
  • Printing on covers must be of high quality and professional looking.
  • Back cover lists contents in two columns
  • Stereo copies must meet one of the following conditions:
  • Back cover pictures 25 color photos of other Vee Jay albums.
    This copy is commonly known as the "Ad Back" cover.
  • Back cover is totally blank; a completely white slick with no print whatsoever.

Some of the more common characteristics found on ORIGINAL DISCS:

  • Labels have "THE BEATLES" and the title "INTRODUCING THE BEATLES" above the center hole.
  • Only gloss or semi-gloss rainbow/colorband labels are used on originals.
  • All original labels have bright, sharp silver print.
  • The vinyl trail-off -the gap between the end of the last track and the edge of the label usually measures from 7/8" to 1" wide, but never greater.
  • The rainbow/colorband that circles the perimeter of an original label is of high resolution, with smooth, gradual changes in color.
  • The vinyl trail-off area on over 90% of all originals has one or more of the following mechanical Stampings:
  • 1. The term "AudioMatrix."
  • 2 The letters "MR" inside of a circle.
  • 3. The letters "APP" in italics. Among originals, only those made in Santa Monica lack machine Stampings. Regardless, these still have the aforementioned bright silver print and glossy labels. To date, we have never seen a counterfeit copy with machine stamping in the trail-off area.
  • We have never found a counterfeit with the word "STEREO" printed on the label.
  • Any copy with "STEREO" printed on the label is more than likely an original.
  • All originals with black labels that do not have the rainbow colorband are printed on a flat-not glossy-paper stock.
  • Any item under scrutiny must measure up in all the above areas of originality testing. If either the cover, disc or label fails even one criterion of the test, then it is likely from that secluded, middle Eastern country: Itsa Fakka!


Descriptions and Prices - Original Releases
The values given are for records in VG (average) condition. Records in Near Mint condition, which are very difficult to find, would typically bring much higher prices. Both the record AND the jackets need to be checked for variations and authenticity, as we have found, like with other records, that discs and jackets get mixed up, intentional or otherwise. Also, many mono discs were incorrectly issued from the factory with stereo labels, so check the trail-off area for an "S" suffix to the master number, and/or play the record for stereo vs. mono sound.





Version I - 1963-1964
All 1st Versions have Love Me Do/P.S. I Love You
Recording Cover # Label # Label Style Cover Style VG Value
Mono LP1062 VJLP 1062 Blk w/Colorband - Oval logo
(Released 7-22-63)
"Ad Back"

(Has the words "Printed In U.S.A". at lower left of front cover. Also see our page on the History of the Ad-Back)

Disc - $175
Cover - $425
Both - $600
Stereo VJSR 1062 VJLPS 1062 Blk w/Colorband - Oval logo
(Released 7-22-63)
"Ad Back" Disc - $400
Cover - $1500
Both - $2500
Mono LP1062 VJLP 1062 Blk w/Colorband - Oval logo
(Released late 1963/early 1964)
Blank Back

(Referred to as the "Blank Back" because the back cover is gloss white with no print or graphics at all. These were probably factory errors or just transitional copies resulting when the "Ad Back" covers were changed to column back covers.)

Disc - $125
Cover - $250
Both - $450
Stereo VJSR 1062 VJLPS 1062 Blk w/Colorband - Oval logo
(Released late 1963/early 1964)
Blank Back

(Cover has Stereophonic banner, and can be found with or without the words "Printed In U.S.A." on the lower left of front cover. Label has the word "Stereo" on top or on the side)

Disc - $400
Cover - $550
Both - $950
Mono LP1062 VJLP 1062 Blk w/Colorband - Oval logo Two Column Back Disc - $100
Cover - $100
Both - $250
Mono LP1062 VJLP 1062 Blk w/Colorband - Brackets logo Two Column Back Disc - $40
Cover - $40
Both - $100
Version II - 1964
All 2nd Versions have Please Please Me / Ask Me Why
Recording Cover # Label # Label Style Cover Style VG Value
Mono LP1062 VJLP 1062 Blk label w/Colorband
Oval logo
(Released late 1963/early 1964)
Blank Back

(Referred to as the "Blank Back" because the back cover is gloss white with no print or graphics at all. These were probably factory errors or just transitional copies resulting when the "Ad Back" covers were changed to column back covers.)

Disc - $50
Cover - $250
Both - $350
Stereo VJSR 1062 VJLPS 1062 Blk label w/Colorband
Oval or Brackets
(Released 1-27-64)
*Covers*
  1. Stereophonic banner across front
  2. White stereo sticker with black print
  3. gold/black stereo sticker
  4. machine stamped stereo in upper RH corner
  5. machine stamped stereo in gold RH corner
  6. "Twist And Shout" sticker
Two column Back
*Covers*
  1. $300
  2. $350
  3. $450
  4. $375
  5. $425
  6. $550
*Discs*

Brack - $200
Oval - $250

*Cover/Disc*
1. brackets - $500
1. oval - $550
2. brackets - $550
2. oval - $600
3. brackets - $650
3. oval - $700
4. brackets - $575
4. oval - $625
5. brackets - $625
5. oval - $675
6. brackets - $675
Stereo VJSR 1062 VJLPS 1062 All Blk label
"Vee Jay" logo
(Released 1-27-64
*Covers*
  1. Stereophonic banner across front
  2. White stereo sticker with black print
  3. gold/black stereo sticker
  4. machine stamped stereo in upper RH corner
  5. machine stamped stereo in gold RH corner
Two column Back
*Covers*
  1. $300
  2. $350
  3. $450
  4. $375
  5. $425
Disc - $225

*Cover/Disc*
1. $600
2. $650
3. $750
4. $675
5. $725
Mono LP1062 VJLP 1062 Blk label w/Colorband
Oval logo
(Released 1/27/64)
Two Column Back Cover - $40
Disc - $40
Both - $100
Mono LP1062 VJLP 1062 Blk label w/Colorband
Brackets logo
Two Column Back Cover - $25
Disc - $25
Both - $60
Mono LP1062 VJLP 1062 All Blk label
"Vee Jay" logo
Two Column Back Cover - $25
Disc - $25
Both - $60
Mono LP1062 VJLP 1062 All Blk label
Oval logo
Two Column Back Cover - $30
Disc - $70
Both - $125
Mono LP1062 VJLP 1062 All Blk label
Brackets logo
Two Column Back Cover - $75
Disc - $375
Both - $475
Mono LP1062 VJLP 1062 All Blk label
("VJ" 2-letter logo)
Cover has "Twist And Shout" sticker

Two Column Back

Cover - $150
Disc - $475
Both - $650


A brief history on the "Ad Back" version of "Introducing The Beatles"




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