The Beatles "For Jukeboxes Only!" Color vinyl singles series
In 1992, Capitol released the single Love Me Do / P.S. I Love You as a single from their CEMA* Special Markets Division, with "For Jukeboxes Only!" printed on the label. Two years later, in 1994 they issued a series of 15 titles, followed by another series of 15 in 1996. All discs in the second series of juke-box singles had sales of 15,000 - 20,000 pieces. The first series, in fact, sold quite a bit more than the second, sales of those discs range typically in the 22,000 range. Three titles, Love Me Do, Birthday, and Norwegian Wood were issued (two inadvertantly) on both color vinyl and black vinyl - with one common version and one rare version of each, noted as follows:
Love Me Do / P.S. I Love You (Red vinyl / Black vinyl S7-56785)) - This was the first of the "For Jukeboxes Only" releases. CEMA originally ordered these in black vinyl. Specialty, who pressed them, had just finished a run of red vinyl singles for another artist, and the operator forgot to change to black "biscuits". About 250-300 copies of the red vinyl Love Me Do were made before the mistake was discovered. CEMA ended up keeping these copies, and they were eventually sold to one distributor. The black vinyl discs were released on October 19, the same day as Capitol's CD single of Love Me Do, while the red versions were finally shipped the following year on March 10, and are valued at around $35.00.
Norwegian Wood / If I Needed Someone (Green vinyl, S7-18888 / Black vinyl S7-19341) - The green vinyl version was only available through Collector's Choice Music when you bought the 1995 sealed set of Beatles LP's - only 1000 were made and it sells for around $50.00. The black vinyl is the common standard issue.
Birthday / Taxman (Green vinyl / Black vinyl, S7-17488) - This was originally scheduled to be released on 7-28-93, alongside Badfinger's Baby Blue / Day After Day (S7-17487) and Paul's C'Mon People / Down To The River (S7-17489). At this time, the 'A' and 'B' sides were reversed (the single was Taxman / Birthday) and it was to be pressed on yellow vinyl. The release was delayed until the following year, when it was released along with several other titles, with Birthday as the 'A' side side and pressed on green vinyl. Again, owing to goof-ups at the plant, a small quantity of black vinyl discs were shipped, numbering about 25 - 50 pieces. Actually quite rare, and mistakenly priced at only a few dollars' value.
In all, there are 34 issues counting variations. "For Jukeboxes Only" titles were also released by Paul McCartney, Badfinger, The Beach Boys and other artists.
* CEMA is the distribution arm of what was then called Capitol-EMI. CEMA originally stood for what was, at the time, the four EMI companies distributed by this branch: Capitol, EMI, Manhattan and Angel. Capitol-EMI subsequently acquired and distributed several other companies, so that distribution branch was simply known as "CEMA."
CEMA, like most record companies, also has a "Special Markets" division, which markets special items, such as juke-box singles, and also handles licensing of recordings by Capitol-EMI artists, such as The Beatles. That's why when you see a non-Capitol disc with a Beatle track on it (such as the DCC Compact Classics gold discs), it has both a CEMA selection number and their own logo on the product as well. So these juke-box singles were made by "CEMA Special Markets."
Actually, since that time, the company has changed somewhat. The entire
division which handles "catalog" releases, such as The Beatles (i.e. music other than new material, like Paul's "Flaming Pie"), was separated from Capitol about a year and a half ago. That division is now called "EMI Capitol Music Entertainment Properties," or "EPROP" for short. The Special Markets people went with the EPROP people to their new building across town from the Capitol Tower, and it is EMI-Capitol Special Markets which produced the black vinyl "Norwegian Wood" single (that's whose logo you see on the label, see photo below). It's not that CEMA Special Markets doesn't make juke-box singles any more, they just have a new name.
Some of the color vinyl discs, and jukebox label. Click for enlargement.
(Under construction)
Love Me Do
|
S7-56785 S7-56785 |
Love Me Do Love Me Do |
P.S. I Love You P.S. I Love You |
Black Red |
10-19-92 03-10-93 |
1st Series |
Number |
"A" Side |
"B" Side |
Vinyl Color |
Released
|
S7-17692 |
A Hard Day's Night |
Things We Said Today |
White |
01-94 |
S7-17693 |
All You Need Is Love |
Baby You're A Rich Man |
Pink |
02-94 |
S7-17488 S7-17488 |
Birthday Birthday |
Taxman Taxman |
Green Black |
01-94 01-94 |
S7-17690 |
Can't Buy Me Love |
You Can't Do That |
Green |
02-94 |
S7-17691 |
Help! |
I'm Down |
White |
03-94 |
S7-17700 |
Here Comes The Sun |
Octopus's Garden |
Orange |
03-94 |
S7-17694 |
Hey Jude |
Revolution |
Blue |
01-94 |
S7-17689 |
I Want To Hold Your Hand |
This Boy |
Clear |
03-94 |
S7-17695 |
Let It Be |
You Know My Name |
Yellow |
03-94 |
S7-17701 |
Sgt. Pepper's / With A Little Help |
A Day In The Life |
Clear |
01-94 |
S7-17688 |
She Loves You |
I'll Get You |
Red |
02-94 |
S7-17698 |
Something |
Come Together |
Blue |
01-94 |
S7-17697 |
Strawberry Fields Forever |
Penny Lane |
Red |
03-94 |
S7-17699 |
Twist and Shout |
There's A Place |
Pink |
03-94 |
S7-17696 |
Yellow Submarine |
Eleanor Rigby |
Yellow |
02-94 |
2nd Series
|
S7-18891 |
Across The Universe |
Two Of Us |
Clear |
01-24-96 |
S7-18899 |
Got To Get You Into My Life |
Helter Skelter |
Orange |
01-24-96 |
S7-18897 |
Here, There And Everywhere |
Good Day Sunshine |
Yellow |
01-24-96 |
S7-18893 |
It's All Too Much |
Only A Northern Song |
Blue |
01-24-96 |
S7-18898 |
Long And Winding Road, The |
For You Blue |
Blue |
01-24-96 |
S7-18896 |
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds |
When I'm 64 |
Red |
01-24-96 |
S7-18890 |
Magical Mystery Tour |
The Fool On The Hill |
Yellow |
01-24-96 |
S7-19341
S7-18888
|
Norwegian Wood (Note: does not have "CEMA" designation on label, different catalog # than green vinyl version)
Norwegian Wood (giveaway) |
If I Needed Someone
If I Needed Someone
|
Black
Green
|
11-12-96
11-20-95
|
S7-18894 |
Nowhere Man |
What Goes On |
Green |
01-24-96 |
S7-18900 |
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da |
Julia |
Clear |
01-24-96 |
S7-18902 |
Paperback Writer |
Rain |
Red |
01-24-96 |
S7-18895 |
We Can Work It Out |
Day Tripper |
Pink |
01-24-96 |
S7-18892 |
While My Guitar Gently Weeps |
Blackbird |
Blue |
01-24-96 |
S7-18901 |
Yesterday |
Act Naturally |
Pink |
01-24-96 |
S7-18889 |
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away |
I've Just Seen A Face |
Orange |
01-24-96
|
Typical label with CEMA logo, and Norwegian Wood label with Eprop designation. Click on either for enlargement
Close-up of Eprop designation (EMI Capitol Music Entertainment Properties) Click for enlargment
All issues - numerical order
|
Number |
"A" Side |
"B" Side |
Vinyl Color |
Released |
S7-17488 |
Birthday |
Taxman |
Green |
01-94 |
S7-17488 |
Birthday |
Taxman |
Black |
01-94 |
S7-17688 |
She Loves You |
I'll Get You |
Red |
02-94 |
S7-17689 |
I Want To Hold Your Hand |
This Boy |
Clear |
03-94 |
S7-17690 |
Can't Buy Me Love |
You Can't Do That |
Green |
02-94 |
S7-17691 |
Help! |
I'm Down |
White |
03-94 |
S7-17692 |
A Hard Day's Night |
Things We Said Today |
White |
01-94 |
S7-17693 |
All You Need Is Love |
Baby You're A Rich Man |
Pink |
02-94 |
S7-17694 |
Hey Jude |
Revolution |
Blue |
01-94 |
S7-17695 |
Let It Be |
You Know My Name |
Yellow |
03-94 |
S7-17696 |
Yellow Submarine |
Eleanor Rigby |
Yellow |
02-94 |
S7-17697 |
Strawberry Fields Forever |
Penny Lane |
Red |
03-94 |
S7-17698 |
Something |
Come Together |
Blue |
01-94 |
S7-17699 |
Twist and Shout |
There's A Place |
Pink |
03-94 |
S7-17700 |
Here Comes The Sun |
Octopus's Garden |
Yellow |
03-94 |
S7-17701 |
Sgt. Pepper's / With A Little Help |
A Day In The Life |
Clear |
01-94 |
S7-18888 |
Norwegian Wood |
If I Needed Someone |
Green |
01-24-96 |
S7-18889 |
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away |
I've Just Seen A Face |
Orange |
01-24-96 |
S7-18890 |
Magical Mystery Tour |
The Fool On The Hill |
Yellow |
01-24-96 |
S7-18891 |
Across The Universe |
Two Of Us |
Clear |
01-24-96 |
S7-18892 |
While My Guitar Gently Weeps |
Blackbird |
Blue |
01-24-96 |
S7-18893 |
It's All Too Much |
Only A Northern Song |
Blue |
01-24-96 |
S7-18894 |
Nowhere Man |
What Goes On |
Green |
01-24-96 |
S7-18895 |
We Can Work It Out |
Day Tripper |
Pink |
01-24-96 |
S7-18896 |
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds |
When I'm 64 |
Red |
01-24-96 |
S7-18897 |
Here, There And Everywhere |
Good Day Sunshine |
Yellow |
01-24-96 |
S7-18898 |
Long And Winding Road, The |
For You Blue |
Blue |
01-24-96 |
S7-18899 |
Got To get You Into My Life |
Helter Skelter |
Orange |
01-24-96 |
S7-18900 |
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da |
Julia |
Clear |
01-24-96 |
S7-18901 |
Yesterday |
Act Naturally |
Pink |
01-24-96 |
S7-18902 |
Paperback Writer |
Rain |
Red |
01-24-96 |
S7-19341 |
Norwegian Wood |
If I Needed Someone |
Black |
01-24-96 |
S7-56785 |
Love Me Do |
P.S. I Love You |
Red |
03-10-93 |
S7-56785 |
Love Me Do |
P.S. I Love You |
Black |
10-19-92 |
Number |
Song Title |
S7-17701B |
A Day In The Life |
S7-17692A |
A Hard Day's Night |
S7-18891A |
Across The Universe |
S7-18901B |
Act Naturally |
S7-17693A |
All You Need Is Love |
S7-17693B |
Baby You're A Rich Man |
S7-17488A |
Birthday |
S7-18892B |
Blackbird |
S7-17690A |
Can't Buy Me Love |
S7-17698B |
Come Together |
S7-18895B |
Day Tripper |
S7-17696B |
Eleanor Rigby |
S7-18898B |
For You Blue |
S7-18897B |
Good Day Sunshine |
S7-18899A |
Got To get You Into My Life |
S7-17691A |
Help! |
S7-18899B |
Helter Skelter |
S7-17700A |
Here Comes The Sun |
S7-18897A |
Here, There And Everywhere |
S7-17694A |
Hey Jude |
S7-17689A |
I Want To Hold Your Hand |
S7-18888B |
If I Needed Someone |
S7-19341B |
If I Needed Someone |
S7-17688B |
I'll Get You |
S7-17691B |
I'm Down |
S7-18893A |
It's All Too Much |
S7-18889B |
I've Just Seen A Face |
S7-18900B |
Julia |
S7-17695A |
Let It Be |
S7-18898A |
Long And Winding Road, The |
S7-56785A |
Love Me Do |
S7-18896A |
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds |
S7-18890A |
Magical Mystery Tour |
| |
Number |
Song Title |
S7-18888A |
Norwegian Wood |
S7-19341A |
Norwegian Wood |
S7-18894A |
Nowhere Man |
S7-18900A |
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da |
S7-17700B |
Octopus's Garden |
S7-18893B |
Only A Northern Song |
S7-56785B |
P.S. I Love You |
S7-18902A |
Paperback Writer |
S7-17697B |
Penny Lane |
S7-18902B |
Rain |
S7-17694B |
Revolution |
S7-17701A |
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band |
S7-17688A |
She Loves You |
S7-17698A |
Something |
S7-17697A |
Strawberry Fields Forever |
S7-17488B |
Taxman |
S7-18890B |
The Fool On The Hill |
S7-17699B |
There's A Place |
S7-17692B |
Things We Said Today |
S7-17689B |
This Boy |
S7-17699A |
Twist and Shout |
S7-18891B |
Two Of Us |
S7-18895A |
We Can Work It Out |
S7-18894B |
What Goes On |
S7-18896B |
When I'm 64 |
S7-18892A |
While My Guitar Gently Weeps |
S7-17701A |
With A Little Help From My Friends |
S7-17696A |
Yellow Submarine |
S7-18901A |
Yesterday |
S7-17690B |
You Can't Do That |
S7-17695B |
You Know My Name |
S7-18889A |
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away |
(This space intentionally left blank)
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Mitch McGeary, Perry Cox, and Matt Hurwitz ©1998
Additional contributions by Tom Drozewski and Gary Smith
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