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Step 1
In 1966, Capitol Records was looking for a new photo for the Beatles album "Yesterday and Today". At this time, United States album releases were different than those being released England up until the Sgt. Pepper album in 1967. Tracks were taken from the album "Help", "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver to create the "Yesterday and Today" album. The Beatles were not happy with the way Capitol Records created new "product". So, they in return sent a group photo depicting themselves in butcher smocks, holding hunks of raw meat and decapitated baby dolls aka The Butcher Cover. Sixty thousand copies were released in the United States before public outcry stopped the sale of the albums containing this cover.
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Step 2
Capitol Records, in response, replaced the butcher shot with a hotel trunk shot of the Beatles. In order to meet release deadlines, employees pasted the new cover label over the existing cover on many of the album covers.
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Step 3
Now, here's what to look for in your examination to confirm authenticity.
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Step 4
1. Signs of wear underneath the existing photograph such as dark lines, discoloration, etc.
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Step 5
2. Hold album cover up to a bright light at an angle and look just above Ringo Starr's head. You should be able to see part of the letters from the word "Yesterday".
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Step 6
3. If the album cover has not been pasted over with the new cover version and still has the butcher cover version on it, the photograph should be cropped at knee level.
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Step 7
4. There are many computer generated labels being pasted on album covers to make them appear genuine. Be very wary of these.
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Step 8
5. Make sure the logo is Capitol Records pre 1970s. Capitol changed the logo in the late 1960s.
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Step 9
6. Be wary of anyone asking too low a price for the album. It is worth a considerable sum of money to collector's. And anyone selling an authentic copy would not let it go cheap.
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Step 10
Happy treasure hunting! I hope your copy is the Real McCoy.
