Capitol Records · 1972–1988
Capitol orange label and later Beatles reissue labels.
How to identify one.
Capitol replaced its red target label with a plain orange one in late 1972, then turned back to older looks: a purple label with a big dome logo in 1978, a revived black rainbow in 1983, and a new purple label in 1988. The Beatles' US albums appear on all four as reissues. None is a 1960s original, but the 1983 rainbow in particular gets sold as one.
01
What to look for on the label
Beatles albums moved from Capitol to the Apple label in 1971 and came back to Capitol in January 1976, by then on the orange label with 'All Rights Reserved' in the rim print. Any US Beatles LP on an orange, purple, or 1980s rainbow Capitol label is a 1976 or later reissue.
- Orange label with 'Capitol' at the bottom (October 1972 to early 1978). A plain orange label with the word 'Capitol' across the bottom. The rim print changed twice: the T-Rim patent number was dropped in October 1973, and 'All Rights Reserved' wording was added in September 1975.
- Purple label with large dome logo (1978 to 1983). A purple label with a large script 'Capitol' under the Capitol dome, and rim print that begins 'MFD. BY CAPITOL'. Meet the Beatles and Rubber Soul were both reissued on it in 1978.
- 1983 rainbow reissue. From July 1983 Capitol revived the black label with a colorband. On this version the rim print, including the rights disclaimer, sits in black type inside the rainbow band itself.
- 1988 purple label. From summer 1988 a new purple label used a smaller logo and rim print starting 'MANUFACTURED BY CAPITOL'. Beatles albums got new C1- numbers and barcodes; Meet the Beatles became C1-90441.
- Catalog prefix changes. Rubber Soul's 1976 orange reissue keeps ST-2442, but its 1978 purple and 1983 rainbow reissues read SW-2442. A Beatles LP numbered SW was pressed in 1978 or later.
02
What the label does not prove
A period-correct label narrows the search. It does not replace the album-specific matrix, jacket, and format checks.
- Calling a 1983 rainbow-label Beatles LP a 1960s original. Check whether the rim print sits inside the colorband.
- Reading the orange label as a sign of age. Beatles albums only reached it in 1976.
- Pricing Apple-label copies of Capitol albums as originals. Meet the Beatles and Rubber Soul were reissued on Apple from 1971, still numbered ST-2047 and ST-2442.
- Ignoring the catalog number. SW prefixes and C1- numbers belong to reissues.
03
Albums found on the Capitol orange and purple labels label
These album-specific guides show how the shared label clue combines with a catalog number, matrix, jacket, and value range.
04
A four-step check for your copy
- Identify the label: black rainbow, Apple, orange, purple with a large dome, rainbow with print inside the band, or purple reading 'MANUFACTURED BY CAPITOL'.
- Read the full rim print around the edge of the label.
- Check the catalog prefix on label and jacket: T, ST, SW, or C1-.
- Look for a barcode on the back cover; the 1988 reissues have one.
- Copy the runout and plant mark: a '0' marks Jacksonville, and a triangle mark (◁) points to Winchester.
Keep checking the shelf
Compare another label family.
The same visual method works across the rest of the shelf.
roughly 1955–1962
Columbia six-eye
Identify a Columbia six-eye pressing by its six walking-eye marks, catalog prefix, label text, and dead-wax matrix—then check album-specific details.
Check this pressing
roughly 1962–1970
Columbia two-eye
Identify a Columbia two-eye pressing from its two walking-eye logos, 360 Sound text, catalog prefix, and dead-wax matrix variations.
Check this pressing
mid-1960s–early 1970s
Atlantic red and plum
Identify Atlantic red-and-plum LP pressings by label layout, catalog number, address and rim text, pressing-plant marks, and matrix details.
Check this pressingA few questions
The ones that come up.
From October 1972 until early 1978, when the purple dome label replaced it. Beatles albums appear on the orange label only from January 1976.
No. The Beatles' US Capitol albums were first issued in 1964–1966 on the black label with the rainbow rim. Orange-label copies are 1976–77 reissues that keep the stereo ST number.
On the 1983 reissue the rim print and rights disclaimer are printed in black inside the colored band. Rubber Soul's 1983 reissue also reads SW-2442 instead of T-2442 or ST-2442.
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