When 45 RPM records emerged as an alternative to 78's in the mid-40's, the speed immediately spawned several format incarnations. Boxed sets of singles were common throughout the industry (as an alternative to the 78 RPM "album"). One notion that did not escape immediate attention was the possibility that at the slower speed of 45 RPM, the new records were not only smaller but could also hold more than one song per side.
Four-song, 45 RPM records became known as "Extended Play" records or EP's. Several EP's would be collected into extended play albums. Traditionally, an EP held two previously-released singles by an artist or four songs from a broadway show or film soundtrack (an abridgement of the 78 RPM album).
As the trend toward slower speeds continued, "long play" (or 33 1/3 RPM) records were deemed suitable for music, and these 10" and 12" "LP's" [the term coined by Columbia Records] would hold all of the music normally found on a 78 RPM album. Seven inch "long play" records were also released, essentially as experiments. "33 singles" did not fare well on the singles market, but their counterparts, "compact 33's," were popular enough in juke boxes to warrant releases well into the 1960's. These compacts sported a total of 6 songs.
The EP cover was often a reproduction of the 78 album cover. In the early years, Capitol frequently used the same cover for its EP's, 10" LP's, and even its 12" LP's. Albums can be found with the 7" EP cover pasted into the middle of a 10" LP cover. Also, since the cover would be blown up to 10" or 12" size, the cover designs had to be simple enough to reproduce well at any of the three sizes. An example follows.
As far as the Beatles releases in the USA are concerned, nearly all of the Beatles' EP and Compact 33 releases are scarce, with the only exception being the popular Vee Jay EP.
In England, the Beatles used 1964 to issue an EP of brand new songs (as opposed to the usual practice of pulling singles or album tracks together). Three years later, Magical Mystery Tour would be a top-selling double EP, being treated as both a single and an album. In America, though, EP releases were sparse, with no EP's or Compact 33's being issued after 1965.
The first Beatles EP to make the scene in the US was Capitol's Four By the Beatles (EAP-2121). At this time, Capitol's EP's were still numbered along with their albums. Two singles that were released by Capitol of Canada had fared well on the American charts. Capitol (US) attempted to draw away some listeners to their own (domestic) product by issuing the two singles together as an EP. The result was unimpressive, as the EP sold poorly.
Vee Jay Records entered the Beatles EP market as soon as they were able. Their offering, Souvenir of Their First Visit to America, was a great success. It is by far the most common Beatles EP/Compact of all the US releases. However, due to the fact that part of the EP's sales were through mail-order offers, the trade magazines refused to chart the EP.
Having been caught unawares with their first offering, Capitol picked some sure winners for their second: 4 By the Beatles. Perhaps the similar title threw many teenagers, or perhaps they had already purchased the Beatles '65 album. Whatever the reason, this EP sold poorly, much like the first. Capitol would never issue another Beatles EP; this would be their last. Notice that by this time, Capitol's EP's were being numbered as singles, using the same swirl label.
Since Compact 33's were a jukebox item, and since Capitol was issuing Compacts of nearly every one of their popular artists, it was natural that the Beatles would be issued in this format. The cover to the Compact 33 was the same as the corresponding LP, with the back cover usually being blank (white). As jukebox inserts, there were timing strips and mini covers accompanying the record.
Meet the Beatles is by far the most common of the three Compacts, although perhaps the term "least rare" would be more accurate. This release is about as common as the Four By the Beatles EP. I have seen a photograph of what is supposed to be all 12 songs from the MTB LP on one compact 33. However, no copies have surfaced.
Somewhat less common is the Beatles Second Album compact. Beatlemania was still in full swing, though, and the compact is only slightly more rare than the earlier jukebox release of Meet the Beatles!
The least common of the compact releases is certainly the Something New compact 33. By the end of 1964, Capitol was rapidly reducing the number of releases that would be sent to jukeboxes as Compact 33's. The Beatles' next Capitol album, Beatles '65, would not be released in that format--or at least no copies have turned up. Bootlegs exist that mimic the Capitol Compact 33 format, but no genuine later releases exist.
Four or Six Songs in a Cardboard Cover