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The four track (4tk) cartridge is an unfamiliar item to most music listeners today. It was invented shortly before the eight track cartridge, but for some reason it never attained the popular appeal that the eight track did. A four track cartridge might be mistaken for an eight track, the most visible difference between the two being a hole in the cartridge approximately 3/4 inches in diameter. Four tracks manufactured for Capitol before 1969 also feature transparent front shells, making them readily distinguishable from eight tracks for those who know that four tracks existed.
Earl "Madman" Muntz was the chief producer of four track cartridges, having purchased the right to do so in order to equip his cars with tape machines. By 1963, the four track was on the horizon as the successor to reel tapes and singles players -- at least as far as the automobile was concerned. Four tracks play at 3¾ inches per second, as do eight tracks. However, being in stereo, they only have two programs. This provided an advantage over the eight track of seldom having a song split between two programs. As every buyer of eight tracks knows, this was a major annoyance with the eight track. Four tracks seldom had this problem. The big disadvantage to the four track, which made the eight track an improvement, was the fact that one roller was part of the machine and came up into the hole in the back. |  |
| Capitol Records seems to have picked up on four tracks some time during 1964, which conveniently coincides with the issuance of the Beatles catalog. Cartridges that Muntz produced for Capitol before late 1965 differ from later copies slightly. For example, if you look at the back of the cartridge, the earlier cartridges have a corner hole next to the hole for the capstan (upper left hand corner). Cartridges made in late 1965 or later onward have only the round capstan hole in that corner. There are also other slight design differences. Beginning in late 1967, the tape's front shell was made in transparent or translucent colors. Pink was the first color used -- it is most common in 1968. Transparent brown was the most common colored shell from 1969. |   Earlier Cartridge, Later Cartridge |
Capitol never manufactured their own four tracks. Prior to the middle of 1969, they licensed out to Muntz Stereo-Pak in Van Nuys, California. On these four tracks, the statement "not affiliated with Muntz T.V." appears. Then in early Fall '69, Capitol contracted with Ampex Tapes to manufacture both its reel tapes and its four tracks. Since Capitol switched from their traditional dome logo to the new "C" logo in June, 1969, this means that Muntz-made copies which feature the new logo are harder to find. Also, these later Muntz tapes feature new (colored) shells which have "rib grips" on the sides, making them easier to extract from four track machines. Tapes made by Ampex for Capitol are easy to spot, since they have opaque tan or yellow colored shells.
All Capitol four tracks prior to early-to-mid-1969 appear to have been housed in the same white boxes. Those made during 1969 by Muntz have black and red boxes, and there was a unique Apple box that is most often found with Mary Hopkin's Post Card tape. The outer boxes that accompanied Ampex tapes tended to have the contents printed on the back. Ampex four tracks made for Apple featured their own Apple boxes.
As far as Capitol is concerned, four tracks and reel-to-reel tapes seem to have perished at the same time, although the reels MAY have lasted slightly longer. Beatles-related (Ampex) four tracks do not seem to have been manufactured after 1970. Since the last known Beatles related reel tape was issued in 1971, it may have been that there were some four tracks also issued that year. If that is the case, then the later four tracks are simply harder to find.
| Meet the Beatles | Capitol 4CL-2047 |
| Second Album | Capitol 4CL-2080 |
| United Artists UA4T-4013 | |
| Manufactured in 1964
by International Tape Cartridge Co. White shelled cartridge. | |
| Something New | Capitol 4CL-2108 |
| Ain't She Sweet | Atco 21-276A |
| Beatles '65 | Capitol 4CL-2228 |
| Early Beatles | Capitol 4CL-2309 |
| Beatles VI | Capitol 4CL-2358 |
| Help! | Capitol 4CL-2386 |
| Rubber Soul | Capitol 4CL-2442 |
| Yesterday and Today | Capitol 4CL-2553 |
| Revolver | Capitol 4CL-2576 |
All of the above Capitol four tracks feature clear front shells. At about the time of Sgt. Pepper, some tapes can be found with pink, green, or brown colored (transparent) front shells.
| Family Way Soundtrack (P) | London LFX 17136 |
| white shell. Manufactured by Ampex in 1967. Cartridge made by Telepro. | |
| Sgt. Pepper's LHCB | Capitol 4CL-2653 |
| Magical Mystery Tour | Capitol 4CL-2835 |
As mentioned above, all of the Capitol 4 tracks are found with the Capitol "dome logo", which was in use until June, 1969. Not all of them have yet been discovered to carry the new "C" logo, but these are certainly scarcer, having been made for about 2 or 3 months at most.
| Two Virgins (J) | Apple/Tetragrammaton TNX-45001 |
| with outer title box. White shell. | |
| Two Virgins (J) | Apple/Tetragrammaton GRT 473-5001 |
| with outer title box. White shell. made by General Recorded Tape, Inc. | |
| Two Virgins (J) | Apple/Tetragrammaton F-5-5001 |
| with outer box with title sticker. White shell. made by International Tape Cartridge Corp. | |
| The Beatles | Apple 4CW-101 |
| album available on two tapes. | |
| Wonderwall Music (G) | Apple 4CL-3350 |
| Yellow Submarine | Apple 4CL-153 |
NOTE: It seems that all of the mainstream Capitol four tracks were reissued when the tape catalog switched to Ampex in 1969. The following tapes, with yellow or tan shells, have been verified to exist:
| Beatles Second Album | Capitol/Ampex X 42080 |
| Beatles '65 | Capitol/Ampex X 42228 |
| Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | Capitol/Ampex X 42653 |
| Magical Mystery Tour | Capitol/Ampex X 42835 |
| The Beatles | Apple/Ampex M4 101/M4 2101 |
| Yellow Submarine | Capitol/Ampex X 4153 |
| It appears that these reissues are scarcer than the original releases. | |
The following tapes were all made by Ampex unless indicated. Therefore, they all have tan shells and an outer title box (with a large Apple), unless indicated.
| Abbey Road | Apple X 4383 |
| The above does not list "Her Majesty". | |
| Live Peace In Toronto (J) | Apple X 43362 |
| Hey Jude | Apple X 4385 |
| Let It Be | Apple X 434001 |
| Hard Day's Night | United Artists U-6006 |
| black shell or white shell. No outer box. | |
| McCartney (P) | Apple X 43363 |
| Sentimental Journey (R) | Apple X 43365 |
| Beaucoups of Blues(R)? | Apple X 43368 |
| Plastic Ono Band (J) | Apple X 43372 |
Got any others (Beatles/solo) not listed here?
Send me photos of 'em!
One non-Beatles Apple four track is known (so far). This is Mary Hopkin's Post Card, Apple 4CL-3351. Sealed in its Apple/Muntz outer box, a copy recently sold for $192.50.
The four track passed on in favor of the eight track, which in turn was to die in favor of the cassette. Most Beatles four tracks go for $50-$75 in their appropriate packaging. The ones having two cartridges usually fetch $80 or more. "C" logo copies and Ampex reissues of the earlier Capitol LP's are scarce and should sell for $75 or more as well. The very rare Ain't She Sweet album goes for over $500.
Beatles Four Track Tapes
Double four tracks,
which measured approximately 6" wide by 7" deep, were also produced for a short season, but the standard size single-album cartridge soon became the standard. For several years, cartridge players were made that were "four/eight compatible." Finding such a player today is a rarity. I know of no company that has manufactured four track players in the last twenty years. This
is unfortunate, since the four track was an interesting format.
