The LOST Beatles E.P. - The True Story of The Disc That Never Was.

This is the story of the lost Beatles EP. The 4-track vinyl EP was a massively popular vinyl format in the late-'50s/early '60s in the UK, especially with Beatles fans. However, in early 1964 EMI found themselves short of new Beatles material to release and had drew up plans to recycle old tracks into a new EP. Their proposal drew the wrath of Brian Epstein and despite label designs being made, it was cancelled. This video tells its story.

0:00 - Opener & titles.
0:55 - EPs in the 1960's in the UK.
1:26 - UK EP cover montage.
2:18 - The U.S. Beatles EPs.
3:27 - 'Twist & Shout' EP.
3:41 - 'The Beatles' Hits' EP.
4:01 - 'All My Loving' EP.
4:17 - EMI runs out of Beatles music to release.
4:31 - EMI plans a new EP.
5:08 - Epstein cancels the EP.
5:38 - 'Long Tall Sally' EP
6:01 - The decline of the EP
6:15 - 'Million Sellers' EP
6:45 - Label errors & variations.
7.17 - The final 3 EPs.
7:34 - Outro.

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[peterdigwood]

Yellow Submarine was going to be an E.P. as well, even to the extent that proper mono mixes were complied of the four new songs that appear in the movie as well as the 'new' song Across The Universe in March 1969. It was though to play at 33rpm rather than 45rpm. These genuine mono mixes were never released but can now be found on the Beatles In Mono box set. The mono album of Yellow Submarine are fold down stereo mixes.

[dt]

I had always wanted The Beatles EP collection boxed set but couldn't afford it at the time of release. Years later, still way before internet, the only way to see what was available was either visit your local record store or search the back of record collector magazines. I'll never forget seeing one those ep boxed sets on the back shelf of used record store I frequented. I snatched that up right away! Still have it.

[clivefernthecamper]

There were a couple more EPs: the bonus EP in the EP collection box set, and the ‘Baby It’s You’ EP From 1994. The extra tracks on Baby It’s You were eventually re-released on the slightly expanded ‘Live at the BBC’ reissue about 10 or so years ago.

[anthonycraig]

Even into the 1980s, EPs were a good way of picking up odd tracks like She Loves You or I Want To Hold Your Hand that didn't appear on regular albums. Cheaper to buy an EP than fork out for a compilation album where you already had most of the tracks! I'm sure EMI would have milked the Beatles catalogue in the 60s far more if they could have done, you've only got to look at how many EPs they released for Cliff & The Shadows during that time. Maybe for collectors it's just as well they didn't, those EP box sets could have been twice the size (and cost!)

[machiel]

Funnily enough: I collect original 60’s Beatles EP’s for the same reason people did 60 years ago… because buying original Beatles albums is so expensive! Many places way overcharge for their famous albums, but I found a near mint copy of AHDN EP for €15 in a shop. I was very happy :)

[thefleshexperience]

I have first pressings of all of the UK EP’s. They were fun to collect (Yesterday and Nowhere Man being the hardest to find) and as you said, a format that just wasn’t seen here in the US much after the early 60’s.
I managed to find a nice Four By The Beatles EP complete with the cardboard picture sleeve at a thrift store for $5 several years ago though. I was extremely excited to find it, as at the time I was only interested in UK releases and had never seen one. I wasn’t even aware there were ANY US Beatles EP’s until then. Though I was focused solely on UK releases, I of course was not going to pass that up and discovering the true value of it certainly was a nice bonus. :)

[chrismcgovern]

Interesting to see The Beach Boys and Simon and Garfunkel had EP releases in the UK

[IndigoDavei]

One thing I've only recently discovered about the EP format is that, while it became less popular with labels based in England in the latter part of the '60s, it remained a much-favoured format well into the '70s for record labels based in Wales, such as Wren and Sain (often in preference to singles). Needless to say, this has nothing to do with The Beatles, or other internationally popular acts, but it is a comment on how the EP remained a useful format for some UK artists (including big-name Welsh acts like Meic Stevens, among others). To make this a more Beatle-y comment, I will just say I'm very fond of my BEP14 boxset! It's not like having the original Beatles EPs, of course, but it's a good thing to have.

[jesserussell]

I really love learning about the unreleased material by the Beatles especially the EP that was never released which would be really interesting to hear.

[hull]

Hamburg Tapes: Enjoyed this latest video esp. detail on lack of EP interest in the U.S. Would love to see a breakdown on The Hamburg Tapes, from Allan Williams taking them to Apple, additional tracks released in Germany, singles box set and very nice picture sleeves collectables singles from I think Canada, This is an overlooked area that has many different and sometimes misleading titles that is worthy of your excellent investigation and presentation.

[nicknikipediacaulkin]

Another great video, Andrew! I never knew about the cancelled EP so again you have added to my knowledge of Beatles recordings - thank you!

[classicrockcafe]

In the first decade of this century, a local shop displayed the complete set of the British EP's for sale. Only one copy of each. But I only had enough money for two, so I bought The Beatles' Hits and Million Sellers. If I see the newer Let It Be EP in vinyl, I will buy that too.

[jean-lucjanot]

EPs were very popular in France for all artists until 1967. The Beatles' last EP here (apart from M M Tour) was Side A: Strawberry Fields Forever / And Your Bird Can Sing
Side B: Penny Lane /I'm Only Sleeping
The first single was Hello Goodbye / I am the Walrus with a very cheap cover. I missed the EPs so much!

[musicfan]

Thank you, Andrew! I am already looking forward to next week.👍👍

[thomascars]

I knew it was going to be the Million Sellers EP that would be the topic of this video! Although I don’t own any EPs, with the exclusion of the 2014 RSD Long Tall Sally Mono EP, this was a really interesting video. Never fail to impress me, Andrew!

[normansaunders]

Really informative. Never knew the Golden Discs EP was so far advanced in the planning stages. The fact that Brian Epstein wasn't prepared to allow greed to cross the Atlantic is refreshing. Roll on next Week - Peter Mew's fastidious remix is a testament to George Martin's foresight in storing the individual tracks on 1" tapes.

[c-d]

Terrific info as usual, but I love how you ended this with the scratchy shaky trailer complete with fading and cue marks!!! Movie theaters had their own visual language. Thanks PA !!

[tyronerodgers]

Yes! Midnight Sunday/Monday Tokyo viewing! Cheers Andrew! 👍🏻

[PaulLea]

Your clips are always super accurate and entertaining Andrew... they look great too. This one is fine example of how to make video clips look great.

[scatteredfrog]

I first thought, "Oh, this is going to be about that Yellow Submarine EP!" I'm glad I was wrong!