Beatles Box Sets

Box sets have been released since the prime of Beatle Mania. They have become popular collectors’ items for Beatles' fans. Each box set is highly publicized and anticipated by hardcore Beatles fans.

The Beatles Story was released originally in Japan in August of 1966. It was released again under the British Apple label in 1969 and 1976 and included an 18 page book and was available in red and black.

Let it Be was released in May 1970 as a box set in over a dozen countries, including Britain, the United States, Germany, and Japan. The included book Get Back was 160 pages with hundreds of photos printed on glossy paper. This book became the most sought after piece of the box set and even today can sell for as much as $600.

In 1973, two box sets were released without the permission of the Beatles or Capitol Records. Alpha Omega I & II: The Story of the Beatles was sold by mail in the Midwestern United States. To counteract these sales, Capitol Records released The Beatles 1962-1966 followed by The Beatles 1967-1970. Later on George Harrison retained an attorney and on behalf of him, the Beatles, and Capitol Records filed a fifteen million dollar lawsuit against the company behind the fraud and American Broadcasting Company for advertising the music.

The Beatles Collection was released in November 1978 in the UK and in December 1978 in the United States. Included along with the official catalogue was a compilation called Rarities. Rarities was the singles that until then had not been included on their LPs. Included in the blue cardboard box was thirteen discs and a poster of the boys. Only 3000 were released in America and the suggested price was $132.98. Because of the small number of reproductions, the American box set sold out almost immediately. Japan issued The Beatles Collection as well. It included extra inserts, lyrics, and more posters.

In Christmas of 1981, The Complete Works of The Beatles was released. It contained an unheard of eighty LPs by both the band and individual members. It was released in Germany, British, and American editions. It came on a two shelf stand made out of wood. It sold for about $885 dollars. It was updated in 1982 to include Reel Music and Paul McCartney's Tug of War.

In 1988, The Beatles Box Set was released. It was released on choice of CD, vinyl, or cassette. It contained digitally mastered mixes released for the first time on CD in 1987. Mark Lewisohn wrote the accompanying book detailing every single track on the collection. The set was encased in a black oak roll top box.

In September of 2009, Stereo Box Set was released with digitally remastered versions and new issues of individual albums. It was the stereo debut of the first four albums on CD. The album quickly reached the top of the Billboard charts and stayed there for several weeks, showing that decades after their split, the Beatles staying power has made them a force in the music industry that will continually be one to be reckoned with.