Having great success reissuing old material, Vee Jay tried on 27 April 1964, reissuing 'Love Me Do' / 'P.S. I Love You' (Tollie 9008). Although Vee Jay had lawsuits against them, they continued to press new records furiously. 'Love Me Do' reached #1 in all three charts. By this time, Capitol's 'The Beatles Second Album', featuring both sides of the 'She Loves You' single, was topping the charts. Since Swan's 'She Loves You' single was also selling well, they then issued the German version of the song, 'Sie Liebt Dich' / 'I'll Get You' (Swan 4182) on 21 May 1964. This had been recorded on 29 January 1964, just before the Beatles came to America. All 'Sie Liebt Dich' singles have "Don't Drop Out" on the label. The single just made it into Billboard's top 100 at #97, not bad for a foreign language record. Vee Jay's legal problems didn't go away.
Capitol considered that Vee Jay had violated their agreement by altering and repackaging 'Introducing The Beatles'. As a result, a trial without jury took place on 15 July 1964 in which Vee Jay pointed out that their 9 April 1964 license did not mention that they could not repackage the Beatle product they had. Capitol disagreed, saying that Vee Jay had breached the agreement by presenting the same album in different packaging. On 23 July 1964, Judge Mervyn A. Aggeler announced: "The court finds in favor of Vee Jay Records on all the issues raised in their cross complaint. Vee Jay Records has the unqualified right to advertise and promote the covered masters in any cover, jacket or package which Vee Jay Records, Inc., deems appropriate. Vee Jay has the unqualified right to advertise, sell and promote the long playing album, in the type of jacket, a copy of which is attached to Vee Jay Records complaint, marked as Exhibit C." "Capitol Records and Beechwood Music, Inc., are permanently restrained from declaring that promotion of the long playing record 'Introducing The Beatles', in the redesigned jacket, constitutes or will constitute a breach in contract, the License Agreement and Mechanical License contracts both dated April 9, 1964."
As a result, Vee Jay were allowed to release Beatles records they had masters of in any form until 15 October 1964. After that time, they no longer had the right to issue any Beatles product. On 10 August 1964 Vee Jay issued four Beatles singles on their 'Oldies 45' label, but none of these reissues registered in the charts. They were 'Do You Want To Know A Secret?' / 'Thank You Girl' (OL 149), 'Please Please Me' / 'From Me To You' (OL 150), 'Love Me Do' / 'P.S. I Love You' (OL 151) and 'Twist And Shout' / 'There's A Place' (OL 152). In September 1964, Vee Jay issued an album featuring interviews with the Beatles and John Lennon. This album, 'Hear the Beatles Tell All' (VJ PRO 202), consisted of Dave Hull interviewing all four Beatles, and Jim Steck speaking with John. It was a Dunhill Production, with a score by Lou Adler and percussion done by Hal Blaine. It proved to be the only album that Capitol could not control. Capitol countered with the double LP 'The Beatles Story' (STBO-2222) on 23 November 1964.
But, after a summer that musically belonged to Capitol and United Artists, Vee Jay decided it was time for another Beatles package. Again utilizing their tracks from 'Introducing the Beatles', Vee Jay repackaged them in a double album with 'The Golden Hits of the Four Seasons' and issued 'The Beatles vs. The Four Seasons' on 1 October 1964. The front cover featured new drawings of the Beatles and the Four Seasons, plus listings of all the songs. The back cover featured a 'scorecard'. The album was issued with a poster which featured the drawings of the Beatles from the VJ 587 picture sleeve, but the album only reached #142 in the charts.
These days this album is a real collector's item with prices from $500.- till $5000.-. For all those collectors with not so much money, here are the tracks and if you click on the illustrations you can read te inside information.
1964 Double LP Vee-Jay DXS 30
Disc 1 - The Beatles Greatest Hits
I Saw Her Standing There
Misery
Anna (Go To Him)
Chains
Boys
Ask Me Why
Please Please Me
Baby It's You
Do You Want To Know A Secret
A Taste Of Honey
There's A Place
Twist And Shout
Disc 2 - The Four Seasons Greatest Hits
Sherry
I've Cried Before
Marlena
Soon (I'll Be Home Again)
Ain't That A Shame
Walk Like a man
Connie-O
Big Girls Don't Cry
Starmaker
Candy Girl
Silver Wings
Peanuts
Having great success reissuing old material, Vee Jay tried on 27 April 1964, reissuing 'Love Me Do' / 'P.S. I Love You' (Tollie 9008). Although Vee Jay had lawsuits against them, they continued to press new records furiously. 'Love Me Do' reached #1 in all three charts. By this time, Capitol's 'The Beatles Second Album', featuring both sides of the 'She Loves You' single, was topping the charts. Since Swan's 'She Loves You' single was also selling well, they then issued the German version of the song, 'Sie Liebt Dich' / 'I'll Get You' (Swan 4182) on 21 May 1964. This had been recorded on 29 January 1964, just before the Beatles came to America. All 'Sie Liebt Dich' singles have "Don't Drop Out" on the label. The single just made it into Billboard's top 100 at #97, not bad for a foreign language record. Vee Jay's legal problems didn't go away.
Capitol considered that Vee Jay had violated their agreement by altering and repackaging 'Introducing The Beatles'. As a result, a trial without jury took place on 15 July 1964 in which Vee Jay pointed out that their 9 April 1964 license did not mention that they could not repackage the Beatle product they had. Capitol disagreed, saying that Vee Jay had breached the agreement by presenting the same album in different packaging. On 23 July 1964, Judge Mervyn A. Aggeler announced: "The court finds in favor of Vee Jay Records on all the issues raised in their cross complaint. Vee Jay Records has the unqualified right to advertise and promote the covered masters in any cover, jacket or package which Vee Jay Records, Inc., deems appropriate. Vee Jay has the unqualified right to advertise, sell and promote the long playing album, in the type of jacket, a copy of which is attached to Vee Jay Records complaint, marked as Exhibit C." "Capitol Records and Beechwood Music, Inc., are permanently restrained from declaring that promotion of the long playing record 'Introducing The Beatles', in the redesigned jacket, constitutes or will constitute a breach in contract, the License Agreement and Mechanical License contracts both dated April 9, 1964."
As a result, Vee Jay were allowed to release Beatles records they had masters of in any form until 15 October 1964. After that time, they no longer had the right to issue any Beatles product. On 10 August 1964 Vee Jay issued four Beatles singles on their 'Oldies 45' label, but none of these reissues registered in the charts. They were 'Do You Want To Know A Secret?' / 'Thank You Girl' (OL 149), 'Please Please Me' / 'From Me To You' (OL 150), 'Love Me Do' / 'P.S. I Love You' (OL 151) and 'Twist And Shout' / 'There's A Place' (OL 152). In September 1964, Vee Jay issued an album featuring interviews with the Beatles and John Lennon. This album, 'Hear the Beatles Tell All' (VJ PRO 202), consisted of Dave Hull interviewing all four Beatles, and Jim Steck speaking with John. It was a Dunhill Production, with a score by Lou Adler and percussion done by Hal Blaine. It proved to be the only album that Capitol could not control. Capitol countered with the double LP 'The Beatles Story' (STBO-2222) on 23 November 1964.
But, after a summer that musically belonged to Capitol and United Artists, Vee Jay decided it was time for another Beatles package. Again utilizing their tracks from 'Introducing the Beatles', Vee Jay repackaged them in a double album with 'The Golden Hits of the Four Seasons' and issued 'The Beatles vs. The Four Seasons' on 1 October 1964. The front cover featured new drawings of the Beatles and the Four Seasons, plus listings of all the songs. The back cover featured a 'scorecard'. The album was issued with a poster which featured the drawings of the Beatles from the VJ 587 picture sleeve, but the album only reached #142 in the charts.
1964 Double LP Vee-Jay DXS 30