The release of 'Introducing... The Beatles' in the United States was fraught with legal challenges and controversies. Originally scheduled for a July 1963 release, the album finally hit the shelves on January
10, 1964, just days before Capitol's 'Meet the Beatles!' Despite its initial success, 'Introducing... The Beatles' became the center of a series of legal disputes that highlighted the complexities of the music industry during the 1960s.
The Initial Non-Release and Legal Wrangling
'Introducing... The Beatles' was the first studio album by the Beatles to be released in the United States. However, its journey to the American market was anything but smooth. Vee-Jay Records, the label responsible for the album's release, faced significant financial difficulties and management shake-ups, which delayed the album's debut. The resignation of Vee-Jay's president, Ewart Abner, due to personal financial issues, further complicated matters.
The album's release was initially canceled, and Vee-Jay's contract with Transglobal, an EMI affiliate, was declared null and void. This decision allowed Capitol Records to step in and release 'Meet the Beatles!' just days after 'Introducing... The Beatles' finally hit the shelves. Despite these challenges, Vee-Jay was permitted to sell the album until late 1964, by which time it had sold over 1.3 million copies.
The Restraining Order and Version Two
Shortly after its release, 'Introducing... The Beatles' faced another legal hurdle. Capitol Records' publishing subsidiary, Beechwood Music, owned the American rights to two songs on the album, "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You." Without a proper license, Vee-Jay was served with a restraining order, halting further distribution of the album.
To circumvent this issue, Vee-Jay quickly reconfigured the album, removing the two contested songs and replacing them with "Ask Me Why" and "Please Please Me." This new version of the album was released in February 1964 and quickly rose to number two on the Billboard charts, where it remained for nine consecutive weeks.
Settlement and Legacy
The legal battles between Vee-Jay and Capitol Records continued throughout 1964, with injunctions being issued, lifted, and restored multiple times. Finally, in April 1964, the two labels reached a settlement, allowing Vee-Jay to continue selling the album until October of that year.
Despite the legal challenges, 'Introducing... The Beatles' remains a significant part of the Beatles' history. It marked the beginning of their American success and showcased the band's early sound. The album's legal battles also highlighted the complexities of the music industry and the fierce competition between record labels during the 1960s.
