Special Capitol Of Canada Promotional Or Unusual Records:
(* developed by Piers Hemmingsen, *** last updated Monday, June 24, 2002 ***)
The following details the special promotional or unusual vinyl releases issued by Capitol of Canada between 1962 and 1975. Not too many releases appear to have been issued this way but it is interesting to note the artists that Capitol put some effort into promoting (eg Helen Shapiro, Sylvia Tyson, etc.)
CC-PRO-1 Any further information on this promotional disc would be appreciated.
Possibly by George Formby, Ruby Murray, or Matt Monro ?
CC-PRO-2 Helen Shapiro (Scan the sleeve and label) – one-sided LP from April 1962
(this is essentially an interview from England which was possibly done at the BBC;
interspersed are selections of her recent hits of the time)
The sleeve is one-sided and has a picture of Helen as well as a list of here recent 45s
On Capitol. The sleeve is monochrome on light paper stock.
At least three Helen Shapiro 45s were issued by Capitol in Canada prior to the launch of her discs
on the 72000 series. These used the USA catalogue numbering and included:
Capitol 4627 "You Don’t Know / Marvellous Lie" Release date 1961
Capitol 4662 "Walkin’ Back To Happiness / Kiss N’ Run" Release date 1962
Capitol 4735 "Tell Me What He Said / I Apologize" Release date – April 1962
I found this copy in Toronto in the 1990s and gave it to Paul White who told me that his wife was a real Helen Shapiro fan ! The front cover has a "coffee cup ring stain" - no doubt from the coffee cup of a radio DJ !
CC-PRO-3 Freddy Gardner (Scan the sleeve and label) - one sided LP
"A Tribute to Freddy Gardner, a special album produced for Canadian Radio Stations and TV Programming, Not for Sale". "Besides the Inclusion of a number of Freddy Gardner Recordings, There are special interviews with his family, musicians and show-business personalities who knew Freddy well." Timing: 24:11
This copy came from the collection legendary Vancouver DJ Jack Cullen.
PROMO 100 "(Meet) The Lively Ones" (promotional LP issued July 1965)
On the front sleeve is printed "Specially Designed For Radio And TV Programming" as well as "Designed And Produced By Paul White" and there are various pictures of the artists. The rear sleeve has the track listing, playing times, as well as pictures and bios of each artist on the LP.
The sleeve is monochrome on light paper stock (like the Helen Shapiro promo disc CC-PRO2).
Side 1 (13:40):
1. Diane Leigh "Won’t Be A Lonely Summer" (2:20)
2. Robbie Lane "Where Has Love Gone" (2:25)
3. Wes Dakus "Come On Down" (2:15)
4. The Big Town Boys "I Love Her So" (2:20)
5. The Sparrows "Hard Times With The Law" (2:10)
6. The Staccatos "If This Is Love" (2:10)
Side 2 (13:36):
1. The Sparrows "Meet Me After Four" (1:45)
2. The Big Town Boys "I Wonder" (2:07)
3. The Staccatos "Small Town Girl" (2:57)
4. Diane Leigh "Day After Lonely Day" (2:07)
5. Barry Allen "It’s Alright With Me Now" (2:15)
6. Robbie Lane "Sandy" (2:25)
From summer 1966:
Beatles Lp Yesterday & Today "Butcher Cover" - Bruce Spizer owns one of a handful of surviving copies of the Canadian Butcher prototype ( a beautiful colour copy of this sleeve appears in Bruce Spizer's excellent book "The Beatles Story On Capitol Records: Volume Two") as prepared for release in Canada by Paul White. No copies were ever made commercially avcailable in Canada - it never got beyond the printers proof stage. The "butcher cover" was later featured on the inside of the Beatles Capitol Lp "Rarities".
Promo 45 From early 1967:
Beatles Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever 45 – Steve Clifford has this on his web site; this is on an all white label as opposed to the US copy which is on the light green Capitol promo label. This promo version has the slightly longer horn solo at the ending of Penny Lane. This version later appeared on the "Rarities" Lp.
SPRO-103 Promo LP From 1973:
LP Special Promotional LP SPRO-103 Various Artists "Summer Canadian Singles Festival / Festival Canadien D'Ete Des 45 Tours"
This was produced to showcase the series of Canadian artists who were releasing 45s in 1973 on both the Capitol and Pathe labels. The disc uses the orange Capitol label that was new at the time. The cover mentions intros and times for each intro but my copy has no recorded intros before the songs.
Side 1:
1. Anne Murray "Send A Little Love My Way"
2. Bob McBride "Treasure Song"
3. Flying Circus "Jabber Jabber"
4. Bill King "Canada"
5. Pepper Tree "Put A Smile On Your Face"
6. Edward Bear "Walking On Back"
Side 2:
1. Tommy Graham "My Happy Song"
2. New Potatoes "Thinking Only Of You"
3. Skipper "Down On The Flat Rock (Beside The Lake)"
4. Suzanne Stevens "Le Soleil"
5. Martin Peltier "Ma Guitare Sur Les Dos"
6. Lise Thouin "Peribonka"
7. Karo "Mon Rayon De Soleil"
SPRO 104 Promo 45 From 1975:
45 Sylvia Tyson Capitol SPRO-104 "Regine (mono) / Regine (stereo) (taken from her LP "Woman's World" (orange label, gatefold, June 9, 1975)
* this promo 45 was issued on a white label
Any other information on special promotional releases would be appreciated (please email babs@istar.ca)
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