Although it had originally been scheduled for 22 July 1963, the US label Vee-Jay finally released the Introducing The Beatles LP on this day.
It emerged a mere 10 days before Capitol's album Meet The Beatles!. Vee-Jay's intention to issue the album in 1963 was scuppered after a management shake-up at the company, and the release was cancelled.
The plans were revived once it was reported that Capitol planned a major promotional campaign for The Beatles. Vee-Jay directors changed their plans, and were forced into action by the label's financial problems.
The first editions of the LP were halted after Vee-Jay received a restraining order from Beechwood Music, Inc, who owned the US publishing rights to Love Me Do and PS I Love You. Although approximately 80,000 copies of the album had been sold, it was reissued without those two songs in early February.
Despite the problems, Introducing The Beatles spent nine weeks at the number two spot in the Billboard charts, held off by Meet The Beatles!. Vee-Jay continued pressing the LP until 15 October 1964, when a licensing agreement with Capitol expired, by which time it had sold approximately 1,300,000 mono copies and 41,000 stereo copies.
I have a "stereophonic" edition of "Introducing The Beatles" LP. It is excellent condition. It has "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I love you" on it. I have no intent to sell it but can anyone give me a ballpark figure of its worth?