1973 German pressing in near-mint condition.

First released in 1973, the so-called Blue Album brought together 28 highlights from The Beatles’ back catalogue, from their 1967 single ‘Penny Lane’/‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ to ‘Let It Be’. Like its red counterpart, The Beatles 1962-1966, the Blue Album was brought to production swiftly as a response to an illegal two-volume, 120-song bootleg titled Alpha Omega which had been issued earlier in 1973.

Alpha Omega had contained songs from The Beatles’ back catalogue, along with several songs from their solo careers. The set was marketed by a New Jersey company called Audio Tape Inc, and sold only via TV mail order. Apple quickly shut down the production and distribution of Alpha Omega, and brought out their own compilations.

Allen Klein drew up a list of songs to include on the Red and Blue albums, and offered to give the former Beatles the chance to veto the selection. Unlike 1962-1966, the Blue Album contained songs written by George Harrison and Ringo Starr, as well as those by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.