Video: 'The Beatles - 1962 - 1966 "The Red Album" (1973)' (26 videos)

(Saturday, April 14, 1973) — 1962–1966, also known as the “Red Album,” 1967–1970, also known as the “Blue Album,” two compilation albums of hit songs by the English rock music band The Beatles, spanning the years indicated in the title, debuted on today’s Billboard Top 200 albums chart at #94 and #97 respectively.

The albums were instigated by Apple Records manager Allen Klein shortly before he was dismissed from his position. Even though the group had success with cover versions of songs, particularly “Twist and Shout,” the compilation albums contain only songs composed by The Beatles.

Video: 'The Beatles - The Beatles 1967 - 1970 (Full Album)' (28 clips)

The compilations were created by Apple and EMI/Capitol Records in response to a bootleg collection titled Alpha Omega, which had been sold on television the previous year. Print advertising for the two records made a point of declaring them “the only authorized collection of The Beatles.”

The success of the two official double LP compilations inspired Capitol’s repackaging of the Beach Boys’ 1960s hits, starting with the 1974 album Endless Summer.