SDR cassette tapes are another interesting and unique aspect of collecting The Beatles music on Canadian release. The SDR series was short lived and was soon to be replaced by the XDR series of cassette tapes. Perhaps it was a case of "not invented here" ... as the US Capitol parent once again called the shots by changing the name of the Canadian technology.
"In 1982, Capitol Records-EMI of Canada developed the "SDR", or Super Dynamic Range, process of duplicating their cassette releases, which resulted in higher-quality audio. SDR was later adopted by Capitol's American operations that same year and renamed "XDR" (eXtended Dynamic Range). SDR/XDR cassette releases are most noted for the short burst of tones ascending in frequency at the beginning and end of the cassette before and after the program material, the tones being a part of the process."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_RecordsThe following SDR tapes have been documented and would all have been manufactured by Capitol of Canada at their Mississauga, Ontario plant during 1982:
Capitol 4XT-6054 Twist And Shout and Capitol 4XT-6063 Long Tall Sally
(this was the first time these two titles had been issued on cassette and they are stereo mixes)
Capitol 4XT-2653 Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Capitol 4XW-160 and 4XW-161 The Beatles (aka The White Album .. although the cover is now black !)
Capitol 4N-12199 Reel Music
Capitol 4XO-12246 20 Greatest Hits
Capitol 4N-16020 Rock 'N' Roll Music - Volume 1 and Capitol 4N-16021 Rock 'N' Roll Music - Volume 2
Capitol 4N-16055 Dark Horse (George Harrison) and Capitol 4N-16069 Rock 'N' Roll (John Lennon)
There may have been a few other SDR cassettes from this time and we will keep this page updated as new information is determined. The SDR cassettes are difficult to find nowadays in good playable condition with their original inlay cards and shells ... but Beatles collectors should keep an eagle eye out for these as they are a very interesting chapter in Canadian Beatles history.