Issued in Canada on, or within a few days of, Monday, June 15, 1964. (A-side is credited to “DIE BEATLES” B-side is credited to The Beatles)
In the USA, Sie Liebt Dich / I’ll Get You (Swan 4182) had been issued more than three weeks earlier on May 21, 1964.
Capitol 72162 was the Beatles final single (er, Swan song!) on the original Capitol of Canada 72000 series. My first experience with the record was not until the early 1970s when I came across a copy in Ottawa (Arthurs Used Books And Records, Bank Street) that had a large X on the labels, drawn sloppily in magic marker. I instantly recognized the B side but I thought it was totally weird that they had issued a German version of She Loves You (which I found out later was recorded in France), in Canada!
Fred (Young) also remembers the single: "This 45 to be one of the most coveted of the 72000 series Beatles singles, and is definitely the most peculiar. Why it was even issued in this country is a mystery to me, but I do have distinct recollections of hearing it on radio. It, along with Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand were regarded more as novelties than proper Beatles songs. Personally, I'm happy they only recorded the two!"
The record was mastered in Canada by RCA Victor Studios in Toronto, and pressed by RCA Victor in Smiths Falls, Ontario. Only a single pressing run was made for the disc and all copies feature the same run-out information. An original estimate of 5000 copies pressed was listed in the Beatles Canadian Discography Part 1 book.
Amazingly, I had never even seen a copy in the 1960s. That record was not distributed widely across Canada. It remains one of the rarest Canadian Beatles singles. For example, I never heard the record played on radio in Canada during the 1960s.
Where did this odd 45 chart? Well, not too many places in Canada. Regina, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, Manitoba were a few of the rare places where it was listed on local radio station charts / surveys.
NOTE - Even though the record was listed on some charts at the time of release it is doubtful that the record got much airplay given it had already been in a hit in Canada.
This German song really ends the classic period of Canadian Beatles releases that began with the German record My Bonnie (Decca, Canada, 1962). In 1980 the track was reissued in Canada on the Rarities vinyl album (Capitol SHAL-12060), possibly on Capitol 8 track tape cartridge (8XA-12060 - * eegads, was this the last Beatles 8 track tape in Canada? I have only come across US 8 track tapes not Canadian ones), and on Capitol cassette tape (4XA-12060). However, it was not really a stereo release as stated.
By the way, the Rarities album on any original format is actually now a rarity today as it is getting on for 35 years ago since it was issued. Ouch.
Our occasional series of 50th. anniversary tributes began in 2012 with our tribute to the Canadian Decca My Bonnie 45. And we sure hope you have enjoyed them! We hope to be able to keep this series going as the calendar rolls forward.