THE HOLLYRIDGE STRINGS/THE NEW BEATLES SONGBOOK ST 2429 (-66) UK

 One of many many issues titled or subtitled "The Beatles Songbook" or "The Beatles New Songbook". The one here belonging to a serie recorded by Hollyridge Strings, a Capitol studio orchestra specializing in making easy listening versions of contemporary pop music. These were popular back then and many of them reached healthy sales around the world, especially the six Beatles ones, of which this was the third. Normally not my cup of tea, but getting a Beatles related solid UK first press on Capitol at a very good price was more than I could resist. And how does it sound? Rather good actually. Even if string driven covers of Fab Four songs wasn't high on my want list I have to admit this is very well done and not all wrong as background to smooth chores. Arrangements soft and caressing, carried by smashing stereo mix and audio. It doesn't make me wanna jump up and down and scream with joy, but can sure have a calming effect in hectic times. Premiere US on Capitol (T/ST 2429). Also issued on vinyl in Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. US 8-track on Capitol (8M 2429) as "The Beatles Songbook Vol. III". To my knowledge never released like this on CD, though most of the songs have showed up on various CD compilations through the years. First UK (also as mono T 2429) had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover.