A unique feature of Japanese LPs
is a fragile strip of paper called an "Obi"
(pronounced oh'-bee; literally meaning "belt") wrapped
around the cover.The practice of wrapping an Obi around
an LP started many years before the Beatles releases and
continues up to the present day. The Obi is generally used as a marketing tool, and Obi designs are as varied as the LPs they decorate. Some Obis display attractive graphics and provide a list of the songs on the album or other information considered useful to the consumer. Other Obis simply display a marketing phrase meant to pique the viewer's interest. |
While usually found in a wraparound strip, there are
other versions of the obi that have occasionally been
used. In the early 1960s, a short-lived hankake
obi, or “half obi” was used. These were small strips of
paper that simply folded over the top of the
cover. These were problematic for retailers, as
they tended to easily fall off of the record. Some Toshiba/Odeon's Beatles LPs, There is order sheet on the back side of the Obi. |
Type-1 Hankake Obi |
Type-2 Half circle Obi |
Type-3 V shape Obi |
Type-4 Green Arrow Obi |
Type-5 Dark Blue Obi |
Type-1: "Hankake" Obi |
|
(April 1964 -
Oct 1964?) One of the characteristics of the Odeon Obis with the 7000 range numbers (from 7041 to 7600) is definitiely the dark blue "Hankake-Obi" (Obis draped from the top, not forming a loop), which is the oldest type. This type can be found only in three Beatles' albums and one omnibus album. |
|
It is made
from very thin paper stock. It is white in design with
dark blue Japanese text. It also features an Odeon logo,
catalogue number and price information. While most Japanese records feature local music, a lot of music fans there like foreign music, as well. The language barrier in Japan presented a problem – should foreign album covers be changed for Japanese albums? The solution was the obi, which means “belt” or “sash”. The obi is a strip of paper, usually about two inches wide, that wraps vertically around the album cover, containing information about the artist and album in Japanese. As these strips of paper were fragile and easily torn, they are often missing, especially since consumers in the 1950s and 1960s attached little significance to them. Finding Japanese records made prior to 1970 that still have the obi intact can be quite difficult, and for some albums, nearly impossible. The inclusion of the obi can dramatically affect the price of some Japanese records, sometimes increasing the price by a factor of ten. |
MONO: ¥1,500+Toshiba Onko |
||
FRONT: TOP |
FRONT: BOTTOM |
BACK |
In the early 1960s, a
short-lived hankake obi, or “half obi” was used. These
were small strips of paper that simply folded over
(glued) the top of the cover. |
||
Odeon logo mark, catalog number "OP-XXXX", and price were printed on the front. | "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." was printed on the strip. |
STEREO: ¥1,800+Toshiba Onko |
||
FRONT: TOP |
FRONT: BOTTOM |
BACK |
In the early 1960s, a
short-lived hankake obi, or “half obi” was used. These
were small strips of paper that simply folded over
(glued) the top of the cover. |
||
The word "STEREO (in Japanese)", Odeon logo mark, catalog number "OP-XXXX", and price were printed on the front. | "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." was printed on the strip. |
Original Released Albums |
Beatles' Related Albums |
|
|
Type-2: "Dark Green or Light
Blue" Obi with the half circle on top |
||
(Nov. 1964? -
middle 1966?) After the type-1 was abandoned, Obis became the usual form. At first in dark green (OP-7179), and after 1965 in light blue. *Except Commemorative disks of the Beatles' visit in Japan (OP-7548, OP-7549) and one omnibus album. |
||
It
is light blue / white in design with light blue / Dark
Green background with the half circle on top. It also
features an Odeon logo, catalogue number and price
information. While most Japanese records feature local music, a lot of music fans there like foreign music, as well. The language barrier in Japan presented a problem – should foreign album covers be changed for Japanese albums? The solution was the obi, which means “belt” or “sash”. The obi is a strip of paper, usually about two inches wide, that wraps vertically around the album cover, containing information about the artist and album in Japanese. As these strips of paper were fragile and easily torn, they are often missing, especially since consumers in the 1950s and 1960s attached little significance to them. Finding Japanese records made prior to 1970 that still have the obi intact can be quite difficult, and for some albums, nearly impossible. The inclusion of the obi can dramatically affect the price of some Japanese records, sometimes increasing the price by a factor of ten. |
MONO: ¥1,500+NO Order Sheet
(Toshiba Onko) |
||||
FRONT: TOP |
FRONT: BOTTOM |
BACK | ||
Dark green / white OBI and priced ¥1,500 on obi strip. Odeon logo mark and catalog number "OR-XXXX" were printed on the front. | There is
no order sheet
on the back side of the Obi. "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." was printed on the strip. |
STEREO: ¥1,800+NO Order
Sheet (Toshiba Onko) |
||||
FRONT: TOP |
FRONT: BOTTOM |
BACK | ||
Dark green / white OBI and priced ¥1,800 on obi strip. The word "STEREO (in Japanese)", Odeon logo mark and catalog number "OP-XXXX" were printed on the front. | There is
no order sheet
on the back side of the Obi. "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." was printed on the strip. |
MONO: ¥1,500+NO Order Sheet
(Toshiba Onko) |
||||
FRONT: TOP |
FRONT: BOTTOM |
BACK | ||
Light blue / white OBI and priced ¥1,500 on obi strip. Odeon logo mark and catalog number "OR-XXXX" were printed on the front. | There is
no order sheet
on the back side of the Obi. "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." was printed on the strip. |
STEREO: ¥1,800 or ¥1,750+NO
order Sheet (Toshiba Onko) |
||||
FRONT: TOP |
FRONT: BOTTOM |
BACK | ||
Light blue / white OBI and priced ¥1,800 (or ¥1,750) on obi strip. The word "STEREO (in Japanese)", Odeon logo mark and catalog number "OP-XXXX" were printed on the front. | There is no order sheet on the back side of the Obi. |
Original Released Album (Dark Green Obi) |
Original Released Albums (Light Blue Obi) |
|
|
Beatles' Related Albums (Dark Green Obi) |
Beatles' Related Albums (Light Blue Obi) |
|
|
Original Released Albums | Beatles' Related Albums |
|
|
Type-3: "Light Blue" Obi (A.K.A.
"Sankaku (triangle)" or "V-shape" Obi) |
|
(middle 1966? - middle
1967?) The next issue was "V-shaped or Triangle in light blue Obi". This type was used in three Beatles' albums, "The Beatles' Story (OP-7553-4)", "Revolver (OP-7600)" and "Oldies (OP-8016)". But "Oldies" was issued the 'Yellow triangle' version. And the older released four albums, OR-7041, OR-7058, OP-7123 and OP-7179 were replaced this type. |
|
First
pressing had a light blue/white so called
"Sankaku"(triangle) or "V-shape" OBI and priced ¥1750 on
rear sleeve and obi strip. It also features an Odeon logo, catalogue number and price information. Only issued briefly in 1966 August till November. Soon, price changed ¥2,000 with different obi (green arrow obi) and different catalog number (OP-8443). While most Japanese records feature local music, a lot of music fans there like foreign music, as well. The language barrier in Japan presented a problem – should foreign album covers be changed for Japanese albums? The solution was the obi, which means “belt” or “sash”. The obi is a strip of paper, usually about two inches wide, that wraps vertically around the album cover, containing information about the artist and album in Japanese. As these strips of paper were fragile and easily torn, they are often missing, especially since consumers in the 1950s and 1960s attached little significance to them. Finding Japanese records made prior to 1970 that still have the obi intact can be quite difficult, and for some albums, nearly impossible. The inclusion of the obi can dramatically affect the price of some Japanese records, sometimes increasing the price by a factor of ten. |
MONO Type-1: ¥1,500+Order
Sheet (Blank)+Toshiba Onko |
||||
Light blue / white OBI and priced ¥1,500 on obi strip. Odeon logo mark and catalog number "OR-XXXX" were printed on the front. | Has a order sheet on the
back side of the Obi. But, No catalog number or price. "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." was printed at the order sheet. |
MONO Type-2: ¥1,500+Order
Sheet (Toshiba Onko) |
||||
FRONT: TOP |
FRONT: BOTTOM |
BACK | ||
Light blue / white OBI and priced ¥1,500 on obi strip. Odeon logo mark and catalog number "OR-XXXX" were printed on the front. | Has a order sheet on the
back side of the Obi. "¥1,500" and "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." was printed at the order sheet. |
STEREO
Type-1: with Order Sheet (Blank)+Toshiba Onko |
||||
FRONT: TOP |
FRONT: BOTTOM |
BACK | ||
Light blue / white OBI and priced ¥1,XXX on obi strip. The word "STEREO", Odeon logo mark and catalog number "OP-XXXX" were printed on the front. | Has a order sheet on the
back side of the Obi. But, No catalog number or price. "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." was printed at the order sheet. |
STEREO
Type-2: with Order Sheet+Toshiba Onko |
||||
FRONT: TOP |
FRONT: BOTTOM |
BACK | ||
Light blue / white OBI and priced ¥1,XXX on obi strip. The word "STEREO", Odeon logo mark and catalog number "OP-XXXX" were printed on the front. | Has a order sheet on the
back side of the Obi. "¥XXXX" and "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." were printed at the order sheet. |
The
Beatles' Story |
Revolver |
A
Collection Of Beatles Oldies |
OP-7553-4 | OP-7600 | OP-8016 |
STEREO |
STEREO |
STEREO |
1st. Press: 05/08/1966 | 1st. Press: 05/10/1966 | 1st. Press: 05/02/1967 |
Meet The Beatles! |
The Beatles No.2 (The Beatles' Second Album) |
A Hard Day's Night |
Beatles '65 (Beatles For Sale) |
OR-7041 | OR-7058 | OP-7123 | OP-7179 |
MONO |
MONO |
STEREO |
STEREO |
1966 |
1966 |
1966 |
1966 |
Type-4: "Arrow in Dark Green" Obi |
|
(June 1967? - Sptember
1968) In 1967, starting with "Oldies (OP-8016)", numbering for new Odeon LPs changed to the 8000 range numbers. So Obis were renew, A.K.A. "Arrow Obi" in dark green and with the same design as the Apple Obis. *Except "Oldies (OP-8016)" and "Sgt. Pepper (OP-8163)" *When Toshiba changed the record number format from OP-7*** to OP-8***, the commemorative disks of the Beatles' visit, "Vol.1 (OP-7548)" and "Vol.2 (OP-7549)", and "The Beatles Story (OP-7553-4)" were deleted. And these were not released until late 1969 when they changed the record number format again to AP-8***. |
|
Reissue had a
green / white so called "Arrow" OBI and priced ¥XXXX on
rear sleeve and obi strip. On June 1967, starting with "Oldies (OP-8016)", numbering for new Odeon LPs changed to the 8000 range numbers. So Obis were renew, A.K.A. Odeon "Arrow Obi" in green and with the same design as the Apple Obis. While most Japanese records feature local music, a lot of music fans there like foreign music, as well. The language barrier in Japan presented a problem – should foreign album covers be changed for Japanese albums? The solution was the obi, which means “belt” or “sash”. The obi is a strip of paper, usually about two inches wide, that wraps vertically around the album cover, containing information about the artist and album in Japanese. As these strips of paper were fragile and easily torn, they are often missing, especially since consumers in the 1950s and 1960s attached little significance to them. Finding Japanese records made prior to 1970 that still have the obi intact can be quite difficult, and for some albums, nearly impossible. The inclusion of the obi can dramatically affect the price of some Japanese records, sometimes increasing the price by a factor of ten. |
MONO: ¥1,700+Order Sheet
(Toshiba Onko) |
||||
FRONT: TOP |
FRONT: BOTTOM |
BACK | ||
Reissue had a green "arrow" OBI and priced ¥1,700 on rear sleeve and obi strip. | Has a order sheet on the
back side of the Obi. "¥1,700" and "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." was printed at the order sheet. |
STEREO: ¥2,000+Order Sheet (Toshiba Onko) | ||||
FRONT: TOP |
FRONT: BOTTOM |
BACK | ||
Reissue had a green "arrow" OBI and priced ¥2,000 on rear sleeve and obi strip. | Has a order sheet on the
back side of the Obi. "¥2,000" and "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." was printed at the order sheet. |
STEREO: ¥2,000+EMI/Odeon logo+Order Sheet (Toshiba Onko) | ||||
FRONT: TOP |
FRONT: BOTTOM |
BACK | ||
Reissue had a green
"arrow" OBI and priced ¥2,000 on obi strip. EMI/Odeon logo mark was printed on the front. |
Has a order sheet on the
back side of the Obi. "¥2,000" and "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." was printed at the order sheet. |
Meet The Beatles! | The
Beatles
No.2 (The Beatles' Second Album) |
The
Beatles
No.5 |
A
Hard Day's Night |
OR-8026 | OR-8027 | OR-8028 | OR-8147 |
MONO |
MONO |
MONO |
STEREO |
Reissue: 05/06/67 | Reissue: 05/06/67 | Reissue: 05/06/67 | Reissue: 05/06/67 |
Help! |
Rubber
Soul |
Beatles
'65 (Beatles For Sale) |
Revolver |
OP-8151 | OP-8156 | OP-8442 | OP-8443 |
STEREO | STEREO | STEREO | STEREO |
Reissue: 05/06/67 | Reissue: 05/06/67 | Reissue: 01/08/68 | Reissue: 01/08/68 |
Original Released Albums | Beatles' Related Albums |
|
|
Type-5: "Dark Blue" Obi
(September 1968 - ) |
|
The last of the Beatles'
Odeon LP is the Magical Mystery Tour, released in
December 1968. The only Obi with the 9000 range number (9728) is "Magical Mystery Tour". The upper half of this Obi is printed in dark blue, and the album title is in white. The lower half of the Obi was white and the song title was printed in dark blue. Note the unusual use of the EMI/Odeon logo on the front cover, back cover, and Obi. |
STEREO:
EMI/Odeon logo+Order Sheet (Toshiba Onko) |
||||
FRONT: TOP |
FRONT: BOTTOM |
BACK | ||
Dark Blue / white OBI and priced ¥XXXX on obi strip. The word "STEREO EMI/Odeon logo mark and catalog number "OP-XXXX" were printed on the front. | Has a order sheet on the
back side of the Obi. Catalog No, price "¥XXXX" and "Toshiba Musical Industries Ltd." were printed at the order sheet. |
Original Released Album |
Beatles Related Album |
|
|
Album
Title |
Release Date |
Catalog Number |
Symbol |
Price |
Company's
Name |
Obi |
||||||
Hankake |
Dark
Green or Light Blue Half Circle Top |
Light
Blue & V shape |
Arrow in Dark Green | Dark Blue |
Custom |
Order
Sheet |
||||||
Meet The Beatles! |
15/04/64 |
OR-7041 | F |
1,500 |
Toshiba Musical Industires Ltd. |
Yes | - |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1966 |
G |
1,500 |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
- |
- |
Yes (blank) |
|||
05/06/67 |
OR-8026 |
H |
1,700 |
- |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
- |
Yes |
||
The Beatles No.2 (The Beatles' Second Album) |
05/06/64 |
OR-7058 | F |
1,500 | Yes | - |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1966 |
G |
1,500 |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
- |
- |
Yes |
|||
05/06/67 | OR-8027 |
H |
1,700 |
- |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
- |
Yes |
||
A Hard Day's Night |
05/09/64 |
OP-7123 | F |
1,800 |
Yes | - |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1966 |
G |
1,800 |
- |
- |
Yes? |
- |
- |
- |
? |
|||
1967 |
H |
1,750 |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
- |
- |
Yes (blank) |
|||
05/06/67 | OP-8147 |
H |
2,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
- |
Yes |
||
Beatles '65 (Beatles For Sale) |
15/02/65 | OP-7179 | F |
1,800 |
- |
Yes (green) |
- |
- |
- |
Yes (error?) |
- |
|
1966 |
H |
1,750 |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
- |
- |
Yes (blank) |
|||
01/08/68 | OP-8442 |
H |
2,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Yes (EMI/Odeon) |
- |
- |
Yes |
||
The Beatles No.5 |
05/05/65 |
OR-7103 |
F |
1,500 |
- |
Yes (blue) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1966 |
G |
1,500 |
- |
Yes? |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|||
05/06/67 | OR-8028 |
H |
1,700 |
- |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
- |
Yes |
||
Help! |
15/09/65 |
OP-7387 |
G |
1,800 |
- |
Yes (blue) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1966 |
H |
1,750 |
- |
Yes (blue) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|||
05/06/67 | OP-8151 |
H |
2,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Yes |
- |
- |
Yes |
||
Rubber Soul |
15/03/66 |
OP-7450 |
G |
1,800 |
- |
Yes (blue) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
05/06/67 | OP-8156 |
H |
2,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
- |
Yes |
||
Album Title | Release Date | Catalog Number | Symbol | Price | Company's Name | Obi |
||||||
Hankake | Dark Green or Light Blue Half Circle Top | Light Blue & V shape | Arrow in Dark Green | Dark Blue | Custom | Order
Sheet |
||||||
The Beatles Vol.1 (Please Please Me) |
25/05/66 |
OP-7548 |
G |
1,800 |
Toshiba Musical Industires Ltd. |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
The Beatles Vol.2 (With The Beatles) |
30/05/66 |
OP-7459 |
G |
1,800 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
|
The Beatles' Story |
05/08/66 | OP-7553-4 | 3,500 |
- |
- |
Yes |
- |
- |
- |
Yes (blank) |
||
Revolver |
05/10/66 |
OP-7600 |
H |
1,750 |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
- |
- |
Yes |
|
01/08/68 |
OP-8443 |
H |
2,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Yes (EMI/Odeon) |
- |
- |
Yes |
||
A Collection Of Beatles
Oldies |
05/02/67 |
OP-8016 |
H |
2,000 |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
- |
- |
Yes |
|
Sgt.
Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band |
05/07/67 | OP-8163 |
H |
2,000 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Yes | Yes |
|
late
1967? |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Yes (revised) |
Yes |
|||||
Magical Mystery Tour |
05/12/68 | OP-9728 |
H |
2,200 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
Yes |
Album
Title |
Release
Date |
Catalog Number |
Symbol |
Price |
Company's
Name |
Obi |
||||||
Hankake |
Dark Green
or Light Blue Half Circle Top |
Light Blue
& V shape |
Arrow in
Dark Green |
Dark Blue |
Custom |
Order Sheet |
||||||
Fresh Sounds from Liverpool Vol.1 | 15/09/64 |
OR-7060 | F |
1,500 | Toshiba Musical Industires Ltd. |
Yes |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Fresh Sounds from Liverpool Vol.2 | 15/10/65 |
OR-7193 |
F |
1,500 |
- |
Yes (blue) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Fresh Sounds from Liverpool Vol.3 | 15/01/66 |
OR-7240 |
G |
1,500 |
- |
Yes (blue) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
95 Milloin People's
Popular Request Vol.1 |
05/11/64 |
OR-7071 |
F |
1,500 |
- |
Yes (green) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
95 Milloin People's
Popular Request Vol.2 |
15/07/65 |
OR-7150 |
G |
1,500 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Yes |
- |
|
95 Milloin People's
Popular Request Vol.3 |
15/11/65 |
OP-7420 | G |
1,800 |
- |
Yes (blue) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
The Hollyridge Strings
Song Book |
15/08/64 |
CP-7112 |
F |
1,800 |
Yes | - |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
The Hollyridge Strings Song
Book Vol.2 |
15?/07/65 |
CP-7238 |
F? |
1,800 |
Yes (blue) |
|||||||
The Hollyridge Strings
Song Book (Horse Cover) |
July/66 |
CP-7528 |
G |
1,800 |
- |
? |
? |
- |
- |
? |
? |
|
The Hollyridge Strings Greatest Songs By The Beatles |
10?/05/68 |
CP-8381 |
H |
2,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
- |
Yes |
|
The Hollyridge Strings Greatest Songs By The Beatles Vol.2 |
CP-8431 |
|||||||||||
Off The Beatle Track |
15/12/64 |
OP-7149 |
F |
1,800 |
- |
Yes (green) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Without The Beatles |
15?/04/66 |
OR-7244 |
G |
1,500 |
- |
Yes? |
- |
- |
- |
- |
? |
|
Sing a Song With The
Beatles |
Jul?1965 |
CP-7260 |
G |
1,800 |
- |
Yes (blue) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Stereo Screen Highlight
(Bube) |
Sep?/64 |
TP-7038 |
F |
1,500 |
- |
Yes (green) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
||
Stereo Screen Highlight
(Tank Cover) |
Dec?/65 |
TP-7082 |
G |
1,500 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
|
Piano Beatles Album |
25/01/70 |
OP-8842 |
H |
2,000 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Yes | - |
Yes |
...Go to "Obi History #2
(Apple) Guide page ...Go to "Obi History #3 (EMI/Odeon) Guide page |