THE BEATLES "THE CAPITOL ALBUMS VOL. 2" includes the four albums released by Capitol Records in 1965: The Early Beatles, Beatles VI, Help! (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) & the American version of Rubber Soul. All tracks have been digitally remastered and are presented in both Stereo and Mono. Many tracks appear in stereo for the very first time on CD. Special packaging includes original album cover artwork and a 60-page collector’s booklet with rare photos.

The Early Beatles: original release: March 22, 1965.
Billboard LP chart: peak at #43.
RIAA certified: 1,000,000 units sold.

Beatles VI: original release: June 14, 1965.
Billboard LP chart: #1 for 6 weeks.
RIAA certified: 1,000,000 units sold.

Help!: original release: August 13, 1965.
Billboard LP chart: #1 for 9 weeks.
RIAA certified: 3,000,000 units.

Rubber Soul: original release: December 6, 1965.
Billboard LP chart: #1 for 6 weeks.
RIAA certified: 4,000,000 units.

The first pressings of VI and Rubber Soul have incorrect mono versions.
The mono tracks on those are actually the stereo tracks mixed down to mono.
These mixdowns were made to test the stereo tracks balance and were accidentally sent to Sterling Sound (the mastering company) for these two CD's.

A number of box sets & sampler discs made available prior to the April 11th release date (a result of an earlier UK release date as well as pre-orders shipping early & advance copies) have the incorrect monaural/mono mixes on (Beatles VI) & (Rubber Soul). While the original mono mixes were intended, these sets only have mono fold-downs of the stereo versions. It was initially unknown whether this error was restricted to one pressing plant, or all pressings, but now seems to involve all sets prior to the issue of the "corrected" version. A third party mastering facility incorrectly sent stereo to mono mix downs to be pressed rather than the vintage mono mixes.
The folded down stereo mixes are actually the stereo mix consolidated into both speakers. Although the mixes are technically in mono (the sound in both right & left channels is the same), they won't be the actual mono mixes released by Capitol in 1965. There are some very noticeable differences, one of the main draws for collectors.
Capitol was quick to correct the mistake within the factory run, but said that they will be issuing information to consumers (at the time of release) who received the incorrect mono mixes on how to get replacements. The corrected version can be identified by a sticker on the shrink wrap with the identifier "SK1" at the end product code. It is starting to seem as if all sets without the "SK1" product code are wrong. Although it was initially assumed that not all the original issues were wrong, that while buying a set with "SK1" assured correct copies, the lack of it did not assure incorrect copies. This now seems untrue, there have been no known cases of someone getting the correct mono mixes on sets that lack the "SK1" product code. Consumers are letting each other know through web postings where to find correct sets, which are being called "SK1's" & they are referring to sets without that product code as "foldies". The 'fake' mono versions are easy to spot: if the mono " I'm looking through you " (track 21 on Rubber Soul) has a false start, it is not the correct mono version. The false start on "I'm Looking Through You" is exclusive to the Capitol stereo master.
The original mono version of " Norwegian Wood" contains a cough, between the lines " She asked me to stay and told me to sit anywhere"(cough)"So I looked around and noticed there wasn't a chair", at about 0.38.

©1965, 2006 Apple Corps Ltd under exclusive license to Capitol Records, Inc.
℗1963, 1964, 1965 EMI Records Ltd under exclusive license to Capitol Records, Inc.

Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc.