STARLINE - The Beach Boys on 45

	Germany Capitol label club editions / exportprintings for Switzerland	└─  Back to main Germany page

Ex Libris - a Swiss book club based in Zürich - started selling vinyl records in 1952. At first original records were imported from England, France, and the U.S.. These were added to Swiss made sleeves. During the first 10 years they concentrated on classical music, jazz, local folk music, and schlager music. Rock 'n Roll, although pretty popular in the U.S. was non-existent. That changed in 1965, when Ex Libris started releasing popular albums and singles from major labels as well, the first pop album being an album from the Rolling Stones. It was a slow start, but in 1966 more and more releases from international artists appeared. For those interested: Ex Libris also released a Beach Boys album, a compilation: Surf Beat Fun (EMI Capitol 25049, Club Edition). The cover is mostly similar to the familiar sleeve, but a few modifications (pictures replaced, different font and background colour) were made.

At the same time Ex Libris started importing and releasing  singles as well. The first one was - again - from the Rolling Stones (The Last Time / Play With Fire).  The pressing and printing of club editions singles ocurred from early 1965 until early 1967. At first extra effort was made for this speciall issues; alternative covers were designed, or at least a sleeve with a print was made. And, apart from the alternative catalogue number, the labels also mentioned "club edition" or "special edition". But from Summer 1966 on more and more the easier/cheaper route was taken, using a regular German issue with an additional sticker with the text " club edition". Stickers appeared in different shapes and sizes (and sometimes colour), the most common one being a big red round sticker. The record labels that mostly used this method were RCA, Decca, Ariola, Telefunken, Capitol, and Reprise.

For your information: the Club Editions Ex Libris can also be recognised on a price sticker mentioning "Fr. 3.90". Mind you, at the time one couldn't find a cheaper single then at these Record shops.

Single	A-side	B-side
K 923 137: Barbara Ann / Girl Don't Tell Me - 1966 - Party pictures cover; large font; - Capitol and EMI logo in grey frame; club edition
- Some club editions can also be identified by a simple price sticker mentioning Fr. 3.90, like this one.
K 923 183: Sloop John B. / You're So Good To Me - 1966 - Capitol and EMI logo in green; club edition - The first series for which the regular German sleeve was used, the catalogue number wiped away with a black beam, the export catalogue number printed next to the old one, and an additional text below the green frame saying "CLUB EDITION 20048". Tha label mentions "CLUB EDITION 20048" at 4 'o clock
K 923 183: Sloop John B. / You're So Good To Me - 1966 - Capitol and EMI logo in green; club edition - The second series for which again the regular German sleeve was used. This time a red-round sticker - mentioning "CLUB EDITION 20048" - was placed on top of the green frame. - Probably the first series sold better than expected, and as apparently of the regular German issue a lot of copies were still available, this cheaper solution was introduced. This theory is strengthened by the fact that the 45 with the regular German label (without Club Edition notation) was used.
K 923 183: Sloop John B. / You're So Good To Me - 1966 - Capitol and EMI logo in green; club edition - A third series for which - like the seond one - the regular German sleeve was used, as well as the regular German label. Instead of a round sticker a red-rectangle sticker - mentioning "CLUB EDITION EX LIBRIS 20048" - was used.
K 23 264: God Only Knows / Wouldn't It Be Nice - 1966 - By now the sticker had become the standard to make German pressings suitable for the Swiss export. For this release the regular German sleeve was used, as well as the regular German label. The red-round sticker mentions "CLUB EDITION EX LIBRIS 20061".
K 23 328: Good Vibratrions / Let's Go Away For A While - 1967 - The last Beach Boys 45 that was used for export to Switzerland as well. Regular German sleeve, and regular German label. The red-round sticker mentions "CLUB EDITION 20067 Fr. 3.90".