Zapple Records

Apple Records

File:Apple Records logo.png The iconic green Granny Smith apple logo used by Apple Records
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Music industry
Founded	1968
Founder	The Beatles
Headquarters	London , United Kingdom
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Jeff Jones (CEO until 2024), Neil Aspinall (former CEO), Allen Klein (former manager)
Products	Music recordings, videos, films
Parent	Apple Corps Ltd
Website	www.applecorps.com

Apple Records is a British record label established by the Beatles in 1968 as a subsidiary of Apple Corps Ltd. It functioned as a creative platform for the Beatles both as a group and as solo artists, alongside musicians such as Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston. By the mid-1970s, the label's focus shifted predominantly to releasing solo work from former Beatles members. The company’s management transitioned from Allen Klein (1969–1973) to Neil Aspinall, who represented the Beatles and their estates; Aspinall retired in 2007, with Jeff Jones taking over until his departure on 21 October 2024.

1967–1969: formative period

Following the death of their manager Brian Epstein in 1967, the Beatles founded Apple Corps Ltd to create a tax-efficient corporate structure comprising multiple branches such as Apple Retail and Apple Publishing. Their first major endeavor after forming Apple Corps was producing the film Magical Mystery Tour under the Apple Films division. Apple Records was officially introduced in 1968 after the Beatles returned from India, operating as part of Apple Corps.

Although under contract with EMI, Apple Records arranged for distribution through EMI and its American affiliate Capitol Records up until 1976; however, EMI retained ownership rights over the Beatles’ master recordings. Releases in the UK bore Parlophone catalogue numbers, whereas US releases used Capitol’s numbering system. Apple Records holds ownership of all Beatles-related videos, film footage, and recordings by its signed artists. The label’s inaugural catalogue number, Apple 1, was assigned to a one-off pressing of Frank Sinatra’s "Maureen Is a Champ," produced as a personal gift for Ringo Starr’s wife Maureen.

Artists personally discovered or supported by the Beatles were signed to Apple Records and Apple Publishing, with many involving the band members directly in their recording sessions. Early signees included James Taylor, Mary Hopkin, Billy Preston, the Modern Jazz Quartet, the Iveys (who later became Badfinger), Doris Troy, and Liverpool native singer Jackie Lomax, who recorded George Harrison’s composition "Sour Milk Sea".

1969–1973: management under Klein

In 1969, seeking new financial guidance and management, John Lennon brought in Allen Klein—who managed The Rolling Stones—to oversee their affairs. Klein gained control of Apple with backing from three of the Beatles, while Paul McCartney opposed this move and advocated for his father-in-law Lee Eastman instead.

Klein implemented significant changes at Apple, shutting down divisions like Apple Electronics and scaling back Apple Records’ artist roster. Subsequent signings were largely driven by individual Beatles members, including Elephant’s Memory (associated with Lennon) and Ravi Shankar (linked to Harrison). After 1970, McCartney’s influence within the company diminished. Klein’s tenure managing Apple Corps lasted until his contract expired in March 1973. In May 1971, Apple Records reissued the Beatles’ pre-Apple Capitol catalogue using original UK album artwork.

1973–2007: Aspinall’s stewardship and reissues

Following Klein’s departure, Neil Aspinall took over management of Apple on behalf of the Beatles and their heirs. When Apple Records’ distribution agreement with EMI ended in 1976, control over the Beatles’ catalogue—including solo albums by Harrison, Lennon, and Starr—returned to EMI. Meanwhile, McCartney retained ownership of his solo recordings after renewing his contract with Capitol in 1975.

Between 1987 and 1988, EMI released all original UK Beatles albums worldwide on compact disc through Parlophone. Notably, Abbey Road had an earlier CD release in Japan (1983) on Toshiba-EMI without authorization from either the Beatles or Apple Corps. After resolving a protracted legal dispute with EMI in 1989, Apple advanced projects such as Live at the BBC and The Beatles Anthology series. Under Aspinall’s leadership, these ventures significantly boosted Apple Corps’ financial performance.

In 2006, Apple Records’ parent company became involved in a High Court case against Apple Inc., underscoring ongoing conflicts regarding brand identity and trademark rights (see Apple Corps v Apple Computer).

2007–present: Leadership under Jones and iTunes reissues

In 2007, Neil Aspinall, who had served as CEO for many years, stepped down and was replaced by American music executive Jeff Jones. The Beatles' recordings underwent remastering and were re-released in September 2009, followed by their availability on iTunes in November 2010. Apple Records issued its final album, Let it Roll: Songs by George Harrison, in June 2009. After Universal Music Group acquired EMI along with the Beatles' recorded works, Calderstone Productions was formed in 2012 to oversee the management of the Beatles' catalog.

In October 2024, Jeff Jones declared his intention to resign as Apple’s CEO.

Origins

During the 1960s, Paul McCartney developed an appreciation for Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte and became a collector of his work. In 1967, a friend gifted McCartney Magritte’s painting “Le Jeu De Mourre,” which depicts a green apple accompanied by the words Au Revoir. This artwork served as the inspiration for the distinctive Apple Records logo. McCartney retains ownership of this 1966 piece.

Apple label

Typical Apple album and single labels showcased a vivid green Granny Smith apple on the A-side, with a cross-sectional apple image on the B-side. This green apple motif was revived during the 1990s for Beatles CD editions following initial releases on Parlophone CDs.

For the US version of the Beatles' Let It Be album, a red Granny Smith apple was used instead of green. This variation occurred because United Artists Records handled manufacturing and distribution rather than Capitol Records; the red apple served to distinguish this contractual difference. The red apple motif also appeared on the album’s back cover and on the 2009 remastered release. When Capitol’s parent company EMI acquired United Artists Records in the late 1970s, it gained American rights to the Let It Be soundtrack as well as earlier United Artists Beatles soundtracks such as 1964's A Hard Day's Night.

Additional label variations include George Harrison’s triple LP All Things Must Pass, which featured orange apples on discs one and two and a jar label marked Apple Jam on disc three; black-and-white apples appeared on John Lennon’s John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Yoko Ono’s Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band releases; Ringo Starr’s single "Back Off Boogaloo" displayed a blue apple; and Harrison’s Extra Texture (Read All About It) used a partially eaten cartoon apple symbolizing Apple Records’ decline. Starr’s compilation Blast from Your Past included a red apple logo. In 1971, Lennon's Imagine and Ono's Fly incorporated apples featuring their portraits; similar designs appeared on Ono's 1973 album Approximately Infinite Universe and related singles.

Zapple Records

Zapple Records, an Apple subsidiary overseen by Barry Miles, a close associate of McCartney, was created to release spoken word and experimental material as an inexpensive label resembling a magazine format. Its operations lasted only from February through June 1969. Although several projects were announced and recording sessions held, only two albums—both solo Beatles releases—were issued under Zapple. Two other completed albums were released by different labels after Zapple’s closure.

The label debuted with John Lennon and Yoko Ono's avant-garde release Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions (Zapple 1) alongside George Harrison's experimental record Electronic Sound (Zapple 2). A Richard Brautigan spoken word album was prepared as Zapple 3, with test pressings produced; however, it was shelved when Allen Klein shut down the label prior to release. This material eventually surfaced as Listening to Richard Brautigan on Harvest Records, EMI’s US branch.

Early Zapple sessions in January 1969 included field recordings of poets such as Ken Weaver and Charles Olson. Spoken word albums by poets Lawrence Ferlinghetti (Zapple 4) and Michael McClure were recorded but never released. A planned UK performance by comedian Lenny Bruce remained unfinished. Initial promotional materials also mentioned contributors like cellist Pablo Casals. Author Ken Kesey recorded impressions of London that were never issued. Barry Miles had ambitions to feature world leaders on Zapple releases; however, Allen Klein closed the label in June 1969, reportedly with John Lennon’s support.

Artists

• Badfinger (initially known as the Iveys) – After Beatles' road manager Mal Evans submitted their demos and received endorsement from McCartney, Harrison, and Lennon, they were signed to Apple. They scored multiple top 10 hits in both the UK and US, including McCartney's composition "Come and Get It," and produced five albums under the Apple label.
• Black Dyke Mills Band – This brass ensemble from northern England was hired by McCartney to record the "Thingummybob"/"Yellow Submarine" single near their Bradford base.
• Brute Force (Stephen Friedland) – Harrison attempted to release his track "King of Fuh" as a single on Apple; however, EMI rejected it due to its risqué double meaning. Apple pressed a limited number of copies internally; the song later appeared on the 2010 compilation Come and Get It: The Best of Apple Records.
• Elastic Oz Band – Issued a one-time Lennon-Ono-produced single titled "God Save Us" to support Oz magazine’s legal fight; featured Bill Elliot, who would later join Harrison’s Dark Horse Records act Splinter.
• Elephant's Memory – Served as the backing group for Lennon and Ono while also releasing their own material, including contributions to the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack.
• Chris Hodge – Discovered by Ringo Starr; released two singles through Apple with limited distribution within the UK.
• Mary Hopkin – Found via British television and recommended by Twiggy; early works produced by McCartney included hits like "Those Were the Days" and the Eurovision song "Knock, Knock Who's There?"; she released two studio albums.
• Hot Chocolate – Issued a reggae rendition of "Give Peace A Chance" on Apple; later achieved greater commercial success following their time with the label.
• Jackie Lomax – A Liverpudlian singer connected to the Beatles through manager Brian Epstein; recorded the Harrison-produced album Is This What You Want? in 1969 with contributions from Starr and McCartney. His debut single "Sour Milk Sea," penned by Harrison, featured all three Beatles.
• Modern Jazz Quartet – Already established before joining Apple; released two albums on the label in collaboration with Yoko Ono as producer.
• Yoko Ono – Recorded extensively alongside Lennon, issuing numerous singles and albums under his musical direction.
• David Peel and the Lower East Side – Political folk musician introduced to Apple by Lennon.
• Billy Preston – Participated in Beatles sessions in 1969; signed as a solo artist with Harrison producing. His notable releases include the hit single "That's The Way God Planned It" and two albums featuring collaborations with Harrison, Clapton, Starr, among others.
• Radha Krishna Temple (London) – The UK branch of the Hare Krishna movement; signed by Harrison who produced successful singles like "Hare Krishna Mantra" and their 1971 self-titled album.
• Ravi Shankar – Indian classical maestro introduced by Harrison in 1971; Apple issued his Raga soundtrack and live album In Concert 1972.
• Ronnie Spector – Collaborated previously with Phil Spector; Harrison co-wrote, co-produced, and performed on her only Apple single "Try Some, Buy Some."
• The Sundown Playboys – A French-language Cajun band from Louisiana; their single was brought to Apple by Starr.
• John Tavener – Classical composer connected through Starr’s personal network.
• James Taylor – Began his career with an Apple LP featuring collaboration with McCartney.
• Trash (formerly White Trash) – Signed by Tony Meehan; their second single was a UK-charting cover of "Golden Slumbers."
• Doris Troy – American soul singer linked with Harrison and Preston; released one album and two singles on Apple with Starr contributing.
• Lon and Derrek Van Eaton – Signed by Harrison in 1971 who produced their debut single "Sweet Music"; Starr also participated in their 1972 album Brother.

Apple additionally issued soundtracks such as Come Together and the US version of El Topo, along with Phil Spector’s Christmas compilation and the multi-artist The Concert for Bangla Desh. Columbia Records managed cassette and 8-track formats due to Bob Dylan’s involvement.

Among artists who found continued success after leaving Apple were Badfinger, James Taylor, Mary Hopkin, Hot Chocolate, Yoko Ono, and Billy Preston.

Artists who auditioned but neither signed nor released material on Apple include:

• Roger McGough and Mike McGear (McCartney’s brother), whose album was eventually issued on Parlophone instead.
• Grapefruit, whose single was released via RCA but credited Apple for publishing.
• Focal Point, chosen by Lennon as Apple's initial band but released through Deram Records with Apple publishing credits.
• Fire (with future Strawbs member Dave Lambert), who put out two singles on Decca bearing Apple publishing credits.
• Delaney and Bonnie's album Accept No Substitute was planned for Apple but ultimately came out on Elektra; unreleased Apple pressings have become collectors’ items.
• Mortimer intended to release an Apple single covering the Beatles' "Two of Us," retitled "On Our Way Home," but it was canceled.
• Raven declined an offer from Apple's A&R Peter Asher after being introduced by Harrison; they signed instead with Columbia Records.
• Slow Dog (later known as Wheels), winners of an Apple-sponsored talent contest promising a record deal that fell through following Asher’s departure; they subsequently secured a contract with Warner Bros.

For further information about additional unreleased projects, see the Zapple Records section.

See also

• Apple Corps v Apple Computer
• List of record labels
• The Longest Cocktail Party, a firsthand narrative about Apple Corps authored by Richard DiLello

External links

• Comprehensive Apple Records archive
• Apple Sleevographia collection
• Vinylnet’s detailed Apple Records discography