Worldwide, the English rock band The Beatles have released 12 studio albums (17 in the US), 5 live albums, 52 compilation albums, 36 extended plays (EPs), and 37 box sets. Their output also includes vault items, remixed mash-ups and anniversary box-sets. In their native United Kingdom, during their active existence as a band, they released 12 studio albums (including 1 double album), 1 compilation album, and 13 EPs (including 1 double EP). The band's first eight albums were released on Parlophone, a subsidiary label of EMI. From 1968, in both the UK and the US, starting with the single "Hey Jude" and the album The Beatles (better known as "the White Album"), new releases appeared on the Beatles' own Apple label, although Parlophone and Capitol (in the US) catalogue numbers continued to be used for contractual reasons. The Beatles' international discography is complicated due to different versions of their albums sometimes being released in other countries, particularly during their early years on Capitol in North America. Prior to 1967, it was common practice for British releases to be reconfigured for the American market. The first seven British Beatles albums were converted into ten LPs for the American market, adding material from singles and the UK EPs; the band were unhappy with these reconfigurations. With the exception of Magical Mystery Tour, studio releases from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967 forward were uniform in both the UK and the US. Magical Mystery Tour was expanded from an EP to an LP as there was no market for EPs in the US at the time.
With the first CD releases of their albums in 1987 and 1988, the Beatles' core catalogue was harmonised worldwide to encompass their 12 original UK studio albums, the US Magical Mystery Tour album, and the newly assembled Past Masters: Volumes One and Two compilation albums consisting of all the studio recordings released during 1962 to 1970 that are not present on the UK studio albums or Magical Mystery Tour (mainly non-album singles, B-sides and EP tracks). When the core catalogue was reissued in remastered editions in 2009, the two volumes of Past Masters were combined into one double album. This core catalogue contains all 217 tracks intended for commercial release, either as album tracks, EP tracks, or singles, that were put out by the Beatles from 1962 to 1970. Since the standardisation of the catalogue, there have been several significant, fully-authorised, additional releases, such as The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl (first issued 1977, issued on CD in 2016), Live at the BBC (1994), the Anthology series, and greatest hits collections 1962–1966, 1967–1970 (both first issued 1973, issued on CD 1993) and 1 (2000). The catalogue is currently distributed by Universal Music Enterprises' Calderstone Productions. The Beatles are the biggest selling musical act of all time, selling over 500 million records.
The Beatles' discography was originally released on the vinyl format, with full-length long plays (LPs), shorter EPs and singles. Over the years, the collection has also been released on cassette, 8-track, compact disc (CD), on a USB flash drive in MP3 and 24-bit FLAC format, and on digital media streaming services. The Beatles' UK discography was first released on CD in 1987 and 1988. Between 1962 and 1968, the Beatles released their songs in both mono and stereo versions. The band's catalogue was remastered in both mono and stereo in 2009.
Albums Original UK studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certification Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales UK AUSPeak chart positions for releases in Australia: CANPeak chart positions for studio albums in Canada: Please Please Me and Magical Mystery Tour: The Beatles: Yellow Submarine: Abbey Road: Hey Jude (a.k.a. The Beatles Again): Let It Be: FRAPeak chart positions for releases in France: GERPeak chart positions for releases in Germany: NOR US Please Please Me Released: 22 March 1963 Label: Parlophone 1 — 19 5 5 2 155 BPI: Platinum ARIA: Gold MC: Gold RIAA: Platinum With the Beatles Released: 22 November 1963 Label: Parlophone (UK), Capitol (Canada), Odeon (France) 1 — 1 5 1 1 179 BPI: Gold ARIA: Gold BVMI: Gold MC: Gold RIAA: Gold A Hard Day's Night Released: 10 July 1964 Label: Parlophone 1 1 — — 1 1 — BPI: Platinum ARIA: Gold Beatles for Sale Released: 4 December 1964 Label: Parlophone 1 1 — — 1 1 — BPI: Gold ARIA: Gold MC: Gold RIAA: Platinum UK: 750,000 Help! Released: 6 August 1965 Label: Parlophone 1 1 — 5 1 1 — BPI: Platinum ARIA: Gold Rubber Soul Released: 3 December 1965 Label: Parlophone 1 1 — 5 1 1 — BPI: 2× Platinum ARIA: Platinum BVMI: Gold Revolver Released: 5 August 1966 Label: Parlophone 1 1 — 5 1 2 — BPI: 3× Platinum ARIA: Platinum Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Released: 26 May 1967: "In the United Kingdom, Sgt.Pepper... was rush-released six days ahead of its official date, June1". Label: Parlophone 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 BPI: 18× Platinum ARIA: 4× Platinum BVMI: Platinum MC: 8× Platinum RIAA: Diamond (11× Platinum) SNEP: Gold UK: 5,340,000 The Beatles ("The White Album") Released: 22 November 1968 Label: Apple 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 BPI: 2× Platinum ARIA: 2× Platinum MC: 8× Platinum RIAA: Diamond (24× Platinum) SNEP: Gold Yellow Submarine Released: 17 January 1969 Label: Apple 3 4 1 4 5 1 2 BPI: Gold MC: Gold RIAA: Platinum Abbey Road Released: 26 September 1969 Label: Apple 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 BPI: 8× Platinum ARIA: 3× Platinum BVMI: Platinum MC: Diamond RIAA: Diamond (12× Platinum) SNEP: Platinum UK: 2,240,608 Let It Be Released: 8 May 1970 Label: Apple 1 1 1 5 4 1 1 BPI: Platinum ARIA: Platinum MC: 3× Platinum RIAA: 4× Platinum SNEP: Gold "—" denotes that the recording did not chart or was not released in that territory.
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Original US studio albums + List of studio albums with selected chart positions and certification Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales UK AUS CAN FRA GER NOR US US Cash Box Introducing... The Beatles Released: 10 January 1964 Label: Vee-Jay — — — — — — 2 2 RIAA: Platinum Meet the Beatles! Released: 20 January 1964 Label: Capitol — — 1 — 68 — 1 1 MC: Platinum RIAA: 5× Platinum The Beatles' Second Album Released: 10 April 1964 Label: Capitol — — 1 — 50 — 1 1 MC: Platinum RIAA: 2× Platinum A Hard Day's Night Released: 26 June 1964 Label: United Artists — — 1 5 — — 1 1 MC: Platinum RIAA: 4× Platinum Something New Released: 20 July 1964 Label: Capitol — — 2 — 38 — 2 2 MC: Gold RIAA: 2× Platinum Beatles '65 Released: 15 December 1964 Label: Capitol — — 1 80 9 — 1 1 MC: Platinum RIAA: 3× Platinum Beatles VI Released: 14 June 1965 Label: Capitol — — 1 — 15 — 1 1 MC: Gold RIAA: Platinum Help! Released: 13 August 1965 Label: Capitol — — 1 — — — 1 1 MC: 2× Platinum RIAA: 3× Platinum Rubber Soul Released: 6 December 1965 Label: Capitol — — 1 — — — 1 1 MC: 2× Platinum RIAA: 6× Platinum Yesterday and Today Released: 15 June 1966: "June15:... The album Yesterday... and Today was released in the US as Capitol T-2553 (mono) and ST-2553 (stereo)... June20:... The album Yesterday... and Today was re-released in the US with a new innocuous sleeve." Label: Capitol — — 1 — 13 — 1 1 MC: Platinum RIAA: 2× Platinum Revolver Released: 8 August 1966 Label: Capitol — — 1 — — — 1 1 MC: 2× Platinum RIAA: 5× Platinum Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Released: 2 June 1967 Label: Capitol 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 BPI: 18× Platinum ARIA: 4× Platinum BVMI: Platinum MC: 8× Platinum RIAA: Diamond (11× Platinum) SNEP: Gold UK: 5,340,000 Magical Mystery Tour Released: 27 November 1967 Label: Capitol 31 48 17 2 8 11 1 1 BPI: Platinum ARIA: Platinum MC: 4× Platinum RIAA: 6× Platinum The Beatles ("The White Album") Released: 25 November 1968 Label: Apple 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 BPI: 2× Platinum ARIA: 2× Platinum MC: 8× Platinum RIAA: Diamond (24× Platinum) SNEP: Gold Yellow Submarine Released: 13 January 1969 Label: Capitol 3 4 1 4 5 1 2 3 BPI: Gold MC: Gold RIAA: Platinum Abbey Road Released: 1 October 1969 Label: Apple 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 BPI: 8× Platinum ARIA: 3× Platinum BVMI: Platinum MC: Diamond RIAA: Diamond (12× Platinum) SNEP: Platinum UK: 2,240,608 Let It Be Released: 18 May 1970 Label: Apple 1 1 1 5 4 1 1 1 BPI: Platinum ARIA: Platinum MC: 3× Platinum RIAA: 4× Platinum SNEP: Gold "—" denotes that the recording did not chart or was not released in that territory.
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Standardised studio albums Since the first release of their music on CD during 1987–1988, the Beatles' studio albums have been standardised worldwide to the following albums:
Please Please Me (original UK album) With the Beatles (original UK album) A Hard Day's Night (original UK album) Beatles for Sale (original UK album) Help! (original UK album) Rubber Soul (original UK album) Revolver (original UK album) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (original UK and US album) Magical Mystery Tour (original US album) The Beatles (original UK and US album) Yellow Submarine (original UK and US album) Abbey Road (original UK and US album) Let It Be (original UK and US album)
Standardised compilation album Past Masters (see Compilation albums; compiles all studio recordings the Beatles commercially released during 1962–1970 that do not appear on the thirteen previously listed albums)
Live albums + List of live albums, with selected chart positions and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications UK AUS AUT CAN GER NLD NOR NZ SWE US Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962 (UK and German title) / First Live Recordings (US title) Released: 27 May 1977 Label: Lingasong (UK), Bellaphon (Germany), Pickwick (US) — 24 12 — 21 — 16 — — 111 GER: 300,000 The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl Released: 4 May 1977 Label: Parlophone (UK), Capitol (US) 1 8 3 — 10 — 4 18 17 2 BPI: Gold MC: Platinum RIAA: Platinum Live at the BBC Released: 30 November 1994 Label: Parlophone (UK), Capitol (US) 1 2 6 2 10 2 — 4 4 3 ARIA: Platinum BPI: 2× Platinum BVMI: Gold IFPI AUT: Gold MC: 8× Platinum NVPI: Gold RIAA: 4× Platinum On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2 Released: 11 November 2013 Label: Apple, UMe 12 28 7 7 8 6 9 31 36 7 BPI: Silver MC: PlatinumGet Back – The Rooftop Performance Released: 28 January 2022 Label: Calderstone Productions — — — — — — — — — — "—" denotes that the recording did not chart or was not released in that territory.
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Compilation albums + List of compilation albums, with selected chart positions and certifications Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications UK AUS AUT CANPeak chart positions for compilation albums in Canada: Hey Jude: 1962–1966 and 1967–1970: The Beatles Tapes (from the David Wigg Interviews):LP issued (1976) Label – Polydor| Side 1.John Lennon and Yoko Ono. June, 1969. October 1971. Side 2. Paul McCartney – March, 1970. | Side 3. George Harrison – March, 1969. | Side 4.Ringo Starr – December 1968. July, 1970. December, 1973. Rock 'n' Roll Music: Love Songs: Rarities: The Beatles Ballads: Reel Music: 20 Greatest Hits: Anthology 1: Anthology 2: Anthology 3: Past Masters: All other releases from 2000 onwards: FRA GER NOR NZ SWE US The Beatles with Tony Sheridan and Their Guests Released: 3 February 1964 (US) Label: MGM — — — — — — — — — 68 Jolly What!(with Frank Ifield) Released: 26 February 1964 (US) Label: Vee-Jay — — — — — — — — — 103 The Beatles' First! Released: April 1964 (Germany) Released: 4 August 1967 (UK) Label: Polydor — — — — 7 — 6 — — — SNEP: Gold The Beatles Beat Released: 15 April 1964 (Germany) Label: Odeon — — — — — 6 — — — — Released: 22 May 1964 (France) Label: Polydor — — — — — — — — — — Ain't She Sweet Released: 5 October 1964 (US) Label: Atco — — — — — — — — — — The Beatles vs the Four Seasons Released: October 1964 (US)