The Beatles – Yesterday And Today

Underneath the regular cover in the picture shown is the so-called ''butcher'' cover of this release which induced such an outrage that the album was recalled and new artwork was created from an earlier Beatles photoshoot. A small number of copies escaped and appeared on the market nonetheless. These are known as ''first state'' butcher covers. Not wanting to lose time with waiting until the new covers were ready, Capitol decided to first use the new front slicks and glue them over the original artwork, to hide its offensive picture from the public eye. The (not too many) copies of this that came unto the market are known as ''second state'' butcher covers. These are descernible by checking the cover in the middle on the right hand side. If the ''butcher'' artwork is underneath, a dark triangle (of Ringo's turtleneck) shines through (see ''more images''). If the pasted slick is removed and the original artwork thus restored the release is known as a ''third state'' butcher cover. All three states are known in stereo too.

An effective way to identify a Second or a Third State butcher is not only Ringo's V but also the size of the cover. These 2nd and 3rd State covers will be about 1/8” taller than First State covers or the later normal Trunk covers as they have been trimmed to address alignment issues at the right side prior to being shrink wrapped.

Another way to identify a 2nd state MONO butcher is to look closely at the bottom of the glued on "Trunk" picture. If the trunk doesn't go all the way down to the border / limit of the picture and if there is some white "space" in between the trunk and the limit of the picture, then chances are very good, that it is indeed a 2nd state MONO butcher. This however is not true for stereo pressings.

Released on a black Capitol label with rainbow rim.
On the label the cat. no. appears as T-2553, on the cover as T 2553.