Jugoton Beatles Masters
It was difficult to get Beatles albums in Yugoslavia during the Beatles hey-day, most arriving with travellers. The first Jugoton Beatles release was Hits of the Beatles (LLPMC-V-264) and Sgt Pepper (LLPP-V-293) in 1967 by the state run record company Jugoton, located in Zagreb (now Croatia).
The Beatles (White album) was released in January 1969 ((LPSV-267/8) followed by Yellow Submarine (LPSV-P-372) and Abbey Road (LPSV-P-379) all in 1969. Hey Jude was next in March of 1970, followed by Let it Be in June 1970.
In the mid seventies, Jugoton’s Veljko Despot (Urednik (Editor) ) began releasing the remainder of the catalog, and reissued some earlier releases. These all have the LSPAR catalog numbering system and most bear his signature on the track listing sheet attached to the tape box. The Beatles (LSPAR 79003/4), With the Beatles in 1976 along with A Hard Days' Night (LSPAR-70806) and Beatles For Sale (LSPAR-73058), Please Please Me in 1978 (LSPAR 70805) and eventually adding Help, Rubber Soul, Revolver and Magical Mystery Tour. Other compilations, Rock and Roll Music, Love Songs, none custom to Yugoslavia, were also eventually released.
As Yugoslavia was dissolved, Jugoton changed its name to Croatia Records in 1990, though the name Jugoton is still an important part of the Yugonostalgia culture. It is believed that around this time, as the world was converting to all-digital format, the Jugoton analog Master Tapes were disposed of, and were recovered by likely by former Jugoton employees. Most are on AGFA with some BASF. These have gradually leaked out onto the collectors market, primarily during the period 2015-present.
