h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The problem I have is in following the space between the two columns, I can't 'match' up the two sides, with so much blank white space between the two. It makes all the information unreadable for me ( I have MS and it makes my eyes struggle with something like this)

GB says this will be reduced when the page is published.

Another solution might be to add borders?

A3418201 - The 1963 Albums

"Although they share the same cover photograph, Meet The Beatles! has seven different songs on it than With The Beatles."
-How about: "Although they share the same cover photograph, there are seven track differences between..."

I'm not going to mention anything about tables because there appears to be a lot of talk about it already. Suffice to say, whatever is decided, it would probably best if it were standard across everything.

That's it!

A3418265 - The 1964 Albums

Once again, once we're decided on a standard table for track listings etc., make sure you apply it across the Project. I actually quite like the bullets for track listings.

I've got no *specific* comments. The only thing I will say is that sometimes the infomation is very dense; lots of dates, referring to albums previously mentioned, track listings etc. all in a very short space of time. I don't think there's way of breaking it down without losing content.

As a Beatles listener but not a fan, I'm afraid I would have glossed over some sections were I not trying to review it.
This may not be a bad thing, as the people who really want to know this information will already be familiar with the names of the albums and probably most of the tracks too - they'll find it a lot easier to follow.
People like me will gloss over the specifics and pick up again when it returns to a section with less information.

I love the way you write about Capitol Records.

post 19 A3418184

"At their concerts in America it soon became common for the Beatles to introduce songs Which album's this song on? Er, I think the next number is on Something New."
-...introduce songs as...?
done
"The Beatles' creative output, the UK albums which contained the songs which they chose in the order they wished them to be, was completely and recklessly ignored in America, where Capitol Records, under David Dexter Junior and Bill Miller, were more interested in making money than preserving the Beatles' works of art."
-Again, I think it would be better as two sentences, or putting 'the UK albums...wished them to be' in brackets.
done
"The Beatles 1962-1966 (also known as 'The Red Album') and The Beatles 1967-1970 (aka 'The Blue Album')"
-I'd keep it consistent - 'also known as' or 'aka' for both albums
done

<>
BB do you want me to drop the 'true to their name' chunk?
<<"Only five Beatles albums released while the Beatles were still together were the same both sides of the Atlantic..."
-You have already mentioned this, in lss detail, earlier in the article. Perhaps cut the earlier reference, as you explain it more thoroughly here?>>
BB do you want me to cut the earlier reference?

A3418283 - The 1965 Albums

Why is Beatlemania in italics? The italics imply that it's an album. I think keeping it in standard writing will be just fine, perhaps with a footnote if you think people are unsure what Beatlemania is.

Nothing else to report.

A3418300 - The 1966 Albums

"Continuing their policy of releasing albums which had already-successful songs on, bolstered by new numbers, Capitol Records used the popularity of 'Yesterday' to promote the album."
-'...song on them,' (it feels unfinished ending on 'on' to me)
-what does the bolstered by new numbers mean? Is it talking about sales?

"However, it was after the release of the American Rubber Soul, which similarly had an unfinished track on, as..."
---> on it, or you could drop the on entirely.

Nothing else to report. The butcher cover section is very interesting!

A3418328 - 1967 And Beyond

"In conclusion, therefore, the differences between the American and UK Beatles albums were profound."
-there's no need for the 'therefore' here.

Nothing else to report.

A stunning project, BB and GB. I look forward to it being on the Front Page!

I'm not going to do the alphabetical Entries as other people appear to be on the case (and I should really get cleaning the house like I was supposed to do on my day off!).

post 25: Why is Beatlemania in italics? italics tags removed

post 26:
"Continuing their policy of releasing albums which had already-successful songs on, bolstered by new numbers, Capitol Records used the popularity of 'Yesterday' to promote the album."
-'...song on them,' (it feels unfinished ending on 'on' to me)
-what does the bolstered by new numbers mean? Is it talking about sales?

Unsure I'll leave that to BB to clarify/tweak/answer


"However, it was after the release of the American Rubber Soul, which similarly had an unfinished track on, as..."
---> on it, or you could drop the on entirely.
changed to:
However, it was after the release of the American Rubber Soul, which similarly had an unfinished track, as...

post 27

"In conclusion, therefore, the differences between the American and UK Beatles albums were profound."
-there's no need for the 'therefore' here.
done

Thanks Vip!

I missed post 22:

"Although they share the same cover photograph, Meet The Beatles! has seven different songs on it than With The Beatles."
-How about: "Although they share the same cover photograph, there are seven track differences between..."

Do you mean you would rather it be: "Although they share the same cover photograph, there are seven track differences between Meet The Beatles! and With The Beatles."

I'll wait for BB's OK to change that wording

Yes, that's what I meant. Thanks, GB.

Wow - a lot has gone on in the last few hours since I was here last!

Tablewise, if people think reducing the width to 60 or 75% or any other value is more readable, I'm fine with that.

I'm off to re-read all the other points. Back soon.

<BB<

Okay - VIP's questions:
You mention that two albums were named after songs the Beatles didn't write, once in the opening and once in the Twist and Shout section. It probably only needs one mention.
EDIT - I've found the third mention, which works quite well. Perhaps it's the first that can be taken out so we don't have to read it three times?
BB: I'm happy for the first mention to be removed. :o)


"The American branch... in July 1963".
I'm afraid this doesn't quite make sense to me - which one was Introducing the Beatles originally? Was it re-released?

BB: "Introducing The Beatles" was released by a different company in America to "Meet The Beatles", as mentioned in the 1963 article. I didn't really want to go into details about it in the Canadian articles one again, but do you think I need to? I can work on a summarising footnote.

"Long Tall Sally was without doubt the least value of the three Canadian Albums."
This doesn't quite work either, but I can't come up with anything better. "...without doubt of the least value..."? "...least value-for-money..."?

BB: Would ""Long Tall Sally" was the least value-for-money of the three Canadian Albums" work better?

<BB<

OK, "A" is now 50%. See what you think, should I change it all?

BB: I'm happy for the first mention to be removed.GB

BB: "Long Tall Sally" was the least value-for-money of the three Canadian AlbumsGB

2nd point - it did confuse me, so a footnote would be great.

3rd point - that works much better for me.

This was primarily in order for Capitol Records, true to their name, aiming to make more capital, began to store up songs edited from earlier albums to compile more albums composed of the left-overs."
-I think this would be better as two sentences. Or you could drop the 'true to their name' chunk.
BB: Okay, drop the chunk.

"The Beatles' creative output, the UK albums which contained the songs which they chose in the order they wished them to be, was completely and recklessly ignored in America, where Capitol Records, under David Dexter Junior and Bill Miller, were more interested in making money than preserving the Beatles' works of art."
-Again, I think it would be better as two sentences, or putting 'the UK albums...wished them to be' in brackets.

BB: I agree - 2 sentences are better. How about:

"The Beatles' creative output, the UK albums which contained the songs which they chose in the order they wished them to be, was completely and recklessly ignored in America. Capitol Records, under David Dexter Junior and Bill Miller, were more interested in making money than preserving the Beatles' works of art."

<BB<

I think I'm getting confused about what has, and what needs to be done

Post 22:

"Although they share the same cover photograph, Meet The Beatles! has seven different songs on it than With The Beatles."
-How about: "Although they share the same cover photograph, there are seven track differences between..."

That can be changed to:
"Although they share the same cover photograph, there are seven track differences between Meet The Beatles! and With The Beatles."

<BB<

Point 2:

BB:
Between 1963 and 1964 Capitol of Canada, not as complacent as its American branchThe American Capitol Records had chosen not to release the "Please Please Me" album and allowed another record company, Vee Jay Records, to release it instead. released three Beatles albums.

Does this sum up the situation, do you feel?

<BB<