“Box Of Vision” Presents The Beatles - On Your Coffee Table

Former Capitol Records COO Jonathan Polk speaks to ClassicRockForever about his stunning new Beatles “Box Of Vision” which was recently previewed at The Fest For Beatles Fans in New Jersey to a very enthusiastic audience.

CRF: So, we’ve seen the product on your website… it looks gorgeous.  It’s actually 3 books in one …isn’t it?

JP:  Exactly.  The one that is getting the most attention here, and rightly so, is the album artwork book. It’s the first coffee table book to contain all of THE BEATLES’ album artwork– both the UK and US versions– and its all newly restored, pristine, LP size prints.

CRF: When you say album artwork, you’re not just talking about the front covers …you’re talking about back covers, inside artwork, booklets – the works.

JP: Correct, virtually everything that was included in the original LPs. The entire Magical Mystery Tour booklet, for example.  The expanded LP size artwork and booklets from all of the CD era releases– so people like you and I can finally read the liner notes without going blind! It’s 200 pages of brilliantly restored art.

CRF: You said  “restored” artwork.  It’s the best I’ve seen – with or without the reading glasses. It seems better than what the CDs themselves have …and these are all LP size.  How were you able to accomplish that one?

JP: Well, under license from Apple Corps Limited, I was allowed to restore the original artwork, using a number of archival sources… being careful to stay true to the original art but, using current technology to bring out the best in the prints. 

CRF: I bet that was a long and winding – nope, I’m not going to make the first lame “song-pun”.  Let me rephrase – I bet it took a lot of time and work….

JP: It did, but if you look at the result, it was worth it.  All I have heard from people here all weekend– and these are devoted Beatle fans who have seen everything– is “wow” and “this is fantastic.” So I know we succeeded.

CRF: Now the second book is a discography of sorts?

JP: Yes.  We call it “Catalography” and it is a presentation and walk through the UK and US Beatles catalogs in photos and text– showing side-by-side the corresponding albums and track-listings, explaining what is different and why. 

CRF: That’s great because even the most devoted fans get confused once in a while… including a definitive guide is a nice touch.  

Yes. And I must point out that the text was written by Bruce Spizer, the noted Beatles authority and author. 

CRF: And tax attorney…

JP: Yes, in New Orleans.  He is a great guy and he did an incredible job here.

CRF: And finally, the third book is a CD storage book.

JP: Right… I designed and patented a unique storage book organizing and displaying the entire Beatles core catalog– all 32 CDs and CD booklets.  If you go to our website, www.boxofvision.com there is a virtual tour that shows you how this works– how all of the discs and booklets –even digipaks– can be stored and displayed on five sleek page spreads.

CRF: And this whole package, all three books – ok, I can’t resist - come together - in a coffee table “Box.”

JP: Yes. It all comes in an elegant, black linen-covered box, 13 inches high and wide, 3 inches deep. On the front is a beautiful new print of the iconic Robert Freeman photo used for the With the Beatles and Meet the Beatles album covers– and on the spines, something that got a lot of great reaction here, are “faux” LP spines that makes the box look like your collection of BEATLES LPs.

CRF: When we talked in the past, I was under the impression that this was going to sell for a few hundred dollars but you’re actually selling this whole package–all three books, in the box– for $64?

JP: It’s for a limited time. The product will not be released until August, so that price is for pre-orders. That price is only good until April 30, after which the price will go up significantly. Of course, no ones credit card gets charged until their Box ships in August. Even better, for an even more limited amount of time we are selling an individually numbered limited edition for the same $64 price. 

I want this product to become an essential piece for every Beatles fan– which I think it is, for the artwork book alone. I wanted it to be priced so it was in reach of as many fans as practical.  And while I’m doing market research in anticipation of a broad release in the fall, I decided to make it a “steal”– something I’ve heard quite a few fans saying.  And anyone who goes to www.boxofvision.com and pre-orders before May 1, can take advantage of the discounted price.

CRF:  I hope my kids read this because Father’s Day is coming

JP:  That reminds me!  When you buy the Box as a gift, we have an e-card you can send whenever you want to tell them what you bought them– and it embodies our virtual tour so they can see it as well….

CRF:  One last thing - “64” – real clever.

JP:  Yep…I couldn’t help myself either.