Paul McCartney signs to Capitol Records

Paul McCartney is getting back to where he once belonged, returning to Capitol Records in a deal which encompasses his future releases as well as his entire catalogue of post-Beatles master recordings as a solo artist and with Wings. Although Capitol was not the first US label to release Beatles recordings – the independent labels Vee-Jay and Swan put out their earliest releases – the group became superstars after Capitol issued I Want To Hold Your Hand in December 1963. The Beatles remained with Capitol, then owned by EMI, until the formation of Apple Records, when they became their North American distributors.