Designing the corporate logo of the Beatles' freewheeling new multimedia company fell to Gene Mahon, an adman involved with the cover packaging of the Fab Four's 1967 classic, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."
After reviewing numerous photo images, the Beatles chose a bright green Granny Smith apple when Apple launched during the summer of 1968.
Discerning buyers immediately appreciated the new logo design, which showed the Granny Smith image on the A-side and the apple cut in half on the B-side.
Apple Records' releases for the Americas, Australasia, Europe and Japan featured the Granny Smith design. In countries like Argentina, however, listeners made do with a light brown background featuring the company's name.
Collecting Apple recordings can be challenging. For example, Mary Hopkin's "Goodbye" single appeared in more than two dozen countries, with each one likely bearing their own labels and picture sleeves.
Determining the inspiration for Apple Computer's name and multicolored logo ignited several lawsuits with Apple Records, which alleged copyright infringement. The sides resolved their differences in 2007.