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Please Please Me, Parlophone, PMC 1202, 03.22.63, mono. The Beatles FIRST official L.P. release. For the ONLY time, the mono version was issued 6 weeks BEFORE the stereo version. This album contained the “A” and “B” sides of their first two singles, plus 10 new songs. All recorded in one incredible session at Abbey Road. The session cost just £400 and lasted 16 hours.

The Parlophone consumer catalog sheet from the spring of 1963 with the first Beatles’s album.

The first pressing has Ernest J.Day & Co. front laminated cover, with large “mono“ on front. The photo credit for the front cover: “Photo Angus McBean” is printed in the lower right corner. The text starts at the end of “s” in “songs”..

1. First pressing. March 22, 1963. The first pressing has black label with gold print and “Parlophone Co. Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print. “Dick James Mus. Co” uncorrect publishing credit for “I Saw Her Standing There”, “Misery”, “Do You Want To Know A Secret” & “There’s A Place”. With or without tax code and with 33 1/3 on the label. Tax code variations: ZT, MT, ZMT. Polythene-lined “Use Emitex” die-cut inner sleeve.

Matrix numbers: Side 1: XEX 421-1N; Side 2: XEX 422-1N.

Second label variation of the first pressing has a circular groove. This circular groove was the result of the use of the old stamp machines. This groove may appear on side 1 or side 2.

Crossover pressing. April, 1963.

Variation A: Crossover pressing has the side 1 as on the first pressing and the side 2 as on the second pressing.

Variation B: Crossover pressing has the side 1 as on the second pressing and the side 2 as on the first pressing.

2. Second pressing. April-May, 1963. Ernest J. Day & Co. front laminated cover, with large “mono“ on front. Black label with gold print and “Parlophone Co. Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print. “Northern Songs” correct publishing credit for “I Saw Her Standing There”, “Misery”, “Do You Want To Know A Secret” & “There’s A Place”. With or without tax code and with 33 1/3 on the label. Tax code variations: MT, ZMT. Polythene-lined “Use Emitex” die-cut inner sleeve. Matrix numbers: Side 1: XEX 421-1N; Side 2: XEX 422-1N.

The “Dick James” credits from the first pressing have now been altered to read “Northern Songs” instead. This change occurred very quickly as the typesetter for the credits wasn’t informed that the Beatles had worked with Dick James to set up their own, new, “Northern Songs” publishing company for Lennon and McCartney’s original songs. These copies are rarer than the first variation.

3. Third pressing, summer 1963. It is the first pressing on it is black-yellow Parlophone label. Ernest J. Day & Co. front laminated cover, with large “mono“ on front. Black label with yellow logo and silver print. “The Parlophone Co. Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print, but without “Recording first published 1963″. With or without small 33 1/3 prefix and with or without KT tax code on the label. Tracing-rice-paper-lined “Use Emitex” die-cut inner sleeve. Matrix numbers: Side 1: XEX 421-1N; Side 2: XEX 422-1N.

4. Fourth pressing, summer 1963 – January 1964. Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. or Ernest J.Day & Co. front laminated cover, with large “mono“ on front. Black label with yellow logo and silver print. “The Parlophone Co. Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print and “Recording first published 1963″. Tracing-paper-lined “Use Emitex” die-cut inner sleeve. With or without KT tax code on the label. Matrix numbers: Side 1: XEX 421-1N; Side 2: XEX 422-1N.

Decca contract pressing, summer-autumn 1963. Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. front laminated cover, with large “mono” on front. Black label with yellow logo and silver print. “The Parlophone Co. Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print and “Recording first published 1963″. Tracing-paper-lined “Use Emitex” die-cut inner sleeve. These are distinguishing characteristics Decca:
1. There is no tax code around the centre hole on either side of the disc.
2. There’s a light ridge that runs around approximately 5mm out from the centre hole. This ridge is also 41mm in from the edge of the label.
3. The most promiment groove, which is a typical characteristic of Decca LP presses is approximately 31mm out from the centre hole and 15mm in from the edge of the label.
4. There is no tax code stamped at the 12 o’clock position.
5. The mother plate number (either single or double figured) is at the 9 o’clock position. There is no tx code stamped above it.
6. The contract pressings did NOT utilise the BUCKINGHAM stamper codes, so there are no such letters at the 3 o’clock position.
7. The matrix number is stamped at the 6 o’clock position in the deadwax.
Matrix numbers: Side 1: XEX 421-1N; Side 2: XEX 422-1N.

5. Fifth pressing, 1964. Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. front laminated cover, with mid-sized “mono“ on front. Black label with yellow logo and silver print. “The Parlophone Co. Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print, “Recording first published 1963” and “Sold in UK” text. Tracing-paper-lined “Use Emitex” die-cut inner sleeve. With or without KT tax code on the label.

Attention! The existence of the fifth pressing mono version with similar labels have not been proven. This pressing is known in the stereo version only.

But however, it is known that the first edition with the matrix XEX 422-2N appeared in the early 1964. This edition had a labels similar to the labels fourth press. Perhaps, this is due to a large quantity of the labels made earlier. We can assume that this edition may be the losted fifth pressing.

6. Sixth pressing, 1965 until 1969. Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. front laminated cover, with small “mono“ on front. Black label with yellow logo and silver print. “The Gramophone Co. Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print and “Sold in UK” text. Only the year of first publication left. Tracing-paper-lined “Use Emitex” die-cut or plaine white inner sleeves. With or without KT tax code on the label. Matrix numbers: Side 1: XEX 421-1N; Side 2: XEX 422-2N (On side 2 letter “N” is strongly pressed in the surface of the vinyl. This unique feature is possible to see on all later mono presses until 1982).

Tracklist layout differs on both sides to preceding variations, with the major difference in this section being the absence of brackets around the publishing credits for each song. The album title text is also now a little larger than on previous copies. Of note, the paper used on the labels now has a different consistency and is more smooth than the slightly rough paper used on the older labels.

Variation A. Sans-serif print. The “1963” publishing date stamp is now indented.

Variation B. In late 1966, the typeset used on the “Please Please Me” label to have changed from Sans-Serif to Times New Roman. The layout of the track listing was also re-arranged to incorporate the differing type size. Another minor difference is the increased spacing between the 1963 symbol and XEX 421 / XEX 422. This pressing can often be found with MT tax code on the Side 1.

Variation C-1. This late version of the label reappeared Sans-serif print. This version has a label with an misprint, an extra dot in “IN.U.K.” on the side 1. Therefore, we date this label to begin of 1968.

Variation C-2. Similar version with extra dot in “IN.U.K.” on the side 1. But, the matrix number (XEX.421 / XEX.422) is shifted to the center in relation to the year of the first edition (1963). This is typical for later reissues. Middle of 1968.

7. Seventh pressing, summer 1969 until November 1969. Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. front laminated cover, with small “mono“ on front. Black label with yellow logo and silver print. “The Gramophone Co. Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print. Plaine white or sepia “LP advertising” inner sleeve. Without tax code. Matrix numbers: Side 1: XEX 421-1N; Side 2: XEX 422-2N.

8. Eighth pressing, November 1969 until 1970. Black label with one black-white EMI logo and silver print. “The Gramophone CO Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print and “Made In GT. Britain” lower text. Laminated front flipback “Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd“ sleeve with large “mono“ on front. Sepia or black & white “LP advertising” inner sleeve. Matrix numbers: Side One: XEX 421-1N, Side Two: XEX 422-2N.

9. Ninth pressing, summer 1981 until August 1982. Black label with yellow Parlophone logo and silver print. “ALL RIGHTS OF THE PRODUCER” printed at the start perimeter print. Importantly, around the 7 o’clock position in the rimtext the wording is: “UNAUTHORISED PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, BROADCASTING, COPYING AND HIRING”. “MANUFACTURED IN THE UK BY EMI RECORDS LIMITED” text at the end of the perimeter print. Unlaminated outer sleeve with large “mono“ on front. White paper standard EMI inner sleeve. Matrix numbers: Side One: XEX 421-1N or -3, Side Two: XEX 422-2N.

10. Tenth pressing, 1987 – 1991. Black label with two silver EMI logos and silver print. “ALL RIGHTS OF THE PRODUCER” printed at the start perimeter print. Importantly, around the 11 o’clock position in the rimtext the wording is: “UNAUTHORISED COPYING, PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, BROADCASTING, HIRING AND RENTAL”. “MADE IN ENGLAND” text at the end of the perimeter print. Unlaminated outer sleeve with large “mono“ on the front and with barcode on the back side. Sleeves early 90’s have Apple logo on the back side. Misprint matrix numbers on the both labels (YEX 94 and YEX 95). Matrix numbers: Side One: XEX 421-4-1-1 D, Side Two: XEX 422-3-1-1 D. Play mono.

11. Eleventh pressing, Remastered, Parlophone 5099963379815, released September 8, 2014. The album was reissued on 180g vinyl, prepared from the original analogue mono master tapes. Album included in “The Beatles In Mono” box. Cover is replicat from the original Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. three-flaps sleeve. Vinyl pressed by Optimal Media GmbH, Germany.

Advertising flyer. Insert with mastering notes, updated copyright and publishing details, and advertising for Cirque Du Soleil’s “Love” show.

Matrix numbers:

Side 1: 6337981 BD16687-01 A1 N.S. W / Side 2: 6337981 BD16687-01 B1 N.M. N i…i