Rubber Soul, Parlophone, PMC 1267, December 3, 1965, mono. Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. or Ernest J.Day & Co. front laminated flipback cover.
1.First “Loud Cut” pressing. December 3, 1965.“Loud Cut” matrces: XEX 579-1 & XEX 580-1. When “Rubber Soul” was initially mixed it was slightly different to how we hear it today. These early mixes only ever appeared in mono and are distinguished by the matrix numbers XEX 579-1 / XEX 580-1 in the deadwax. It’s argued that these early presses were unbalanced with a muddy bass and with an edgy, aggressive vocal sound. Since these copies seemed to lack body the decision was made to halt production whilst the mother platess were re-cut. Black label with yellow logo and silver print. “The Gramophone Co. Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print and “Sold in U.K.” text. Tracing-paper-lined “Use Emitex” die-cut inner sleeve. With or without KT tax code on the label. “Loud Cut” copies can be found with both Times New Roman and Sans-serif label types, although Sans-serif is the more common and is likely to have continued production along with the Times New Roman issues.
Variation A: Labels with Sans-serif font:
Variation A-1. These are the early Sans-serif labels that tended to adorn the earlier “Loud Cut” copies of the album. Their distinguishing feature is that the * credit indicator on these labels are spaced away from the song title. This label variation with a date shifted relative to the matrix number. Matrix numbers XEX 579-1 / XEX 580-1.
Variation A-2. Another Sans-serif labels have the date is located directly below the matrix number. Matrix numbers XEX 579-1 / XEX 580-1.
Variation B. At some point early on in the “Rubber Soul” pressing run, a Times New Roman font typeset was added to the label printing machines. It’s with this style that we find later one-side “Loud Cut” presses (as determined by the stampers), almost all the transition presses of XEX 579-1 / XEX 580-4 or XEX 579-4 / XEX 580-1.
2. Second pressing, 1966 until 1969. The Second pressing of “Rubber Soul” has the “normal” cut matrixes: XEX 579-4 / XEX 580-4 and XEX 579-5 / XEX 580-5. Both combinations of these matrices have two types of labels: Sans-serif and Time New Roman prints.
Variation A. The Sans-serif label type corresponds to Variation A-2, but has matrix numbers XEX 579-4 / XEX 580-4. On the Side 2 you can see the KT tax code.
Information and images courtesy of Morgan Nilsson.
Variation B.Time New Roman label type. It’s with this style that we find “normal” pressings, almost all the early standard pressings XEX 579-4 / XEX 580-4 and XEX 579-5 / XEX 580-5.
Variation B-1. This vinyl was pressed on the EMI on old machines press. IT’S NOT CBS PRESSING as many people think! THIS IS EMI PRESSING! To date only three Beatles albums have been found in this variation and they’re A Hard Day’s Night, Rubber Soul and Revolver. The label has the old tax code MT on side 2.
Variation B-2. Standard TNR label.
Variation C. At some later, Time New Roman has been changed to Sans-sherif type again. The matrix number printed on the label is now misaligned to the datestamp, being too far on the left. It’s with this style that we find almost all the later standard pressings XEX 579-5 / XEX 580-5. 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 1968. Matrix numbers: XEX 579-5 / XEX 580-5.
Information and images courtesy of Anatoly Simakov.
3. Third pressing, summer 1969 until November 1969. Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. front laminated cover. 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 579-5; Side 2: XEX 580-5.
4. Fourh 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. White paper standard EMI inner sleeve. Matrix numbers: Side 1: XEX 579-5 (or -6); Side 2: XEX 580-5.
5.Fifth pressing, Remastered, Parlophone5099963380316, 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 number variations:
Side 1: 6338031 BD14114-01 A1 N N.S. VIE / Side 2: 6338031 BD14114-01 B1 K i…i
Side 1: 6338031 BD14114-01 A1 N.S. IV / Side 2: 6338031 BD14114-01 B1 K i…i
Rubber Soul, Parlophone, PCS 3075, December 3, 1965, stereo. Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. or Ernest J.Day & Co. front laminated flipback cover.
Some copies have small black or silver “STEREO” on the front. These copies are much rarer than the standard copy without “STEREO”.
1.First pressing. December 3, 1965. Black label with yellow logo and silver print. “The Gramophone Co. Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print and “Sold in U.K.” text. Tracing-paper-lined “Use Emitex” die-cut inner sleeve. With or without KT tax code on the label. Since Times New Roman label copies of the stereo press have been found with 1/G – 1/G and other early stampers, it’s a safe bet to say that the stereo presses earliest appearance was almost exclusively with the TNR label. Labels have bigger “STEREO”. Matrix numbers: Side 1: YEX 178-2; Side 2: YEX 179-2. Version has a number of matrices -2/-2 issued not very long. Almost all records with this matrix numbers has one-letter stamper codes.
Veriation A: This first version have been found with 1/G – 1/G and other early stampers. The word “STEREO” is moved to the right relative Parlophone logo on both sides.
Veriation B: The word “STEREO” is moved to the left relative Parlophone logo on the side 1.
2. Second pressing, December 1965 until 1969. The same black label with yellow logo and silver print, but with small STEREO above Parlophone logo. “The Gramophone Co. Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print and “Sold in U.K.” text. With or without KT tax code on the label. Very quickly, the matrix combination -2/-2 have been replaced by the matrix combination -3/-3 which used for a long time in a later pressings. Simultaneously, Time New Roman type was replaced by the Sans-Serif type. Matrix numbers: Side 1: YEX 178-3; Side 2: YEX 179-3.
Variation A. At some point after the TNR labels were altered to Arial, or perhaps as this was happening, a spelling error cropped up. The song title “Norwegian Wood” was mis-spelled as “Norweigian Wood” with an extra “i”.
Variation B. The same as above, but now the song title Norweigian Wood has been corrected back to “Norwegian Wood”. 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 1968.
3. Third pressing, summer 1969 until November 1969.Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. front laminated cover. 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: YEX 178-3; Side 2: YEX 179-3.
Variation A:
Variation B:
4. Fourth 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 flipback “Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd” sleeve. Sepia or black & white “LP advertising” inner sleeve. Matrix numbers: Side 1: YEX 178-3; Side 2: YEX 179-3.
5. Fifth pressing, early 1971 until 1973. Black label with two white-black EMI logos and silver print. “The Gramophone Co Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print and “Made In GT. Britain” lower text. Laminated flipback “Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd” sleeve. Sepia color EMI inner sleeve. Matrix numbers: Side 1: YEX 178-3; Side 2: YEX 179-3.
6. Sixth pressing, summer 1976 until October 1980. Black label with two white-black EMI logos and silver print. “EMI Records Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print and “Made In GT. Britain” printed at the end of the perimeter print. Laminated “Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd” sleeve without “stereo“ on the front side. White paper EMI custom inner sleeve. Matrix numbers: Side 1: YEX 178-3 (or -4); Side 2: YEX 179-3 (or -4).
7. Seventh pressing, October 1980 until April 1984. Black label with two white-black 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 PUBLIC PERFORMANCE, BROADCASTING, COPYING AND HIRING”. Instead, added “MANUFACTURED IN THE UK BY EMI RECORDS LIMITED” text at the end of the perimeter print. Unlaminated sleeve without “stereo“ on the front side. White paper EMI standard inner sleeve. Matrix numbers: Side 1: YEX 178-5; Side 2: YEX 179-5.
8. Eighth pressing, end of spring 1984 until 1987. Black label with two white-black 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 COPYIN, HIRING, RENTING, PUBLIC PERFORMANCE AND BROADCASTING”. “MANUFACTURED IN THE UK BY EMI RECORDS LIMITED”text at the end of the perimeter print. Unlaminated sleeve without “stereo“ on the front side. White paper EMI standard inner sleeve. Matrix numbers: Side 1: YEX 178-6 (or -7); Side 2: YEX 179-6-1-3 (or -7).
9. Ninth 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 without “stereo“ on the front and with barcode on the back side. Sleeves early 90s have Apple logo on the back side. Matrix numbers: Side 1: YEX 178-8-1-1 D; Side 2: YEX 179-8C-1-1 D.
Error pressing (misprint) with black and white Apple labels without “Mfd. in U.K.” text. Album have same outer sleeve with barcode on the back side. Record have same matrix numbers: Side 1: YEX 178-8-1-1 D; Side 2: YEX 179-8C-1-1 D.
10. Tenth pressing, Remastered, Parlophone 94638241812, released November 12, 2012. The album was reissued on 180g vinyl, prepared use the full 24-bit versions taken from the 2009 remasters. Album included in “The Beatles” stereo box, as well as sold separately. Cover is replicat from the original Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. sleeve without flaps. Vinyl pressed by Optimal Media GmbH, Germany.
Matrix numbers:
Side 1: 94638241812 BA98292-01 A2 JIV S / Side 2: 94638241812 BA98292-01 B2 311 M i…i
Side 1: 94638241812 BA98292-01 A2 JIV S S / Side 2: 94638241812 BA98292-01 B2 2I^ M i…i
Side 1: 94638241812 BA98292-01 A2 S / Side 2: 94638241812 BA98292-01 B2 M i…i
A Hard Day’s Night, Parlophone, PMC 1230, July 10, 1964, mono. Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. or Ernest J.Day & Co. front laminated cover, with mid-sized “mono“ on front. Tracing-paper-lined “Use Emitex” die-cut inner sleeve.
1. First pressing. July 10, 1964. Black label with yellow logo and silver print. “The Parlophone Co. Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print. “Recording first published 1964″ and “Sold in U.K.” text. Label have thin print. With or without KT tax code on the label. Matrix numbers: Side 1: XEX 481-3N; Side 2: XEX 482-3N.
Variation A. This type was chubby and rounded and only lasted a short time but as so many copies were pressed initially to satisfy the preorders, it is the style most commonly seen for this album.
Variation B. The title “Songs from the film A Hard Day’s Night” doesn’t take up as much width across the label as before or as it does in future. This variation is placed here as this smaller text may have been an experiment after the chubby text style was changed. This version has a few variants.
Variation C. This time the track listing style on both sides were rearranged to use the label space more effectively. This is most noticeable on side 2, where are the song titles and credits are written in four lines. This version of the label is later than the variants A and B.
2. Second 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 U.K.” text. Tracing-paper-lined “Use Emitex” die-cut inner sleeve. With or without KT tax code on the label. Matrix numbers: Side 1: XEX 481-3N; Side 2: XEX 482-3N.
Variation A. In late 1965, the typeset used on the “Hard Day’s Night” label seemed to have also changed from Sans Serif to Times New Roman. The layout of the track listing was also re-arranged to incorporate the differing type size, most notably the track If I Fell on side 1 has a line all to itself on this variation. The side 2 tracklist also now have the periods after each track removed.
This vinyl was pressed on the EMI on old machines press. IT’S NOT CBS PRESSING as many people think! THIS IS EMI PRESSING! To date only three Beatles albums have been found in this variation and they’re A Hard Day’s Night, Rubber Soul and Revolver.
Variation B. On later labels was returned Sans-Serif font again.
3. Third pressing, summer 1969 – 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 481-3N; Side 2: XEX 482-3N.
(computer graphics)
4. Fourth 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 mid-sized “mono” on front. White paper standard EMI inner sleeve. Matrix numbers: Side 1: XEX 481-3N; Side 2: XEX 482-3N.
5. Fifth 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 mid-sized “mono“ on the front and with barcode on the back side. Sleeves early 90s have Apple logo on the back side. Misprint matrix numbers on the both labels (YEX 126 and YEX 127). Matrix numbers on the trail area: Side One: XEX 481-4-1-1 D (possible -3N); Side 2: XEX 482-4-1-1 D. Play mono.
6.Sixth pressing, Remastered, Parlophone5099963380019, 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: 6338001 BD13968-01 A1 N.S. U / Side 2: 6338001 BD16691-01 B1 8 i…i
Released April 20, 1973. The double album, “The Beatles 1962-1966″, contains all the A sides of The Beatles’ singles issued on Parlophone up to th end of 1966, plus a selection of album tracks from the same period, namely, “All My Loving” from With The Beatles, “Eight Days A Week” from Beatles For Sale, “Yesterday” from Help! and “Norwegian Wood” and “Michelle” from Rubber Soul. The sleeve of this double album show two photographs, of The Beatles in the same pose taken eight years apart. The first is that used in 1963 for the Please Please Me album, the second, taken in 1969, had been planned for the unreleased Get Back album.
The album has a front and back laminated gatefold sleeve manufactured by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. The red color of the album is associated with the color of FC Liverpool. The first edition had no producer George Martin’s credit on the inside.
“The Beatles 1962-66” include colored inner sleeves with lyrics. First edition of The Beatles 1962-1966 has red die-cut inner sleeves with two corners cut.
1. First pressing, April 20, 1973. For the first pressing was used matte Apple labels on a dark red background. Apple labels have “Mfd. in U.K.”, “An Apple Record”, “An EMI Recording” and “The Gramophone Company Limited” credits. Matrix numbers: Side One: YEX 905-1, Side Two: YEX 906-1, Side Three: YEX 907-1, Side Four: YEX 908-1. Other common combinations of matrix numbers: -1/-1/-3/-1/// -3/-1/-1/-1/// -1/-3/-3/-1/// -2/-2/-4/-2.
Pye Records contract pressing. For the manufacture of discs was used dark red translucent vinyl which looks black but glows dark red and which can be seen by holding up to the light. Pye pressing the same matte labels. Matrix numbers: Side One: YEX 905-2, Side Two: YEX 906-2, Side Three: YEX 907-4, Side Four: YEX 908-2.
2. Second pressing, December 20, 1978. Laminated Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. outer sleeve has producer George Martin’s credit on the inside. Glossy labels have “Mfd. in U.K.”, “An Apple Record”, “An EMI Recording” and “The Gramophone Company Limited” credits. Possible combinations of matrix numbers: -3/-4/-3/-3/// -4/-4/-5/-3/// -5/-5/-5/-5.
Variation A.
Variation B. Textured labels.
Color edition of “The Beatles 1962-1966” has the round sticker glued on front sleeve.
All variations of the second pressing have red die-cut inner sleeves with four rounded corners.
Note! Black vinyl with the same labels and sleeves published in the same period.
3. Third pressing, 1980 – 1983. Third pressing has unlaminated Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. outer sleeve with George Martin’s credits and the same labels as the second pressing. Possible combinations of matrix numbers: -5/-5/-5/-5/// -6/-5/-5/-5 /// -6/-5/-5/-6.
Red inner sleeves does not cut the corners.
4. Fourth pressing, 1983 – 1987. Unlaminated sleeve with bar code and “Sleeve printed in England Manufactured in England” text on the back side. Red inner sleeves does not cut the corners. Traditional Apple label on a green background. The rimtext reached all the way around the labels. Importantly, around the 5 o’clock position in the rimtext the wording is: “UNAUTHORISED COPYING, HIRING, RENTING, PUBLIC PERFORMANCE AND BROADCASTING”. Matrix numbers: Side One: YEX 905-6-1-1, Side Two: YEX 906-5, Side Three: YEX 907-6C-1-1, Side Four: YEX 908-6-1-1.
5. Fifth pressing, 1993. Red vinyl, digitally re-mastered edition. Catalog number PCSPP 717 (0777 7 97036 0). Unlaminated outer sleeve with round black and white sticker and red inner sleeves. Complete with red poster with some The Beatles photos. Matrix numbers: Side One: PCSPP 7171 A-01-01-2, Side Two: PCSPP 7171 B-01-01-2, Side Three: PCSPP 7172 A-01-01-1, Side Four: 7172 B-01-01-1.
Round sticker.
6.Sixth pressing, Remastered, Apple0602547048455, released November 21, 2014. The album was reissued on 180g vinyl, prepared from the original UK 1973 compilation master. The fake stereo mixes of “Love Me Do” and “She Loves You” were replaced by the true mono versions. Vinyl pressed by Optimal Media GmbH, Germany.
Sticker:
An insert was added to the album:
Inner sleeves:
Matrix nimber variations:
Side A: 11141 1A 00602547048455000000 / Side B: 11141 1B 00602547048455000000 i…i // Side C: 11141 1C 00602547048455000000 /
Side D: 11141 1D 00602547048455000000 i…i In addition, there are various options for matrices with numbers 2A, 2B, 2C 2D.
7.Seven pressing, New Remix, Apple0602455920539, released November 10, 2023.
For its 50th anniversary, the collection has been expanded with 12 additional tracks, including for the first time some of George Harrison’s earliest songs and some classic Beatles versions of R&B and rock ‘n’ roll hits that were so influential on the band. The 3LP collection now contains 38 tracks, 30 of which have new mixes for 2023. The set’s 12 newly added tracks are collected on its 3rd LP. An insert contains new sleeve notes by journalist and author John Harris.
Manrix numbers:
Side A: BN96725-01 A1 5592057 MILES.ABBEYROAD 1/2SPEED. ROOM30
Side B: BN96725-01 B1 5592057 MILES.ABBEYROAD 1/2SPEED. ROOM30
Side C: BN96728-01 A1 5592058 MILES.ABBEYROAD 1/2SPEED. ROOM30
Side D: BN96728-01 B1 5592058 MILES.ABBEYROAD 1/2SPEED. ROOM30
Side E: BN96729-01 A1 5592059 MILES.ABBEYROAD 1/2SPEED. ROOM30
Side F: BN96729-01 B1 5592059 MILES.ABBEYROAD 1/2SPEED. ROOM30
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