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. 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. 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.
Variation A. Earlier labels of the second pressings were Time New Roman type. It’s with this style that we find “normal” pressings, almost all the early standard pressings XEX 579-4 / XEX 580-4.
Variation A-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 A-2. Standard TNR label.
Variation B. At some later, Time New Roman has been changed to Sans-sherif type. 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.
Photos submitted by 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
Revolver, Parlophone, PMC 7009, August 5, 1966, mono. Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. or Ernest J.Day & Co. front laminated flipback cover with small “mono” on the front and with “Dr. Robert” (early variation) or “Doctor Robert” song credit on the back side.
1. First pressing, August 5, 1966. “Remix 11” mispressing. Side 2 matrix no.: XEX 606-1 have “Remix 11” of “Tomorrow Never Knows”. When “Revolver” was initially mixed a different master for “Tomorrow Never Knows” was sent off to be pressed. This mix is known as ‘Remix 11’. Although subtle, it is different to the standard ‘Remix 8’ which was ultimately to replace it. The story goes that each group member was given the first copies from the production line and John went to listen to it. But, it turned out that he was unhappy with the mix or that the wrong one had been used and he informed George Martin. Production was then stopped as the new masters were cut and the pressing plates were replaced. First presses have a side 2 matrix number of XEX 606-1 whereas the standard presses have XEX 606-2 and beyond.
Black label with yellow logo and silver print. “The Gramophone Co. Ltd” printed at the start perimeter print and “Sold in U.K.” text. Plain white or white & black “LP advertising” inner sleeves. With or without KT tax code on the label. Matrix numbers: Side 1: XEX 605-1 or -2; Side 2: XEX 606-1.
This is how the labels first appeared on the shelves. Still using the sans serif Arial typeset. Also, these early labels misprint the side 2 track Doctor Robert as “Dr. Robert”. These early Sans-serif labels have each song title starting on a new line with the first line purely for “Taxman” and have “Eleanor Rigby” starting on the second line down. Also something to note on these original labels is that each song title was followed by song credits and then lead vocalist.
2. Second pressing, 1966 until 1969. The Second “standard” pressing of “Revolver” has the same labels as the first pressing, but other matrix numbers: Side 1: XEX 605-2; Side 2: XEX 606-2 (or -3).
Variation A. As 1st pressing, but the “Dr. Robert” error on side 2 has been corrected, now correctly reading “Doctor Robert”.
Variation B. This variation has Times New Roman font. This label exhibits a new layout design most notably with side one having both “Taxman” and “Eleanor Rigby” on the first line. Yet it also displays the incorrect Dr. Robert spelling on side 2. The credits pattern of “Song (Composer)-Lead Singer” has also now switched to “Song-Lead Singer (Composer)”. This probably appeared in late 1966.
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 C. This variation incorporates the corrected Doctor Robert spelling to the Sans-serif label. This label exhibits a new layout design most notably with side one having both “Taxman” and “Eleanor Rigby” on the first line. The credits pattern of “Song (Composer)-Lead Singer” has also now switched to “Song-Lead Singer (Composer)”. This probably appeared in late 1967 or 1968.
3. Third 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. Sepia “LP advertising“ inner sleeve. Without tax code. Matrix numbers: XEX 605-2; Side 2: XEX 606-3.
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 small “mono” on the front. White paper standard EMI inner sleeve. Matrix numbers: XEX 605-2 (or -3); Side 2: XEX 606-3 (or -4).
5. Fifth pressing, Remastered, Parlophone 5099963380415, 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: 6338041 BD11539-01 A1 G.E. M / Side 2: 6338041 BD11539-01 B1 D, M i…i
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