Identify & Date Your Beatles Parlophone Records

The "Gold Label", "Please Please Me"
When the Beatles released their first LP "Please Please Me" on Parlophone Records, the label styles were in transition. The original Parlophone record label was a black label with gold print, as a result this created a legendary Beatles collectible, the "Gold Label", "Please Please Me" which can be found with any of the following three different label variations.

The first label credits the Beatles original songs to
"Dick James Music" (which is pictured here).

The second credits those same songs to
"Northern Songs".

Finally, the last variant that can be found
has mis-matched, with side one having different credits than side two.

The album cover accompanying a "Gold Label" copy should have the front cover credits shifted all the way to the right to the covers' edge -- later covers have the front cover credit moved slightly to the left.

"Please Please Me" the Beatles first album, the mono mix was recorded in less than 10 hours and was rushed to release on March 22, 1963 in the United Kingdom to capitalize on the success in the charts with the singles "Please Please Me" (#1)
and "Love Me Do" (#17).

A stereo mix was made later, with one track on the left channel and the other on the right, and a layer of reverb was added to better blend the two tracks together which was released April 26, 1963.

The typical Parlophone record label from the 1960's has a black label with "Parlophone" in yellow. This basic label style lasted on all Parlophone issues until 1969, when it was replaced by a black label with silver print. However, there were three different variations
of the 1960's Yellow Parlophone Label, which makes it possible to give a more accurate date to your Parlophone album.

Copies of the "Please Please Me" Vinyl LP pressed immediately after the switch to the
yellow and black label can be found with "33 1/3 rpm" instead of "Recording first published 1963" on the label. These copies now sell for about triple the price of normal copies. After these copies, there exist transition copies which does not have either print. These sell for 50% more than standard copies.

In 1964, legalities forced Parlophone to add a "resale statement" to their records' label.
All Parlophone Vinyl LP's produced between 1964 and late into 1965 will have
"The Parlophone Co. Ltd." in the rim print and will have the "Sold in U.K." message across the middle of the record label.

From 1965 until 1969, all Parlophone Vinyl LP's were released with labels having "The Gramophone Co. Ltd." in the rim print and the "Sold in U.K." message across the center of the label.

There is also a transitional issue of Beatles Vinyl LP's from 1969 with a black and yellow label but no "Sold in UK" message.

* The black and yellow Parlophone label appeared briefly on reissues during the early 1980's. This reissue label has "EMI" mentioned in the printing on the rim of the label and has the word "Mono" on the label.

In mid-1969, all of the Beatles Parlophone LP's were reissued onto a black and silver label. This is commonly called the 70's label, because it lasted through most the 1970's and into the 1980's.

The earliest variety of the 1970's label (up through 1973) is nicknamed the "One Mark" label because only one EMI logo appears on the label; later
copies have two. Three albums are known to have been reissued in MONO on the "one mark" label.

From 1973 to 1976, the rim print on the "two mark" label has "The Gramophone Co. Ltd," but in 1976, the rim print changed to mention "EMI" as the manufacturer.

After 1979, the rim print changed to begin with an "all rights" statement.

The black and yellow Parlophone label appeared briefly on reissues during the early 1980's. This reissue label has EMI mentioned in the printing on the rim of the label and has the word MONO on the label.

Decoding the UK EMI matrix:

At 6 o clock is the matrix number with a dash number. In this case it is XEX 638-1 Dash 1 indicates the 1st lacquer made. 2 would be the second, etc.

At 9 o clock is the mother number. In this case it is Mother # 8

At 3 o clock is the stamper code. The code works like this:

GRAMOPHLTD

1234567890

The letter above is code for the corresponding number below. Example: the stamper code is "MDP" in the record below. This corresponds to the numbers M = 4. D = 0. P = 6. Stamper is #406

The mono LPs were numbered with "PMC" prefix on center-right of the label, in the same way, the stereo LPs were numbered with "PCS" prefix. And you can see on the label of the stereo LPs, the word "Stereo".

Mono and Stereo ... Label Variation #2: Prefix of Stamper Number
Mono (PMC) label using: XEX. ( you can see each label and inner groove both side 1 and 2)
Stereo (PCs, P-PCS) label using: YEX. ( You can see each label and inner groove both side 1 and 2)

Example above: side 2 was made by the 1st lacquer, the 8th mother and pressed by the 406th stamper. Perhaps the record company could anticipate total sales volume and, up front, they might produce all the needed lacquers, mothers and stampers. Or perhaps at a later date, the record company would need to produce additional lacquers and mothers in order to meet customer demand for the product. In the case of The Beatles, millions of LPs were typically sold within the early weeks of production and, during the years after that, millions more were produced as 2nd, 3rd and later pressings.

The mono LPs were numbered with "PMC" prefix on center-right of the label, in the same way, the stereo LPs were numbered with "PCS" prefix. And you can see on the label of the stereo LPs, the word "STEREO" on gold ribbon was printed on the center of the label still more.

Mono and Stereo ... Label Variation #2: Prefix of Stamper Number
Mono (PMC) label using: XEX. ( you can see each label and inner groove both side 1 and 2)
Stereo (PCs, P-PCS) label using: YEX. ( You can see each label and inner groove both side 1 and 2)

At the "6 O'clock" position on the inner groove area is the matrix number with a -1 or -2 etc.
For instance, Beatles For Sale in stereo is YEX 142-1 (etc.).
The "1" means the FIRST LACQUER cut from the master. -2 the second etc.
At the "9 O'clock" is a number which tell you what "mother" was used to generate the stamper actually used the press the record. A number of "mothers" are generated from the lacquer. Obviously a "1" means first mother generated from the lacquer. A "5" means it was much later--the fifth mother generated from the lacquer.
At the "3 O'clock" position there will be one to three letters, which are codes associated with numbers as follows, which tell you what stamper was used to press the actual record:
G R A M O P H L T D (gramophone Ltd)

G=1 R=2 A=3 M=4 O=5 P=6 H=7 L=8 T=9 D=0

Therefore, if the letters say "GR" that is stamper 12. "O" is stamper 5 etc.
YEX 142-1, mother 1, stamper G is the very first pressing of "Beatles For Sale" in stereo: first lacquer, first mother, first stamper.

YEX 142-1, mother 4, stamper RLT. That would be first lacquer, 4th mother and 289th stamper generated from that mother.

March 1963 "Please Please Me" Mono
Abril 1963 "Please Please Me" Stereo
November 1963 "With the Beatles" Mono and Stereo
August 1964 "A Hard Day's Night" Mono and Stereo
December 1964 "Beatles For Sale" Mono and Stereo
August 1965 "Help!" Mono and Stereo
December 1965 "Rubber Soul" Mono and Stereo
August 1966 "Revolver" Mono and Stereo
December 1966 "A Collection of Beatles Oldies" Mono and Stereo
June 1967 "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" Mono and Stereo

Original Apple Label
RELEASE DATE TITLE MONO STEREO

November 1968 "The Beatles" Mono and Stereo
January 1969 "Yellow Submarine" Mono and Stereo
September 1969 "Abbey Road" Stereo
May 1970 "Let It Be" Stereo

Beginning in 1965, Parlophone began to press and distribute to other countries copies of LP's that were not available in that form in England. These included Parlophone pressings of several US Capitol albums, also a Parlophone issue of The Beatles (for countries that had not accepted the Apple label yet), and a Parlophone-covered issue of Let It Be.

The series prefix "CPCS" was used for US-based albums, with the leading "C" standing for "Capitol." For the other export LP's, a leading "P" for "Parlophone" was used, along with the usual British catalog number.

Labels for the export series resembled their UK counterpart

Manufacturer's Catalog Number

Prefix Label and Type
PMC Parlophone, Apple Mono
PCS Parlophone, Apple Stereo
PXS Apple Stereo (Let It Be: Box Type)
CPCS P- CPCS Parlophone, Apple Stereo: for export Edition
P- PCS (PPCS) Parlophone, Odeon Stereo: for export Edition
PCSP Parlophone, Apple Compilation Album
PCTC Parlophone Magical Mystery Tour
PHO Parlophone Picture Record

From 1963 until today, "regular" Beatles' Parlophone and Apple LPs are issued with catalog numbers -- "PMC-XXXX" or "PCS-XXXX", where XXXX is a 4-digit number, excepted the "Let It Be Box Type" was numbered "PXS 1".

The first export LPs are reproduced of three American LPs. They are "Something New CPCS 101", "The Beatles' Second Album CPCS 103" and "Beatles VI CPCS 104". All of these are available only in stereo. This whole series of albums had fully-laminated front covers with fold over flaps onto the back, as most of the standard-issue 60's LP covers were made.

Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records covers all of the singles, albums and extended play discs issued by the Beatles in the U.K. from 1962 through 1970. Each record is given a separate chapter, which tells the stories behind how the songs appearing on the disc were written and recorded. The chapters also detail how the records were marketed and contain sales and chart information. The book has chapters on the history of EMI and Parlophone Records, how records are mastered and manufactured, how EMI contracted with other record companies to press Beatles singles and albums to help meet demand, British radio and record charts in the sixties and other record-related topics. The book has over 700 illustrations, all in either color or original black and white.

To Purchase This Reference Book "Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records" or too
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Cleanliness is absolutely mandatory if the optimum sound capability of the vinyl record is to be realized. A clean record will not only sound better, but last longer. It has long been proven that repeated playing of dirty phonograph records can cause permanent damage to the vinyl. Preservation of your valuable or irreplaceable records requires careful cleaning. Not to mention that stylus wear is greatly accelerated by playing dirty records, and with high price of cartridges these days, playing dirty records can lead to significant and unneeded expense.

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Standard Goldmine Grading System

Fox Music Company uses the grading system first developed by Goldmine Records. Virtually all methods currently in use for the grading of records, is based in some way, shape, or form, on this system. Rather than offer some variation of the original system first developed by Goldmine, Fox Music Company has created a lens to display the Goldmine record grading method in it's entirety.

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Grading Your Vinyl Records.

Goldmine Record Album Price Guide has the detailed descriptions and current prices you need to determine what your vinyl is worth. From Abba to ZZ Top, you'll find your favorite vinyl LPs and their variations. This massive reference also features the industry-standard Goldmine condition grading guide, valuable tips on buying and selling records, and a detailed guide listing record company labels, numbering systems, and production years. The Goldmine Record Album Price Guide features 70,000 vinyl LPs from 1948 to 2007 with detailed listings along with up-to-date values and 400 photos. Also included is essential information on grading, buying and selling records

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To Purchase This Reference Book "Goldmine Price Guide to 45 rpm Records" or
Too See Other Books Available About Record Collecting, Please Visit Our Amazon Book Store
Collectors Showcase Your Source for Special Interest Books & Collectors Guides

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Cleanliness is absolutely mandatory to achieve the best sound quality of your vinyl records. A clean vinyl record will not only sound better, but last longer. It has long been proven that the playing of dirty records will result in a rapid deterioration of quality and degradation of the original recorded sound, or simply can cause permanent damage to your vinyl records.
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The following is the grading system first developed by Goldmine Records. Virtually all methods currently in use for the grading of records, is based in some way, shape, or form, on this system. Rather than offer some variation of the original system first developed by Goldmine, Fox Music Company will display the Goldmine record grading method in it's entirety.
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