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uk Guide to Reference home

Label History from 1963 to 1980s
(Update: 22th. November 2017)

Notice* Click some label pictures, so you can see the large picture image.
Date Release Album Label Comments
Mono Stereo
March 1963 -- April 1963
  • 22. March 1963
    Please Please Me (mono)
    1st. Press

  • 26. April 1963
    Please Please Me (stereo)
    1st. Press
label label Black Parlophone label with gold ink:
"LONG PLAYING" curved across the top of the label.
There are two variations of both the mono and stereo copies of these gold/black labels, due to an error by George Martin.
April 1963 -- Summer 1963
  • 2. April 1963
    Please Please Me (mono)
    New Label

  • 18. May 1963
    Please Please Me (stereo)
    New Label
label


 label
Sorry, I don't have this label. 		 Black/yellow Parlophone label with silver print Type-1:
The LP was issued with a new label style. The bold name PARLOPHONE across the top would be made in bright yellow by the summer of 1963.
The remaining surface was no longer printed using gold ink, but now silver ink.
The statement "RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1963" was not yet added to the labels.
You may notice that this type has a word "33 1/3" next to the matrix number at the left side of the label.
label label
Sorry, I don't have this label.  		Black/yellow Parlophone label with silver print Type-2:
The statement "RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1963" was not yet added to the labels.
The word "33 1/3" next to the matrix number at the left side of the label was erased.
Summer 1963 -- January 1964
  • Please Please Me (mono/stereo)
    New Label

  • 22. November 1963
    With The Beatles (mono/stereo)
    1st. Press
label label Black/yellow Parlophone label with silver print Type-3:
Through the rest of 1963, from about early summer onward, the LPs had the "RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 196X" statement.
And the outer rim of the labels were always fully capitalized, with the name "THE PARLOPHONE CO. LTD."
The "SOLD IN U.K. SUBJECT TO RESALE PRICE CONDITIONS, SEE PRICE LISTS" statement was introduced in February 1964 on all EMI singles, EPs and LPs.
February 1964 -- late 1964?
  • 10. August 1964
    A Hard Day's Night (mono/stereo)
    1st. Press

  • 4. December 1964
    Beatles For Sale (mono/stereo)
    1st. Press
  • The four older LPs were pressed on this label.
    (except: With the  Beatles / maybe)
 label label Black/yellow Parlophone label with silver print Type-4:
The LPs had an outer rim reading "THE PARLOPHONE CO. LTD.", the "SOLD IN U.K." remark, and the "RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 196X" statement, on all the first pressings.
late 1964? -- June 1965
  • 1965 (Export)
    Something New (stereo)
    1st. Press
 NONE ? label Black/yellow Parlophone label with silver print Type-5-1:
The LPs had an outer rim reading "THE PARLOPHONE CO. LTD.", the "SOLD IN U.K." remark, but the "RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 196X" statement was replaced by a symbol, "(P)".

*"A Hard Day's Night/PCS 3058" and "Something New/CPCS 101"
NONE? label Black/yellow Parlophone label with silver print Type-5-2:
The LPs had an outer rim reading "THE PARLOPHONE CO. LTD." The "SOLD IN U.K." remark was removed, and the "RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 196X" statement was replaced by a symbol, "(P)".
The outer rim statement on label was changed "THE GRAMOPHONE CO. LTD."
July 1965 -- Summer 1969
  • 6. August 1965
    Help! (mono/stereo)
    1st. Press

  • 3. December 1965
    Rubber Soul(mono/stereo)
    1st. Press

  • 5. August 1966
    Revolver(mono/stereo)
    1st. Press

  • 10. December 1966
    Collection of Beatles Oldies(mono/stereo)
    1st. Press

  • 1. June 1967
    Sgt. Peppers Lonely..(mono/stereo)
    1st. Press

  • 22. November 1968
    The Beatles(mono/stereo)
    1st. Press from Apple Label
 label label Black/yellow Parlophone label with silver print Type-6-1:
When "Help!" was issued, the change took place on the label which are common to all EMI records:
the outer rim statement, which always said "THE PARLOPHONE CO. LTD.", now said "THE GRAMOPHONE CO. LTD."
The "SOLD IN U.K." and the symbol "(P)196X" notice stayed intact.
Large "33 1/3 R.P.M." logo was printed above the PARLOPHONE logo.
NONE ? label
Sorry, I don't have this label.		 Black/yellow Parlophone label with silver print Type-6-2:
the outer rim statement, which always said "THE PARLOPHONE CO. LTD.", now said "THE GRAMOPHONE CO. LTD."
The "SOLD IN U.K." and the symbol "(P)196X" notice stayed intact.
Small "33 1-3 R.P.M." logo was printed above the PARLOPHONE logo instead of a "33 1/3 R.P.M." logo.
label Under Preparation Apple label Type-1:
First pressing issued in November 1968, has dark apple label, with "Sold in U.K ..." text located on top. Released by stereo and mono.
"An E.M.I. Recording" credit was not yet printed on the label.
Under Preparation label Apple label Type-2:
Second pressing has dark apple label, with "Sold in U.K ..." text located on top and "An E.M.I. Recording" text located on the left. Released by stereo and mono.
  • 17. January 1969
    Yellow Submarine(mono/stereo)
    1st. Press from Apple Label
label label Apple label Type-3:
Third pressing has dark apple label, with "Sold in U.K ..." text located on top and "("An E.M.I. Recording")" text located on the left. Released by stereo and mono.
The "SOLD IN U.K. SUBJECT TO ..." statement was removed.
Summer 1969 -- Late 1969
  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Parlophone label.




  • 26. September 1969
    Abbey Road(stereo only)
    1st. Press from Apple Label
label label Black/yellow Parlophone label with silver print Type-7-1:
the name "THE GRAMOPHONE CO. LTD." statement and the symbol "(P)196X" notice stayed intact.
But the name "SOLD IN U.K." statement was removed.
Large "33 1/3 R.P.M." logo was printed above the PARLOPHONE logo.
NONE ? label Black/yellow Parlophone label with silver print Type-7-2:
the name "THE GRAMOPHONE CO. LTD." statement and the symbol "(P)196X" notice stayed intact.
But the name "SOLD IN U.K." statement was removed.
Small "33 1-3 R.P.M." logo was printed above the PARLOPHONE logo instead of a "33 1/3 R.P.M." logo.
NONE ?
 label Apple label Type-4:
4th pressing has dark green apple with "("An E.M.I. Recording")", without "Sold in U.K ..." label text located on the left. Released by stereo only (maybe).
Very Late 1969 -- Mid-to-late 1970
  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Parlophone label.




  • 8. May 1970
    Let It Be(stereo only)
    First Press from Apple Label
label
Sorry, I don't have this label.		 label Black Parlophone label with silver print Type-1:
In very late 1969 a new label was made, using silver ink on black, and with EMI, PARLOPHONE logo all in silver.
New Beatles' LPs were on Apple label, but the nine older Parlophone LPs were pressed on this label, both in mono and stereo.
Notice there is only one "EMI" mark on the label.
NONE ? label Apple label Type-4:

One original Beatles' LPs were issued on their Apple label.
Mid-to-late 1970--
(1973?)
  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Parlophone label.





  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Apple label.
NONE label Black/white Parlophone label with silver print Type-2:
This second label, dating from mid-to-late 1970, is identical but with two "EMI" marks, which are white with black print (reversed).
No mono LPs were pressed from the 1970 "two-marks" series with the GRAMOPHONE outer rim.
NONE label
 Apple label Type-5:
5th pressing has light green apple with "("An E.M.I. Recording")", without "Sold in U.K ..." label text located on the left. Released by stereo only.
1970s
  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Parlophone label.





  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Apple label.
NONE label Black/white Parlophone label with silver print Type-3:
This third label have two "EMI" marks, which are white with black print (reversed).
The record company's name around the label changed from "Gramophone" to "EMI".
No mono LPs were pressed from the 1970 "two-marks" series.
NONE label
 Apple label Type-5:
1970s
during "Oil Crisis"
  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Parlophone label.





  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Apple label.
NONE label Black/white Parlophone label with silver print Type-4:
This 4th label have two "EMI" marks, which are white with black print (reversed).
At some point in the mid-1970s the EMI pressing plant at Hayes (just outside London) was closed for refurbishment and EMI contracted their Pathé Marconi subsidiary in France to press LP's for a short time. These LP's were then put into U.K. sleeves and sold in the U.K.
No mono LPs were pressed from the 1970 "two-marks" series.
NONE label Apple label Type-6:
These labels were pressed in France during the "Oil Crisis" in the 1970s.
The printing type is different, but the layout is similar to the U.K. pressings.
1981 -- late 1982?
  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Parlophone label.





  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Apple label.
NONE label Black/white Parlophone label with silver print Type-5:
This 5th label have two "EMI" marks, which are white with black print (reversed).
These labels have a credit "ALL RIGHTS....MANUFACTURED IN THE UK BY EMI RECORDS LIMITED" around the label and they must come without the word "RENTING" in the circle credit.
NONE label Apple label Type-5 ?:
1981
  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Parlophone label.





  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Apple label.
label NONE Black/yellow Parlophone label with silver print Type-8:
These labels were the reissued label in 1981.
No stereo LPs were pressed.
These labels have a credit "ALL RIGHTS....MANUFACTURED IN THE UK BY EMI RECORDS LIMITED" around the label and "MONO" credit on the right upper portion
label NONE Apple label Type-7:
These labels were the reissued label in 1981.
No stereo LPs were pressed.
The characteristics of the reissued label are;
1) "MONO" credit on the right upper portion
2) slender Sans Serif printing type
3) a credit "An E.M.I. Recording" in parentheses
4) "Harrisongs Ltd" printed as the music publishing company's name for George's songs and "Startling Mus" printed for a Ringo's songs.
late 1982 or 1983?-- 1987?
  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Parlophone label.





  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Apple label.
NONE label Black/white Parlophone label with silver print Type-6:
This 6th label have two "EMI" marks, which are white with black print (reversed).
These labels may look almost the same as the previous type but this type has the word "RENTING" in the circle credit.
NONE label Apple label Type-8:
These labels may look almost the same as the previous type, but the only difference is the credit around the label.
It was changed in the early 1980s to renew the credit to "Unauthorized copying, hiring, renting, public performance and broadcasting" are prohibited.
1988?--
  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Parlophone label.





  • There were no new Beatles' albums on Apple label.
NONE label
Sorry, I don't have this label.		 Black Parlophone label with silver print Type-7:
This 7th label have two "EMI" marks, which are silver print (reversed).
The three main characteristics of this label:
1) printed in silver color only, without using white color.
2) erased a silver circle around the label
3) changed the words at the perimeter of the label
  • "This record" into "This recording"
  • "Renting" into "Rental"
And a credit of its nationality appeared as "MADE IN ENGLAND" for the first time.
NONE labelSorry, I don't have this label. Apple label Type-9:
This label was published in 1988 when E.M.I did CD remix.
The label looks almost the same as the previous type, but it's different.
1) The printing type changed to a slightly thicker one.
2) The credits at the left portion were changed:


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