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Parlophone Original Released
#07. A Hard Day's Night / Things We Said Today (R 5160)
(Update: 3rd. September 2024)

hard
Black Parlophone Label



Notice* Click the disk of each single, so you can see the large picture image.

#7-1 A Hard Day's Night / Things We Said Today (Demonstration Record: R 5160)
 Back to the top of the line
TRACK LISTING
SIDE 1 A Hard Day's Night (Lennon-McCartney)
SIDE 2 Things We Said Today (Lennon-McCartney)
RELEASE DATE
Demonstration Record (First Press: 10th July. 1964)
SLEEVE:FRONT SLEEVE:BACK SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2 --> Click! DISK --> Click!
sleeve SLEEVE please label disk
LABEL CLOSE UP
SIDE 1 SIDE 2 White label with black ink and, on both sides, a large red "A" over the face of the label.
label label
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label label label label
"The Parlophone Co. Ltd. (small letter)" was printed at the perimeter, and "DEMONSTRATION RECORD" was on the label.
Push-out center, tax code is none.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label label label
Catalog No. "R 5160"  was printed at the right side of the label. Credited to movie title "from the film of the same name". Matrix suffixed with "1N" on both side.
OTHER ITEM
-

CATALOG NUMBER
R 5160
LABEL
Parlophone Demonstration Label
MIX
Mono
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 7XCE 17714 - 1N
SIDE 2 7XCE 17715 - 1N
VINYL COLOR
BLACK
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME
The Parlophone Co. Ltd. (small letter)
CENTER
Push-out center
CENTRAL REMARK
"SOLD IN U.K..."
-
PUBLISHER'S NAME
SIDE 1
NORTHERN SONGS
SIDE 2
NORTHERN SONGS
PRODUCER
George Martin
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES
Top Pop Record Sleeve type-B : Blue sleeve with black ink.
*this sleeve is replica.
COMMENTS
White label with black ink and, on the A-side, a large red "A" over the face of the label.
This demo single had the red A on both labels instead of just the A-Side.
  • "The Parlophone Co. Ltd. (small letter)" on its outer rim.
  • "DEMONSTRATION RECORD" and "NOT FOR SALE" were printed at the bellow of the Parlohone logo.
Made for both radio and for the record shops, all U.K. Parlophone and Apple 7" Beatles singles had promotional Records.
A Promo is always a copy of the exact performance and mix that is to be sold in the record shops. It is pressed from the very same plates used to make the commercially-available 45rpm singles.

The first 12 Beatles singles, from "Love Me Do" trough "Paperback Writer"(*)  all had promo's on white-label disks with black ink and, on the Aside, a large red "A" over the face of the label.
Records like "Day tripper/We Can Work It Out", issued as double-A-sided disks, had the red "A" on both sides of the record label.

* excepted for "She Loves You, I Feel Fine, Can't Buy Me Love, and Help!"
EMI did not prepare a demonstration record for these records.

Beginning with "All You Need Is Love (**)", Promo's were made with a lime-green background and a White "A" on the intended Aside.
These lime -green promo's had slightly-smaller labels, so the labels fit within the circle of ridges surrounding the label area, instead of overlapping onto them, as the previous promo's did.

**  EMI did not prepare a demonstration record for "Strawberry Fields Forever"

Demo copies of EMI records were issued in "Top Pop" sleeves.
Demo's from "Love Me Do" untill "A Hard Day's Night" would have featured a blue, yellow or red sleeve.

This copies was credited to movie title "from the film of the same name", but commercial issue was credited the title "from film of same name" (without 'the') .



#7-2 A Hard Day's Night / Things We Said Today (Factory Sample: R 5160)
 Back to the top of the line
TRACK LISTING
SIDE 1 A Hard Day's Night (Lennon-McCartney)
SIDE 2 Things We Said Today (Lennon-McCartney)
RELEASE DATE
Factory Sample (First Press: 10th July. 1964)
SLEEVE:FRONT SLEEVE:BACK SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2 --> Click! DISK --> Click!
sleeve SLEEVE hard hard disk
LABEL CLOSE UP
label "The Parlophone Co. Ltd. (small letter)" was printed at the perimeter.
The "Recording first published 1964 (small letter)" statement was printed at the left part of the label.
label label
It has the central remark "SOLD IN UK..."
Push-out center, tax code is "K, T"
With a "FACTORY SAMPLE" sticker on the label of side-1.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label label label label
This label type don't have the "NCB" credit. The words "from film of same name" was printed on the Side-1. The "t" in "MADE IN Gt. BRITAIN" text is small letter. SIDE 1 SIDE 2
Matrix suffixed with "1N" on both side.
OTHER ITEM
-

CATALOG NUMBER
R 5160
LABEL
Silver Parlophone (logo: large type)
MIX
Mono
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 7XCE 17714 - 1N
SIDE 2 7XCE 17715 - 1N
VINYL COLOR
BLACK
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME
The Parlophone Co. Ltd. (small letter)
CENTER
Push-out center
CENTRAL REMARK
"SOLD IN U.K..."
YES
RECORDING PUBLISHED CREDIT Recording first published 1964 (small letter)
PUBLISHER'S NAME
SIDE 1
NORTHERN SONGS MUSIC LTD.
SIDE 2
NORTHERN SONGS MUSIC LTD.
PRODUCER
George Martin
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES
Green sleeve type-1A : Straight cut at top and "6'- to 50'-" on back.
Company name is "Electric & Musical Industries Ltd" on the back cover.
Inside glued.
COMMENTS
This genuine EMI Factory Sample copy of "A Hard Day's Night / Things We Said Today" was sent to BBC broadcaster / DJ Geoffrey Wheeler as a promo just prior to the disc's release in July 1964.

Both labels carry the "Sold in UK..." text with "The Parlophone Co.." rim texts.
A genuine EMI red & white "Factory Sample - Not For Sale" sticker is adhered to the "A Hard Day's Night" label.
After the test pressings were approved, and copies were run with the promo labels on them, the printer then loaded the machines with the proper labels for the disk's standard release. Then samples were taken from possibly each press machine making the records, and affixed with a sticker (red ink on white) and checked for quality. Except for the sticker, the disk is exactly as it will be when it is released.

The "KT" purchase tax code is visible in the centre of the "A Hard Day's Night" label.



#7-3 A Hard Day's Night / Things We Said Today (1st. Press "Black Parlophone Label / The Parlophone rim": R 5160)
 Back to the top of the line
TRACK LISTING
SIDE 1 A Hard Day's Night (Lennon-McCartney)
SIDE 2 Things We Said Today (Lennon-McCartney)
RELEASE DATE
10th July. 1964/First Press
SLEEVE:FRONT SLEEVE:BACK SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2 --> Click! DISK --> Click!
sleeve SLEEVE hard hard disk
LABEL CLOSE UP
label "The Parlophone Co. Ltd. (small letter)" was printed at the perimeter.
The "Recording first published 1964 (small letter)" statement was printed at the left part of the label.
label label It has the central remark "SOLD IN UK..."

Push-out center,
tax code is "K, T"
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label label label label
This label type don't have the "NCB" credit. The words "from film of same name" was printed on the Side-1. The "t" in "MADE IN Gt. BRITAIN" text is small letter. SIDE 1 SIDE 2
Matrix suffixed with "1N" on both side.
OTHER ITEM
-

CATALOG NUMBER
R 5160
LABEL
Silver Parlophone (logo: large type)
MIX
Mono
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 7XCE 17714 - 1N
SIDE 2 7XCE 17715 - 1N
VINYL COLOR
BLACK
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME
The Parlophone Co. Ltd. (small letter)
CENTER
Push-out center
CENTRAL REMARK
"SOLD IN U.K..."
YES
RECORDING PUBLISHED CREDIT Recording first published 1964 (small letter)
PUBLISHER'S NAME
SIDE 1
NORTHERN SONGS MUSIC LTD.
SIDE 2
NORTHERN SONGS MUSIC LTD.
PRODUCER
George Martin
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES
Green sleeve type-2A :Wavy cut at top.
EMI logo was added in rectangular box on front.
"TRADE MARK OF THE PARLOPHONE CO LTD." below the Parlophone logo on front.
The copies of "Read the RECORD MAIL" were 6 lines. "6'- to 50'-" tokens on back.
Glued left and right.
COMMENTS
The earliest label has a characteristic credit in a small letter at the perimeter with reads "The Parlophone Co. Ltd."
The next label with capitalized printing of "THE PARLOPHONE CO. LTD." at the perimeter.
It has the central remark "SOLD IN UK..."



#7-4 A Hard Day's Night / Things We Said Today (Unknown Press "Black Parlophone Label / THE PARLOPHONE rim / Export Issue?": R 5160)
 Back to the top of the line
TRACK LISTING
SIDE 1 A Hard Day's Night (Lennon-McCartney)
SIDE 2 Things We Said Today (Lennon-McCartney)
RELEASE DATE
1964? / Unknown Press (Export issue?)
SLEEVE:FRONT SLEEVE:BACK SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2 --> Click! DISK --> Click!
sleeve SLEEVE hard hard disk
LABEL CLOSE UP
label
label label label
"THE PARLOPHONE CO LTD. (capital letter)" was printed at the perimeter. The "RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1964 (capital letter)" statement was printed at the left part of the label. It has the central remark "SOLD IN UK..."
Push-out center,
tax code is "K, T"
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label The fonts are all over the place and the composer names in capital letter look strange.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label Matrix suffixed with "1N" on both side.
OTHER ITEM
-

CATALOG NUMBER
R 5160
LABEL
Silver Parlophone (logo:  small type)
MIX
Mono
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 7XCE 17714 - 1N
SIDE 2 7XCE 17715 - 1N
VINYL COLOR
BLACK
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME
THE PARLOPHONE CO LTD (capital letter)
CENTER
Push-out center
CENTRAL REMARK
"SOLD IN U.K..."
YES
RECORDING PUBLISHED CREDIT RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1964 (capital letter)
PUBLISHER'S NAME
SIDE 1
NORTHERN SONGS MUSIC LTD.
SIDE 2
NORTHERN SONGS MUSIC LTD.
PRODUCER
George Martin
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES
Green sleeve type-1A : Straight cut at top and "6'- to 50'-" on back.
Company name is "Electric & Musical Industries Ltd" on the back cover.
Inside glued.
COMMENTS
Looks like an export of some kind. Blank labels would have been sent out to the other country, with an indication of what was printed on the British labels. The fonts are unlike anything EMI used in-house. It's definitely not a counterfeit, but it's likely foreign. They just didn't care about the "Sold in UK" statement and left it on.



#7-5 A Hard Day's Night / Things We Said Today (Special Order circa 1974 Press? / EMI RECORDS rim "1 EMI Logo / Solid Center": R 5160)
 Back to the top of the line
TRACK LISTING
SIDE 1 A Hard Day's Night (Lennon-McCartney)
SIDE 2 Things We Said Today (Lennon-McCartney)
RELEASE DATE
1974? / Special Order
SLEEVE:FRONT SLEEVE:BACK SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2 --> Click! DISK --> Click!
sleeve SLEEVE ticket ticket disk
INNER SLEEVE CLOSE UP
label
label
Tab cut at top. Glued bottom and right.
"EMI LPs" advert on back, issued in which advertised the latest EMI albums, including the Beatles own "SGT. Peppers".
label "Made in Great Britain" was printed at the bottom.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label The Parlophone logo (small type) was printed at the top of the label.
label "EMI RECORDS LTD (capital letter)" was printed at the perimeter.
The "Ⓟ 1964" statement was printed at the left part of the label.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label Catalog number "R 5015" and the words "MADE IN GT. BRITAIN" were printed at the right side of the label. label label Without "SOLD IN UK..." statement.

Solid center,
With a knife edge.
NO Polo ring on both sides.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label Has the "NORTHERN SONGS LTD. (2 lines)" credits on the label.
label label
Matrix suffixed with:
Side1: -1N / Side2: -1N
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label 1974 Press? with both one box EMI logo & Gramophone co. rim text
OTHER ITEM
-

CATALOG NUMBER
R 5160
LABEL
Silver Parlophone (One EMI box logo)
MIX
Mono
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 7XCE 17714 - 1N
MOTHER & STAMPER
10 /R
81
SIDE 2 7XCE 17715 - 1N
1 / M
3
VINYL COLOR
BLACK
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME
EMI RECORDS LTD (capital letter)
CENTER
Solid center
CENTRAL REMARK
"SOLD IN U.K..."
NO
RECORDING PUBLISHED CREDIT Ⓟ 1964
PUBLISHER'S NAME
SIDE 1
NORTHERN SONGS LTD.
SIDE 2
NORTHERN SONGS LTD.
PRODUCER
George Martin
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES
Green sleeve type-9B : Tab cut at top. Glued bottom and right.
"TRADE MARK OF THE GRAMOPHONE CO LTD." below the Parlophone logo on front. "EMI LPs" advert on back, issued in which advertised the latest EMI albums, including the Beatles own "SGT. Peppers".
COMMENTS
Special Order, CIRCA 1974 (Knife Edge Pressing / NO polo ring on both sides)
The Beatles records were never really deleted until the 1990s, they were not being continually pressed either.
It stands to reason that EMI were unlikely to press a handful of copies to order. More likely, they would have run-off several hundred copies or more and held them in storage. Thus, it's likely that back orders at the beginning of the Seventies would have been filled with old stock before new pressings were required.
Thus, polo rings cannot be found on every Beatles single from this time.
However, is a mixture of old and new labels (with and without sold in U.k. on some polo ring pressings.
Around this time there is a change in colour of the Parlophone labels from jet black to having a grey appearance.

EMI installed new presses in 1972, known as the 1400. These were custom made at Hayes, beginning in 1971. These presses left the tell-tale polo ring impression. We can assume that some old presses were still in use in the 1970s, explaining the absence of the polo rings on some discs.

In addition, we have seen those discs (predominantly) lacking polo rings along with knife edges circa 1974.
It is certainly possible that batches were pressed in 1975 to meet demand.  There was still considerable demand for their work.
The 1976 singles, the vast majority of them are push outs with polo rings.

According to the book "Made in The U.K. (by Richard Noller)",
"If we take into consideration all of the pressings circa 1972-75, it stands to reason that there must have been a pressing of A Hard Day's Night to fill orders during this period. The Sixties pressings must have been long exhausted by 1974, and with no other new pressing documented until 1976, it leaves a period of twelve years from the original release. Also, I have been unable to identify a Sold in U.K. label for this period. We must, therefore, surmise that some copies were pressed prior to 1976. However, I have been unable to successfully identify a copy (either solid or push out) to accurately categorise it as circa 1974. Trusted sources confirm the existence of a solid centre and (whilst extremely likely to exist), as yet, are unable to confirm a push out here Should copies surface they will, almost certainly, be mistaken for a 1976 pressing. Run off markings are unknown, though I would suggest searching for 1G mothers/stampers in addition to the absence of polo rings. We must note that these will be a very rare find indeed."



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