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  Apple Original Released
20. The Ballad Of John And Yoko / Old Brown Shoe (R 5786)
(Update: 26th. April 2023)
label
Dark Green Apple Label

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#20 The Ballad Of John And Yoko / Old Brown Shoe (R 5786)
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Released: 30 May 1969 (UK), 4 June 1969 (US)
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"New Musical Express" 31th May 1969
 The Ballad Of John And Yoko
Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 14 April 1969
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
 John Lennon: vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar
Paul McCartney: harmony vocals, bass, drums, piano, maracas
The Ballad Of John And Yoko
Written by: Harrison
Recorded: 27-29 January; 25 February; 16, 18 April 1969
Producers: George Martin, Chris Thomas
Engineer: Jeff Jarratt
 George Harrison: vocals, guitars, organ, bass
John Lennon: backing vocals
Paul McCartney: backing vocals, guitar, piano
Ringo Starr: drums

The Beatles' second UK single of 1969, The Ballad Of John And Yoko, was released on this day. The b-side was George Harrison's Old Brown Shoe.
The Ballad Of John And Yoko single - United KingdomThe Ballad Of John And Yoko was recorded by John Lennon and Paul McCartney at Abbey Road's studio three on 14 April 1969, without the other two Beatles being present.
It was rush-released just six weeks after it was recorded, while Get Back was still at number one in the UK charts. The Ballad Of John And Yoko was released as Apple R 5786, and was The Beatles' first single in Britain and Europe to be released in stereo.
Written by George Harrison, Old Brown Shoe was originally released as the b-side of The Ballad Of John And Yoko. It remains a largely overlooked gem from The Beatles' back catalogue.
The single entered the UK charts on 4 June 1969, and the following week reached the number one spot. It stayed there for three weeks, and spent a total of 14 weeks on the charts.
(from "The Beatles Bible")


#20-1 The Ballad Of John And Yoko / Old Brown Shoe (Factory Sample: R 5786)
 Back to the top of the line
TRACK LISTING
 SIDE 1 The Ballad of John and Yoko (Lennon-McCartney)
SIDE 2 Old Brown Shoe (George Harrison)
RELEASE DATE
 Factory Sample (First Press: 30th May. 1969)
SLEEVE: FRONT SLEEVE: BACK SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2--> Click! DISK--> Click!
sleeve sleeve label label label
LABEL CLOSE UP
label With a "FACTORY SAMPLE NOT FOR SALE" sticker on the label of side-2.
 label Solid center and has the central remark "SOLD IN UK..."
The embossed letter (tax code) is none.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label Publisher's name and "Small (P) 1969" statement were printed at the left side of the center hole on both sides.

 		label "An E.M.I. Recording" credit was printed on the label, but "Produced by : GEORGE MARTIN" was not printed.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label Song title, composer's credit, and the group name were printed at the bottom of the label.
LABEL CLOSE UP
SIDE 1 SIDE 2 Prefix number is "7XCE", and matrix suffixed with "1U" on both side.
matrix matrix
OTHER ITEM
-

CATALOG NUMBER
 R 5786
LABEL
 Dark Green Apple
MIX
 Stereo
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 7XCE 21306 - 1U
SIDE 2 7XCE 21307 - 1U
VINYL COLOR
 BLACK
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME
 Apple Records + An E.M.I. Recording
CENTER
 Solid center
CENTRAL REMARK
"SOLD IN U.K..."
 YES
RECORDING PUBLISHED CREDIT Ⓟ 1969 (Small Ⓟ)
PUBLISHER'S NAME
SIDE 1
 Northern Songs. NCB
SIDE 2
 Sing Song Music Ltd.
PRODUCER
 George Martin
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES
 Apple black sleeve type-1C:
Tab cut at top. Matte sleeve. Glued bottom and right.
COMMENTS
 Apple dark green apple label.
With a "FACTORY SAMPLE NOT FOR SALE" sticker on the label of side-2.
Solid center and has the central remark "SOLD IN UK..."
The embossed letter (tax code) is none.
It was the last Beatles group single issued with the "Sold in U.K." phrase on the label.

It was the first of their singles to be released in stereo in U.K.


#20-2 The Ballad Of John And Yoko / Old Brown Shoe (1st. Press "Dark Green Apple Label / Push-out Center": R 5786)
 Back to the top of the line
TRACK LISTING
 SIDE 1 The Ballad of John and Yoko (Lennon-McCartney)
SIDE 2 Old Brown Shoe (George Harrison)
RELEASE DATE
 30th May. 1969/First Press
SLEEVE: FRONT SLEEVE: BACK SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2--> Click! DISK--> Click!
sleeve sleeve label label label
LABEL CLOSE UP
label Dark green apple label. The phrase "Apple Records - All Rights of the Manufacturer and of the Owner of the Recorded work Reserved." was printed at the perimeter.
 label With the push-out center and has the central remark "SOLD IN UK..."
The embossed letter (tax code) is none.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label label label "Small (P) 1969" statement was printed on the label.
"An E.M.I. Recording" credit was printed on the label, but "Produced by : GEORGE MARTIN" was not printed.
label label Song title, composer's credit, and the group name were printed at the bottom of the label.
LABEL CLOSE UP
SIDE 1 SIDE 2 Prefix number is "7XCE", and matrix suffixed with "1U" on both side.
matrix matrix
OTHER ITEM
-

CATALOG NUMBER
 R 5786
LABEL
 Dark Green Apple
MIX
 Stereo
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 7XCE 21306 - 1U
SIDE 2 7XCE 21307 - 1U
VINYL COLOR
 BLACK
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME
 Apple Records + An E.M.I. Recording
CENTER
 Push-out center
CENTRAL REMARK
"SOLD IN U.K..."
 YES
RECORDING PUBLISHED CREDIT Ⓟ 1969 (Small Ⓟ)
PUBLISHER'S NAME
SIDE 1
 Northern Songs. NCB
SIDE 2
 Sing Song Music Ltd.
PRODUCER
 George Martin
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES
 Apple black sleeve type-1B:
Tab cut at top. glossy sleeve. Glued bottom and right.
COMMENTS
 It was the first of their singles to be released in stereo in U.K.
It was the last Beatles group single issued with the "Sold in U.K." phrase on the label.
This label is with push-out center type.


#20-3 The Ballad Of John And Yoko / Old Brown Shoe (1st. Press "Dark Green Apple Label / Solid Center": R 5786)
 Back to the top of the line
TRACK LISTING
 SIDE 1 The Ballad of John and Yoko (Lennon-McCartney)
SIDE 2 Old Brown Shoe (George Harrison)
RELEASE DATE
 30th May. 1969/First Press
SLEEVE: FRONT SLEEVE: BACK SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2--> Click! DISK--> Click!
sleeve sleeve label label label
LABEL CLOSE UP
label Dark green apple label. The phrase "Apple Records - All Rights of the Manufacturer and of the Owner of the Recorded work Reserved." was printed at the perimeter.
 label Without the push-out center (Solid center) and has the central remark "SOLD IN UK..."
The embossed letter (tax code) is none.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label label label "Small (P) 1969" statement was printed on the label.
"An E.M.I. Recording" credit was printed on the label, but "Produced by : GEORGE MARTIN" was not printed.
label label Song title, composer's credit, and the group name were printed at the bottom of the label.
LABEL CLOSE UP
SIDE 1 SIDE 2 Prefix number is "7XCE", and matrix suffixed with "1U" on both side.
matrix matrix
OTHER ITEM
-

CATALOG NUMBER
 R 5786
LABEL
 Dark Green Apple
MIX
 Stereo
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 7XCE 21306 - 1U
SIDE 2 7XCE 21307 - 1U
VINYL COLOR
 BLACK
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME
 Apple Records + An E.M.I. Recording
CENTER
 Solid center
CENTRAL REMARK
"SOLD IN U.K..."
 YES
RECORDING PUBLISHED CREDIT Ⓟ 1969 (Small Ⓟ)
PUBLISHER'S NAME
SIDE 1
 Northern Songs. NCB
SIDE 2
 Sing Song Music Ltd.
PRODUCER
 George Martin
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES
 Apple black sleeve type-1B:
Tab cut at top. glossy sleeve. Glued bottom and right.
COMMENTS
 It was the first of their singles to be released in stereo in U.K.
It was the last Beatles group single issued with the "Sold in U.K." phrase on the label.
This label is without push-out center type (called "Solid Center").


#20-4 The Ballad Of John And Yoko / Old Brown Shoe (2nd. Press "Dark Green Apple Label / without SOLD IN U.K. / Solid Center with Small Ⓟ": R 5786)
 Back to the top of the line
TRACK LISTING
 SIDE 1 The Ballad of John and Yoko (Lennon-McCartney)
SIDE 2 Old Brown Shoe (George Harrison)
RELEASE DATE
 1969?/Second Press
SLEEVE: FRONT SLEEVE: BACK SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2--> Click! DISK--> Click!
sleeve sleeve label label label
COMPANY SLEEVE CLOSE UP
label Apple logomark in script font was printed at the above of the center hole.
 matrix
Apple black sleeve type-1C:
Tab cut at top. Matte sleeve. Glued bottom and right.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label Dark green apple label. The phrase "Apple Records - All Rights of the Manufacturer and of the Owner of the Recorded work Reserved." was printed at the perimeter.
label Solid center and remove the central remark "SOLD IN UK..."
The embossed letter (tax code) is none.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label label label "SMALL (P) 1969" statement was printed on the label.
"An E.M.I. Recording" credit was printed on the label, but "Produced by : GEORGE MARTIN" was not printed.
label label Song title, composer's credit, and the group name were printed at the bottom of the label.
LABEL CLOSE UP
SIDE 1 SIDE 2 Prefix number is "7XCE", and matrix suffixed with "1U" on both side.
matrix matrix
OTHER ITEM
-

CATALOG NUMBER
 R 5786
LABEL
 Dark Green Apple
MIX
 Stereo
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 7XCE 21306 - 1U MOTHER & STAMPER
 9 / GMT
SIDE 2 7XCE 21307 - 1U 3 / GOR
VINYL COLOR
 BLACK
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME
 Apple Records + An E.M.I. Recording
CENTER
 Solid center
CENTRAL REMARK
"SOLD IN U.K..."
 -
RECORDING PUBLISHED CREDIT Ⓟ 1969 (Large Ⓟ)
PUBLISHER'S NAME
SIDE 1
 Northern Songs. NCB
SIDE 2
 Sing Song Music Ltd.
PRODUCER
 George Martin
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES
 Apple black sleeve type-1C:
Tab cut at top. Matte sleeve. Glued bottom and right.
COMMENTS
 Solid Center type.
The "Sold in U.K." text has gone from the label.
Beginning in 1964, Parlophone (and all the other EMI companies) began printing a phrase in the centers of all their singles, EP's and LP's, which said:

SOLD IN U.K. SUBJECT TO
RESALE PRICE CONDITIONS,
SEE PRICE LISTS.

This notice appears on the labels of every UK market EMI product, from very early 1964, right through mid-1969. 


#20-5 The Ballad Of John And Yoko / Old Brown Shoe (2nd. Press "Dark Green Apple Label / without SOLD IN U.K. / Solid Center with Large Ⓟ": R 5786)
 Back to the top of the line
TRACK LISTING
 SIDE 1 The Ballad of John and Yoko (Lennon-McCartney)
SIDE 2 Old Brown Shoe (George Harrison)
RELEASE DATE
 1969?/Second Press
SLEEVE: FRONT SLEEVE: BACK SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2--> Click! DISK--> Click!
sleeve sleeve label label label
LABEL CLOSE UP
matrix Dark green apple label. The phrase "Apple Records - All Rights of the Manufacturer and of the Owner of the Recorded work Reserved." was printed at the perimeter.
 label Solid center and remove the central remark "SOLD IN UK..."
The embossed letter (tax code) is none.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label label label "Large (P) 1969" statement was printed on the label. "An E.M.I. Recording" credit was printed on the label, but "Produced by : GEORGE MARTIN" was not printed.
matrix matrix Song title, composer's credit, and the group name were printed at the bottom of the label.
LABEL CLOSE UP
SIDE 1 SIDE 2 Prefix number is "7XCE", and matrix suffixed with "1U" on both side.
matrix matrix
OTHER ITEM
-

CATALOG NUMBER
 R 5786
LABEL
 Dark Green Apple
MIX
 Stereo
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 7XCE 21306 - 1U
SIDE 2 7XCE 21307 - 1U
VINYL COLOR
 BLACK
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME
 Apple Records + An E.M.I. Recording
CENTER
 Solid center
CENTRAL REMARK
"SOLD IN U.K..."
 -
RECORDING PUBLISHED CREDIT Ⓟ 1969 (Large Ⓟ)
PUBLISHER'S NAME
SIDE 1
 Northern Songs. NCB
SIDE 2
 Sing Song Music Ltd.
PRODUCER
 George Martin
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES
 Apple black sleeve type-1C:
Tab cut at top. Matte sleeve. Glued bottom and right.
COMMENTS
 Solid Center type.
The "Sold in U.K." text has gone from the label.
Beginning in 1964, Parlophone (and all the other EMI companies) began printing a phrase in the centers of all their singles, EP's and LP's, which said:

SOLD IN U.K. SUBJECT TO
RESALE PRICE CONDITIONS,
SEE PRICE LISTS.

This notice appears on the labels of every UK market EMI product, from very early 1964, right through mid-1969. 


#20-6 The Ballad Of John And Yoko / Old Brown Shoe (3rd. Press "Dark Green Apple Label / without SOLD IN U.K. / Polo Ring": R 5786)
 Back to the top of the line
TRACK LISTING
 SIDE 1 The Ballad of John and Yoko (Lennon-McCartney)
SIDE 2 Old Brown Shoe (George Harrison)
RELEASE DATE
 1972? / Third Press
SLEEVE: FRONT SLEEVE: BACK SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2--> Click! DISK--> Click!
sleeve sleeve label label label
LABEL CLOSE UP
matrix label label With polo ring.
With the push-out center and remove the central remark "SOLD IN UK..."
The embossed letter (tax code) is none.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label label
 label "Large (P) 1969" statement was printed on the label. "An E.M.I. Recording" credit was printed on the label, but "Produced by : GEORGE MARTIN" was not printed.
matrix matrix Song title, composer's credit, and the group name were printed at the bottom of the label.
LABEL CLOSE UP
SIDE 1 SIDE 2 Prefix number is "7XCE", and matrix suffixed with "1U" on both side.
matrix matrix
OTHER ITEM
-

CATALOG NUMBER
 R 5786
LABEL
 Dark Green Apple / Polo ring
MIX
 Stereo
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 7XCE 21306 - 1U
SIDE 2 7XCE 21307 - 1U
VINYL COLOR
 BLACK
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME
 Apple Records + An E.M.I. Recording
CENTER
 Push-out center
CENTRAL REMARK
"SOLD IN U.K..."
 -
RECORDING PUBLISHED CREDIT Ⓟ 1969 (Large Ⓟ)
PUBLISHER'S NAME
SIDE 1
 Northern Songs. NCB
SIDE 2
 Sing Song Music Ltd.
PRODUCER
 George Martin
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES
 Apple black sleeve type-1C:
Tab cut at top. Matte sleeve. Glued bottom and right.
COMMENTS
 The "Sold in U.K." text has gone from the label.
Beginning in 1964, Parlophone (and all the other EMI companies) began printing a phrase in the centers of all their singles, EP's and LP's, which said:

SOLD IN U.K. SUBJECT TO
RESALE PRICE CONDITIONS,
SEE PRICE LISTS.

This notice appears on the labels of every UK market EMI product, from very early 1964, right through mid-1969.

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.


#20-7 The Ballad Of John And Yoko / Old Brown Shoe ("Dark Green Apple Label / For Jukeboxes": R 5786)
 Back to the top of the line
TRACK LISTING
 SIDE 1 The Ballad of John and Yoko (Lennon-McCartney)
SIDE 2 Old Brown Shoe (George Harrison)
RELEASE DATE
 1970? / For Jukeboxes
SLEEVE: FRONT SLEEVE: BACK SIDE 1 --> Click! SIDE 2--> Click! DISK--> Click!
Sorry,
I don't have it.

Apple black sleeve
type-1B
(maybe)
 Sorry,
I don't have it.

Apple black sleeve
type-1B
(maybe)		 label label label
LABEL CLOSE UP
label Dark green label with an image of an apple on side 1 and sliced apple on side 2.
Remove the central remark "SOLD IN UK..."
 label Full size center hole for jukeboxes.
LABEL CLOSE UP
label label Catalog number, master number, and "small (P) 1969" statement were printed at the left side of the center hole.
 label "An E.M.I. Recording" credit was printed on the label, but "Produced by : GEORGE MARTIN" was not printed.
label label Song title, composer's credit, and the group name were printed at the bottom of the label.
LABEL CLOSE UP
SIDE 1 SIDE 2 Prefix number is "7XCE", and matrix suffixed with "1U" on both side.
matrix matrix
OTHER ITEM
-

CATALOG NUMBER
 R 5786
LABEL
 Dark Green Apple
MIX
 Stereo
MATRIX No. SIDE 1 7XCE 21306 - 1U
SIDE 2 7XCE 21307 - 1U
VINYL COLOR
 BLACK
RECORD COMPANY'S NAME
 Apple Records + An E.M.I. Recording
CENTER
 Full size center hole
CENTRAL REMARK
"SOLD IN U.K..."
 -
RECORDING PUBLISHED CREDIT Ⓟ 1969 (Small Ⓟ)
PUBLISHER'S NAME
SIDE 1
 Northern Songs. NCB
SIDE 2
 Sing Song Music Ltd.
PRODUCER
 George Martin
COVER DESIGN/ PHOTO/ NOTES
 Unknown
COMMENTS
 For jukeboxes pressings.
Dark green label with an image of an apple on side 1 and sliced apple on side 2.
Remove the central remark "SOLD IN UK..."
Full size center hole for jukeboxes.

All of these Apple singles were custom manufactured without centres by EMI specifically for use in jukeboxes. The inside of each hole is smooth confirming that a centre was never present.


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