The Beatles

The Beatles on vinyl: Parlophone, Capitol and Apple

In short: The Beatles from Liverpool released their albums in England on Parlophone, and from 1968 on their own label Apple. In the US many albums came out on Capitol in a different running order – which is why there are Beatles records that never existed in England. The Vinyl Room currently has 28 Beatles records from England, the US and Europe.

Why the editions differ so much

In England the albums came out the way the band had put them together. In the US, Capitol rearranged the songs – which produced albums such as “The Beatles’ Second Album” (1964) and “Yesterday and Today” (1966). “Introducing… The Beatles” had already come out in the US on Vee-Jay in early 1964. “Magical Mystery Tour” was an album in the US and a double EP in England. From the “White Album” of 1968, everything came out on Apple. In Germany the Beatles were released on Odeon.

Original or later pressing?

With UK pressings, collectors look at the Parlophone label: the very first copies of “Please Please Me” (1963) have a black and gold label and are a sought-after rarity; shortly afterwards the label became black and yellow. Catalogue numbers with PMC stand for mono, with PCS for stereo – and mono and stereo often sound clearly different with the sixties Beatles. On “Abbey Road”, early UK pressings don’t list “Her Majesty” on the label and back cover. Only some of our Beatles records are marked as first pressings – many are later editions that are great for listening. As always, label, catalogue number, runout and cover must match.

From our stock

First pressings

Beat & rock ’n’ roll

Psychedelic rock

New in

→ The Rolling Stones · Rock on vinyl · How to spot a first pressing · Grading explained · Plattenparty on YouTube

FAQ

Why are there Beatles albums that didn’t exist in England? Because Capitol in the US put the songs together differently, for example for “The Beatles’ Second Album” and “Yesterday and Today”.

What is the “butcher cover”? The original cover of “Yesterday and Today” (1966) showing the Beatles in butcher’s coats. It was withdrawn at once and often covered with a new picture glued on top; such copies are called “paste-overs”.

How do I recognise a UK first pressing? By the Parlophone label of the period, the catalogue number (PMC for mono, PCS for stereo) and the runout matrix. It’s only certain when everything matches a documented first edition.

Which is better: mono or stereo? Until 1968 the Beatles focused on the mono mixes. Many collectors therefore prefer the mono version of the early albums.