A HARD DAY'S NIGHT / PMC 1230 - UK 60s' MONO VINYL PRESSING GUIDE

This list comprises all of the 60s' UK mono vinyl releases currently submitted.

Each entry has a 3 character alphanumeric key derived from the guide below, consisting of the label backdrop, then the label variant followed by the cover. Each entry also has the release date, the UK purchase tax code if present, and the Spizer Identification Number from the book 'BEATLES FOR SALE ON PARLOPHONE RECORDS' compiled by Bruce Spizer and Frank Daniels.

Step 1: Identify your label backdrop, this is the first character of the code.
Step 2: Identify your label variant, this should appear under the label backdrop, this is the second character of the code.
Step 3: Identify your cover, this is the third character of the code.
Step 4: Consult the list and see if your version is here along with the relevant UK purchase tax code if present.

For dating purposes please note the following.

1: The centre text, 'Sold In U.K. subject to resale price conditions. See price lists', or variations thereof, was in effect between late February 1964 until mid 1969.
2: Due to organizational changes during the summer of 1965, EMI's subsidiary labels changed their perimeter copyright text, on albums, which replaced the name of the subsidiary label to 'THE GRAMOPHONE CO LTD'.

Please feel free to message me with any corrections, omissions, or improvements.

LABEL BACKDROP 1:
A black and yellow Parlophone label with the perimeter rim copyright text, 'THE PARLOPHONE CO LTD • ALL RIGHTS OF THE MANUFACTURER AND OF THE OWNER OF THE RECORDING WORK RESERVED • UNAUTHORISED PUBLIC PERFORMANCE BROADCASTING AND COPYING OF THIS RECORD PROHIBITED'. Above the spindle hole the centre text, 'SOLD IN THE U.K. SUBJECT TO RESALE PRICE CONDITIONS, SEE PRICE LISTS'

LABEL VARIANT A: Spizer PAR 1230.MR1A(i)
Has a 'chubby' font with the right-hand side indicator numerals appearing under the '2' in the catalogue number 'PMC 1230' above them.
The publishing copyright date is given as 'RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1964', and is nearly left-aligned compared to the matrix number above it.
The group's name 'THE BEATLES' is closer to the 'Northern Songs Music Ltd.' publishing credit below it than the '(Lennon-McCartney)' credit above it.
A2 'I Should Have Known Better' has it's title split over 2 lines.
All of the song titles on side 2 appear on separate lines.

LABEL VARIANT B: Spizer PAR 1230.MR1A(ii)
Has a 'chubby' font with the right-hand side indicator numerals appearing under the '2' in the catalogue number 'PMC 1230' above them.
The publishing copyright date is given as 'RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1964', and is nearly left-aligned compared to the matrix number above it.
The group's name 'THE BEATLES' is closer to the '(Lennon-McCartney)' song-writing credit above it than the 'Northern Songs Music Ltd' publishing credit below it.
A2 'I Should Have Known Better' has it's title split over 2 lines.
All of the song titles on side 2 appear on separate lines.

LABEL VARIANT C: Spizer PAR 1230.MR1B(i)
Has a 'slimmer' font with the right-hand side indicator numerals appearing in between the 'PMC' and the '1230' of the catalogue number above them.
The publishing copyright date is given as 'RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1964', and is nearly left-aligned compared to the matrix number above it.
The header text on side 1 'Songs from the film "A HARD DAY'S NIGHT" is small enough to fit in between the side indicator numerals.
A2 'I Should Have Known Better' has it's title split over 2 lines.
All of the song titles on side 2 appear on separate lines.

LABEL VARIANT D: Spizer PAR 1230.MR1B(ii)
Has a 'slimmer' font with the right-hand side indicator numerals appearing in between the 'PMC' and the '1230' of the catalogue number above them.
The publishing copyright date is given as 'RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1964', and is indented compared to the matrix number above it.
The header text on side 1 'Songs from the film "A HARD DAY'S NIGHT" is large enough to extend slightly beyond the side indicator numerals.
A1 'A Hard Day's Night' has the '1' preceding it directly under the 'f' in 'from' above it.
A2 'I Should Have Known Better' has its title split over 2 lines.
All of the song titles on side 2 appear on separate lines.

LABEL VARIANT E: Spizer PAR 1230.MR1B(iii)
Has a 'slimmer' font with the right-hand side indicator numerals appearing in between the 'PMC' and the '1230' of the catalogue number above them.
The publishing copyright date is given as 'RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1964', and is nearly left-aligned compared to the matrix number above it.
The header text on side 1 'Songs from the film "A HARD DAY'S NIGHT" is large enough to extend slightly beyond the side indicator numerals.
A1 'A Hard Day's Night' has the '1' preceding it directly under the 'f' in 'from' above it.
A2 'I Should Have Known Better' has its title split over 2 lines.
All of the song titles on side 2 appear on separate lines.

LABEL VARIANT F: Spizer PAR 1230.MR1B(iv)
Has a 'slimmer' font with the right-hand side indicator numerals appearing in between the 'PMC' and the '1230' of the catalogue number above them.
The publishing copyright date is given as 'RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1964', and is nearly left-aligned compared to the matrix number above it.
The header text on side 1 'Songs from the film "A HARD DAY'S NIGHT" is large enough to extend slightly beyond the side indicator numerals.
A1 'A Hard Day's Night' has the '1' preceding it just to the right of the 's' in 'Songs' above it.
A2 'I Should Have Known Better' has its title split over 2 lines.
All of the song titles on side 2 appear on separate lines.

LABEL VARIANT G: Spizer PAR 1230.MR1B(v)
Has a 'slimmer' font with the right-hand side indicator numerals appearing in between the 'PMC' and the '1230' of the catalogue number above them.
The publishing copyright date is given as 'RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1964', and is indented compared to the matrix number above it.
The header text on side 1 'Songs from the film "A HARD DAY'S NIGHT" is large enough to extend slightly beyond the side indicator numerals.
A2 'I Should Have Known Better' has its title on 1 line.
All of the song titles on side 2 appear two to a line.

LABEL VARIANT H: Spizer PAR 1230.MR1B(vi)
Has a 'slimmer' font with the right-hand side indicator numerals appearing in between the 'PMC' and the '1230' of the catalogue number above them.
The publishing copyright date is given as 'RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1964', and is nearly left-aligned compared to the matrix number above it.
The header text on side 1 'Songs from the film "A HARD DAY'S NIGHT" is large enough to extend slightly beyond the side indicator numerals.
A2 'I Should Have Known Better' has its title on 1 line.
All of the song titles on side 2 appear two to a line.
There is a smaller gap between the song titles than label variant I

LABEL VARIANT I: Spizer PAR 1230.MR1B(vii)
Has a 'slimmer' font with the right-hand side indicator numerals appearing in between the 'PMC' and the '1230' of the catalogue number above them.
The publishing copyright date is given as 'RECORDING FIRST PUBLISHED 1964', and is nearly left-aligned compared to the matrix number above it.
The header text on side 1 'Songs from the film "A HARD DAY'S NIGHT" is large enough to extend slightly beyond the side indicator numerals.
A2 'I Should Have Known Better' has its title on 1 line.
All of the song titles on side 2 appear two to a line.
There is a larger gap between the song titles than label variant H

LABEL BACKDROP 2:
A black and yellow The Gramophone Co. Ltd. label with the perimeter rim copyright text, 'THE GRAMOPHONE CO LTD • ALL RIGHTS OF THE MANUFACTURER AND OF THE OWNER OF THE RECORDING WORK RESERVED • UNAUTHORISED PUBLIC PERFORMANCE BROADCASTING AND COPYING OF THIS RECORD PROHIBITED'. Above the spindle hole the centre text, 'SOLD IN THE U.K. SUBJECT TO RESALE PRICE CONDITIONS, SEE PRICE LISTS'

LABEL VARIANT J: Spizer PAR 1230.MR2A(i)
The publishing copyright date is given as ℗ 1964.
Has Sans-serif typeface with the left-hand side indicator numeral under the '64' in '1964' above it.
A2 'I Should Have Known Better' has it's title split over 2 lines.

LABEL VARIANT K: Spizer PAR 1230.MR2A(ii)
The publishing copyright date is given as ℗ 1964.
Has Sans-serif typeface with the left-hand side indicator numeral, with a small gap, under the '64' in '1964' above it.
A1 'A Hard Day's Night' has its title on 1 line.
A2 'I Should Have Known Better' has its title on 1 line.

LABEL VARIANT L: Spizer PAR 1230.MR2A(iii)
The publishing copyright date is given as ℗ 1964.
Has Sans-serif typeface with the left-hand side indicator numeral, with a larger gap, under the '64' in '1964' above it.
A1 'A Hard Day's Night' has its title on 1 line.
A2 'I Should Have Known Better' has its title on 1 line.

LABEL VARIANT M: Spizer PAR 1230.MR2B(i)
The publishing copyright date is given as ℗ 1964.
Has a serif typeface with its left hand side indicator numeral between the ℗ and 1964 above it.
There is a line space between the side indicator numerals and the text 'Songs from the film "A Hard Day's Night".
There is a smaller gap between the song titles than label variant N.

LABEL VARIANT N: Spizer PAR 1230.MR2B(ii)
The publishing copyright date is given as ℗ 1964.
Has a serif typeface with its left hand side indicator numeral between the ℗ and 1964 above it.
There is no line space between the side indicator numerals and the text 'Songs from the film "A Hard Day's Night".
There is a larger gap between the song titles than label variant M.

LABEL BACKDROP 3:
A black and yellow The Gramophone Co. Ltd. label with the perimeter rim copyright text, 'THE GRAMOPHONE CO LTD • ALL RIGHTS OF THE MANUFACTURER AND OF THE OWNER OF THE RECORDING WORK RESERVED • UNAUTHORISED PUBLIC PERFORMANCE BROADCASTING AND COPYING OF THIS RECORD PROHIBITED'. The centre text, 'SOLD IN THE U.K. SUBJECT TO RESALE PRICE CONDITIONS, SEE PRICE LISTS', is absent.

LABEL VARIANT O: Spizer PAR 1230.MR3A
The publishing copyright date is given as ℗ 1964.
Has Sans-serif typeface with the left-hand side indicator numeral under the '64' in '1964' above it.
A2 'I Should Have Known Better' has its title on 1 line.

LABEL VARIANT #:
This denotes a release which has mismatched labels on either side.

COVER X: Spizer PAR 1230.MC1A
Printed by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. with a medium sized 'mono' designation in the upper right hand corner.

COVER Y: Spizer PAR 1230.MC1B
Printed by Ernest J. Day & Co. Ltd. with a medium sized 'mono' designation in the upper right hand corner.

COVER Z: Spizer PAR 1230.MC2A
Printed by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. with a small sized 'mono' designation in the upper right hand corner.