Expert: sarah - 4/22/2009

Question
I recently purchased a copy of the Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band album, in very good condition, with a white border on the top and bottom of the front cover. The black Capitol label has the "Capitol Subsidiary" information printed on the color band and the "1" and "2" indicating sides 1 and 2 of the record are in bold print. This copy, as I received it, has the cut outs intact in the sleeve. Is this a 1983 pressing? I think it is. The vendor from whom I purchased the record claims that it is an original from the late '60s, but it doesn't resemble the copy which I recall my brother buying in 1967 which has a yellow border on the top on which is printed "STEREO". Also, I believe the black label on the '67-'68 pressings has print bordering on the color band as opposed to print on the color band. Thanks for your time.

Answer
Dear Matt,

I think you should have a look at this different description of the pressing of the album just to find out which is yours, by the way there is not a 1983 pressing!

Third pressings (1969) - Mono AND Stereo versions

   The standard yellow block writing Parlophone label.
   The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label starts with "The Gramophone Co. Ltd."
   The label does NOT have "Sold in the U.K..." statement.
   Inner sleeve is a sepia coloured EMI advertising bag, plus cardboard cut-out insert.
   Note that there are rare pressings of the 1969 Mono version (PMC 7027) with a stereo matrix number YEX 637/8 that play in stereo.

Fourth Pressings (1969) - Mono AND Stereo versions

   Now with a silver/black Parlophone label.
   The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
   Still with Gatefold sleeve, and cardboard cut-out inserts.
   The label has one EMI boxed logo.

Fifth Pressings (1973) - Stereo version ONLY

   Silver/black Parlophone label.
   The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
   Still with Gatefold sleeve, and cardboard cut-out inserts.
   The label has TWO EMI boxed logos.
   In 1973 there were also some French Pressings. The L.P. has "Made In France" on the EMI rim copyright notice. The sleeve was British printed with a "Made In France" sticker. Some of these French copies came with banded vinyl.

Sixth Pressings (1979) - Stereo version ONLY

   PICTURE DISC L.P. - Catalogue number PHO 7027
   The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
   Not a gatefold sleeve, it has a circular 10.25" hole cut in it, and NO cardboard cut-out inserts.
   The label has TWO EMI boxed logos.

Seventh Pressings (1982) - Mono version ONLY

   Now with a yellow/black Parlophone label.
   The "All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label now starts with "EMI Records Ltd."
   Still with Gatefold sleeve, and cardboard cut-out inserts.
   This release is on a lightweight vinyl.

Eighth Pressings (1984) - Contract Pressing - Stereo version ONLY

   With a Parlophone/Nimbus label.
   This was mail-order only from Practical Hi-Fi magazine and is obviously very rare (and worth a lot more).

Ninth Pressings (1995) - Stereo version ONLY

   Now with a Black and Silver Parlophone label.
   The gatefold sleeve (with cut-out sheet) has a printed statement which reads:
   "This album has been Direct Metal Mastered From a Digitally Re-mastered Original Tape to give the best possible sound quality"
   This release is (surprisingly) on a lightweight vinyl.


Hope this helps,
Sara