Beatles For Sale – 1st press mono (UK)

„Beatles For Sale” was released on December 4, 1964, and its mono edition saw only three pressings (according to The Beatles Collection), although Yoko Ono takes a different approach to the first pressing, especially the crossover tracks. In any case, distinguishing the original edition is relatively easy.

Cover

„Beatles For Sale” was released in a laminated gatefold sleeve manufactured by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd. To remove the disc, you must open it. The very interesting center pages feature a track list and two large photos of the band. The right page previews the somewhat spectacular cover of „Sgt. Pepper.”

Labels

The original mono release of „Beatles For Sale” can be identified by the label itself (similarly to the stereo release):

• The label is black and yellow with silver text and the large word PARLOPHONE in the center.
• Below the label name, there must be a line of text reading „Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions, see price lists” (not present on the second pressing from 1981). Note! Yoko Ono has a different opinion on this, and considering her numbering, it would be more appropriate to base the numbering on the master numbers, as this text also appears on records pressed in 1965, still part of the first series, which, however, John Lennon’s widow divides into several separate pressings.
• On the left side of both sides of the disc, above the page number, are two lines from „Recording First Published 1964,” absent from the 1981 release (same note as in the previous point).

Matrix / Runout (mono)

As is typical for The Beatles discography, the primary way to identify album pressings (with a few exceptions) is by analyzing the master numbers used for the pressing. Here’s what it looks like for this particular album:

First Press: XEX 503-3N (side 1) and XEX 504-3N (side 2)

First Press, 1965 „crossover” batch: XEX 503-3N (side 1) and XEX 504-4N (side 2). XEX 503-4N (side 1) and XEX 504-3N (side 2) are also sometimes found. Yoko Ono considers this pressing a second, even though it was in fact part of a single production run of the entire original run.

First edition, later copies -4/-4: XEX 503-4N (page 1) and XEX 504-4N (page 2). Yoko Ono considers this a third pressing, although she still lists the production year as 1965 (albeit with a question mark).

Second edition from 1981: XEX 503-4N or -5N (page 1) and XEX 504-3N or -4N (page 2). You need to check the label to confirm that this is a 1980s reissue.