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Help! (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by The Beatles, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Help! (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

by The Beatles · 1965

113 pressings8 countriesSoundtrackRock & RollRockStage & Screen

Help! was first pressed on vinyl in 1965. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.

How to spot a first pressing of Help!

25 pressings came out in 1965, the album's first year, in 5 countries. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.

US

August 6, 1965
Label and catalog number
Capitol Records MAS-2386Capitol Records MAS 2386
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Gatefold Sleeve, Scranton Pressing
Runout / matrix

M1 2386-F9 #2 IAMRunout Side A, Variant 1

M2-2386-F1 #3 IAMRunout Side B, Variant 1

M1-2386-G8 IAMRunout Side A, Variant 3

MAS2-2386-P4 IAMRunout Side B, Variant 3

Full details of this pressing

US

August 13, 1965
Label and catalog number
Capitol Records SMAS-2386
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Gatefold, Scranton
Runout / matrix

SM ̶I 1-2386-B4 #3 [IAM in triangle] &Side A runout, var 1

SM ̶I 2-2386-A3 #3 [IAM in triangle] &Side B runout, var 1

SM ̶I 1-2386-B2 #2 [IAM in triangle] &Side A runout, var 2

SM ̶I 2-2386-B2 #2 [IAM in triangle] &Side B runout, var 2

Full details of this pressing

US

August 13, 1965
Label and catalog number
Capitol Records SMAS-2386
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Jacksonville Pressing
Runout / matrix

SMAS1-2386-W2Side A Runout Stamped Variant 1

SMAS2-2386-W2 0Side B Runout Etched Variant 1

SMAS1-2386-W2Side A Runout Stamped Variant 2

SMAS2-2386-W2 #2Side B Runout Stamped Variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

August 13, 1965
Label and catalog number
Capitol Records MAS 2386Capitol Records 2386
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Scranton Pressing
Runout / matrix

M1-2386-F1 IAMVariant 1, Runout A

M2-2386-G412 IAMVariant 1, Runout B

M1-2386-F314 IAMVariant 2, Runout A

M2-2386-F3 IAMVariant 2, Runout B

Full details of this pressing

US

August 13, 1965
Label and catalog number
Capitol Records MAS-2386Capitol Records MAS 2386
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Los Angeles Pressing, Gatefold
Runout / matrix

MAS-1-2386-G-16 3 ✲Side A, runout, variant 1

MAS(T)-2-2386-FII `\_ ✲Side B, runout, variant 1, the "T" on side B is etched over with the "S" in MAS

MAS-1-2386-F13 ✲Side A, runout variant 2

MAS-2-2386-G-19 ✲Side B, runout variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

August 13, 1965
Label and catalog number
Capitol Records SMAS 2386Capitol Records SMAS-2386
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Los Angeles Pressing
Runout / matrix

SMAS-X-1-2386-B12' 3 ✲Runout A etched [3 ✲ stamped]

SMAS-X-2-2386-A11' 2 ✲Runout B etched [2 ✲ stamped]

SMAS-X-1-2386Label A

SMAS-X-2-2386Label B

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 113 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1960s48 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1965CanadaCapitol Records SMAS-2386First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1965Costa RicaOdeon SMAS 2383First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1965JamaicaCapitol Records MAS-2386First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1965MexicoCapitol Records LEM-004First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1965USCapitol Records MAS-2386First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1965USCapitol Records MAS-2386First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1965USCapitol Records MAS-2386First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1965USCapitol Records SMAS-2386First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1965USCapitol Records SMAS 2386 / Capitol Records SMAS-2386First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1965USCapitol Records MAS 2386 / Capitol Records MAS-2386LP, Album, Repress, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono
1965USCapitol Records MAS-2386 / Capitol Records MAS 2386LP, Album, Repress, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono
1965USCapitol Records MAS-2386First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1965USCapitol Records MAS-2386First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1965USCapitol Records MAS-2386First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1965USCapitol Records SMAS-2386First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
All 48 pressings from the 1960s
1970s44 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1970VenezuelaOdeon SOLP-7098LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1970JapanApple Records AP-80060LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1970JapanApple Records AP-80060LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinylLP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl
1970JapanApple Records AP-80060LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Colored vinylLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Colored vinyl
1971CanadaCapitol Records SMAS-2386 / Capitol Records SMAS-2386LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1971USCapitol Records SMAS 2386 / Apple Records SMAS-2386LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1971USApple Records SMAS-2386 / Capitol Records SMAS-2386LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1971USApple Records SMAS-2386 / Apple Records 2386LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1971USApple Records SMAS-2386 / Capitol Records SMAS 2386LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1971USApple Records SMAS-2386 / Capitol Records SMAS-2386LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1971USApple Records SMAS-2386 / Apple Records 2386LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1971USCapitol Records SMAS-2386 / Apple Records SMAS-2386LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1972CanadaCapitol Records SMAS 2386 / Capitol Records SMAS-2386LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1972JapanApple Records AP-80060LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1973JapanApple Records AP-80060LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
All 44 pressings from the 1970s
1980s12 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1980CanadaCapitol Records SMAS-2386LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1980CanadaCapitol Records SMAS-2386 / Capitol Records SMAS 2386LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1981USCapitol Records SMAS 2386 / Capitol Records SMAS-2386LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1981MexicoCapitol Records SLEM-004 / EMI SLEM-004LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1982MexicoCapitol Records SLEM-004LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1982VenezuelaEMI 102.04221 / EMI 7098LP, Album, Mono, Reissue · MonoLP, Album, Mono, Reissue · Mono
1982VenezuelaEMI SOLP-7098LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1982MexicoEMI SLEM-004LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1983CanadaCapitol Records SMAS-2386LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1983USCapitol Records SMAS-2386LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1986USCapitol Records SMAS-2386LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1988USCapitol Records C1-90454LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
Year unknown9 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?CanadaCapitol Records SMAS-2386LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?Costa RicaOdeon 2386LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?Costa RicaOdeon 2386 / Capitol Records MAS 2383LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
?MexicoCapitol Records SLEM-004 / EMI SLEM-004LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?MexicoEMI SLEM-004LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?MexicoCapitol Records SLEM-004LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?TaiwanTower (Electric Tower) TWL-1152LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Mono · Unofficial, Mono, Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Mono · Unofficial, Mono, Colored vinyl
?TaiwanTower (Electric Tower) TWL-1152LP, Album, Mono, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Mono, Colored vinylLP, Album, Mono, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Mono, Colored vinyl
?USApple Records SMAS-2386 / Capitol Records 2386LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue

Tracklist

  1. A1Help!2:35
  2. A2The Night Before2:33
  3. A3From Me To You Fantasy2:03
  4. A4You've Got To Hide Your Love Away2:08
  5. A5I Need You2:28
  6. A6In The Tyrol2:21
  7. B1Another Girl2:02
  8. B2Another Hard Day's Night2:28
  9. B3Ticket To Ride3:03
  10. The Bitter End / You Can't Do That
  11. B5You're Gonna Lose That Girl2:18
  12. B6The Chase2:24

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Help! are there?

113 vinyl pressings of Help! are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1965 and 1988.

When was Help! first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1965, in US, Canada, Costa Rica, Jamaica and more. One of them is Capitol Records MAS-2386, released August 6, 1965.

How do I tell if my copy of Help! is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MAS-2386, SMAS-2386, MAS 2386, SMAS 2386) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, M1 2386-F9 #2 IAM and M2-2386-F1 #3 IAM. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Help! on vinyl worth?

It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.

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