Vinyl pressings
by The Beatles · 1979
Rarities was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
27 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 14 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.
YEX-991-1 (crossed out: SPSLP 261 A1)Side 1, Stamped, Variant 1
YEX-992-2 (crossed out: SPSLP 261 B2)Side 2, Stamped, Variant 1
YEX-991-1 39 2 (SPSLP 261 A1)Side 1, Stamped, Variant 2
YEX-992-2 G O D (SPSLP 261 B2)Side 2, Stamped, Variant 2
YEX-991-1 S̶P̶S̶L̶P̶ ̶2̶6̶1̶ ̶A̶ ̶1̶Side A runout variant 1
YEX-992-2 S̶̶̶P̶̶̶S̶̶̶L̶̶̶P̶̶̶ ̶̶̶2̶̶̶6̶̶̶1̶̶̶ ̶̶̶B̶ ̶2̶Side B runout variant 1
YEX-991-1 6 0 5 S̶P̶S̶L̶P̶ ̶2̶6̶1̶ ̶A̶ ̶1̶Side A runout variant 2
YEX-992-2 6 0 5 HTM S̶̶̶P̶̶̶S̶̶̶L̶̶̶P̶̶̶ ̶̶̶2̶̶̶6̶̶̶1̶̶̶ ̶̶̶B̶ ̶2̶Side B runout variant 2
PSLP-261-A 1S2 11 〄 6-6Runout A, stamped variant 1
PSLP-261-A 1S3 C 〄Runout B, stamped variant 1
PSLP-261-A 1S2 2 〄 6-6Runout A, stamped variant 2
PSLP-261-B 1S3 21 〄Runout B, stamped variant 2
P S LP 261 ASide 1
P S LP 261 BSide 2
SPSLP-261-4--38019-4YRunout side A, variant 1
SPSLP-261-B//38020-3-YRunout side A, variant 1
SPSLP 261-A//38019-2 (crossed out) 1Y 12 3Runout side A, variant B
SPSLP-261-B//38020-3-Y C1 1Runout side B, variant 2
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Europe | Parlophone 1A 038-06867First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1979 | Europe | Parlophone 1A 038-06867LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1979 | France | Parlophone 2C 062 07148 / Parlophone 2C 062-07.148First yearLP, Album, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1979 | France | Parlophone 2C 062 07148 / Parlophone 2C 062 - 07.148First yearLP, Album, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1979 | Germany | EMI Electrola 1C 038-06 867 / Apple Records 1C 038-06 867First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1979 | Germany | Parlophone 1C 038-06 867First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1979 | Germany | Apple Records 1C 038-06 867 / EMI Electrola 1C 038-06 867First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | EMI Electrola 1C 038-06 867 / Apple Records 1C 038-06 867First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1979 | Germany | EMI Electrola 1C 038-06 867 / Apple Records 1C 038-06 867First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1979 | Israel | Portrait PCM 1001First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1979 | Italy | Parlophone 3C 062-06867First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1979 | Italy | Parlophone 3C 062-06867First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1979 | Mexico | EMI 33C 062-06867 / EMI SLEM-912First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1979 | Mexico | EMI SLEM-912 / EMI 33C 062-06867First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1979 | Mexico | EMI SLEM-912 / EMI 33C 062-06867First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Colombia | EMI 11722LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | Colombia | EMI 11722LP, Compilation · Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation · Colored vinyl |
| 1980 | Greece | Parlophone 14C 062-07148LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Parlophone PCM 1001LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | Peru | Odeon Del Peru ELD-02.01.827LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | Venezuela | EMI EMI 7602LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1981 | Spain | Odeon 10C 064-007148 / Odeon 10C 064-007.148LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1982 | Venezuela | EMI 102-04335 / EMI 7602LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1983 | Italy | Parlophone 62 1531761LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1984 | Venezuela | EMI 4335LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | EMI 8171LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Brazil | Odeon 31C 066 06867LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Chile | EMI 5239 1LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Parlophone 1A 038-06867LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Europe | Parlophone 1A 038-06867LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Germany | Parlophone 1C 038-06 867LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Germany | EMI Electrola 1C 038-06 867 / Apple Records 1C 038-06 867LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Parlophone 038-7928281LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | India | Parlophone PCM 1001LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Ireland | Parlophone PCM 1001 / Parlophone OC 054-07148LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Netherlands | Parlophone 1A 038-06867 / Parlophone 1C 038-06 867LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Netherlands | Parlophone 1A 038-06867LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Netherlands | Parlophone 1A 038-06867 / Parlophone 1C 038-06 867LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Philippines | Parlophone PSLP261LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Turkey | Nectar LP. 8006LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
58 vinyl pressings of Rarities are listed here, from 26 countries, released between 1979 and 1984.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, Ireland, Japan, Sweden and more. One of them is Parlophone PCM 1001, released October 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PCM 1001, EAS-63010, 7 C 056-06867, 1A 038-06867) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, YEX-991-1 (crossed out: SPSLP 261 A1) and YEX-992-2 (crossed out: SPSLP 261 B2). Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
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.
