Vinyl pressings
by The Beatles · 1969
The Ballad Of John And Yoko was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
85 pressings came out in 1969, the album's first year, in 39 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.
7XCE 21306 - 1U GDG KT 2A-side run-out stamped (variant 1)
7XCE 21307 - 1U GGD KT 4B-side run-out stamped (variant 1)
7XCE 21306 - 1U GRT KT 2A-side run-out stamped (variant 2)
7XCE 21307 - 1U GDL KT 8 ̶3̶ ̶8̶8̶B-side run-out stamped (variant 2)
7XCE 21306 - 1UA-Side Run-out
7XCE 21307 - 1UB-Side Run-out
7YCE 21306 - 1U AG KT 4Runout stamped side A
7YCE 21307 - 1U RM KT 5Runout stamped side B
7XCE 21306 - 1U GOA KT 1A-Side run-out
7XCE 21307 - 1U GOA KT 4B-Side run-out
7XCE.21306Label A
7XCE.21307Label B
7XCE 21306 - 1U GRT KT 2A-side run-out, stamped, variant 1
7XCE 21307 - 1U GDL KT 8B-side run-out, stamped, variant 1
7XCE 21306 - 1U LD KT 4A-side run-out, stamped, variant 2
7XCE 21307 - 1U GGA KT 1B-side run-out, stamped, variant 2
7XCE 21306 - 1U G P KT 5Runout side A, stamped, variant 1
7XCE 21307 - 1U O P KT 5Runout side B, stamped, variant 1
7XCE 21306 - 1U R KT 4Runout side A, stamped, variant 2
7XCE 21307 - 1U GH KT 4Runout side B, stamped, variant 2
7XCE 21306 - 1U RD KT 4A-Side Run-out stamped, variant 1
7XCE 21307 - 1U GN KT 2B-Side Run-out stamped, variant 1
7XCE 21306 - 1U LL KT ̷S̷7̷ 7 ̷X̷7̷A-Side Run-out stamped, variant 2
7XCE 21307 - 1U LO KT 5B-Side Run-out stamped, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Argentina | Odeon 8486First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1969 | Barbados | Parlophone R 5786First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Brazil | Apple Records 7-BT-21First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Canada | Apple Records 2531First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1969 | Chile | Apple Records 7-BT-217", Single, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 7", Single, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1969 | Chile | Apple Records APPLE - 9First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1969 | Denmark | Apple Records R 5786First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Denmark | Apple Records R 5786First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Ecuador | Odeon 45-87829First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1969 | Finland | Apple Records R 5786First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | France | Apple Records 2C 006-04108 M / Apple Records C006-04108First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1969 | France | Apple Records 2C 006-04108 MFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1969 | Germany | Apple Records 1 C 006-04 108First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1969 | Germany | Apple Records 1 C 006-04 108First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1969 | Greece | Parlophone GMSP 141First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Venezuela | Odeon OD-45-1 / Odeon OD-45-27", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records 25317", Single, Stereo, Reissue | 7", Single, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records 25317", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records 25317", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records 25317", Single, Repress, Stereo | 7", Single, Repress, Stereo |
| 1974 | Brazil | Apple Records 45BT-1007", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Apple Records 25317", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Single, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Apple Records 25317", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1975 | US | Apple Records 25317", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1976 | France | Apple Records 2C01004108 / Apple Records 2C 010-04.108 M7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1976 | Italy | Apple Records 3C 006-04108 / Apple Records 3C 006 04108 M7", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| 1976 | Italy | Apple Records 3C 006-04108 / Apple Records 3C 006 04108 M7", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Apple Records R 5786 / Parlophone R 57867", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| 1976 | Spain | Odeon 1 J 006-04.1087", 45 RPM, Single, Numbered, Reissue · Numbered | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Numbered, Reissue · Numbered |
| 1976 | UK | Apple Records R 57867", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Australia | Parlophone A.87937", Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono | 7", Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1982 | UK | Apple Records R 5786 / Parlophone R 57867", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Capitol Records 25317", Single, Reissue, 45 RPM | 7", Single, Reissue, 45 RPM |
| 1988 | Europe | Parlophone 006-20 3121 77", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1988 | US | Capitol Records 25317", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| 1989 | UK | Apple Records R 5786 / Parlophone R 57867", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1989 | UK | Apple Records R 57867", 45 RPM, Single, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress |
| 1989 | UK | Parlophone RP 57867", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Apple Records 31C 006 04108Y7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records 25317", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records 25317", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Greece | Parlophone GMSP 1417", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Japan | Apple Records AR-23017", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Mexico | Apple Records 65107", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Mexico | Apple Records 65107", Single, Repress | 7", Single, Repress |
| ? | Mexico | Apple Records 65107", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Netherlands | Apple Records 5C 006.04108 M7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Netherlands | Apple Records 5C 006.04108 M7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Peru | Apple Records 107177", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Poland | Z. Kwapińska M-391AFlexi-disc, 6", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Unofficial Release, Mono · Unofficial, Mono | Flexi-disc, 6", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Unofficial Release, Mono · Unofficial, Mono |
| ? | UK | Parlophone R 57867", Single, Promo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Promo | 7", Single, Promo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Promo |
| ? | UK | Apple Records R 57867", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | UK | Apple Records R 57867", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
138 vinyl pressings of The Ballad Of John And Yoko are listed here, from 42 countries, released between 1969 and 1989.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in UK, US, Peru, France and more. One of them is Apple Records R 5786, released May 30, 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use R 5786, 2531, 10717, 2C 006-04108 M) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 7XCE 21306 - 1U GDG KT 2 and 7XCE 21307 - 1U GGD KT 4. 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.
