Vinyl pressings
by The Beatles · 1980
The Beatles Ballads (20 Original Tracks) was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
34 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 21 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.
PCS 7214 A-2Side A runout variant 1
PCS 7214 B-2Side B runout variant 1
PCS 7214 A-4-1-2-0Side A runout variant 2
PCS 7214 B-4-1-1Side B runout variant 2
PCS 7214 A-2Side A runout variant 1 stamped
PCS 7214 B-2Side B runout variant 1 stamped
PCS 7214 A-4-1-2-0Side A runout variant 2 stamped
PCS 7214 B-4-1-1Side B runout variant 2 stamped
PCS 7214 A-4 - 1 - 1Side A, runout, stamped
PCS 7214 B-3 ISide B, runout, stamped
PCS.7214ASide A, label
PCS.7214BSide B, label
PCS-7214-A 1S 4 〄Runout side A stamped Variant 1
PCS-7214-B 1S 24 〄Runout side B stamped Variant 1
PCS-7214-A 1S 7 〄 O-ZRunout side A stamped Variant 2
PCS-7214-B 1S 13 〄Runout side B stamped Variant 2
07356-A1Runout Side A, stamped, variant 1
07356-B1Runout Side B, stamped, variant 1
07356-A1 ΛRunout Side A, stamped, variant 2
07356-B1 ERunout Side B, stamped, variant 2
PCS 7214 A-2 IRL C AMSide A All Machine Stamped Except AM which is etched
PCS 7214 B-2 IRL CSide B All Machine Stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Argentina | EMI 8173First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | Brazil | Odeon 31C 064 07356First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1980 | Brazil | Odeon 31C 066 07356 / Odeon 31C 064 07356First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1980 | Colombia | EMI 11803First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1980 | Colombia | EMI 11803First yearLP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 1980 | Ecuador | Odeon 302-0146First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | France | Parlophone 2C 068-07356 / Parlophone 2C 068 - 07.356First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1980 | France | Parlophone 2C 068-07356 / Parlophone 2C 068 - 07.356First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1980 | India | Parlophone PCS 7214First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | India | Parlophone PCS 7214First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | Italy | Parlophone 3C 064-07356First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Parlophone 1A 062-07356First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Parlophone 1A 062-07356First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Parlophone 1A 062-07356First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Parlophone 1A 062-07356First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | South Korea | EMI PCS 7214 / EMI EKPL-0133LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1990 | Venezuela | EMI EMI-4379LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Unknown | Vee-Gan Records VGNP 111 112LP, Compilation, Picture Disc, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Compilation, Picture Disc, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Parlophone 1C 064-1 07356 1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | France | Parlophone 10 7356 1LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| ? | France | Parlophone 10 7356 1 / Parlophone 1073561LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Odeon 1 C 064-07 356 / Odeon 1C 064-07356LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Parlophone 1C 064 10 7356 1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Parlophone 1A 064-07356LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Parlophone 1A 058-10 7356 1 / Parlophone 062-07356LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Parlophone 1C 064-07356 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-07356LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Parlophone PCS 7214 / Parlophone 10 7356 1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
70 vinyl pressings of The Beatles Ballads (20 Original Tracks) are listed here, from 30 countries, released between 1980 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, Japan, Germany, Ireland and more. One of them is Parlophone PCS 7214, released October 14, 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PCS 7214, EAS-91006, 1 C 064-07 356, PCSJ(L) 7214) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PCS 7214 A-2 and PCS 7214 B-2. 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.
