Question 1

How can I identify a first-press Parlophone label?

Accepted Answer

Labels with a gold foil logo on a black background indicate the earliest 1963 pressings. In early 1964, the design switched to a yellow logo on a black background, which remained the standard for the company until the one-EMI-box logo was introduced in 1969.

Question 2

Why does the Parlophone logo look like a British pound sign?

Accepted Answer

The '£' symbol reflects the brand’s origins as a branch of the German firm Carl Lindström A.G., where the 'L' stood for Lindström. Carl Lindström founded the company in 1911 before it was acquired by the Columbia Graphophone Company in 1927.

Question 3

What is the most valuable Parlophone record?

Accepted Answer

A stereo first-pressing of 'Please Please Me' on the black and gold label is the most expensive, with a well-documented sale reaching £31,000. For mid-tier collectors, the 1966 'withdrawn' version of Revolver with the 'Matrix 2' remix of 'Tomorrow Never Knows' sells for between £1,000 and £2,500.

Question 4

How do I authenticate a 1960s Parlophone sleeve?

Accepted Answer

Look for the 'Sold in U.K. subject to resale price conditions' text across the center of the label, which EMI removed in 1969. Additionally, early 1960s sleeves were manufactured by Ernest J. Day or Garrod & Lofthouse, and this credit usually appears on the rear flipback.

Question 5

Who owns Parlophone records today?

Accepted Answer

Warner Music Group acquired the label in 2013 as part of a £487 million deal following Universal Music Group's purchase of EMI. This acquisition included the catalogs of Blur, Gorillaz, and Coldplay, though the North American rights to the Beatles' Parlophone catalog remained with Universal.

PARLOPHONE

COLLECTION STATS

The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Parlophone PMC 7027, 1967) Mono UK First Pressing

The Beatles - Rubber Soul (Parlophone 3C 062-04115, c. 1970s) Italian Pressing, Blue Cloud Label

Four pressings that defined the evolution of British recorded sound

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967 Mono PMC 7027)

Frequently asked questions