BEATLES - Hello, Goodbye

Item Description

Vinyl, , Decca Contract Pressing
7" 45 RPM Single

DECCA CONTRACT PRESSING.
"All rights of the manufacturer" message around the edge of the label starts with "THE GRAMOPHONE CO. LTD." in capitals.
The label DOES have the "Sold in the U.K..." statement.

There was also a company sleeve that some were issued in which advertised the latest EMI albums, including the Beatles own "A Collection Of Oldies".

Some copies at the original time were pressed by Decca Records to assist EMI who could not keep up with the demand for this Beatles release. EMI sub-contracted Decca to run off an amount at their Pressing Plant. There is a distinct difference between the routine EMI pressing and the slightly rarer Decca contract pressing. The centre of a Decca contract pressing has a prominent ridge 3mm from the perimeter.
If in doubt check alongside any UK Decca release of the same era.
Another indication of a contract pressing: All records pressed by EMI in The UK between 1954 and 1980 have a distinctive stamper code, which consists on a number (before the matrix No.) and up to three letters (after the matrix No.). There is a set code for these letters, which relate to the stamper tool number used to press the record you are holding. An online search should reveal this code and how it works, should you be interested. Suffice it to say, if there is no EMI stamper code, the record was not pressed by EMI in the UK. (Stamper code example: 1 [before the matrix number denotes the First Mother] GR [after the matrix number denotes the 12th stamper]). Contract pressings by Decca, Oriole, PYE or Philips do NOT have EMI stamper codes in the run out.

Runouts are stamped.