7XCE |
The
standard deadwax matrix prefix for mono Beatles singles.
|
7YCE |
The
standard deadwax matrix prefix for stereo Beatles singles.
|
7TCE |
The
standard deadwax matrix prefix for mono Beatles 7"
EP's. |
Arial |
(See
"Font") |
B&S |
Abbrev.
"Black and Silver" label design. Commonly in
reference to a two-box EMI variant. Also B/S. |
Cat.
No. |
Abbrev.
Catalogue Number. This is the number and character code
on the record label and sleeve that identify the release,
disc format, audio format and sometimes series type.
For example, this could be "PMC 1202". |
Deadwax |
Part
of the vinyl between the playing surface and the labels.
This area lacks audio and is home to the trailout groove,
deadwax matrix number, mother number, stamper letters,
and sometimes tax code. |
Font
/ Fontface |
The
way the text appears. The two main types are 'serif'
fonts such as TIMES NEW ROMAN
and 'sans serif' fonts such as ARIAL.
As you can see, the serif font - times new roman in
this case as it's the one that appears on Parlophone
labels - has small tails especially noticable on the
capital T. Sans serif font - again, arial as it's commonly
used on labels - lack these tails and ornaments. |
Format |
In
most cases, audio format. i.e. either mono or stereo.
Can sometimes be referring to disc format such as 12"
single or 7" EP. |
G&B |
Abbrev.
"Gold and Black" label design. Also G/B. |
Gramo |
Abbreviation
for "The Gramophone Co. Ltd..." at the start
of the rimtext on disc labels. |
Layout |
The
design by which the text is laid out on a record label.
Constituted of positioning of text, generally not for
alterations in font. |
Matrix |
Sometimes
a reference to the number alphanumeric code on the
record label, e.g. XEX 579.
More usually a reference to the deadwax matrix number.
E.g. XEX 579-1.
The first part - XEX - indicates the audio format;
the second part - 579 - the number uniquely set by
the record company for that side of the disc; the
last part - 1 - is the mix used. This final number
is what changes for different audio variations but
not all records will have been first released with
a -1 mix on both sides. (e.g. Beatles For Sale).
|
Mother
Number |
|
'o
Clock |
Usually
indicative of the position of a piece of information in
the deadwax such as the matrix number. An 'o Clock reference
is usually in regards to the matrix number being at 6
'o Clock, i.e. the bottom. |
One
Box |
Indicates
the record label has one EMI box logo on each side of
the label - i.e. a 1969-1973 version. |
Parlo |
Abbreviation
for "The Parlophone Co. Ltd..." at the start
of the rimtext on disc labels. |
PCS |
The
part of the cat. no. which denotes the audio format -
in this case stereo. |
PMC |
The
part of the cat. no. which denotes the audio format -
in this case mono. |
Publishing
Credit |
The
publisher handles the rights to the intellectual property
of the song (i.e. not the physical recordings which
are owned by EMI for example.) The intellectual property
of the song is credited to the company with which the
songwriter is connected, e.g. "Northern Songs".
|
Pushout
Centre |
A
reference to 7" singles and EP's that have a characteristic
design of a centre section holding onto the main body
of the disc via four (or sometimes three) triangular 'prongs'.
This centre section can be 'pushed out' to be used in
a jukebox machine. This design was phased out towards
the end of the 1960s. |
Rimtext |
The
text which appears at the outside edge of the record labels.
On Parlophone records this will begin with "The Parlophone
Co..." or "The Gramophone Co...". |
Run-in |
The
widely spaced grooves in the deadwax at the beginning
of the record where you place the needle to start. |
Run-out |
Also
known as Trail-out. The widely spaced grooves in the
deadwax at the end of the record. |
Sold
In UK (SIUK) |
An
abbreviation of the text "Sold In UK Subject To
Resale Price Conditions" that appears in small
capital letters above the spindle hole of LPs and in the
pushout centre of 7" singles and EPs between 1964
and 1968. |
Solid
Centre |
A
reference to 7" singles and EP's that have a characteristic
design lacking the pushout as described above. The disc
has one complete, solid centre. This design was introduced
around 1966 but didn't become standard until around 1968/69. |
Spindle
Hole |
The
hole in the centre of a record which the pole of the record
player goes through. |
Stamper
Letters |
|
Tax
Code |
Items
produced before before and during the 1960s were subjected
to different tax levels that varied from year to year.
Therefore a tax stamp was pushed into the vinyl either
in the deadwax or embossed on the record labels themselves.
Its use was removed in late 1969. See further down this
page for a table indicating the dates of introduction
of each code. |
Times
New Roman |
Also
"TNR". See "Font". |
Two
Box |
Indicates
the record label has two EMI box logos on each side
of the label - i.e. a post-1971 version. |
XEX |
The
part of the matrix number which denotes the audio format
- in this case mono. |
Y&B |
Abbrev.
for 'Yellow and Black' - the 60s Parlophone label design
with a bright yellow Parlophone text logo common between
1963 and 1967 for Beatles releases and revived for a short
time in the 1980s. Also Y/B. |
YEX |
The
part of the matrix number which denotes the audio format
- in this case stereo. |
TAX CODE CHART
In the post-war period all luxury goods, including records,
were subject to 'purchase tax'. Records have a tax code
pressed into the vinyl either in the deadwax or embossed
into the centre section of the record label. There are some
crossover tax codes on labels such as 'MKT'. The reason
for this is that during transitional periods (for example
July 1963) EMI would have made up a number of pressing plates
which would have had to be scrapped as the wrong tax code
would have been on it. As the last letter of the tax code
was always a 'T', the correct first character was added
to the stamper and used until that stamper was discarded.
Hence why 'MKT' is a possible tax code - 'MT' was the older
one with a 'K' being added in July 1963 indicating it to
actually be 'KT'.
