THE BEATLES Hello, Goodbye Vinyl Record 7 Inch Parlophone 1967 Decca Contract Pressing R 5655 Single

The Beatles - Hello, Goodbye
(Original UK Decca Contract Pressing with Black/Silver Parlophone Label that has 'THE GRAMOPHONE CO. LTD.' rim text and 'SOLD IN U.K.' label text. 4-Pronged Label Design. -1/-1 Matrix)

Format: Vinyl Record - 7 Inch (45rpm)
Country: UK
Year: 1967
Label: Parlophone
Catalogue No. R 5655

Matrix / Runout (Side A, runout, stamped): 7XCE 18433-1 KT 3
Matrix / Runout (Side B, runout, stamped): 7XCE 18434-1 KT 8

Condition: VG (The vinyl has a few surface marks)

Side A: Hello, Goodbye
Side B: I Am The Walrus

For the serious Beatles variation hunters, this specific 1967 UK first pressing of "Hello, Goodbye" is a brilliant piece of manufacturing history to add to the shelves. When this single flew off the shelves in the winter of 1967, EMI's own pressing plants simply could not keep up with the public's demand. To patch the gap, they outsourced a small batch of production to their rivals at Decca. You can identify this scarce contract variant instantly by looking at the centre label, which features Decca's trademark raised circular ridge pressed just a few millimetres from the edge. It carries the early 'THE GRAMOPHONE CO. LTD.' rim wording and the 'SOLD IN U.K.' print across the classic Parlophone livery, with the original 4-pronged push-out centre remaining perfectly intact. The dead wax is machine-stamped with the first-press -1/-1 matrix numbers, showing 7XCE 18433-1 KT 3 on the A-side and 7XCE 18434-1 KT 8 on the reverse.

On the condition front, the record sits at a very fair VG (Very Good) grade. This is an honest, well-loved playing copy that shows a handful of light surface scuffs under a bright inspection light, but the wax still keeps a decent amount of its original factory sheen. Dropping the needle reveals just how robust these 1960s pressings are; it tracks perfectly flat from start to finish, outputting a remarkably heavy, upfront mono mix.

It is an incredibly characterful copy of a legendary release, delivering the infectious pop hooks of "Hello, Goodbye" on the main face and the wild, backward-tape genius of "I Am The Walrus" on the flip. Because it is a verified Decca contract pressing rather than the standard EMI run, it holds a unique spot in British vinyl history. If you want a scarcer label variant that you can actually play, enjoy, and show off to fellow collectors, this one is a fantastic choice.