Identifying Japanese Beatles 45's

Japan holds the distinction of releasing more Beatles records than any other nation. At one time, they had the entire British catalog in print, along with most of the American album catalog and a few albums unique to Japan. Also, all of Odeon's releases until 1970 were available on regular black vinyl and on higher quality (low noise) red vinyl, creating even more variations. There are finer distinctions to be made, but the information that I provide should be sufficient for most collectors that want to start collecting Japanese releases, which most people consider to be on higher quality vinyl than most releases worldwide.

What's a "Wraparound"?

Nearly all of the Japanese Beatles singles were issued with "bifold wraparound" picture covers. In the United States (and most other countries), picture sleeves typically are glued together, making a pocket that holds the single. Most Japanese singles, however, come with inserts that are folded but not glued. All the singles below are assumed to come without their original sleeves. These are valued separately below for most records. Where they are not, assume that the sleeve alone is worth as much as the record.

NOTE: Prices shown are average values. Collectors of Japanese Beatles records may value the original lyric inserts and picture sleeves more highly or less than shown below. In general sale prices vary widely. All values shown are for RED VINYL copies.

Sixties Odeon Label

The typical 60's Japanese Odeon release has "Odeon Records" at the top of the label and does not mention EMI.

"Eleanor Rigby"
Shown as by Paul McCartney : The Beatles

Number Title Value
OR 1024 "Please Please Me" $100
OR 1024 dark red PS; figures stand out $150
OR 1024 light purple PS; figures blend $100
OR 1041 "I Want to Hold Your Hand" $100
OR 1041 orange PS, photo like US sleeve $150
OR 1041 white PS, 4 separate photos, c. 1965 $100
OR 1058 "She Loves You" $75
OR 1058 white PS $75
OR 1076 "Can't Buy Me Love" $100
OR 1076 green PS $100
OR 1077 From Me to You/I Saw Her Standing There $100
OR 1077 picture sleeve $150
OR 1078 Twist & Shout/Roll Over Beethoven $100
OR 1078 PS /w 4 photos $75
OR 1093 Do You Want to Know a Secret/Thank You Girl $100
OR 1094 All My Loving/Love Me Do $100
OR 1094 PS, mostly b/w $75
OR 1102 Please Mr. Postman/Money $100
OR 1102 black and white PS $75
OR 1119 "Hard Day's Night" $100
OR 1139 I Should Have Known Better/I'll Cry Instead $100
OR 1145 And I Love Her/If I Fell $100
OR 1145 red PS $100
OR 1145 multicolor PS $50
OR 1155 Long Tall Sally/I Call Your Name $100
OR 1155 black and white PS $100
OR 1156 Slow Down/Matchbox $75
OR 1156 dark blue PS $50
OR 1172 I'm Happy Just to Dance w/ You/Tell Me Why $75
OR 1179 "I Feel Fine" $75
OR 1189 No Reply/Eight Days a Week $80
OR 1189 "For Sale" PS $50
OR 1192 Rock & Roll Music/Every Little Thing $80
OR 1193 Mr. Moonlight/What You're Doing $75
OR 1193 dark blue PS $75
OR 1194 Kansas City/I'll Follow the Sun $75
OR 1194 dark red PS $75
OR 1195 I Don't Want to Spoil the Party/Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby $75
OR 1195 light green and red PS $50
OR 1261 "Ticket to Ride" $75
OR 1412 "Help!" $60
OR 1418 Dizzy Miss Lizzy/Anna $75
OR 1426 You're Going to Lose That Girl/Tell Me What You See $75
OR 1430 The Night Before/Another Girl $75
OR 1437 Yesterday/Act Naturally $60
OR 1445 "We Can Work It Out" $60
OR 1510 Nowhere Man/What Goes On? $60
OR 1510 picture sleeve $75
OR 1529 "Paperback Writer" $60
OR 1578 "Yellow Submarine" $60
OR 1685 "Penny Lane" $60
OR 1763 "All You Need is Love" $50
OR 1838 "Hello Goodbye" $60
OR 1982 "Lady Madonna" $75
OR 2121 "Hey Jude" $50

As a general rule, prices for black vinyl are about half of those for red vinyl. Sleeves not listed are worth about half to two-thirds of the value of the single.

NOTE: Although "Please Please Me" is numbered first and was supposed to be released first, it was held back until after the release of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in February of 1964. Similarly, "Long Tall Sally" was held back until after the release of "Slow Down."

NOTE2: "Penny Lane," and "All You Need is Love" were issued with a single photo insert instead of a bifold wraparound.

NOTE3: In mid-1965, singles prices increased from 330 Ľ to 370 Ľ. In 1968, before "Hey Jude," the price increased again to 400 Ľ.

Apple Label

When the catalog switched to Apple, Japan also began pressing Apple label reissues of the earlier singles, in both red and black vinyl, using the same catalog numbers. Apple releases carry AR prefixes instead of OR. The Apple reissues sell for $10 to $25 each (double for red vinyl).

Number	Title	Value
AR 2121	"Hey Jude"	$30
AR 2207	Obladi Oblada/While My Guitar Gently Weeps	$25
AR 2279	"Get Back"	$25
AR 2301	"Ballad of John and Yoko"	$25
AR 2400	"Something"	$25
AR 2461	"Let It Be"	$20
AR 2461	first PS, says "stereo"	$50
AR 2461	PS, does not say "stereo"	$20
AR 2520	Oh Darling/Here Comes the Sun	$25
AR 2611	Long and Winding Road/For You Blue	$25

NOTE: "Let It Be" was issued in a normal picture sleeve. Although the record is mono, there was no mono mix of "Let It Be"; the record merely has the two stereo channels combined.

NOTE2: "Obladi Oblada," "Get Back," "Something," and "Oh Darling" were issued with a single photo insert instead of a bifold wraparound.

NOTE3: Several years after the Beatles broke up, the entire series of singles was reissued to the Odeon EAR- and EAS- series. These sell for $10 to $15 each.

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