FORMAT RELEASE DATE SIDE 1 MATRIX SIDE 2 MATRIX PARTS
MONO 17 Feb 1966 XEX 579-1 XEX 580-1 UK*
STEREO 17 Feb 1966 YEX 178-2 YEX 179-2 UK
STEREO ~1967 YEX 178-3 YEX 179-3 UK
STEREO Early 1972 YEX 178-2 YEX 179-3 UK
STEREO ~1972 YEX 178-3 YEX 179-3 UK
STEREO ~1972 YEX 178-3 YEX 179-3 AU
STEREO Mar 1979 YEX 178-3 YEX 179-5 AU
STEREO 1982 YEX 178-3 YEX 179-3 AU/UK
STEREO 16 Jun 1983 YEX 178-4 AP YEX 179-6 AP AU
STEREO 14 Nov 1988 PCSO 3075D-A
PB EMIDISC DMM		 PCSO 3075D-B
PB EMIDISC DMM		 AU
* Popularly referred to as the loud cut; quickly replaced by 579-4 / 580-4 in the UK but retained in Australia.

A somewhat confusing list for stereo pressings! It appears that around 1967, EMI (Australia) introduced UK -3/-3 cuts then reverted side 1 back to the UK -2 cut in the early 1970s. Around 1972 both sides were recut locally, retaining the -3/-3 lacquer numbers. Perhaps EMI (Australia) was confused, but subsequent pressings up until 1983 have been confirmed with either UK, AU, or a mix of both, -3 cuts. An Australian cut can be identified by a taller and narrower font than that used on original UK pressings.
RUBBER SOUL
Parlophone PMCO 1267 (MONO) / PCSO 3075 (STEREO)
MATRIX INFORMATION

Machine Stamped - Hand Written
ORIGIN CODE CIRCULATED SLEEVE DETAILS
AUST A1 Feb 1966 Mono + stereo catalogue numbers; flipback sleeve
AUST A2 Dec 1969 Stereo catalogue number only; non-flipback sleeve
AUST A3 Nov 1988 "DIGITALLY REMASTERED" footer on rear cover
SLEEVE INFORMATION
YELLOW/BLACK stereo
AU3075S3
Feb 1969
ORANGE 1-BOX A
AU3075S5A
Q2 1969
ORANGE 1-BOX B
AU3075S5B
Oct 1978
GENERAL ALBUM INFORMATION
Having been cautioned by EMI UK over its unilateral decision to use a locally-designed sleeve for Beatles For Sale, EMI (Australia) had no alternative but to persist with using the difficult-to-reproduce UK cover artwork for Rubber Soul. From its first Australian issue, the sleeve imagery was noticeably inferior, and the quality appears to have deteriorated further on later pressings. This shortcoming—likely the result of the photographic reproduction, printing process, or a combination of both—is most evident on the front image, where the bridge of George Harrison's nose is over-exposed, creating a "hot spot" almost entirely devoid of picture detail.
BLACK 1-BOX A
AU3075S6A
Apr 1982
NZ DK GREY 1-BOX
AU3075S4C
1981
BLACK 1-BOX B
AU3075S6B
Jul 1987
PAGE LAST UPDATED: 1 JULY 2026
YELLOW/BLACK mono
AU1267M1
17 Feb 1966
'BANNER' STEREO
AU3075S1
17 Feb 1966
NZ YELLOW stereo
AU3075S2
1968
NZ YELLOW mono
AU1267M2
1968