EMI UK Matrices Guide

There were several different variations in the style of how the EMI matrices in the UK were designed. This affected not just Parlophone releases, but also other labels belonging to EMI, like Columbia, His Master’s Voice, Harvest etc.

1962-1980

The actual system was in place before it, but as this site is only considering just Beatles releases, we limit ourselves to the time period starting their first release on Parlophone (October ’62).

The style of the EMI matrices is well-documented, and is known as the GRAMOPHLTD system.

Basically, the matrix consists of the following information:

Matrix Number (example: YEX 178)
Lacquer Cut Number (example: 2)
Mother Number (example: 1)
Stamper Code (example: GT)

This information can be found at different positions around the label:

6 o’clock: <Matrix Number> – <Lacquer Cut Number>
example: YEX 178-2
9 o’clock: <Mother Number>
example: 1
3 o’clock: <Stamper Code>
example: GT

Matrix Number Prefix Codes

The most important matrix number prefix codes used for Beatles records at EMI are the following:

YEX for stereo records
XEX for mono records

Other EMI labels used different prefix codes. For example, Columbia used YAX and XAX, respectively. The UK export version of The Beatles – Hey Jude (1970) used YEEX.

Matrix Number Suffix Codes

N Suffix

The suffix “N” after the cut number was used prior to 1965 to specify that the lacquer was cut on a Neumann lathe with a dedicated mono head. In 1965, EMI started using a new cutting lathe with a stereo head, thus dropping the N suffix.

Example: XEX 421-1N

G Suffix

The suffix “G” after the cut number stands for “Grouped” master, coming from several sources. It was used on the compilation A Collection of Beatles Oldies.

Example: YEX 619-1G

U Suffix

The suffix “U” after the cut number was used from 1970 on to mark lacquers which not cut at EMI Studios Abbey Road, but externally (for instance, at Apple). It was used on the album Let It Be and on the 2nd cut of Side B of Abbey Road.

Example: YEX 773-2U

Stamper Codes

The stamper code is encoded according to the following cypher:

G = 1
R = 2
A = 3
M = 4
O = 5
P = 6
H = 7
L = 8
T = 9
D = 0

Example: GT from the abovementioned example is decoded to stamper no. 19.

1982-1982

This transitional matrix version has been used from late 1980 until 1982, when it was superseded once again. The only difference is that the GRAMOPHLTD cypher has been eliminated, and the stamper code was changed to a regular stamper number.

Basically, the matrix contains the following information:

Matrix Number (example: YEX 178)
Cut Number (example: 6)
Mother Number (example: 2)
Stamper Number (example: 40)

This information can still be found at different positions around the label:

6 o’clock: <Matrix Number> – <Cut Number>
example: YEX 178-6
9 o’clock: <Mother Number>
example: 2
3 o’clock: <Stamper Code>
example: 40

The rest of the information is identical to earlier matrices.

After 1982

In 1982, a new matrix format has been introduced at EMI UK. The placement at 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock and 9 o’clock has been dropped. The matrix could be found anywhere on the runout, and had the following format.