Beatles Turkish Single Releases
Identification Guide

Black Odeon Label

Through about the end of 1963, Odeon of Turkey was pressing 45 RPM singles on a black labelwith "Odeon" at the top. Two horizontal bars run across the label. All Turkish singles, includingthese early ones, were pressed with center plugs.
Singles originally released on this label style Catalog Number"She Loves You"/"I'll Get You"

45‐LA‐4136"From Me to You"/"Thank You Girl"

45‐LA‐4137"I Want to Hold Your Hand"/"This Boy"

45‐LA‐4138"Please Please Me"/"Ask Me Why"

45‐LA‐4139

NOTE: Since few picture sleeves were issued, most Turkish Beatles records can be found in ablue Beatles sleeve (pictured on this page). These list available singles on the back. The earliest

of these lists only the first group of singles. In NM condition, these sell for about $100 each, butthey are seldom found in NM condition.

Blue Label With ODEON at Top

Throughout 1964, Odeon's label of choice was a blue version of their earlier label style. The
blue label continued through the middle of the year. The early singles were reissued onto thisstyle, and new singles came out in this style as well.
Singles originally released on this label style

Catalog Number"I Saw Her Standing There"/"Love Me Do"

45‐LA‐4142"Twist and Shout"/"PS I Love You"

45‐LA‐4143"Can't Buy Me Love"/"All My Loving"

45‐LA‐4144"A Hard Day's Night"/"Things We Said Today"

45‐LA‐4153"If I Fell"/"I Should Have Known Better"

45‐LA‐4157“And I Love Her”/”I’m Happy Just to Dance With You” 45‐LA‐4158”I Feel Fine”/“She’s a Woman”

45‐LA‐4167

NOTE 1: Copies of “Can’t Buy Me Love” exist on red vinyl, with this label and with the later label(see below). The purpose of these colored‐vinyl singles is not currently known, but they may
have been promotional copies.

Blue Label With ODEON at Left

The year 1964 saw a change to the blue Odeon label. "Odeon" is now printed in thin print on
the left hand side of the label, and the horizontal bars have been removed. The artist's name is
now on top. Since nearly every single from 4152 to 4167 exists on both blue labels, even though
it does not make sense, both labels must have been available at the same time in 1964. The
early singles were reissued onto this style, and new singles came out in this style as well.
Singles released on this label style

Catalog Number"I Saw Her Standing There"/"Love Me Do"

45‐LA‐4142"Can't Buy Me Love"/"All My Loving"

45‐LA‐4144"A Hard Day's Night"/"Things We Said Today" 45‐LA‐4153"If I Fell"/"I Should Have Known Better"

45‐LA‐4157”I Feel Fine”/“She’s a Woman”

45‐LA‐4167

NOTE 1: Copies of "A Hard Day's Night" exist on blue vinyl, copies of “I Feel Fine” on green vinyl,copies of “I Saw Her Standing There” on red vinyl, and copies of “Can’t Buy Me Love” exist onred vinyl. The purpose of these colored‐vinyl singles is not currently known, but they may havebeen promotional copies.
NOTE 2: “Can’t Buy Me Love” is misspelled as “Can’t Buy My Love.”Swirl Odeon LabelA flashier label style, resembling the US Capitol label of the period, was introduced by Turkish
Odeon in 1965. This yellow and orange swirl label lasted until 1967. Like the blue‐label copies,
above, early swirl labels featured the words "International Series" (in Turkish) at the top left.
Singles originally released on this label style Catalog Number"Eight Days a Week"/"Rock and Roll Music"

45‐LA‐4196"Ticket to Ride"/"Yes It Is"

45‐LA‐4197"Help!"/"I'm Down"

45‐LA‐4221"Yesterday"/"Dizzy Miss Lizzie"

45‐LA‐4232"Another Girl"/"Act Naturally"

45‐LA‐4245"We Can Work It Out"/"Day Tripper"

45‐LA‐4246"Michelle"/"Drive My Car"

45‐LA‐4252"Paperback Writer"/"Yes It Is"

45‐LA‐4261

picture sleeve to the above single

45‐LA‐4261"Yellow Submarine"/"Eleanor Rigby"

45‐LA‐4263"Penny Lane"/"Strawberry Fields Forever"

45‐LA‐4277

NOTE: The blue Beatles sleeves were still in use into 1965. Copies can be found listing all of thesingles through "Ticket to Ride."
NOTE 2: A colorful sleeve featuring early shots of the Beatles in front of different‐coloredbackgrounds was introduced during this period. It sells for about $150 in NM condition.
NOTE 3: On the “Ticket to Ride” single, “Ticket” is misspelled as “Tickit”.

Zigzag Odeon LabelIn mid‐1967, a label style unique to Turkish singles was introduced. Using the same orange andyellow backdrop colors, Odeon constructed a "zigzag" label style. Copies through at least mid‐1968 have the earlier‐type thin print letters for the word "ODEON" on the label. Later copies
have rounder letters for "ODEON". The remainder of the pre‐Apple singles and one later single
were released originally on this label style.
Singles originally released on this label style

Catalog Number"All You Need Is Love"/"Baby, You're a Rich Man" 45‐LA‐4280"Hello Goodbye"/"I am the Walrus"

45‐LA‐4284"Lady Madonna"/"The Inner Light"

45‐LA‐4286"Hey Jude"/"Revolution"

45‐LA‐4296"The Long and Winding Road"/"For You Blue"

45‐LA‐4321

NOTE: "The Long and Winding Road" was released in 1970.

Singles on the Apple LabelAs the rest of the world switched to the Apple label, Turkey followed suit. All Turkish Beatles
singles from 1968 through early 1970 were released on Apple, and many solo singles were also
released on Apple in Turkey. All early Apple singles featured a dark apple with silver print.
Singles originally released on this label style

Catalog Number"Ob‐la‐di Ob‐la‐da"/"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" 45‐LA‐4302"Get Back"/"Don't Let Me Down"

45‐LA‐4308"Ballad of John and Yoko"/"Old Brown Shoe"

45‐LA‐4310"Come Together"/"Something"

45‐LA‐4313"Let It Be"/"You Know My Name"

45‐LA‐4317

NOTE: The dark Apple label continued at least through 1971, and possibly later. The EEC
numbering system was eventually introduced in Turkey and appears on later (light‐colored)
Apple labels.
The last few Beatles singles (on Apple) were released with a white sleeve depicting a more
recent drawing of the Beatles. This sleeve sells for about $250 by itself, since it is much scarcer
than the blue sleeve. (Note within a note: That sketch is the same drawing that is found on thefront cover to the British sheet music for "Hey Jude.")A Word About Condition
The condition of a record is all‐important as to determining its value. The values shown are
drastically reduced for lesser condition copies, as shown below:
Near Mint, or NM, condition records are unscratched. If the label has stickers or tape, this must
be noted. Essentially, they look like they just came from the store.
Very Good Plus, or VG+, condition records will have very few scratches. Without close
inspection, they might pass for Near Mint copies. A VG+ record normally sells for half what aNM copy goes for.
Very Good, or VG, condition records have a fair amount of scratches, but they by no means
appear "beat up". A VG condition record normally sells for one fourth of the NM price.

Very Good Minus, or VG‐, condition records are starting to appear quite scratched. Still, whenplayed, they play through, although the surface noise is becoming distracting. Many singles arecommonly found in this condition. A VG‐ condition record normally sells for one sixth of the NMprice.
Good, or G, condition records look scratched‐‐basically all over, but they'll play through wellenough to enjoy the song. A G condition record sells for one tenth of the NM price. [Somedealers also use a grade of G+, which sells for one eighth of the NM price.]
Fair, or fr, condition records are generally worthless unless the record is rare. They're scratchedup and have distracting surface noise, but they're not completely ruined. No chips missing, andnot cracked. They sell for one twentieth of the NM price or less.
Poor, or pr, condition records are basically ruined. They may be warped, cracked, chipped, orotherwise unsuitable for collecting. Most collectors only accept poor condition copies ofsomething really rare until a better one comes along. They're virtually worthless.
© 2003, 2004, 2016 Frank Daniels
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